The Mid Hants Railway Autumn Steam Spectacular 2012

WARNING: SHAMELESS PLUG!

What a fantastic gala that was! I spent Saturday and Sunday at the MHR, and left both days with a huge smile on my face.

I must admit, I was a very sceptical when BOTH 777 and 825 were announced as not attending - I was debating whether or not I should attend. If 5322 had turned up facing Alresford, I would've visited Swanage instead, and not bothered going on the Sunday. My word, am I pleased I did go! As I said in a previous post, 925 looked outstanding (I finally got my shot of her working solo!), but the star of the show was 5322. That bark is quite something!

I think it is time to explain my film! First of all, I wish to apologise for how long it is - a massive 54 minutes long, with almost 25 minutes of footage unused. I will post the link below. My film goes through every locomotive - the locations are in order (if the engine is chimney first out of Alresford, the locations are going from Alresford to Alton, and chimney-first-out-of-Alton locomotives are seen at locations between Alton and Alresford). I have only included chimney first workings (with the exception to 850, 31806 and 5322 departing Alresford on Saturday evening).

Here is my video link, the locations list is below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ki15yVIWeW4

If it isn't too much to ask, if an advert appears before the video, would you all mind clicking on it - I spent an awful lot of money getting to/from the MHR (as well as the costs to get into Ropley station on Sunday). By clicking on the advert, YouTube pays a very small amount of money per click/view - I would appreciate you clicking on the advert, as it means I can pay (and get paid!) for more days out like this on the MHR!

925: Sat in Ropley yard on the 1st September, then at Horse Lane, Wanders Curve, Ropley and Northside Lane at the gala.
925+850: Wanders Curve, Rook Wood and Bighton Hill
850: Wanders Curve and entering Sun Lane cutting, near Alresford
850+31806+5322: Departing Alresford at Sun Lane
34051: Alresford
5322: Sun Lane Cutting, departing Ropley (a favourite clip, what a noise!) and Bowers Grove
5322+31806: White's Wood (Northside Lane) and Horse Lane
5322+92212: Departing Alresford on the first train of the Saturday and storming up past Bowers Grove and Rook Wood (another favourite clip!)
5322+34007: Northside Lane Foot Crossing
34007: FREIGHT - Northside Lane, Bowers Grove, Wanders Curve and Borovere. PASSENGER: Bighton Hill, a new panoramic shot at Park Wood and finally departing Ropley
34007+92212: Recreating the Pines Express, 50 years to the day of the last Pines Express under BR at White's Wood and at Wanders Curve
92212: Departing Alresford at Sun Lane Cutting and charging up the 1in80 bank to Ropley at Bighton Hill with the freight.
31806+92212: Charging past Northside Lane with the Pines Express headboard and accelerating past Horse Lane with the freight.
31806: Northside Lane, White's Wood and Wanders Curve with the freight and Bowers Grove and Rook Wood with the RAT
45379: Borovere, arriving into Ropley, Northside Lane and Bighton Hill with the freight train, and Rook Wood and Bowers Grove with the Pines Express.
The night shoot at Ropley, with 1874 starring in her new livery.

I must say that the freight train looked outstanding, as did the RAT coach in Blood and Custard.

A huge well done and thank you must go to all the volunteers at the MHR - you put on a seriously good show! Here's to next year - Maunsell Magic II anyone?

Enjoy the video, any constructive comments are welcomed!

James at SVN