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MHR Diesel gala and diesel running days 2016

Discussion in 'Galas and Events' started by 73129, Nov 23, 2015.

  1. 73129

    73129 Part of the furniture

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    The MHR diesel gala will be held from 22nd to 24th April.

    http://www.watercressline.co.uk/product.php/25/diesel-weekend

    In addition there will be running days for 50027 Lion,class 37s,Class 205025

    Class 50 running days
    http://www.watercressline.co.uk/product.php/43/class-50-lion-running-days


    Class 37s running days
    http://www.watercressline.co.uk/product.php/47/class-37-running-days


    Class 205025 running days (Hampshire Unit)
    http://www.watercressline.co.uk/product.php/38/hampshire-unit-running-days


    There will also be Friday night Real Ale Trains with diesel haulage for 2016.
    http://www.watercressline.co.uk/product.php/10/real-ale-train-r-a-t





    Please come and support MHR diesel gala and running days.

    Thanks
     
    Last edited: Nov 23, 2015
  2. Woof Mk2

    Woof Mk2 Member

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    I know its not too far away but is there any update of what is happening?
     
  3. LC2

    LC2 Member

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    No news on the locos for the Diesel Gala (22-24 April) but I do know that the Real Ale Bar will be running all 3 days.
     
  4. Woof Mk2

    Woof Mk2 Member

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    They better hurry up or it will be a flop...... People with budgets are starting to choose already where to spend their hard earned pennies.
    With the poor reputation that the MHR has and along with 2 big galas the following month at Swanage and SVR (and they both have excellent reputations for producing superb galas) who have already
    advertised guests and timetable, the MHR is in danger of loosing potential paying guests.
     
  5. 73129

    73129 Part of the furniture

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    Still no news to pass on regarding the gala but I'm sure an update will be put on the MHR web site sooner or later.
     
  6. js5646

    js5646 New Member

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    How much of that 'poor reputation' down to us enthusiasts not support events? IIRC one of the reasons the last gala was not as successful as hoped was the failure of the class 40, something which wasn't the railways fault and yet instead of supporting the event, punters threw their toys out of the pram and stayed away. The reality is that unless the support materialises the railway company won't invest in staging an event. Frankly, the gradients alone on the MHR should make attending the event a must - swanage has enough for steam but not for diesels.
     
  7. cymroglan

    cymroglan Member

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    We discussed this endlessly when it happened. While you say what you do with the best of intentions, it is unrealistic. I work blinking hard, including many weekends and my leisure time is too precious to waste dutifully visiting a railway with nothing of interest to me running ( just as I only go to the cinema when there's a film I want to see).
    I resent the suggestion that my toys were hurled out of the pram when the 40 couldn't attend. I was going to spend two days at the gala to ride behind that loco. Instead, I did something else. If I turn up at the cinema and they're not showing the advertised film, I go home. No toys. No pram!
     
  8. LC2

    LC2 Member

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    Is the problem (with attendances) twofold?

    1. Potentially there are less Diesel enthusiasts than Steam enthusiasts, therefore the impact of "I'm not going because X isn't there" is more pronounced.
    2. The general public are less likely to chip up to a Diesel gala than a Steam gala, because in their eyes "You can see Diesels every day on the big railway, but you can't see steam" (Yes, I know that's wrong, but that is likely to be the way it's seen).

    If you bring locos in it costs additional money. Not only does the gala have to cover that, it has to make more than a standard weekend. Diesel galas will attract less of the general public than a normal steam weekend, so you've got to attract more Diesel enthusiasts than you need for a Steam gala, from a smaller pool.

    So with this situation, the smaller, less established Diesel galas end up being impacted more heavily be stay away Diesel enthusiasts, which starts a vicious circle of smaller attendances resulting in less enthusiasm to hold the Diesel galas by the railways.

    Whilst I sympathise with @cymroglan and the cost vs fun equation, we are in danger of turning the railways off of holding Diesel galas.
    Use it or Lose it... And I would hate to lose it.
     
    Footbridge and Hampshire Unit like this.
  9. js5646

    js5646 New Member

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    Cymroglan, I understand your issue, indeed I suffer similar. I am personally lucky that the MHR is only an hour away from home; I financially support the 50Fund with a regular DD but haven't been to an SVR diesel gala for years as its never been a priority for my own precious leave time.

    I think the point I was trying to make is that it is all well & good stating that railway X has a dodgy reputation towards diesel galas when IMO that reputation has been gained in no small part from our own actions as enthusiasts not supporting events on local railways (c within 90 min journey of home) that do not host our favourite motive power. My apologies if I caused offence.
     
  10. 7822WelshSteam

    7822WelshSteam Member

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    T
    That's an interesting point but I'll take it one step further. There are 22 classes of heritage diesel that are capable of pulling full-length trains during an intensive timetable. There are about 150 classes of steam loco that could turn up to a gala and pull a train. This makes a diesel loco breaking down a huge blow to many enthusiasts. I've never understood why so many diesel fans only like one class of loco or one manufacturer or hate a particular class of loco or many different classes of preserved loco. I like all 22 of the heritage classes but there are those who don't. I'd love to go to a diesel gala at the MHR for the first time but it will very much depend on locos. It's a long way from Fflint to Hampshire. I've spent 4 days there for steam. It'll take something special to get me there for a diesel gala!
    I'd like to see 14901, D9537, D8568, a 20, a 33, a 35, a 40, 41001, a 42, a 45, a 52, a 55, a 56 or a 73 (Original EE engine).
     
  11. cymroglan

    cymroglan Member

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    That's really decent of you, but there's no need to apologise. I really do understand the use it or lose it argument. I also understand your passionate support of such galas.
    If I had unlimited time, I would go to more such events. I also have too many interests and a time consuming lady in my life!
     
  12. Journalist

    Journalist New Member

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    7822, as you're someone whose posts on here make clear you like maximum noise and entertainment from your locos, I'd really recommend making the journey to the MHR for a diesel event if you can. NYMR aside, I can't think of many lines where you're guaranteed that level of noise even from a Type 4 - the MHR gradients are superb. I'll really miss the Cl.37s there are they were outstanding up the banks either side of Medstead. I've enjoyed the running days too as I'm open-minded to all forms of heritage traction so days last year when I could get both a Cl.50 and a 9F up those hills in quick succession were just brilliant.

    I couldn't get a full day off work for the 2014 gala but having enjoyed the '13 event so much and knowing MHR diesel galas were in jeopardy, I got across for 2.5 hours on the Sunday morning (then absolutely nailed it to the office!) to make sure my £25 was still in the pot as a gesture of support. And it was worth it as the Cl.31 and 37/9 trips I managed were deafeningly brilliant, though 20087 solo up the bank in 2013 remains my MHR highlight for any traction.

    Whatever the line-up is, I'll make it to at least part of the 2016 gala. I agree early notice is better, but I think Swanage and the SVR have managed to confirm their bills earlier than has often been the case this year, and that's put pressure on other lines. Swanage does tend to be particularly good at getting things nailed down well in advance. The Bluebell gala is a week before the MHR and the line-up for that is still unknown. Plus the MHR has had the blow of two thirds of its main line diesel line-up being sold a few months before the return of its diesel gala. That's quite a headache to overcome and out of the organisers' hands.
     
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  13. 7822WelshSteam

    7822WelshSteam Member

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    Ha ha. You're so right about me! I'd like to go to an MHR diesel gala. It sounds brilliant. I'm so sorry that I missed 37905.
     
  14. Footbridge

    Footbridge Member

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    The last diesel gala I went to there was a hoot. They certainly liked to accelerate away from Ropley, much quicker then normal, if you wasn't seated there was a good chance you would end up in the last carriage!
     
  15. Woof Mk2

    Woof Mk2 Member

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  16. Woof Mk2

    Woof Mk2 Member

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    Well I,m sorry guys but as there has been no details for the Diesel Gala I have had to take my business elsewhere.
    I have had to book my leave so therefore as both the Bluebell and Swanage have got some of their gala details out I,ll be going to there.
    I had hoped the MH would have at least some details but as they havnt they loose out.

    Whether we like it or not there is business competition between preserved railways and if you are not on the ball you will loose out.
    To the guys at MH. Its just over 2 months to go before your "supposed" gala. To have any chance of success you do need some details out for the big wide world.
    If you leave it too late people, like me, will have made the decision to go else where and therefore you loose out and your gala could end up being a flop.
     
  17. 73129

    73129 Part of the furniture

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    I think you may of jumped to soon. Reading WNXX forum their is things going on that can't be put on a forum yet.
     
  18. Woof Mk2

    Woof Mk2 Member

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    When it comes to booking days off to attend gala there has to be a certain amount of notice for my employeers. Other staff want time off too and if I leave it too late I wont be able to get the time off.
    Only time will tell if I have left it too late but as I cant do all 3 I have had to make a choice and as stated earlier due to a lack of ANY info from MHR they have lost out.
     
  19. 73129

    73129 Part of the furniture

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    I understand where your coming from I also find it every frustrating. With any luck a list of locos will soon appear on the MHR web site.
     
  20. cymroglan

    cymroglan Member

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    While I understand the special circumstances which have afflicted the Mid Hants regarding this event, it's also way too late for me to be free. Railways generally are terrible at giving basic info to potential passengers. The Severn Valley routinely releases the weekend loco roster late Friday afternoon and Didcot's website today offers the roster for early January. Pathetic!
     

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