Mid Hants Railway Operational Matters

Hi @gricerdon you will be issued a coloured wristband for th train you are booked on

 

Does anyone know if we can buy tickets to travel on the non-dining services on the day on the 20th as the website now has a timetable for the first day of the event showing a full day of two train operations.
There does not appear to be an option to get tickets for the normal services on the website.

 

Thanks

 

I have heard that the Urie versions were only let out on a pax if there really was nothing else available, and also from a couple of drivers in BR days that they preferred the Urie version for any heavy work.

 

And here she is in all her glory - all set ready for action. Photograph c/o Jeremy De Souza / the Watercress Line Facebook page. <BJ>

''35005 Canadian Pacific, one of the last surviving Merchant Navy Class locomotives, takes to the tracks for her long-awaited return this week. Her public launch starts tomorrow and runs until 23rd March.
This is a wonderful moment when a lot of the team, that have worked to restore the locomotive over the last 14 years, gather by the glorious loco in steam at Ropley. A fantastic achievement by everyone involved.
Tickets are still available for some services. See link in Bio''.

 

!Canadian Pacific" Launched by Stephen Morley, on Flickr

Here is 35005 on the launch train! 11:00 ex Alresford

 

....and this is what we've been waiting for. What a superb machine. <BJ>

An update from the Watercress Line Facebook page.

''We were delighted to welcome the CEO of the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Eilish McGuinness, and the Canadian Deputy High Commissioner, Robert Fry, to formally unveil 35005 'Canadian Pacific' at Alresford Station today. Our volunteers have done an incredible job overhauling this Merchant Navy Class locomotive over 14 years and it was fantastic to see her back in steam''.

 

Looking superb. What an achievement.

 

Made an additional visit to the railway today to see an absolutely stunning 35005 at the head of the dining services. I captured her at Ropley while the shed staff had their lunch, admiring their latest work of art. Also captured 34072 in fine form on the Alton feeder service. We are back tomorrow and Saturday for a couple of rides behind CP.

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You probably saw me in the yard when the BB left. I went up yo Top yard for 35005 departure

 

I probably did but there were quite a lot of people out to capture CanPac in action once again. There were even people waiting for her along the road between Ropley and Alresford.

Looking forward to seeing your pictures.

We only ventured to Ropley as we went to Alresford first which was a waste of time.
Entry to the main car park was being controlled and the overflow car park was full as the size of it is reduced on a school day. Even Arlebury car park was full. I guess it didn't help that it was market day as well. I hope we can get a space tomorrow when we are going for a trip behind CP.

Glad we went to Ropley though as the conditions were perfect. We had the opportunity to have a good look at the wonderful job carried out by Ropley MPD on 35005 as she paused to take water.
And she sounds superb. It was a joy to listen to her lifting the ex 15.20 Alresford service away from Ropley and up the bank to Medstead. A brilliant end to the day today. Looking forward to tomorrow.

Here are some more shots from a very enjoyable time spent at Ropley this afternoon:


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I've got a boring question for Duty Druid on this auspicious day. The Urie Society have got a Lowmac wagon which I have been helping to get into a semblance of order. My next task is to replace the buffer beams. The existing ones, which are nearly perished appear to be all over in a colour that was probably once "Signal Red". I need to paint my new buffer beams. What colour and brand of paint do you use "up the hill" for this job? I found a Dulux colour called Poppy Red that looks close to what a railwayman would consider respectable. Thanks!

 

Here is one more shot from today of 35005 getting into her stride on the 15.20 service from Alresford. It was brilliant to see and hear her attacking the bank to Medstead again after such a long time away.
Congratulations to everyone involved in the long and very extensive overhaul of CanPac. It has certainly been worth the wait.

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The Alresford car park is open as usual tomorrow
Canpac is certainly looking and sounding great

 

Belle of the Ball: at Alresford ahead of tonight's dining service which sported a Bournemouth Belle headboard and lamp code.

 

35005 at Ropley with tonight's dining service

35005 with a Dining train at Ropley by Stephen Morley, on Flickr

 

If I may butt in:
The HMRS Livery Register gives the Surrey Warner spec of c. 1912, which says (I paraphrase) body and underframe dark brown; buffers, headstock, axleboxes, &c, to be black. It speculates that headstocks and buffer guides may actually have been dark red (as per the ends of guard's vans. No Munsell spec is offered, unfortunately.
Pat

 

35005 departs Ropley on a warm afteroon

35005 leaving Ropley by Stephen Morley, on Flickr

 

35005 and 34072 at Ropley this evening

Bulleids at Ropley by Stephen Morley, on Flickr

 

Of course Pat and it's much appreciated. I'll talk to the Urie Trustees about how authentic they want the well wagon to be. When it was novated to the Urie Society (by the NRM) it was unrestored and in a very poor state - the beams seem to have had some paint slapped on them several years ago that may just have been something lying around the yard that was suitably red. In view of your excellent info I'll put primer on the new ones but wait to get some steer from above regarding a topcoat.
Andy
Out of interest it is currently earning its keep at Ropley as mobile storage for the driving wheels of S15 30499 so 105 years after it was built it is still doing useful work!