Mid-Hants Railway | Watercress Line | Spring Steam Gala 24th-26th April 2026

41312 dropping onto the 1425 ex Alton with 68067 on the rear from the station announcement.

 

The Express is running and on its way to Medstead at the moment behind the Ivatt and S15.
One of the Class 20's was waiting in the yard at Ropley presumably to come out and replace the ailing 68067.

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68067 was taken back to Ropley on the rear of the heavily delayed 14.25 from Alton. Old faithful 41312 showing how it should be done on the front.
We just had a great run up the bank behind the Standard Five on the delayed 14.55. A quality bit of kit barking up the bank.

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After sitting out the Bluebell gala last year, it seems 68067 is not a fan of former Southern Region metals!

 

Seemed to work very well at Swanage though it did have a helper a lot of the time.

 

68067 is still in use as we passed it at Ropley at the head of the 15.20 service from Alresford with 41312 at the rear. This is the opposite of the scheduled working. Not sure if 41312 is staying with 68067 as insurance as the rear engine was due to come off at Ropley.
We are now spending the rest of the day behind 73156 on her last two trips of the day.

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And who could blame you - it's a superb loco, powerful and with a good bark. I was filming today but thoroughly enjoyed the gala. Thanks to all at the Mid-Hants. My donation was gratefully accepted at Ropley. [BJ]

 

Typical example of a message being repeated down the line and it looses all sense of what the issue was/is. The Austerity Saddletank wouldn't steam against its injectors.
It stopped on each trip it made for a long blow up even though it was only on a 3 coach train.

 

As has been observed previously - the GCR is downhill in both directions
Pat