Mid Hants Railway Operational Matters

Shall we wait and see what tomorrow brings first?

 

The movement from Strawberry Hill to Alton isn't on RTT yet but the Class 31a are already on their way from Burton.

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:90970/2026-07-09/detailed

 

Strawberry Hill to Alton path now appeared. Estimated departure at 1.50pm.
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:91037/2026-07-09/detailed

 

Just saw some photos from a family member at Strawberry Hill. It appears that 31120 got left behind at the depot...

 

There are now a couple of videos on YT confirming this. Just one 31 and the 4-vep on their way to Alton.

 

The railway have now confirmed that 31120 won't be attending.

Combination of issues with the brakes, high temperatures and the critical role 3417 has as being the air-braked coaching stock, the decision was taken to leave her behind and inspect her at Strawberry Hill this weekend.

 

That's a shame but understandable.

 

My footage from day one of the diesel gala if anyone is interested. Nice to see trains packed even on a Friday, hopefully a nice profit after all is said and done.

 

There was no working party atop the hill yesterday due to the continued heat, even in the open air Medstead yard is a sun trap, and most folks would've spent more time seeking shade and liquid refreshment than actually doing anything physical, so there was no point in even bothering.

So I doff my cap to all who've been involved in keeping the show on the road during the three days of the diesel gala!

@Steve as for Tricoya, yes Muggin's 'Ere looked at it, along with a whole host of other options and would quite happily use it, but I'm not in control of or have a say in finances for our group and at the end of the day it simply boils down to how much money is in the pot........ if we spent it all on Tricoya, then we'd have nothing left to acquire the necessary paints.

 

https://www.facebook.com/share/1FNEUvPMMA/

Flags are flying at half mast at Alresford today for the sudden and untimely loss of a colleague while on duty last night.

We would like to thank the emergency services for their noble and extensive efforts for what was a railway tragedy not a railway accident.

Thoughts at this time are with his family and tributes will be paid in due course.

 

Ropley this morning.

 

Wine Train last night
35005 pulls out of Alresford with the"Wine Train" by Stephen Morley, on Flickr

 

Pat

 

I made a similar post on the Bluebell Thread, we are coming over for Christmas in London, and I’m looking for train things to do on one day where my wife is doing theatre shows. I can’t tell from past years, but does the MHR run any “normal” daytime post Christmas service or just the festive lights services? Looking for places that I can get to by rail and still have some daytime, we’re staying near Kensington Olympia so it’s south ish places of Bluebell or MHR that are rail accessible.

Any early insight is appreciated here as we are trip planning but still well out ahead for me to figure out what I can do on my “me day” of our trip.

Cheers,

Stephen Gardiner
Toronto, Ontario, Canada

 

Normally all MHR does is the Steam Illuminations trains in the evenings, alongside a handful of Father Christmas trains during the day.

 

Thanks, I wasn’t sure if they ran any normal services or not. Appreciate the response.

Cheers,

Stephen

 

Post Christmas is typically a quiet time on heritage railways as most would have been running an intensive schedule of Santa Specials, Festive Lights etc on the run up to the big day. The following week is time for the railways (i.e. their staff/volunteers) to recover. Several run New Year trains.

There are several railways within a day trip of London, including Didcot, Chinnor, Epping Ongar to name but a few. My map at https://www.heritage-railways.com/map.php may be useful, but you'd have to check the railways own websites to see what if anything they are running on the dates you want.

 

Yeah, I know its a down time for volunteers and places. Bluebell I remember having seen a limited post Christmas schedule in the past, and sounds like they hopefully will this year. MHR I couldn't remember if I had ever seen one, and everyone's sites these days seem to be really good at wiping out the past to look back! I've done a New Years steam day at Didcot before. We debated staying through New Years and flying home Jan 2, but decided to fly home Dec 30th and have a bit longer at home down time before back to work in January!

Cheers,

Stephen

 

It’s not so much of a downtime for the MHR volunteer, just that with two train sets each operating two return trips each evening over the period, there aren’t many left to operate a day service as well. One night of Steam illuminations requires 2x steam crews, 1x diesel crew, 4 signalmen, 14+ station staff, 2 guards, 8 on catering, 4 on the car parks, etc etc. in the course of the whole season there are maybe 75 engine days to cover. We have fewer than 30 drivers, so ….

not a rant, just an explanation of why running during the day isn’t possible, and that it’s not a quiet time.

 

Evening,

Doesn't anyone know if 35005 is out at the weekend?

Thanks

Andrew