MHR Restorations and Overhauls

Why not? Seems like a good idea, no?

 

How talk of 850 Lord Nelson moving on got in to this thread I dont know. It is under the custody of Eastleigh RPS and now the Mid Hants. S15 828 is now at Ropley from Swanage so apart from the idea of a visit down to the sea side now and then why would it be based there.
Swanage have a good set up there with the works away from the line at Herston through Southern Locomotives Ltd and others with reliable and easy to maintain locos.Nelson might be a liability for the time being as we all know it has issues. Ropley are working through these to get it to the sort of condition and reliability which we would all like to see.
Then all it will need is a repaint in two or three years time to 30850 !.

 

Unless her reliability improves I don't want to she her down at Swanage!!! No Offence!

 

Would be nice at swanage though!

 

The latest Ropley diary is now online - http://www.watercressline.co.uk/News/Loco/View/389

Firstly, I'd like to wish Dave a speedy recovery from his appendicitis - I had mine out when I was a kid. Nasty business!

The diary also mentions AWS being fitted to the Black 5 (and sure enough, there is a photo of AWS being installed on 45379). I didn't realise there was a requirement for AWS on the MHR. Can anyone explain?

 

MHR have been using AWS for over ten years

 

Where are the AWS magnets located ? Are all the distant signals equipped, and are any of the distants operational (as opposed to fixed) ? I can imagine there might be an AWS magnet on the approach to Alton for testing locos about to join the mainline. The WSR has an AWS magnet for up trains approaching the WSR/Network Rail boundary, but it is actually Network Rail equipment on WSR track.

 

Yes I'm sure I'll get shot down for this but I'd rather see Nelson get painted Brunswick green than see it move to another railway - unless it comes to the Bluebell of course

 

David, as much as I admire your loyalty to the Bluebell, there are other preserved Railways out there you know.

Regards
Chris:

 

Yeah I know but always worth a good bit of banter

 

All the distant signals on the line are equipped as are some of the colour lights in the Alton scheme. The Alresford distant is operated automatically by the homes, the new Ropley distants will be fully operational and the Medstead Colour light distants are fixed at present. So you can get bells as well as horns :smile:. All in all a superb and interesting signalling system.

 

Who decided that AWS was going to be installed? I assume it was a decision taken by the railway rather than a suggestion by HMRI?

 

what's going on with 30499 that moved there some years back from the elr?

 

I do know there is one magnet bewteen Stable lane and Rookwood lane and I think there is another one near Brighton lane bridge. It can't be to long before the distant signal at Stable lane will be working.

http://lee.mediaobjects.co.uk/p68805964.html

 

What about swapping 34070 Manston for 30850 Lord Nelson. Now that’s what I call a good swap.

 

Sorry to add another post but I see the Bricklayers arms 73B turntable has now been removed from the MHR.

http://www.watercressline.co.uk/Rail-Mail/Letters

 

Part of a swap deal for Standard 4MT No. 80150

 

...no...

 

Visited the MHR on Sunday for two round trips with 45379. Was nice to travel on a quieter day without the scrums usually synomynous with galas! The Black 5 really is a work of art and looks superb. The attention to detail with the fabricating of the many copper pipe runs for instance is superb. From the first droplight it appears the loco runs exceptionally smoothly too. Great job with the restoration, and a far cry from when I remember seeing it several years ago in the bay platform at Bitton.

Lots going on at Ropley, the highlight for me was seeing 31806 resplendent in freshly applied BR lined black. Very much looking forward to catching this loco later in the year. The frames of 76017 are looking good, recently painted in grey primer. Work was taking place in the yard on the rolling chassis of 30828 which I'm told is under overhaul. Is this being done by the MHR, for use on the MHR?

A great day all in all, and was also very impressed at all the stations which were very smart and tidy - evidence of some real care and attention from the volunteers.

A couple of photos - one of 31806 at Ropley, and the other of 45379 heading into Alresford with the 13.55 from Alton: