Mid Hants Railway Operational Matters

I know it's only a tiny aesthetic point, but it's a shame pre-1990s headcode blinds can't be sourced and the high intensity headlight dispensed with.

(For the uninitiated, privatisation saw a new typeface introduced to the two character headcode blinds on Southern Region stock. Horizontally it was more compressed, threes were round-topped and there are other subtle variations to the style of each number. 1125 has these blinds, rather than the BR style)

 

I suppose it makes a change from from the usual complaint about paint. I think you should be, like me, impressed with the way that 1125 is turned out, due entirely to the efforts of a hard working group of volunteers. Not complaining about minor details.

 

Looking forward to first visit to MHR for diesel gala

 

You think I should, do you? You've only posted 31 messages and managed to already promote yourself to forum moderator? Congratulations.

 

I just get a bit ticked off by people who do nothing practical in railway preservation, criticising the efforts of those that do.

 

Congratulations on getting more likes than messages! It must be the quality rather than the quantity of your contributions.

 

Two photos from today's Hastings rail tour.

 

A few shots featuring yesterday's visitor to the Mid Hants

A pair of DEMUs at Ropley

Hasting Unit 1001 & Hampshire Unit 1125 by Tim White, on Flickr

Hastings Unit passing through M&4M non stop on her outward journey.

Hasting Unit 1001 by Tim White, on Flickr

Picking up the token.

Hasting Unit 1001 by Tim White, on Flickr

The Hastings Unit is certainly a different beast to our Hampshire Unit.

For those heathens who don't worship the ICE
cheltenham shunting into the yard to be prepared for the evening Murder Mystery train.

Schools Class 925 - Cheltenham by Tim White, on Flickr

9F and gronk cold on shed at Ropley

British Railways 9F 92212 & BR 08 by Tim White, on Flickr

 

I knew I wasn't feeling too clever yesterday (something disagreed with me) but I reckon I was seriously ill.... I took a pic of not one, but two b b b boxes.......

1001 & 1125...... https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/37160874940/

1001 on its way home...... https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/37370987176/

Later I was feeling much better, as I caught the RAT ECS leaving Ropley!

45379...... https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/37160879480/in/photostream/

 

There are a couple of Edwardian era photos of Romsey signal box in the current issue of the South Western Circular - one distant, one reasonably close. The reproduction isn't brilliant but I assume the SWC probably have the originals.

Tom

 

Not strictly a current operational matter, but earlier in the year, the PW gang removed, and shortly after replaced, a section of lineside fencing at Bishops' Sutton, to enable some filming. The results were shown during the latest episode of "Philip K Dick's Electric Dreams" on Channel 4 last night. Titled "The Commuter" Timothy Spall starred, along with 50027 and Woking station was prominent, including the fine Southern Railways signal box. For those of you with a delicate constitution that might watch this programme, !be warned that the words "fxxx Basingstoke" are uttered!

 

I suspect the MHR like my railway are using up the BR blinds they have in stock (we have lots of multiple unit and a few Loco ones) before spending out money on new blinds. Much higher priorities for money and labour in just keeping the units running. A bulk shared order when the time comes ?

Brian

 

Thanks, one of our members is a SWC member and contact is being made to get more detailed prints.
It has thrown up that the weather boarding below the windows was vertical not horizontal like most Series 1 LSWR boxes. It turns out that the weather boarding which was fitted to replace the asbestos in about 1985 was historically correct after all.

Off line contacts with the Mid Hants revealed that the flat cladding on Alresford box covers the original diagonal framing which had been removed at Romsey and from photos at Dean by the 1970's.

Regards, Neil

 

"For those of you with a delicate constitution that might watch this programme, !be warned that the words "fxxx Basingstoke" are uttered!"

Not concerned about the profanity, but Basingstoke is just not acceptable!
( It was bad enough being based there for work, without it starring on TV.... )

Cheers, Neil

 

Anyone out there ever considered being a General Manager of a perserved railway. The MHR are now seeking a person to take this role on.

http://preservation.watercressline.co.uk/news/entry/mid-hants-railway-seeks-general-manager

 

Fancy the job Lee ?

Chris

 

Looking on the MHR web site. There is an update on 35005.

http://preservation.watercressline.co.uk/blog/entry/wheelie-good-progress

 

45379 was out on the Belle last night for a change!

Some 'pretty' pics.........

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/37569981421/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/37521567616/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/37521607236/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/23717677618/

But there was a b b b box on the RAT....... the Crompton brought the ECS into Ropley & was promptly failed - cue some fast shunting & kick starting the Hoover into life to get the train to Alton before departure..........

Seen here coming into Ropley

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/23717627088/

 

Think of it as a 50th birthday party for 50027