MHR steam galas March & Sept 2009

I can't remember her being at the MHR before anyone got a photo of her at the MHR.

 

I will see what I can dig out of my archives or my Dads......................

 

I think you will find that Met No1 was running last time, it ran double headed with S15 no506 at a gala in the early 1990`s . There is a picture of it blowing off steam from the safety valves in the book Mid-Hants Railway in colour page 57.

The loco that was being pushed was M7 no 245 after it was stored at the MHR after the Woking 150 events in 1989. she was coupled up to the T9 No120.

 

#-o Quite right. I got a bit mixed up there. Thanks for the correction.

 

M7 30053 arriving at Ropley circa Feb 1993 I think.

 

...but only three Maunsell coaches in SR green!

We've seen a new steam loco built from scratch. If loco-owners want to run their engines in pre-48 liveries, maybe it's about time someone started thinking about scratch-built rolling stock. I'm sad that the M7 is going into olive green simply because there is nothing at Swanage to run it with that matches. (or the Mid-Hants fo that matter) Even the Push-pull set isn't appropriate, as I think these 1930's coaches were not adapted in this way until after nationalisation. An LSWR "Gate" set would be a good scratch-build project to start with.

 

Hi just got this off the MHR web site

From: Colin Chambers
Sent: 12 January 2009 14:12
Subject: Spring Steam Gala, 13-15 March 2009, current lineup

850 Lord Nelson
Met #1
Well tank
34007 Wadebridge
73096 Std 5
60017 Bittern
Plus hopefully one more ex LSWR tank tbc
Regards
Colin Chambers
Managing Director
Mid Hants Railway Ltd 'Watercress Line'

 

Presumbly the possible other LSWR tank loco will be the M7?

 

Looks likely as I can't think of any others that are available.

Looking at the line-up I guess there will be shuttle services with the tanks and full line services with the big'uns going by previous galas. I expect there will be more appearances from the freight train too.

 

This sounds like a nice event in the offing. Diaried already!

Could anybody advise of nice photo spots on the MHR? I've been several times but the foliage usually gets in the way unless I go walkies down the line.

Regards

 

Only other i can think of (if indeed she is available) is 30587?

But i doubt MHR would want another well tank when they will have one!

 

I don't think they will be allowed to have both together. Wasn't there some sort of agreement that they could only be used together at the Bodmin & Wenford Railway. I could be wrong but I am sure I read this in one of the mags. :-k
Still, I am looking forward to the gala. I just hope 850 arrives in time. [-o< I guess she is still at Carnforth and not ML approved as she didn't do the run on the 29th Nov. :-k Or was 850 passed for the ML on the GCR after the 60mph test runs there? I've lost track of all the events surrounding 850's return to the ML.

 

Both of the well tanks were at Quainton together a couple of years back.

 

Latest news from the MHR website:

So, no M7 - this time...

Regarding the Beattie Well Tank twins. The only places you'll see them together in the foreseeable future are their home bases - Quainton and Bodmin, and possibly the NRM.

 

Looks like a great line up. Let's hope that the Met 1 will be able to do Alersford to Medstead shuttles

 

There's confirmation on the Watercress Line web site this morning that 41312 has been passed by the boiler inspector for the Spring Gala.

 

Thats's Fantastic news!!! Maybe she might get a slight extension on her boiler cert as did CP? [-o<

 

4 day's use is all we've got.

 

Galas only 3 days long though , or is it something to do with using the 1st of 4 days to warm the box though and everything?

 

Any news on a timetable for next weekend's gala?

And which NatPres members will be there?

Richard