Mid Hants Railway Operational Matters

https://watercressline.co.uk/special-days/steam-illuminations/

Pop Anthems Experience from 29 December - 4 January

After Christmas, keep the party going! The Pop Anthems Edition takes over with a soundtrack of iconic hits from the 60s to today – Queen, Taylor Swift, Rihanna, and more – all perfectly synced with your interactive LED wristbands. It’s a dance party like no other!

 

Oh come on, I'm not sure about Taylor Swift, but I would very happily have sung along with ABBA. Until the train was stopped so they could check for a seized axle box on a coach that was drowning out the noise of the singing . .

When I was wardening on the big Isle of Sheppey reserve I got people to leave on time by telling them if they tried to stay late I would sing to them. Then I had to quickly remind them of the 10 mph speed limit on the Reserve's access track.

Bryan

 

Watercress Line teased some big news coming soon, with a Scottish Flag emoji and subscribe to their mailing list.

I think it was said that a couple of East Coast visitors were lined up to visit this year and presumably is hinting at another visit by Flying Scotsman.

 

It was literally as advertised – a ‘pop anthems’ trip in the betwixtmas perineum, when people are looking for something to do with the family, but are sick of Slade, Wizzard and Jingle Bells.

We’ll probably go again next year, if it’s running. I was sceptical, but in a group of six covering three generations (some with zero interest in trains) all had a great time.

Simon

 

I have been having a good laugh about some of the suggestions coming up in the comments under the posting on Face book.
So far some people have said 46100 is coming even though it is out of ticket at Margate. 46115 Scots Guardsman was also mentioned.
There is of course the usual boring moaning about 60103 "the Flying money pit" visiting again. I certainly won't mind travelling behind the sole remaining A3 again as she won't be running forever.


Edit: A quick search I just did on Google has revealed the identity of the loco that is visiting in March.
Some folks are not going to be happy............

 

Me too with GOOGLE and I got this. But the link to the Watercress page doesn't work and I can't find anything via the Watercress line website.

But as it MAY happen, I've asked NASA to pencil me in to join the first manned flight to the planet Mars over those dates. Unless the car park it could be on display in is on that planet?

Bryan

 

I find people love to hate Flying Scotsman way too much. The important thing of all this is that'll bring in plenty of money and new visitors to Watercress. It's not like it's the only loco that'll visit the railway this year.

All these people who moan on social media about it. Well there's an easy solution don't go, it'll sell out likely regardless.

 

Quite right, I won't go anywhere near it. But that doesn't stop me from exercising my right to free speech.

Although, on a positive note, maybe they could run it at the same time as they run the newly arrived sliding door demu. Thus reducing the number of times I need to keep away from the Mid-Hants this coming year.

Bryan

 

I understand the plan is to run the 150/2 in every day that there is a train in operation as either the 2nd or 3rd set in operation.

 

My like is for the information, not the message.



Bryan

 

A photographic evening with Flying Scotsman, £150
Flying Scotsman Photography Experience - Watercress Line

....or a ride behind the iconic Flying Scotsman, £62
Day Out With Flying Scotsman From Ropley - Watercress Line

 

From the press release an early train?
https://watercressline.co.uk/our-trains/diesel-locomotives/class-150-sprinter-unit-no-150231/
"The Class 150 fills a useful gap in our service by enabling an earlier departure from Alton and improving flexibility on operating days."

 

I’m so happy to have an extra reason for repeat visits this year. I’m really looking forward to riding the 150 many, many times! I don’t usually bother with driver experiences, but may have a change of policy this year!

 

Count me out on this with it’s no choice of seats or even where to park. My visits nowadays need to be restricted to 35005 or other locos of interest and freely accessible. My best run with the A3 was in 1969 before it became a money machine; a storming run up from Leicester never to be forgotten.

Don

 

Understandable, but I suspect that something like 10% of the revenue earned by the railway in 2026 will come from this visit. Perhaps a greater % even of the profit will be from this event. The hard reality is that the events that tend not to be of much interest to the enthusiast are what keep the railway afloat. Pretty much the entire “industry” is struggling to recover to the visitor numbers pre 2020, and some never will. I cannot say I am a great lover of FS, too much hype around it. I was very closely involved with the last visit, and it brings in an audience which doesn’t normally visit and provides an opportunity to attract those new faces. This event is essential, absolutely essential for the railway. Not just the substantial revenue boost, but mostly the opportunity to bring in those new faces.

 

Yes I understand that and hope it makes the MHR lots of money but it’s not for me. Don

 

I am not picking on you (I hope), but your post was a useful prompt to explain what may not be obvious to all / bring attention to the issues being faced.

covid had a profound effect. Heritage Railways have faced a three headed problem…. Losing perhaps 20% of their business; Losing about 20% of volunteering hours; Seeing costs rise by around 20%.

The two biggest issues are the loss of visitors and the loss of volunteers. If I had to choose one, it would be the loss of volunteering and that is the one that needs fixing first IMHO. One way to do that is running events that attract a new audience and then working hard to recruit from that audience.

 

Same here.

Living in the South West, i can hop on a 150, pretty much anytime at the moment, but that won't last forever, as their numbers gradually decline in the years ahead.

However to ride on one regularly at the MHR, will be great, they aren't bad units and deserve their place in preservation.

 

150231 on the Watercress Line by Stephen Morley, on Flickr

Destination dot matrix display reprogrammed!

 

Have they managed to set Alton & Alresford as destinations on the indicator Steve?