Mid Hants Railway Operational Matters

Thanks for the clarification. I wasn't sure if he was a part owner of 76017.

 

I noticed in the YouTube videos that there sees to be a bit of a push towards getting some more accessible coaches. What looks like TSO 4224 being done like 3738, and then there is FO 3063 being started on (presumably for the ding trains). It will be interesting to see what these coaches end up looking like in a year or two.

 

The additional accessible coaches are much needed.
However equally, careful planning needs to ensure the accessible coaches are easy too access from platform level and staff can put down ramps without being hindered by platform furniture.
When we visited last year, station staff at Alton had to move a bench seat to allow my partner the space to get her mobility scooter on board.
We've had very good experiences at Severn Valley Railway, Bluebell and Swanage railways in the past year and although staff at the MHR were very helpful it wasn't such a smooth seamless experience.
I do know thought that Rebecca Dalley is on the case regarding accessibility, which gives me hope going forward.

 

And so another Saturday dawned atop the hill & Muggin's 'Ere wasn't there!

A few of the lads were, and they continued bringing our workshop van back from the dead, in between passing trains....... others were engaged with brake van rides on the freight, or manning the model railway PMV in the cattle dock at Alresford.

Muggin's was out & about ballast yomping with @Hampshire Unit & jeez, did it get hot........ @21B, it was good to see you, and I don't think you ever stopped smiling all day - hardly surprising given you had charge of FR20!

T'morra is a day away from work herding cats........
So, a few pics from the day.....

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/55231636135/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/55231222681/in/dateposted-public/

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https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/55231380028/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/55230315972/in/dateposted-public/

 

Thanks to everyone who purchased things from the all sales stands, especially Eastleigh Railway Preservation Society. Every purchase helps repairs and overhauls.

A great weekend of train, people and bird watching. ( No Gricing owls noted, just Red Kites looking for unfinished bacon butties if the local rooks didn't get in first!)

Cheers, Neil

 

Does anyone know what is likely to be running over the weekend?

Thanks

Andrew

 

35005 & 41312 Sat/Sun
35005 & 47579 Mon

D8059 on 1600 ex Alton Saturday only

 

Thank you very much!

Took my a while to work out that the second loco on Monday wasn't a Jinty.....

Andrew

 

There should be a law against skipping the ‘space’ in TOPS numbers…



Simon

 

Me too!

Bryan

 

Well, that was some week!

Herding cats on Monday damn near killed Muggin's 'Ere, it was a long hot day, but all involved enjoyed themselves, and so did the loco crews and guard, which is what it's all about, and makes all the hard work put into these things well worth it......

At least Saturday atop the hill was a more leisurely one...... at the moment its a case of rinse and repeat on the workshop PMV - more cutting of corroded curb rail, more welding patches on the frame along with supports for the floor where the curb rail used to be...... along with more derusting, red oxiding and undercoating..........

The highlight of the day was the delivery of 16 8' x 4'Rhino boards, that will form the new floor in the PMV once the frames are into gloss.....

A mish mash of pics from yesterday, along with the charter and the gala......

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/55246275285/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/55245863056/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/55244972807/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/55244958662/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/55246275650/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/55236342263/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/55235292807/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/55236342678/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/55236196836/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/55236602750/in/dateposted-public/

 

But 31806 left 12 years ago, and would by now have been 5 years out of its boiler certificate.

 

That is true, but losing the utility of the full boiler ticket of two locomotives has meant a greater overhaul burden tha would have been the case.

 

An Ivatt night tonight

 

By Eck, it turned out to be a productive day atop the hill yesterday!

With just four like minded souls in attendance...... me Mucker carried on the task of removing corroded curb rail at the Country end, that was until the angle grinder packed up - he wouldn't have minded if it was old & battered, but it was brand new! Luckily, we do have a back up & the knackered one is off back to the shop!

That left Muggin's & Co. to crack on with painting.......

New steel that had been welded in place last week, was red oxided, and a start made on bringing the London end into 2nd undercoat & once the oxide had dried off, that was bought into 1st undercoat, so that by the time we got to it again, it would be ready for second undercoat......

Surprisingly, by the time lunch came around, 2/3rds of the frames were in second undercoat, including the newly painted bits, and we literally ran out of paint!!

So, after a leisurely lunch, and thanks to the heat of the day, and the latent heat in the steel, we were able to start getting it all into first gloss...... and by the close of play, what was in second undercoat, was now into first gloss!

Next time, it'll be bought into second gloss, which will mean we can then lay sections of the new flooring, and make a start on the body sides....

Didn't get the chance to pick up the camera, due to being a tad busy, so you'll just have to make do with a few more from the charter!

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/55261157820/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/55260762661/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/55260763346/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/55260900198/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/55259862387/in/dateposted-public/

2/3rds of the frame into first gloss - it doesn't look it, but it's a heck of a lot of steel to paint!

 

FYI for anyone visiting Watercress today. 30506 has failed on shed. 47 is taking over it's first train. Have no idea if 30506 will be fixed in time to run later on in the day.

 

Update 30506 is back in operation as of the next departure (13:00) from Alresford, just left Ropley coupled to the back of the down train.

 

Does anyone know what is on the diesel shuttle for Watercress festival today?
I'd have thought it would be the 150 if it wasn't for the fact that I don't think it would have the capacity based on how busy the festival trains usually get with top and tailed locomotives.

 

It was rostered to be the Class 47 and one of the Class 20's

 

Cheers