MHR Restorations and Overhauls

Sorry to be picky Steve, but its FULL Nelson not whole if you're thinking in a wrestling context!

Nice photo though!

 

Brilliant photo steve.

 

The Bullied coaches restored by the Vintage Carriage Trust are painted in red and cream. They were running at the KWVR Autumn Gala. I also saw Braunton just after overhaul at Minehead a couple of years ago. Looks superb. See coahes and Braunton on

http://steammemories.blogspot.co.uk/

 

Nunney Castle & Raveningham Hall were still at the MHR on Saturday. Raveningham Hall being out and about on Saturday and I believe rostered for Sunday. I believe the Hall will be around for about another week and I thought I had seen reports that the Castle would be doing footplate experience turns (but can't find where I saw that, so that may be a figment of my imagination).
Nunney Castle on shed Saturday night with 45379:

Nunney Castle 5029 Black 5 45379 by timz2011, on Flickr

 

Only if their was sufficient interest. The Midhants website advised anyone who was interested to register their interest.

 

There has been sufficient interest for 2 days of Footplate Experience runs. Thu 20th is being run for the 5029 support crew (as was done for 35028 in March) and Fri 21st for paying punters. There will be 3 round trips each day with ECS (not sure how many, perhaps 4?) to the usual "AFE" timetable - which is not the same as the passenger timetable. There's also a special charter during the day and both evening trains (Belle and RAT) on Sat 22nd, so I wonder if she'll find employment on Saturday, too?

 

She pulled the Belle last time around....(2008)
I'm cooking on 22nd as well....

 

The Urie Soceity it having its AGM on Saturday 29th November at 2pm in the viewing gallery at Ropley. I wont be able to attend due to work commiments but hope to read all about it in the next newsletter.

 

Nunney Castle and Raveningham Hall were both still at Ropley last night, I believe the departures are planned starting next week.
45379 was on duty on the Diner, with the RAT top & tailed by 37 324 (37 099) and 92212.

Class 37 37324 ECS RAT Departure from Ropley by timz2011, on Flickr

The crews on the RAT did a sterling job keeping pretty much to time on a damp, misty night with railhead conditions that cannot have been great as there had been no significant running for 2 weeks. I'm not sure that the Belle faired quite so well.

 

The Belle is (I think) 4 coaches, one of which is the Kitchen, another the Generator, so not all that heavily loaded.
The RAT is 6 up, with 300+ on board. Also the RAT needs to hit the 10:44 connection from Alton on SWT, whereas the Belle finishes at Alresford, so the passengers will be disembarking into cars & cabs.
It's the importance of the SWT connection that dicates that the RAT is kept to time.

Would it have been better to have the 9F on the Belle and the Black 5 on the RAT (+ the 37), maybe, but the Belle usually gets the prettier locos.

 

Does anyone know whether 73096 is still at the watercress line or has she now made her final journey from the line

 

Still at Ropley today.

 

Is 73096 definetly leaving?

Has JB sold it to WCRC or somebody else, obviously I know where everyone thinks its going (WCRC/Carnforth) but has it been confirmed for certain that's where its going? Seems funny its still there when the other engines left PDQ?

 

Just been reading the latest blogs on the Mid Hants website and got to admit Im very impressed by the work the Carriage works team have done on that Bulleid Brake coach it really is looking the business.

 

Yes! ( thank god... end of an era and all that.......)

She is Carnforth bound, but like Bodmin, there's been no official announcement as to who actually owns her, or agreement reached.......

 

I noticed most of MHR's fleet (including operational) seems to live outside, yet 73096 has always seemed to have been (whenever Ive been there) kept like a holy cow and under cover.. is this by agreement, emotional attachment, scared of the rain ??.. what lucky engine will get it's shed space ?

 

I think you will find the last couple of galas she has been in the shed because it frees up space in the headhunt for the support coaches that arrive! Simples 73096 has been down in the Ropley Headshunt since her ticket expired.

 

When her ticket expired she was used many times for wheeldrop demos with a set of her driving wheels being moved up and down. This has happened at Galas and Open Day events.

 

Hopefully one of the diesels...... 50027 gets my vote.

Doesn't do them any good being sat outside for long periods, steam locos always seem a bit more resistant towards the weather.