MHR steam galas March & Sept 2009

Diagrams for Sat/Sun now on the MHR website.

Well done Tim! Hope you enjoyed your run on the freight today.

 

Re the thick smoke at Ropley.

Do the MHR (and other steam railways), ask for extra to make a contribution towards making their operations "carbon neutral". I see Steam Dream ask for a donation for that when you make a booking.

Done properly, maybe that is a good idea? I think it is something we are all going to have to face up to before long, whether we travel behind steam or just enjoy photting it.

 

Just got back home from a very good days photting and well done to the Mid-Hants guys for pulling off a superb event. Also credit to the C&W guys for what is a very good rake of wagons. Here's a photo of the 9F on the freight train today heading towards Ropley (of course full sun came out about 5 seconds later), which was taken on the correct side of the cattle crossing just south of Medsted & Four Marks with the use of a step ladder to get the elevation. My Dad and I would like to add thanks to the powers that be for making available a full working timetable and an enjoyable days photting.

Cheers

 

An excellent day, even though Nelson and the Yanky tank failed in the afternoon, at Alton & Ropley respectively. The Staff at Alresford kept us well informed, as to when we could expect the next departure( shortly after they had been told).
Great to have the Real Ale coach in the dock again and open for business.
The goods train is an impressive set of wagons, any chance of being able to take passengers at the next gala ?(like a certain railway in North Wales does).

 

Bet you didn't realise that the regulators handle for 30075 had fallen off! the driver was holding it in his hand as he was talking to me!

 

A great day even though the bit at the end was a little disappointing but these things happen.... sadly too often of late at MHR with unfortunate and unavoidable incidents taking place.
Any news on the problem with Nelly and will she be back for the remainder of the Gala weekend tomorrow?

Here a shot of the D on the freight in stunning lighting

 

I too had a great day. What is the problem with Nelson? Nobody knew at Ropley by the time I had to leave. Looking forward to The Waverley and Swanage tomorrow.
Cheers
Alan

 

Nelson had a problem with its brakes, however it was fixed in time for the end of the gala so it double headed the pullmans to alresford from alton with 92212.

Will be back in service for the rest of the gala. Also, Andrew king how did you manage to get such a good shot of the super d in the same position as I was? my photo has too much shadow. We were probably talking at the time.

No doubt all my photos will look crap when Matt releases his photos................

 

There was some sort of brake problem with LN, I was told. The highlight of the event for me was the beautifully restored BR era mixed freight. Top marks to the wagon restoration team !

David at www.uksteam.info

 

We had a tour by a nice chap at 4 marks by the wagons department. It's free and very good

 

A selection of my photo's, can be found at http://paul-simpson.fotopic.net/c1754155.html

 

my pics from today:

http://simon71.fotopic.net/c1754760.html

 

I was there on Friday. This was my best shot of the day

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=296930&nseq=0

Yes, I know the location is wrong, I typed in the wrong one when I submitted the pic and already have a request in with the website to get it changed to North Street.


STEVE

 

Pity to hear about the problems with Nelson but good to see it wasn't too serious. Here she is on the Saturday, it was too warm for smoke effects sadly but nice colours nonetheless.

 

David I think your problem was more that it is 1 in 60 downhill at that point! It was certainly clagging nicely through Chawton Wood alas the sun didn't play ball.

 

Just put my photos from Friday up on my fotopic site:

http://jasonhull2000.fotopic.net/c1755145.html

Long walk from Ropley to the fields!

 

Mid Hants Steam Gala

Drrrrrrrat. They must have come in shortly after I left Alresford to drive home to South West Wales.

I really enjoyed my first Mid Hants Steam Gala. Well done to everybody involved.

 

Yes that's true, at least when the Super D & 5224 came up the other way they were chimney first and working up the gradient so we did get some good steam and sun for those two piccies. Overall though my Dad and I had a very good days' photting and the Super D & 9F looked fantastic with the goods train.

 

A difficult gala for photography for sure. With most of the engines facing out of Alton the locations where the locos are working are very limited. Add to that the hot weather, patchy sun and horrendous vegetation it was a challenge.

As for the Super D on the pseudo Pullman rake I will say nothing other than the camera stayed firmly in the bag!

A couple of pics, the rest are on my website:







Well done to all concerned, seemed like the trains where busy and of course 11/10 for the advance WTT. How about a program next year with the WTT in it, could be a good revenue stream? the SVR sell them for £5!

Now for a request for the Spring Gala, 7F 53809 please (88 in blue is NOT an option).

 

Bravo MHR! A superb event on Friday and Saturday. Couldn't come on Sunday as I was on Tornado's run to Exeter. Here are some of my favourite pictures from the many I managed to take: