Mid Hants Railway Operational Matters

OK, it's indirect evidence, but I asked the question on a Bluebell Facebook group and someone turned up a photo of an LB&SCR ownership plate (*) attached to an E4 when they were loaned to the ROD. So it feels to me at least plausible that doing so would be more widespread practice, though to be really sure you'd need to find a clear photo (probably unlikely during wartime) or an actual plate turning up an an auction (possibly unlikely given that they would likely have been removed when the loco returned to home metals).

(*) An oval plate, labelled

LB&SCRY
506
England​

And attached via two holes to the inside of the cabs.

Tom

 

The England entry is interesting. Did they go to France, or were the LBSC just covering all the angles?
Pat

 

They went to France - 12 of them, leaving in October / November 1917 and returning in mid 1919.

Bradley notes that the ownership plates were attached in the middle of the cab rear, inside.

Tom

 

Annnnnnnd................. I'm Back!!!

Having been elsewhere for the last five weeks, it was a shock to the system crawling out of the pit at silly o clock on a Saturday morning - I've got used to 07:30 at the earliest - so Monday at 05:00 is going to be painful!!!

Any road, it was good to be back atop the hill, and while I've been on the missing list, they've rearranged the furniture................ gone is the model railway PMV! In have fome the Lowfit with D container for assessment, as BR standard brak van for some remedial works and a repaint, plus the box van we red carded a few months ago, and LMS van M517317, which we are working on, has finally been moved onto the blocks, which is exactly where we need it!

With just two of us being daft enough to brave what was a cold and windy morning, after a brew, breakfast & catch up, it was time to set to with tasks on the LMS van - first one being to remove all 26 floor planks from under to workshop CCT and set them out in the sun across the 4' of road #2 - fine it was just to hoik them out & lay them across the ajoining track, but no, we had to manhandle them a good 100' up the yard which meant we soon warmed up!!!

Then it was time to apply a generous coat of Dollop, this seemed to take forever...... plus we also needed to find a new home for the semi undercoated cladding planks, left exposed when M517317 was moved.....

Once the Dollop had been applied, it was plank time...... but before they could be moved, we had to shift M517317 off the blocks, this was achieved with the use of a pinch bar!

So one of us began the process of moving piles of planks into the 4' down at the blocks, the other had the easier task of keying the London end corrugation and vent plate in readiness of a first coat of 'Bauxite' so that the vent plate an grille can be put back on.

That took us up to munch time.

After which, it was out with the brushes - first off, the above mentioned, and then anything inside the van that was in undercoat went into first black gloss.

That took us most of what was left of the day, so it was then time to reverse the process with the floor planks, and put them back under the CCT...... a large dollop of banter eased the pain though!

Job done it was time to head home, and sink into a sofa whilst making friends with some neck oil!

It doesn't sound a lot work wise, but its a good step forward to geting the van back into traffic....

Just a thought...... who needs to pay a fee to a gym to burn off calories, when you can join us atop the hill & move copious planks of varying lengths & weights, over every increasing distances for nothing!!!

A couple of pics of yesterdays trains.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/52383105003/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/52383178079/in/dateposted-public/

The floor planks basking in the sun with the Dollop soaking in......



London end corrugation into first gloss - it won't be that colour once its finished, trust me!!!


Internal bracing into black.


Finally, one of the gusset plates trial fitted a couple 0f weeks ago.

 

This weeks YouTube video is now available to watch. There’s a look around what’s happening at Ropley and a look at what’s happening with 50027 Lion.


https://www.youtube.com/c/MidHantsRailwayTheWatercressLine/videos

 

What is the other loco running pls?

 

76017
PS Waved at @Stinch as he passed us this morning -track inspection M4M-Alresford

 

Thank you. Much appreciated

 

Always nice to know all still the PW is still there.

 

You tend to know when the Permanent Way is not so Permanent

 

And so another day dawned atop the hill yesterday, with our numbers slightly bolstered, and seeing as I hadn't seen either of them in over a month due to being on the missing list, a good old catch up ensued over brekkie & a brew!

After that, it was time to crack on with the day...... just a 'couple' of jobs on the list.... it never works out like that, as they always multiply!!

We Had two vehicles on the to do list, both red carded, one quite a few years ago & the other only a few months back.....

First one to look at was the Lowfit with the D container..... all we had to do was lift the floor timbers on either end, so that the headstocks & box sections around the draw hooks can be inspected, as both are severly corroded & possibly need major surgery, as ever its easier said than done!

The North & South dropsides presented no problems, but the end ones didn't exactly want to drop, we found out why later!!

The other vehicle in our sights was B760337, which we'd red carded due to missing claws on the brake blocks..... when we inspected it, we founf some of the ironmongery hanging off the north side by a thread, which we really weren't happy about, but couldn't remedy as it was in Bennett's right by the running line, so now that its in the yaed, we can!

Before anything further happened, we were joined by a new recruit, so it was time to put the kettle on & get to know each other...... next you know, we're off on a bit of a jolly on the company transport to show them something of the railway & our pride & joy - the GPV which just happened to be at Ropley..... which also gave me an excuse to seek out my Ropley spy & remind him his update is over due....... him & his excuses!

After that & back in the comfort of Medstead up yard, our new recruit was given the 'simple' task of sorting out the north side door catches on the box van.... we were easing him gently......

Whilst he was working out what he needed, the two of us left (one of our number having departed to help his lad move out) carried on where we'd left off & removed the final floor plank, that was the easy bit, but as neither of were happy with end dropsides, it was decided it was worth investigating as to why they were misbehaving...... so out came the WD40.... after letting the hinges soak, they moved more freely, but not smoothly.... probably because on either end a hinge pin is missing & the other three don't like the extra stress, this we discovered, as it took two of us working in tandem just to to get one center pin out!!

After cleaning up the pin, it was discovered just how out of true it actually was & the others aren't much better, so that's eight new hinge pins, plus moditied split pins one of our number has to make.

Back over on the box van, what was a simple job yet again proved to be anything but, as the door catches, instead of moving freely had been painted shut, which meant that every time the doors needed to be released, the catches had to be forced up, meaning the timber behind gradually got eaten away, hence why they were habnging loose!

Still, between the three of us the job got done - tack welding square washers to the bolt heads was the only solution due to there not being a lot of timber left to bite on to!

Now our new memeber of the Saturday gang knows why we call them troublesome trucks, as he thought it'd take ten minutes or so to do!!! Welcome to the gang Fella!

Now, on a personal note.... whilst we were down at Ropley I bumped into the owner of 50 027.... he's slightly more upbeat than the last time I saw him, but he's still short of the money needed to get the generator lifted out & sent away for diagnosis - yes I know times are hard, but we're all in the same boat, for this we call all blame 'Vlad the Lad'...... but Lion is badly needed by the railway, so if you can help even if its just £10, that would go a long way to getting 50 027 back up & running!

The link to donate anything you can spare. https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfun...Ycc0NY2HnSB089Htk5JH9w4bhrFS91kg4kJSkfwsTR7FY

A couple of pics of the Kettles out yesterday..... It was good to see @Stinch & exchange pleasntries as he passed by on 30925!

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/52399185631/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/52398668237/in/dateposted-public/

One of the offending hinge pins........ not good!

View attachment 71977
One of the north side door catches on B760337, now fit for purpose.

View attachment 71978

 

As its gala time, its time for a shameless plug, to break your journey and alight at Medstead so that you can come and say hello to members of the wagon group, whilst browsing preloved items of all shapes and sizes on our sales stand, and helping to boost our fighting fund to tame the troublesome trucks, without breaking the bank!!!

But..... if you are looking to spoil yourself, we have some of our latest limited edition wagon. which would look good on any OO gauge layout....... they are £15 each, or two for £29 as we have two different numbers. ( they are also available from the info office at Alresford.)

See pic below - not mine.

And if that isn't enough, we are also offering one way rides on the freight, each day, in the QMB from either Alresford to Alton or vice versa for a mere £5, offering you the chance to see a different view of the line.

So we look forward to seeing you over the course of the weekend, and helping us in the never ending fight to keep our fleet running!

 

Would anyone be kind enough to verify which way the gala locos are facing please? [BJ]

 

30925, 41312 (as 41294) and 506 face London, 76017 and 53808 face Country

 

It’s kilmersdon day is finally here

 

I heard he's hiding in the back of the shed, refusing to come out, poor boy's traumatised he saw his friend dave, being pulled apart, , when they sent diesel to go get him, he wouldn't budge,

 

He's fine

Peckett at Ropley by Stephen Morley, on Flickr

 

off to find another hiding place, behind some wagons at Medstead most likely,

 

The current gala is being marketed as Farewell to the Schools. Does anyone know if she’ll see further service - November photo charter excepted - after this weekend’s event?