Mid Hants Railway Operational Matters

Oh yes, i'm sure there will be plenty, but i doubt if some will ever be able to be told For me, i can remember back when we used to use platform 2 at alton for santa's and galas, One santa, we had shunted into Platform 2, To await our departure time, Our engine was 701, and this man came up, asking, are we the next train for Waterloo, Not only were we facing the wrong way, but our steed was a steam engine. Waterloo via Eastleigh, and Havant, and there is a problem of a missing section of track,

 

So here I am once more In the playground of the broken wagons........ One more experience, one more entry In a post, self penned.......

Sorry I've come over all Marillion...... apologies to Fish & Co for the slight alterations! But seems quite apt for my ramblings on here!!

And so another Saturday dawned atop the hill yesterday, well actually it didn't, as it was just grey, dank, wet and windy all damn day!!!

Muggin's 'ere hadn't actually planned on going up, but got asked late on Friday night by his partner in crime from the previous week if he could save him from being dragged around the shops...... so after giving it some thought for a nanosecond, as it would save me from slowly climbing the walls, I agreed.....

So,after the usual start to the day - a brew, brekkie & some banter in the mess room, down the yard we ventured..... and given the conditions, working outside was not on the cards! Matey was fully expecting us to spend the day sanding back more of the cladding planks for LMS van M517317, but muggin's had already decided that a quiet day was in order, so, as well as sanding the damn things back, at some point we have to start geting them into undercoat....... and to misqoute Baldrick "I had a cunning plan!" Namely to get as many planks as possible into 2nd undercoat..... with only the noise from a radio for company & not sanders!!!

Lets just say matey was sceptical until I explained the process, which involved various tricks of the trade

And so a leisurely day ensued inside the CCT, with plenty of brew breaks & banter inbetween getting planks, two by two into 2nd undercoat...... by end of play. we'd managed to get nine planks into second undercoat, which doesn't sound a lot, but given the constraints of a CCT full of other atuff, is actually not too bad!

Before I forget, @Romsey, thanks Andy for your kind comments - I meant to respond last time & totally forgot!

@WesternRegionHampshireman, sorry, I'm not privvy to the information, but I'm lead to believe that this years calender will be pretty much the same as last year, but with half term running in Feb this time round.......

And so dear reader, all that remains is for me to you a happy new year for 2023, and I will leave you with a few images from my travels in 2022.......

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/52332276697/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/52311051838/in/dateposted-public/

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https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/52362480584/in/dateposted-public/

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https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/52443414182/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/52593222327/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/52600208839/in/dateposted-public/

 

I was just reading this a few minutes after a discussion with no.2 son, where he was advising me that Dank meant something quite different to the younger generation. Just made me wonder what else went on "atop the hill"!

 

And in case you were wondering, I was explaining to son where 8 Mile was, relating to the film with the rapper Eminem, when we came across this place.

 

We have to explain that Dank has various meanings in the OED when having to describe our New England Pale Ale. Ours involves the words Piney and Resinous… See what No2 son has any different meanings for those!

 

Well the Devil's Cabbage and hops are related plants and the American varietals seem to be revered for the perceived 'dankness' with a strong relationship between potheads and microbrewing in the 80s and 90s. Dunno how Willie Nelson's prefered vice became associated with the word though we're back into 'slated' territory.

I fear you may Lose Yourself in this thread.

 

Groan

 

Thank you.

 

It were a wet and windy morning that greeted four like minded souls atop the hill yesterday...... seems like SSDD at the mo, just wish the weather would make its bloody mind up!!!

For once we ignored LMS van M517317, as two of our number are new to the Saturday gang, so us old hands had a cunning plan...... which thankfully didn't involve sanding or derusting!

Nope, for us old hands it was a relaxing day as we showed the new hands the dark arts of wagon exams, as its not all about sanding, painting or derusting........

After the first wagon exam was completed, we had a trip down to Ropley to show the new guys around AND to show them our pride & joy - the GPV not much fun though in the driving rain.........

Once back at base, we let the new guys loose on a couple more wagons due 6 month exams, which because they're keen, they did with gusto!

By close of play, three vehicles had had their exams - sadly B 881711 failed its 12 month exam and duly red carded , so now needs to be taken out of the rake.

Muggin's 'ere then stayed on afterwards to join up with @Hampshire Unit and capture the last night of the steamy lighty trains....... sometimes I do question my sanity, but I would've kocked myself if I hadn't!

Then it was 'home James & don't spare the hosrepower' for some well earned ale!!!

So, here's my take on last night.......

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/52615335988/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/52614334627/in/dateposted-public/

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https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/52615106304/in/dateposted-public/

 

I had my first and last (sadly) brush with 2999 over the weekend. In the interests of balance I have to to say wow, what a Legend! Very sure footed, steams well and goes like the proverbial!

The ECS plus 47 in tow (I am told he wasn’t doing much) was the only time there was a brief but very controllable slip.

Now I will say (and I hope the GWS forgive me) that there are a few details that want sorting, but the basics are all there. The oiling round is fairly complicated (it is an old design), but you only have to do that once.

we did have a few problems early on it it’s stay. I think lack of familiarity, the need to sort out the odd niggle and the appalling rail conditions and indifferent coal at times, all contributed. I think we got past that!

So from me, thanks GWS, and could we keep it please? No? Shame, but please return soon.

 

One of these days, it will not be raining when liked minded souls gather atop the hill on a Saturday....... sadly yesterday wasn't it!

Instead over the usual breakfast bap, I think we were questioning our collective sanity as we compared notes on who found the biggest puddle on their way there.......

With six of us on site and with the weather showing no sign of easing off, tasks that we had planned were swiftly binned and 'plan B' put into action.......

As one of our new recruits missed last weeks fun with wagon exams, it was decided to show him the ropes, with one of the newbies showing him what to do, just to see what he remembered from last week - supervised by me mucker..... the wagon in their sights was SR van S 477777...... it's fairly dry underneath a wagon!

That left three of us to gain access to LMS van M517317 to measure up the longitudinals, and work out the best way to replicate them.... not as straightforward as it sounds dur to their length and the constraints of being able to fettle the new timber to fit, plus bearing in mind that approx 2/3rds of each length will have ro bear the weight of a couple of hundred weight of a door!

On top of that, there's all the prep work that will need to be done before we can even think of fitting the north side beam........ so a rather time consuming process, but a neccessary one, which hopefully means we have a plan of the works involved once it finally stops raining on a Saturday whilst we're waiting for the timbers to arrive......

Finally, I shall echo @21B's comments about the Saint last week........ we could hear the ECS with 2999 on the front all the way from leaving Ropley with the 47 hanging off the back, making an absolute racket - wonderful stuff!!

 

Woo Hoo, for once when four hardy souls gatherd atop the hill yesterday morning, it was a bright sunny day but it were ruddy freezing!!

After the usual morning ritual, it was time to extract ourselves from the warmth of the mess room and venture down the yard......

First job was to roll up the tarp on LMS van M517317 to allow the air to circulate, and given how wet its been lately, it was something that needed to be done!

After that it was time to gather together all the kit we would need to give a freight vehicle the once over as we were venturing away from base..... the idea being to show the new guys more of the railway, so the first stop was Alresford and a mooch around the sidings, showing them various vehicles, finishing off with the troublesome trucks owned by the S&D Trust......

Most of the others had never seen the SR Road Van before, so the opportunity was taken to let them give the van the once over to learn how different some aspects of contruction are compared to the more modern vehicles that we are used to maintaining - horizontal leaf springs on either end controlling the buffers and drawbar being one of them!

After that it was time to head for Ropley, where we had a good look around - the ULS lads were hard at it on fettling 499's ashpan. thankfully my Ropley spy was nowhere to be seen!

Work was also going on with 35005's boiler, the thermic syphons being the focus, and in top yard 50 027 was also being worked on in preparation for the generator's return, and eventual fitting of both it and the power unit....... however you look at it, it's not going to be cheap to fix the genny, nor get it an the power unit back in the loco, so I know the owner would appreciate any pennies you could spare to help his cause....... https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfun...eQps1smYd6s8rr3vjSoxCxy2EW5HXNmODy552goELhTdE

After all that, it was time to give the QMB the once over and then head back to base, stow all the kit away, roll down the tarp on the LMS van, and then head for home!

A couple of pics from the day.......

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/52642143931/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/52641632632/in/dateposted-public/

 

to record a speed of 105mph whilst going down Winchester Bank in May 1965!.

Watching the "Hornby: a model world" TV programme series 2 episode 2 this week about 30 mins in, the Merchant line locomotives do evoke a lot of passion in some people. Hornby models in 2000 was going through a difficult time with rival manufacturers making better and more detailed models, Hornby had to raise it's game. It's new Merchant line locomotive model was £20 more expensive than it's normal trains, but the detail and smooth running sold much more than expected, and helped save Hornby.
https://uktvplay.co.uk/shows/hornby-a-model-world/series-2/episode-11/6318532511112
The video on the Mid Hants website
does go into detail about 35005 problems and running costs, but also does say how special it is, also for the woman project supervisor, Becky, helping to overhaul it, that is was made by women during the war gave her a personal link.
It's possible that when 35005 Canadian Pacific goes back in service his year, if promoted well, could bring in more enthusiasts, and perhaps families, than normal and help balance the extra running costs?
Visiting other railways galas will also bring in revenue.

Maybe Hornby will rerelease a model?
The 2000 Hornby model was British Railways express blue, some 2nd hand models more than hold their price
https://www.hattons.co.uk/1137653/h...acific_in_br_blue_as_preserved_pr/stockdetail
but will the restored 35005 livery be blue, or SR or BR green?

 

The latest YouTube video is now available to watch. Nice to see the video looks at 205025 Hampshire unit.

 

Yes but the record time to Basingstoke with steam was perhaps the best of that night plus an estimated 65 mins net Waterloo to Southampton non stop exceeded everything

 

Must have been quite a night!

 

Hopefully fundraising will go well for the Hampshire unit DEMU.
From the video still quite a bit on to do on 35005's boiler before it re enters service.

Perhaps it can be recreated (with a bit of good computer graphics) in a future video as a promotion for when 35005 does re enter service?

 

"If you listen to fools, the mob rules...." with apologies to Black Sabbath......

That must've been the voices in our collective heads, as eight like minded souls gathered aiop the hill yesterday morning, meaning we were mob handed!!!
It was probably just as well, since the first job after breakfast was to get the new north side door for LMS van M517317 which one of the lads had contructed off site, and hang it in its temporary home on the south side of the van.

After that, we split into pairs to complete various tasks.......

The 1st two tackled the sanding of the cladding planks for M517317, this taxk is now almost done.....

The 2nd two had the 'pleasure' of changing the hinge pins on the Lowfit doors, they chose the side doors first, as they are easier to do than the ends, which will be waiting for them next time!!

The 3rd pair had the task of working out the jigsaw puzzle that is various sections and lengths of timber that we need to get ordered now, so that they can be prepped and treated, so that when we need them they're ready......... not a simple task when you have to measure and remeasure, and then work out what goes in first - the guys had brain ache by the end of the day!

That left muggin's 'ere & his mucker tp play go hunt the buffer........ not just any old buffer, but a large head one as the the QMB has a depressed one which needs replacing...... not a task we were looking forward to!

As it happened, we struck lucky as the first buffer we found behind the paint store was a large head one, then all we had to do was get it out of the undergrowth and give it a bounce test......... not a pleasant task when you ache all over from a tough week at work! Luckily, the bounce teast prove that the buffer was good, which meant all we had to do was slowly manhandle it up to the yard........ that done, the shank was cleaned up and a coating of axlebox oil applied, the same as we did roughly this time last year with the wagons in the rake in an attempt to reduce the chances of a buffer failing....... its something that seems to be working as we've not had that many failures over the last year!

After that, it was time to dig out the carcass of the south side door, and flat pack it, so that matey could take them home, clean up the ironmongery, and use the timbers as a template to construct a new one........ given what was in front of us & the fact we had to preserve as much as possible, this took all afternoon, given that rusted & corroded bolts and screws don't like to play ball, but we achieved what we needed to do!!!

Even though there were no trains running, the PWay were out and about with their toys, so a couple of pics.......

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/52655921847/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/52655921297/in/dateposted-public/

The new north side door in its temporary home.


The replacement buffer for the QMB, cleaned & oiled.



The carcass of the south side door - the cladding timbers were rotten & fell out when we removed the door last year.


The end result, one flat packed door!

 

I always like watching the episodes of "In the Loop" but seeing the state DEMU 1125 has got into is quite shocking. I realise it's stored outside but surely some preventative measures could have been taken. Now that the Mid Hants realise it could be a very useful item of rolling stock you can see the restoration bill running into thousands. I expect Thumper 1305 at the Bluebell will be back in passenger use before this DEMU.

 

The repair bill was always going to be many thousands. There is no where to keep it under cover. It had quite a bit of work on the worst parts a couple of years ago. It is also a long way from being a basket case, but there have been a lot of other priorities.