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The Jim Russell view of MHR

26th January 2004:

'Class of 2004' Trainee Signalmen who completed the signalling theory part of their training on Sunday 25 January 2004. This was the sixth and final session of the course that covered all manner of Block Signalling Regulations, signal interlocking, how to deal with faults and failures, how to handle detonators & survive, plus much, much more. The people in the photograph will, in the coming months, be appearing at a signalbox near you as they complete their practical training and are passed out to fly solo.

Left to right: Martyn Dix (recently graduated from the Rangers), Derek Hobbs, John Coffin, Paul Hamilton, Jack the dog (who came top of the class - I guess this makes him 'Top Dog'), Geoff Bennett (who is being converted to Southern from Western as he's come to us from the Llangollen Railway), Michael Hutnik, Andy Embling and David Stonor (a Signalmen's Foreman with responsibility for training).

Photo (Ropley Training Centre, 25 January 2004) and report: Jim Russell

20th November 2003:

MID 2003
On Saturday 15 November 2003 the MHR Signalmen held a Mutual Improvement Day in the Edward Knight Centre at Alresford. The turnout was excellent with over two thirds of Signalmen attending - the record being claimed by Garth Long who came directly from Heathrow Airport on his way home from South Africa. The attendees were treated to a presentation on the new Alton Signalling, fast approaching completion, by Pat Butler and Peter Christie. Other subjects included Line Occupations, exploring the more exacting requirements of the lesser used Signalling Regulations, the new Rule Book that is currently under construction. The day was rounded off by a quiz devised by Mike Ball who produced questions with all manner of twists and turns within them.

The five teams of Signalmen, together with some non-Signalmen, all scored very highly - at least Bob Deeth did not require any to report to his office for impromptu rules exams :-) This may seem a strange thing to say but the day started with everyone introducing themselves; the Signalman tends to be a solitary beast and whilst the attendees have worked together on numerous occasions some of them have never actually met all of their colleagues face to face. Thanks are due to Signalmen's Foreman David Stonor for organising the day.
Photo (15 November 2003): Bob Deeth

Photo (16 November 2003): Jim Russell
NEST 16 November 2003
On Sunday 16 November 2003 NEST (North Eastern Signals & Telegraph) - the project group installing the signalling system at Alton - held a 'Work-In', pulling control cables through underground ducting. The photo shows S&T Manager Pat Butler demonstrating a fresh interpretation of the phrase 'Keep your head down'. In fact the last cable to be pulled through the ducting - and it's always the very last one - became stuck about four inches from the end of the duct. Refusing to let this minor fact beat him Pat got himself into positions that even an acrobat would be pleased to achieve and still be able to walk again afterwards. I am pleased to report that after hearing many strange words being uttered from underground the offending cable was indeed freed and we pulled it through the final inches. All Pat has to do now is twist the ends together and plug it in!

16 March 2003

Just to prove that there was life before Paul Hawley it was very nice to see John Feltham (Paul Hawley's predecessor as Supt. Of Operations) and his wife, Thelma, at Ropley

Photo (16th March 2003): Jim Russell

View from 'new' signalbox at Alton

Photo (March 2003): Jim Russell

Chris Hunt (Left) and Mike Ball of NEST (North Eastern S&T) the name of the team installing the signalling at Alton stand next to one of the Location Cabinets opposite Platform 3 at Alton. Chris Hunt had built the internal equipment of this location in the garage of his home in Andover over Christmas - I wonder what Mrs Hunt thought about that? Today Mike Ball drove from Epsom to Andover to collect the installation (too big to fit in Chris's car) and they then took it to Alton and installed it. As we had an hour of daylight left we drilled all the rail joints in the run round loop at Alton, and a part of the siding, and installed the track circuit bonding wires - a very productive day

Photo (1st February 2003): Jim Russell

Further reports

MHR SIGNALMEN ON TOUR

On Sunday, 12 January 2003, the MHR Signalmen World Tour of Hampshire descended on the Romsey Signalbox Project. Thanks are due to Dick Hewett for opening Romsey box especially for us and enduring the bitter cold working the simulator in the Locking Room that 'feeds' trains to the Signalman on the operating floor. We had a very enjoyable afternoon but it was a novel concept for us MHR Signalmen in having two trains in the same section - most of the track in the Romsey area being double. We did have a bit of bother though as although we went outside - braving the bitter cold I may add - to collect the token from our simulated trains none of the simulated Drivers stopped to hand one over!!

27th December 2001:

Robin Higgs (centre, President of MHRPS) presents Alan Shephard (left) and Roly Doe (right) with Long Service Awards to recognise the fact that both had worked for the railway for over twenty years.

Both Roly and Alan work as Guards, Shunters and Signalmen

Photo (2 December 2001): Christine Lawrence

Bill Biggs & Santa. Now, here's a sight you don't see every day. Bill Biggs (he's the one on the left) giving Santa his biennial Guards rules exam. The only conclusion one can make here is that Santa is planning to 'moonlight' as a Guard on the MHR during 2002.

I have it on good authority that Santa came up to standard on his rules knowledge but Bill felt it necessary to give Santa some advice on the dress code for Guards!

Photo (24 December 2001): Jim Russell

Robin Higgs (left) President of MHRPS presents Mark Fry with a Long Service Award to recognise the fact that Mark has worked as a Signalman on the railway for over 20 years

Photo (2 December 2001): Jim Russell

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"Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work" - Thomas Edison

MID 2003 On Saturday 15 November 2003 the MHR Signalmen held a Mutual Improvement Day in the Edward Knight Centre at Alresford. The turnout was excellent with over two thirds of Signalmen attending - the record being claimed by Garth Long who came directly from Heathrow Airport on his way home from South Africa. The attendees were treated to a presentation on the new Alton Signalling, fast approaching completion, by Pat Butler and Peter Christie. Other subjects included Line Occupations, exploring the more exacting requirements of the lesser used Signalling Regulations, the new Rule Book that is currently under construction. The day was rounded off by a quiz devised by Mike Ball who produced questions with all manner of twists and turns within them.
The five teams of Signalmen, together with some non-Signalmen, all scored very highly - at least Bob Deeth did not require any to report to his office for impromptu rules exams :-) This may seem a strange thing to say but the day started with everyone introducing themselves; the Signalman tends to be a solitary beast and whilst the attendees have worked together on numerous occasions some of them have never actually met all of their colleagues face to face. Thanks are due to Signalmen's Foreman David Stonor for organising the day.	Photo (15 November 2003): Bob Deeth
Photo (16 November 2003): Jim Russell	NEST 16 November 2003 On Sunday 16 November 2003 NEST (North Eastern Signals & Telegraph) - the project group installing the signalling system at Alton - held a 'Work-In', pulling control cables through underground ducting. The photo shows S&T Manager Pat Butler demonstrating a fresh interpretation of the phrase 'Keep your head down'. In fact the last cable to be pulled through the ducting - and it's always the very last one - became stuck about four inches from the end of the duct. Refusing to let this minor fact beat him Pat got himself into positions that even an acrobat would be pleased to achieve and still be able to walk again afterwards. I am pleased to report that after hearing many strange words being uttered from underground the offending cable was indeed freed and we pulled it through the final inches. All Pat has to do now is twist the ends together and plug it in!