MHR Official Website Loco Shed pages comprise the original steam railway docusoap website, updated several times each week. Follow our volunteers as they work to keep steam alive - not dead in a museum! Watch over their shoulders as these wonderful machines are restored, maintained and run; as replacement parts are made and fitted; as MHR carries steam enthusiasts, families and footplate students faster, safer, more stylishly, month on month. Visit us, see, hear, and experience the thrill of powerful steam locos working really hard for mile upon mile up our long, steep gradients.
February - June 2004
| 12th June 2004:
Pat Butler works on the Alresford token machine Photo (12th June 2004): Ken Grinstead |
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22nd May 2004: Diesel Gala (21st - 23rd May 2004): Photos
| 18th May 2004: Our 'new' DEMU 'Hampshire
Unit' #205025 arrives at Medstead & Four
Marks for the very first
time*
*Today's journey (.xls)
Photos of exterior and interior of Thumper #205025 (Be patient; they are towards the foot of his webpage) |
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Photos (18th May 2004): Tony Wood |
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14th May 2004: LINESIDE
PHOTOGRAPHIC PERMITS
It is with much regret that the Mid Hants Railway have taken the decision
to withdraw this facility, but following untoward incidents at the recent
Branch Line Event, the whole ethos of Lineside Photographic Permits has been
called into question.
Since the Railway first put permits on sale in December 1983 much has changed,
especially with regard to the safety of personnel who need to be On or
About the Line. MHR staff are required to comply with the Railway’s Safety
Case, which calls for ALL personnel who are required to be On or About
the Line to comply with the following conditions:
1. They have to be medically fit, especially vision and hearing, and sign
an undertaking to that effect
2. They are required to undertake a training course
3. They have to pass written and practical tests
4. They must wear approved high visibility garments
5. They must carry their identification certified at all times
6. They must undertake a retest every two years
With all that in mind the decision has been taken that the sale and use of
Lineside Photographic Permits be withdrawn WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT
PLEASE NOTE THAT COMMENCING FORTHWITH LINESIDE PHOTOGRAPHIC PERMITS HAVE
NO VALIDITY ON THE MID HANTS RAILWAY
Photography from stations is unaffected provided the person concerned holds
a valid ticket or authority issued by the Railway.
P.Hawley
Superintendent of Operations
2nd May 2004: So there I was, a bit busy firing up 1-in-60 (ECS
to Alton ready for last evening's RAT) and I said to
Nigel (dvr): Come and have a look this side at our shadow across the rape
flower. Wow, he said, Got your camera?
By the time I got the camera out we were almost at Wanders Curve cutting,
but I managed to snatch this movie
(516KB, 1st May 2004): Tony Wood
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27th April 2004:
Standard 5 #73096 passes flowering fields of rape as it approaches Wanders Curve with a MHR service train. See also Photo (24th April 2004): Henry O'Dwyer |
| 23rd April 2004: "Standing at the down home"
Mike Burke confers with the Ropley signalman about a 4-minute delay to a Footplate Experience (Advanced) train Photo (23rd April 2004): Tony Wood |
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15th April 2004: Photos and Movies from our Thomas event, Easter 2004
| 31st March 2004:
Diesel received a wash and brush up today in readiness for his starring rôle at Easter Photo (31st March 2004): Chris Cornell |
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| 28th March 2004: #73096 making a spectacular
climb to Sapperton tunnel
Moments later and passengers are hanging out of the train windows to get full benefit of the the bark! Photos (28th March 2004): Nigel Wilson |
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27th March 2004: News @ Diesel Corner re Hampshire Unit acquisition for MHR
| 26th March 2004:
From: Alan Pearson Thank you Alan. I like this one of John Butcher, Firing Instructor for the day, and his students ... tw Photo (26th March 2004): Alan Pearson
Movie: Bodmin runs
round at Alton on a Footplate Experience
(Advanced) day |
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| 21st March 2004:
PWay Report by Iain Harris (from the Winter Edition of Mid-Hants News) |
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| 16th March 2004:
More photos of visiting locos at Ropley and Alresford Photo (10th March 2004): Tony Wood
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Deer in Ropley Vale
Photo (5th March 2004): John Childs |
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| 5th March 2004:
No contest - the Ivatt would easily beat the Desiro
to Alresford Two photos (FPX, Alton, 5th March 2004): Tony Wood
Movie: Ivatt buffers-up at Alresford, Mike Burke 'goes in' (1.1MB, 5th March 2004): Tony Wood |
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4th March 2004: Briefing for visitors to the Mid Hants Railway War On The Line event (19-20th June 2004)
1st March 2004: First photos of the refitting of Bittern's rear Cartazzi truck in Ropley yard yesterday & installed, Ropley shed, 1st March
Also: Dennis Grace constructs more fence panels for Ropley (in the Building Dept Workshop, M4M, 1st March 2004)
| 27th February 2004:
New fence completed at Ropley picnic area Photo (27th February 2004): Tony Wood |
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21st February 2004:
The Guardian today mentions Mid Hants Railway in connection with new South West Trains Class 450 Desiro units. See also
NewsExpress gathers news from all significant UK heritage railway webmasters
16th February 2004: Bodmin today at Ropley Photo (16th February 2004): Rob Forster
| 14th February 2004: Bodmin #34016
Last round trip, by the race track, heading back to Alresford Photo and report (14th February 2004): Henry O'Dwyer
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| 11th February 2004: Bob The Builder's Yard
(aka Alresford) today:
Hydrex (was Hughes Rail) needed a venue to display their services and equipment so chose the Mid-Hants Railway The Countryman collected clients from Alton and they later dined on board |
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 See
also Photos
and report (11th February 2004): Chris Cornell |
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| The Watercress Line, The Railway Station, Alresford, Hampshire,
England, SO24 9JG Tel 01962 733810 Fax 01962 735448 info@watercressline.co.uk |
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The Watercress Line's own quarterly journal Mid-Hants News is available FREE to all Society members, or £2 plus 50p postage and packing to non-Society members. |
