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From: David Warwick
Sent: Tues 24th April 2007 06.24
Subject: 34007 pics
Tony
Did try Monday morning to send you some pics from 34007s first day but
the server was down.
I will try again. The workings are the tender
first shot 10.50 Alresford Alton and Chimney first 11.55 Alton
Alresford.
Hope they are of use and I very sorry about the RANGER in
the white shirt nearly falling out the train; someone find out who it
is and have a word !
Regards
David |
 |
| Two
Three
Four
Five
Six
See
also |
From: Colin Fuller
Sent: 19 April 2007 18:10
Subject: War on the Line
Dear Tony
In connection with War on the Line,
but not part of our Railway's arrangements, some of the re-enactors are
organising a 1940s Dance
on 23rd June
2007 in the
Alresford Community Centre.
This was done last year and in the past the Railway has been
involved. When a similar Dance was run as a support to
Christmas
Leave about 230 tickets were sold and the Hall only holds about
130. The Dance had to be split between the upstairs and the
downstairs, such was the support. Many came because it was a
1940s
Dance, but ended up travelling on our Line. The same is likely
to
happen on the 23rd June.
Dance details can be found at the dance website
- still under construction - which could lead more people to our
Railway.
Best Wishes
Colin
From: Phil Harris
Sent: 15 April 2007 21:43
Subject: Henry comes to the rescue...!
Hello Tony
Thought you would like to know that Henry was very
helpful to the young family in this view.
Having alighted at Medstead on Henry's last train
to Alton on Sunday afternoon, Mum
realised to her horror that she had left her purse on the train.
A quick phone call from Medstead's own Fat Controller to
Alton station staff enabled the guard to locate the purse.
Henry still
had to bring
the empty coaches back for cleaning at Alresford, so the purse was
placed in the driver's care and taken back to Medstead, where a
much-relieved Mum was re-united
with her property, and the children said a big "Thank you"
to Henry
and his crew.
Phil Harris
MHR Volunteer
From: Paul Harrington
Sent: 13 April 2007 21:57
Subject: Meet Thomas!
Hi Tony,
I feel compelled to write regarding our 'Day Out With Thomas' a day or
two ago.
I am a regular visitor to the MHR, a RAT
season ticket holder and
intend one day soon (once the kids have grown up a bit) to begin many
years there as a volunteer.
My eldest daughter, aged nearly six, is very keen on Thomas. Such that
it is our nightly bedtime story as often as not. She is also
a
regular visitor to your website to play the Thomas videos (even in her
favourites file!) but being able now to read, she saw when the Thomas
event was on. The trap was set and Dad was duly conned into a day off.
I was reticent. I know the faces on the engines are good fun (even for
adults) and I know the revenue can only be a good thing for the
railway. But I love a sleepy Sunday in the sunshine chuffing
up
and down letting the world pass by and I didn't much fancy the crowds
and the queues just do what I felt was pretty much the same
thing. How wrong I was.
What a fantastic day.
The two eldest children had their jaws on the floor in the car park
when they saw Henry pulling the service train up into Ropley ( a very
neat magnet patch over 73096 by the way) only to be bettered
by
my daughters sharp intake of breath and a tap on the leg as she
spotted... yes..... the Fat Controller!!! Normally a very shy soul. I
turned around to find her talking away 19 to the 12 about various
discipline issues she felt needed airing, such as his being a little
harsh with Thomas as he had not meant to let the troublesome trucks
misbehave, etc., etc.
Suffice to say the day went from strength to strength. We rode behind
Thomas, in Toad, behind Percy, Henry and in Daisy. To boot, the new
picnic site at Alresford is perfect.
By the end of the day all my wife and I had to do was load 3 very
tired, very happy kids into the car and off home.
Lucky I suppose that the weather was kind and good fortune that the fff brewery is
but a short walk from M4M.
But what a perfect day.... and lets not mess about.... even we adults,
railway mad or not , enjoy sharing in the magic of Thomas, even if we
think we don't.
Well done to everybody involved. Obviously so many days' annual leave
sacrificed. Obviously so many hours of preparation, and all for the
railway... but also for the kids.
I saw so many gleaming eyes that day that I'm sure my generation and
the next will continue steam preservation. To that end, events like
'Thomas' become more than just revenue generators but also future
generators.
My sincere thanks to you all
Harry
From: David Creasey
Sent: 09 April 2007 12:27
Subject: Ropley 5th April 2007
Tony
I thought you might like these, taken the night before the Thomas Event
started: One
Two
From: Henry O'Dwyer
Sent: 08 April 2007 20:34
Subject: Daisy pic
Excellent DMU shot from DW looking across to Gundleton.
Cottage, cows, winding road, bridge (perfectly placed), fields,
hedgerows, train moving towards bridge, and look at the cow bottom
right leading us up Northside lane into the picture. I can only carry
one cow in my bag, but this photographer has turned up with six. Best
shot I've seen in a long time.......
H
From: Steve Egginton
Sent: 07 April 2007 18:39
Subject: Thomas Day Saturday 7th
Thanks for a lovely day out - a real introduction for William my three
year-old - to Thomas and Co. and of course the other loco's on
the line.
I'm sorry to say, that this was my first visit to the Line, for more
than twenty years - being a young lad when my Mum and Dad took
me. I'll try and leave a shorter interval next
time!
We all had a lovely day - which was so well organised. There
was much to do and see and the folk running the day were all so
friendly and helpful.
You've done yourself proud!
Cheers
Steve and Jane Egginton
Thank you
both. You might
like this bit of
nostalgia, Steve ... tw
From: Louise
Mackay
Sent: 03 April 2007
16:50
Subject: Wadebridge photos - hot off the press
Hi Tony
Please find attached a couple of photos of Wadebridge
as it arrived at Alresford just minutes ago!
We were tipped off it was nearly here by some enthusiasts seeing it on
the A303 !?
Kind regards
Louise Mackay
From: Sue
Clements
Sent: 03 April 2007 16:38
Hi Tony
Wadebridge
has arrived
Sue Clements
From: Stephen Hoadley
Sent: 03 April 2007 17:47
Dear Tony
I suppose intense female interest in ‘007’ is
nothing new…
Regards
Stephen
From: Jim Russell
Sent: 28 March 2007
17:59
Subject: DEMU WINDOW
FRAMES
Hi Tony
I have attached some
pictures of a window frame that has been removed from the Hampshire Unit.
This particular frame is an example of a good one, however we have
about 20 examples of frames that are not so good – I think
the
technical term may be ‘Rotten as a Pear’.
I was wondering if
you could post
this on the website to see if there is anyone out there who would
consider manufacturing some replacement frames for us – free
would be nice, but we are willing to pay if that would get the job
done. I should add that this looks to me like serious carpentry and way
beyond my ability to bang a few nails into some planks of
wood!
We are looking for 20
– but
not all at once. Two per month for the next three months followed by
one a month thereafter would be great.
The frames are made
of hard wood,
and clearly are manufactured in four pieces – top, bottom and
two
sides which are then screwed and glued together. The picture taken
along the length of the frame clearly shows that it is curved as well
to suit the curvature of the body sides. This is serious skilled
joinery which is a credit to those who manufactured the originals. The
frames are three feet long, about 18 inches wide and about 2 inches
deep.
If there is anyone
out there who
can help - serious offers please - then I would be grateful. Obviously
I have the photographed frame as a pattern but I can’t afford
to
pass it to someone and then lose it – otherwise
I’ll need
21 manufactured!
Regards
Jimbo
(Jim is Chairman
of the Mid Hants Railway Preservation Society)
From: Jim Russell
Sent: 30 March 2007
09:24
I had a bit of luck
yesterday so
the requirement has changed slightly. I am now looking for around 15
frames and can offer a full set of brand new component parts as
patterns – which may make the task a little easier. A supply
rate
of one complete frame per month will now be fine – which may
make
the task a little less onerous.
Regards
Jimbo
From:
Sue Clements
Sent: 29 March 2007 14:20
Subject: NEW ARRIVAL !!
Hi Tony
Girl power finally arrives at Alresford, it's PINK !
Sue Clements
Membership Secretary, MHRPS
Admin & Accounts Manager MHR Plc
Jim
Russell's 'Thumper' paint? d:-)
(Anyone
who doesn't understand this, ask Jim) |
 |
From: David
Charlesworth
Sent: 28 March 2007 22:03
Subject: Goods train
Tony
The goods train also visited Alresford last Sunday: One Two Three Four
Part of the answer to Horace's question
is that
the Railway tends towards the BR era. Some of the wagons in the train
are pre-nationalisation from railway companies LMS, LNER and SR. There
is the SW Tar Distillers tanker of 1940 to come See the wagon page
Mind you if he has a private owner wagon tucked away somewhere
:-)
Regards
David Charlesworth
From: Richard Chapman
Sent: 28 March 2007 20:09
Subject: Photo's taken 28-03-07
Hi Tony
I was down at Ropley today (Wed) weather great so I took some photos. I
don't know if they are any good for website.
Chris posing first
thing in the morning, and nice to see Keith
around - without his pipe but still had it with him.
Regards
Dick
Wednesday volunteer, machine
shop
From:
Andy King
Sent: 27 March 2007 19:28
Subject: The DMMU Trailer
Hi Tony
I've just seen the pictures of the DMMU
trailer and I have to say that it looks absolutely beautiful.
I know from his past endeavours that Duncan produces
output
to high standards but he must be very proud of that one.
What a terrific job.
Regards
Andy King
From: Warwick Falconer
Sent: 26 March 2007 11:06
Subject: 41312 Freight working
Dear Tony
Thank you for a super day on Sunday, the freight made my day!
The
wagons look awesome and to be able to see a freight running amongst the
service trains on a normal working day was really nice. I felt it
really added to the "steam days" era you guys are doing such a great
job preserving, and hope it was not a once off.
Please can you pass my thanks on to all those involved in making it
happen: brilliant stuff. :-)
Regards
Warwick
From: Chris Le Corney
Sent: Monday, March 26, 2007 2:29 PM
Subject: Goods Train
Tony
Nice to see the photos of yesterday's goods train from Matt Allen and
other comments.
The next wagons off the production line at Alton will be BR steel sided
highfit B 481682
(derusting started last week), and the SW Tar Distillers (of Totton) Tank Wagon No 95. They
should both be cosmetically restored, at least, by around the end of
June.
Regards
Chris Le Corney
From:
Matt Allen
Sent: 25 March 2007 17:13
Subject: RE: FREIGHT TRAIN
Hi Tony
The guys have obviously been working very hard on renovating the
wagons: what a stunning BR era freight train. Can't wait
until
it's out again.
Regards
Matt
More
From: Horace Ward
Sent: 25 March 2007 23:25
Hi Tony
Just one thing missing from those goods wagons: all the lovely markings along the sides
of the companies that used them. Happy memories as a boy of seeing them
coming out of Feltham Marshalling Yard being pulled by a austere
Bulleid Q1; the smoke pouring from the rear guards van chimney on a
cold winters night; him leaning out of the open back smoking his pipe;
the rear lamp flickering as it disappeared into the night air by the
level crossing.
Are we not going to see the markings, perhaps because of
copyright? Shame!
Regards
Horace
From: Peter Cutler
Sent: 28 March
2007 20:11
I guess Horace
is talking
about private owner wagons when he says about names down the sides. A
few points about this (and I have confirmed this with the main blokes
on the wagon group before writing):
1. We have very
few pre-BR
open wagons. The skeletal remains of the coal wagon at Medstead will
hopefully be restored as a private-owner, painted and lettered to
complement the large 'Colliery Supply Co' sign on the side of the green
workshop there. It may not be worked in a train as it is very
frail.
2. The group is
aiming at the BR era to fit in with most of the locos.
3. Not sure we
could happily run too many un-fitted wagons, which of course most
private owner wagons were.
4. There will
be some
lettered wagons, albeit not for coal. Chris Le Corney has the tar tank
wagon to do and we are hoping to tackle the (we think unique) Pressflo
cement wagon. On this subject, I don't think copyright is a problem:
quite the opposite; I think we should look for sponsorship from a
company that still exists. It'll be a nice splash of colour as well -
bright yellow.
Pete Cutler
|
 |
From:
David Warwick
Sent: 25 March 2007 16:53
Subject: The first Freight Diagram
Tony Hi
Not great weather today but I managed to get something of 41312 on the
freight.
Regards
David |
 |
From:
Steve Walters
Sent: 24 March 2007 18:31
Subject: DMMU trailer car
test run to M4M
Hi Tony
W59515 had four test runs today: a few people where snapping the
trailer car.
Steve
|
 |
From: M Bowman
Sent: 20 March 2007 21:59
Subject: Re: Walks
from Four Marks
Hi Tony
Just to let you know we are making progress with the Walks from Four
Marks - See attached rtf
document with edits to
Walks 1 and 3.
You'll have noticed that January and February were not ideal for this
task, but on the plus side I now know several ideal locations to take a
pet hippopotamus for a stroll.
Without the updates the routes could still have been followed, but
there has been a surprising amount of low level change in the local
environment since they were written. The first half of Walk 3 (Four
Marks to Ropley) has been the best so far - surprisingly rural given
its proximity to the villages, and nice views of the railway at various
points in the walk.
Best regards
Mitch
Thank you Mitch. Amazing
how little has all changed in that time! ... tw
From: Peter Wilson
Sent: 21 March 2007 12:54
Subject: Engines or locomotives?
Dear Tony
I am writing up some bits and pieces on my Grandfathers...'Ted Cuckney'
career as an Engine Driver...mainline & miniature... in doing
so I
am making references to engines...or should that be
locomotives.
My brother had a Traction Inspector once say to him that an engine is
the power unit inside a locomotive...probably if talking diesel or
electric that would be right.
However when talking steam...surely an Engineman drives an engine?
America of course does have different terminology...their freight
consist is our Goods train, and I am guessing, but they always had
locomotives...?
What are your thoughts at the Mid-Hants, some people have forthright
views on terminology and its correct use in the right place! Also you
have people in their who have worked with steam...their opinions would
be gratefully received.
Many thanks
Peter Wilson
Pedantically speaking the
'engine' consists of cylinders, valves, rods and cranks and there are
two, three, or four of them on a 'locomotive'. Colloquially in UK,
steam locomotives are simply called 'engines'. But what do I know? Best
wait to see if anyone else rises to your bait! d:-)
... tw
From: Stephen Hoadley
Sent: 21 March 2007 22:22
This is a fun one! I once worked on a project with a very eminent
railway expert, a gentleman who contributed a long-running column to
the Railway Magazine, who roundly chastised my own Practice and
Performance in referring to a locomotive as an
‘engine’ and
who reminded me that whatever we call it, it never
‘pulls’
trains, it ‘hauls’ them. Poor old Thomas the Tank,
err,
Engine…
This might seem a trivial matter, but sometimes, as Peter suggests,
it’s important to understand exactly what we all mean,
especially
if we come from differing railway traditions. To this end, the MDA
(formerly the Museum Documentation Association) and the Railway
Terminology Working Group have produced the Railway Object Name
Thesaurus. This is a major piece of work and as an example, the entry
for ‘engine’ is:
engine
An (inaccurate) colloquialism for locomotive OR the power unit of a
diesel locomotive.
You can find the
entire Thesaurus at www.mda.org.uk/railway/railcon.htm
Regards
Stephen Hoadley
From: Peter Cutler
Sent: 22 March 2007 18:23
I don't have a strong view between the two. I guess 'loco' seems best,
because of the use of the word 'engine' - to refer to a cylinder and
its valve gear - as used by 'enginemen'. But on no account should the
word 'train' be used in this context. I believe one of the stations has
a sign saying something to the effect of 'train in use today' and then
gives a loco number.
Odd that the Rev Awdry, who had such a good working knowledge of all
things railway, referred to a loco's chimney as its funnel.
Pete Cutler
From: Pat Bell
Sent: 24 March 2007 13:29
The Americans use the term 'prime mover' for the engine bit of their
diesel locos. But then we don't have to be like them, do we?
Pat Bell
From: Andy J King
Sent: 19 March 2007 17:48
Subject: One for the Diesel drivers ...
Hi Tony
When I was a regular volunteer on the MHR several years ago, there were
several other volunteers in the shed who were current or former
mainline BR drivers. I dare say this is still the case. The
Eastleigh drivers had two main classes allocated: the Class 33 and the
Class 47. The drivers I spoke to all
preferred the Class
33 Cromptons to the Class 47 (I think we referred to them as "Sulzers"
and "Brush 4s" as well.) I was surprised at this as I knew
the Class 47 was a lot more powerful and owing to its long
distance work possibly a bit more comfortable as
well.
Do any of the current MHR drivers share this view on the Class
33
versus the Class 47? The Class 33 must be a good machine as it lasted a
long time and is still in service today, but what makes one diesel
class special compared to another?
One small diesel anecdote as well: During the early 90s I commuted to
London from the south coast. One early evening
train ran as 3
x 4VEP sets plus a class 33 in front from Waterloo down to Woking where
the train divided; the front 4 coaches with the diesel went on
to
Salisbury and the rear 8 coaches to Portsmouth Harbour. I think it may
have been Roger Ford who calculated that this was the most powerful
train ever to run on the Southern region since the VEPS and the Class
33 were all powered while running on third rail and working
together were producing nearly 4000hp! The Class 33
really
worked hard too, and we generally flew down the line to Woking
at
the Crompton's maximum line speed of 85 mph.
Cheers
Andy
From: Docwra,
Ian
Sent: 23 March 2007 11:55
Subject: The diesel+electric train
Hello Tony
Andy King is slightly mistaken regarding the 12 car electric plus
diesel combination. The actual make-up of the train was Class
33
+ 4TC (trailer unit) + 8 VEP. The 33 has 1550hp, while the
VEPs
have 2000hp between them; a total of 3550hp for the 12 car
train.
The diesel plus 4TC did indeed go on to Salisbury (which is not
electrified, hence the need for the diesel and trailer unit).
This is slightly more than a 4REP + 8TC (3300hp), which had generally
the maximum permitted traction current draw for a single
train.
Also: Consider another contender for the most powerful train to run on
the Southern region (excluding Eurostar of course!) – the
diversions over your own “Alps” during the 1966/67
electrification of the main line, when Merchant Navies were frequently
piloted by Class 33s – a potential power output of more than
4000hp (assuming a MN could produce around 2500hp when worked up the 1
in 60).
Best regards,
Ian Docwra
From: David Warwick
Sent: 25 March 2007 09:03
Dear Tony
Id like to throw a few thoughts into Andy King's letter with regard to
Class 33s and 47. I've worked on both from Eastleigh, and the 33 is a
very good compact and VERY reliable engine and surprisingly comfortable
and warm in the winter, well laid out controls on all four corners of
the cab, Southern Region foresight! Dual braked and EH fitted (but only
for 750 volt Southern Region Stock). Indeed perfect for the job they
had to do.
The 47s were a different beast, strong yet could be described like a
can of Heinz beans 57 Varieties, always being modified, bits and bobs
being added and removed. Though built at the same time there were many
batches and modifications throughout their lives and one thing
appropriate for this time of year - they were freezing in the winter in
the cabs; you needed two coats, a hat and gloves inside. Two a.m. on
the Western Main line on a freightliner, freezing fog, 70mph and ice on
the inside of the cab!
Thank you to the long gone Birmingham Railway and Carriage Works Co. Of
the two, the 33 was certainly the best. (English Electric fans: shush.)
Regards
David Warwick
From: Kenneth Parkins
Sent: 17 March 2007 15:18
Subject: 31874
Hi
Nice to see the old pictures
- whatever happened to 'Aznar Line' - was that 31874?
Ken Parkins
Yes, the shipping company
sponsored the move of 31874 to Alresford and for this reason it was
called Aznar Line for a while.
Chris Cornell
Facilities Manager & Archivist -Watercress
Line
Contact for a really useful Film
Location
From: Wendy Mayo
Sent: 12 March 2007 17:22
Subject: Thank you!
Dear Tony
Please could you pass on my thanks to all concerned for a most amazing
day on the Footplate Experience
last Friday (9 March 2007).
It fulfilled a long-held dream, and I can honestly say it was one of
the best days of my life.
With best wishes to everyone involved in the Watercress Line and thanks
again
Wendy Mayo
From: Henry O'Dwyer
Sent: 11 March 2007 17:02
Subject: Pics
Hi Tony
First of all: Apologies for the surreal suggestion regards
the
25th March goods train, one too many 1664's methinks. But after a few I'd
be happy to travel up to M4M's as a banana box/watercress punnet; what
an experience. (Don't ask ...
tw)
Secondly:
Hats off to Mr
Dave Warwick for his pics exposing a few new decent locations (Std5)
well to me anyway, and capturing the little locos perfectly, I
thought.
And thirdly: Finally got scanning etc., out of the way:
there's some
pics here, mostly on-shed though. Love that
Terrier.
Also, if your painter Duncan needs a spare pair of hands to help with
re-sculpting the front of Bittern, I happily spend some time there
knocking the filler down with him.
Rgds
H.
Webmaster writes (11th March 2007):
Regular browsers will have wondered if I've been on holiday -
updates have been fewer than usual over the past week. Sadly, no. The
distraction was a boiler-out, axles-out, heavy general overhaul to my
computer system and software. To those who sent me more
photos and movies of the Spring Gala: Sorry. I'll be adding
some more good stuff to the
report soon.
... tw
From: Matt Allen
Sent: 10 March 2007 21:03
Subject: Wadebridge
Hi Tony
Great news about Wadebridge.
Thought you might be interested in this pic taken at Boscarne Junc (on
the Bodmin
and Wenford) in Oct 2006.
Regards
Matt |
 |
From: Rory Mackean
Sent: 09 March 2007 12:17
Subject: Footplate
Experience Introductory: driving & firing
I'd like to thank you for the great experience I had yesterday
afternoon on the Introductory driving & firing course.
Of course it was a wonderful sunny day but the standard of friendly and
knowledgeable tuition from both driver and fireman was a major
contribution to having a worthwhile experience.
Needless to say I'm hooked and I'll have to book an Advanced
Course.
Kind regards
Rory Mackean
From: John Wood
Sent: 05 March 2007 20:48
Subject: 5542 at the MHR
Hi Tony
Just
a quick note to say how much we all enjoyed our visit to the MHR over
the weekend. We made many new friends and met up with quite a number of
old ones.
We look forward to visiting again sometime. The hospitality was great
and we forgive you for Sunday's weather. Thanks again.
John Wood
Chairman, 5542 Ltd.
From: Nick Jones
Sent: 06 March 2007 09:49
Subject: 5542
Hi Tony
Thank you for having 5542 at the MHR
Spring Gala.
We love making new friends. The comments I've received from
colleagues who visited with the loco are that the Swindon machine was
the subject of much admiration. This is heartening for those
of
us who have been involved with the project to restore the ex-Barry
wreck and keep her running.
In answer to David Charlesworth's question
about the depot code, TN is indeed the code for Taunton. This
was
the GW code. BR(WR) had to adopt the BR system, and it was
then
that 83B became Taunton's shedplate number. 5542 carries Great Western
livery.
Best wishes
Nick Jones
Financial Director, Locomotive 5542 Ltd
From: Henry O'Dwyer
Sent: 05 March 2007 21:35
Subject: Sunday
Small
slide show from Sunday. ( The best day! )
I was there all the way through from Thursday morning, watching the
preps at Ropley.
Got black that day
H.
And I got soaked there on
Sunday, Henry! ... tw d:-)
From: Nigel Wilson
Sent: 04 March 2007 21:57
Subject: Spring Gala 2007
Hello Tony
I'm
just about to send a video. Worked hard to get it just under 5MB. Quite
a bit of tweaking and re-encoding! Just Philip and myself
today.
Michael has been unwell the last couple to days (started when we were
on 5051 on Thursday) so given the weather he stayed at home. Philip was
very pleased to have a free hand with the Camera. He was very keen to
do more recording but as we sat on the 14:10 at Alresford, "Do you
really want to get off at Ropley and do more recording?" He looked out
the window at the rain bouncing off the platform. "Ummm.. I think we'll
go to Alton". Good decision. Managed to get a nice bit of 73096 leaving
Ropley in the evening when the rain had stopped. Don't know we got so
lucky as we'd not been in the car long and it hammered down for the
rest of the trip home.
Anyway a good day (as always) thanks to all who make it happen.
Best regards
Nigel & Philip Wilson
Movie (5MB, 4th March 2007):
Philip Wilson
From: Martin Smith
Sent: 03 March 2007 11:32
Subject: Gala photos online
Dear Tony
Thank you to all involved for an excellent day yesterday
(Friday). A few of my photos from the day are now
online
Regards
Martin Smith
From: Matt Allen
Date: 2007/03/01 Thu PM
09:16:10 GMT
Subject: It was the night before the Gala ...
Hi Tony
Popped over to Ropley
tonight to see if any night shots were on. Everything all
seemed
ready for tomorrow, was great to see so many locos simmering
away. Managed to get a quick shot of the Beattie.
Here's
looking forward to a good few days, can't wait to see the Beattie on
the freight, but most of all the return of Can Pac.
Regards
Matt
|
 |
From:
David Charlesworth
Date:
2007/03/01 Thu PM 08:24:41 GMT
Subject:
Spring
Steam Gala
Tony
Would you
like to try something new? The attached is a Train
Graph for the Gala.
This
one is in low resolution but it is readable when printed. I'm not sure
how software or hardware specific it is but it works on my setup. It
might be necessary to clear the margins and any header and footer to
fit it to A4. It would be interesting to find out if the users like it.
I've made a compact spreadsheet (.xlr) timetable as well but haven't
sent it, the WTT should be enough to find train times at home and the
official timetable, as you said, should be available on the day at the
Railway.
Regards
David Charlesworth
That's fun, David.
They'll like it! d:-) TYVM
... tw
From:
Matt Allen
Date:
2007/02/26 Mon PM 12:50:30 GMT
Subject:
Spring Steam Gala
Hi Tony
Hope
all is well.
Am
looking forward to the Spring Gala immensely, hoping for some good
weather and a good turnout. Thought you might be interested in
a
couple of pics of the E4 taken this weekend at the Bluebell, might whet
the appetite for what we can expect at MHR Gala.
Regards
Matt
From: Kevin
Brown
Date: 2007/02/26 Mon PM 12:12:41 GMT
Subject: Steam Gala 2nd
- 4th March
Timetable
Please
be advised that I am trying to download a timetable for the above
event, but the link appears to take me to a working timetable?
Perhaps
you would be kind enough to forward me a more user friendly copy?
Best
Regards
Kevin Brown
'User
friendly' timetable is issued free with your travel ticket for our
Spring Gala, Kevin. WTT is offered for the benefit of
enthusiasts
... tw
From:
John P
Date:
2007/02/25 Sun PM 06:47:25 GMT
Subject:
Watercress Line website
Tony
Well done as ever
with your sterling work on the website.
Having just browsed mhn13.htm
for the first time, I
followed your link (18th May 249 Squadron / Tangmere) to wc-valve.jpg.
FYI
a much clearer version of the diagram is available under VALVE
GEAR at www.locos-in-profile.co.uk.
Is it worth a link? I realise that you have a home page link
to the Bulleid Society (and vice versa) but finding this particular
page might take some time, and it leads to other relevant pages.
As
is stated, clicking on the first graphic loads the enlargement
valve_gear_ill.gif (113KB). Note that the second graphic
valve_gear_dia.gif (151KB) adds further insight into Bulleid's design,
including lubrication. I have not forwarded the GIFs for reasons of
copyright. And watch for spelling errors. For yet more interesting
photos peruse the "OVERHAUL" page (from 1999 - 2000, enlargements again
available). The MHR shed crew presumably liaise with their Bluebell
peers, but Joe Public might appreciate a nudge in the right
direction!
Here's hoping the weather will be good
for the MHR Spring Gala.
John
Interesting
John, but our browsers are famously erudite and diligent, as you
demonstrate here. d:-) ... tw
From:
David
Charlesworth
Date:
2007/02/25 Sun PM 09:10:35 GMT
Subject:
Sunday 25th
Feb
Tony
Spring
has arrived at Alresford,
as has the Small Prairie
#5542.
There was some speculation about the two letter shed code behind the
buffer beam. Most guesses were TN meant Taunton since the loco comes
from the West Somerset
Railway.
There was a shed at Taunton - 83B - but it must have closed before
depots got alphabetic codes because TN doesn't appear to be
listed.
Regards
David Charlesworth
From: Mike Snow
Sent:
23 February 2007 23:06
Subject: 5542
Tony
You
are very lucky to be having 5542 to your Spring Gala.
That's a
beautiful engine, and being GWR will produce a good bark!
I've
a video
clip (2.6MB)
I took at the Gloucs and
Warwicks last June which will hopefully whet the appetite.
Regards
Mike
Snow
From: Chris Hall
Sent: 19 February 2007 15:59
Subject:
Gosh!
Tony
"Someone
didn't know that you could click on the photo on our main Index page,
and get a different photo. Any photo with a blue border, or where your
cursor changes from arrow to pointing hand, is also 'clickable'. But
you knew all that, of course d:-) ... tw"
I
never knew that. Have you got rid of the clock? Always found
it
useful to check a link was still connected. How do I find the telecoms
page from the main page? So many questions.
The
linear clock was someone else's website and when our link went dead I
removed it. You could always use our weather link - that goes
straight to the Met Office website at the appropriate part. I
used to link to the individual map graphics from that site, but they
too changed their site, so I can't do that now. Pity - I
liked
that better than the animated weather map we now get.
Prospective
visitors to MHR come to our website for details of events, timetables,
fares, catering trains, etc., and must find what they want easily and
quickly. We'll soon have innovations to save busy mums even
more
time.
Our website is
currently 7558
files totalling 987MB so I can't link everything from the main index
page - you have to navigate a bit.
Most
new enthusiast entries on the website are heralded on one of the three
pages nearly all look at: Latest News; Loco Shed News; or
Correspondence. MHR website philosophy is
explained at http://www.watercressline.co.uk/locoshed/index.html
The
catch-all is the listing of specialist pages at the bottom of Latest
News or Loco Shed News, and their archive pages.
The
main
Index pages are designed to get the best service from web-spiders - the
robot browsers that index the contents of websites worldwide. We want
our pages to be on P1 of their indexes.
You
can go direct to the page you are seeking by using Google.
Just put: mid
hants telecoms in the search box click
et voilà. Works for anything. Good eh?
... tw
From: Andy J King
Sent: 19 February 2007
11:25
Subject: Another Question for the Engineers
Hi
Tony,
I was impressed and grateful to the Boiler dept for
their forthright responses to my last
question which you kindly posted. May I ask another
(unrelated) question: why do some locomotives have smoke deflectors
fitted as standard and others not? The GWR
never
fitted them to any class, whereas the SR Pacifics
sport
smoke deflectors so large they reminded the artist David Shepherd of
African elephant ears! The importance of driver
vision was
surely paramount to both companies so the difference in policy is
puzzling. Is it related to chimney characteristics?
Perhaps
the most interesting comparison is the LNER which fitted them to all
A1s and A2s but only flirted with occasional small deflectors on the
A3s. I think the large V2s never carried them at
all. There
does not appear to be any correlation of boiler size or shape, nor
locomotive speed, that determines whether or not they were fitted.
Have
any MHR drivers experienced problems (or not) when driving the
Standard 5, as opposed to the Bulleids, that may cast some
light
on need and/or usefulness?
Many thanks!
Best
Wishes
Andy J King
Visibility
only became a problem for steam loco drivers when boilers got bigger,
and chimneys (necessarily!) got shorter. Deflectors
would only be fitted if the loco drivers consistently complained of
poor visibility to the extent that signals were hard to see. The
design would be wholly empirical - they'd experiment until they found
what worked - and aesthetics were not important. The fact that some
deflectors look good is an example of form following function. The
railway companies spent money only when they had to, but once one loco
in a class was found to benefit from deflectors, they would be fitted
throughout ... tw
Mr
King asks about the need for smoke deflectors. Some engines have a real
sharp exhaust, so the pistons shove the exhaust steam well up in the
air and I suppose the gas speed is high. GWR designs are like this, and
I remember on the Yank S160 the exhaust steam used to go about 6 feet
up in the air before it billowed out. Hence no need for deflectors.
On
engines with a soft exhaust like Bulleids when driven with a partly
open regulator the exhaust steam doesn't have enough momentum to get up
in the air and away from the engine so it flops down and it's like
driving through fog.
So I reckon it depends on draughting
and the speed of the exhaust steam up the chimney.
Also
archiac GWR types need to be thrashed to do anything useful which is
another reason for the fierce exhaust. Bullieds, being a superior
design can be driven more gently!
Arthur Glass, 19 February
2007 22:46
Mr
King raises another interesting point. He quite rightly points out that
GW engines were not fitted with them. Indeed, a serious accident
happened on the Western Region because of them allegedly obscuring the
driver’s view, the locomotive involved being, I believe,
70021
Morning Star. So why smoke deflectors at all? As higher speeds
were attained with bigger engines the problem was the exhaust being
sucked into the disturbed air along the side of the boiler. Many trials
were carried out on the original Bulleid pacifics, the very worst
offenders, to try to sort it out. One test involved timing how long a
driver’s view of the road ahead was obscured on a trip
between
Bournemouth and Waterloo. The total ran into several minutes! The
problem, amongst other factors, was soft exhaust, a south easterly wind
(right angles to the line) and no airflow under the boiler to
counteract the partial vacuum on the leeward side. They tried short
deflectors, long deflectors, no deflectors; it made little difference
until the engines were rebuilt. Eventually the most effective smoke
deflectors were found to be the German ‘trough’
type
examples fitted to Gresley A3s. Smoke deflectors of any kind really
only make any difference on locomotives being worked lightly at high
speed so they probably make little difference on most heritage
railways. Now then. “The first British locomotives to be
fitted
with smoke deflectors were Maunsell’s N Class.”
Discuss.
Stephen Hoadley, 20 February 2007 19:30
From:
Baz Stead
Sent: 16 February 2007 14:13
Dear Chaps and
Chapesses of the Watercress Line
What
an absolutely splendid job you are doing on No.19.
Congratulations are
indeed deserved by your team. I shall look forward to a main line ride
when she is ready. Will you let me know?*
In
the meantime I have found an old black & white photograph of
your
lovely locomotive in her heyday, just six years after she was
withdrawn from BR traffic:
LNER A4 Gresley
No.19 Bittern
York Locoshed
16th September 1972
Ready
for the York to Scarborough 11:00 am departure
Doesn't
she look magnificent?
Yours with great
appreciation for your work on steam locomotives
BaZo
Stead
(Grandson of a family of
Railwaymen)
|
 |
From: Graham Meech
Sent:
15 February 2007 20:16
Subject: Sweet Irony
I loved
the picture on the Feb 13th entry to the P-Way
Report. The one with a steam-engine driver talking
on a mobile phone .... classic!!
Graham
d:-) ... tw
From: David
Eburne-Brown
Sent: 15 February 2007 07:44
Subject:
USA Tank 30075
Hi Tony
Project 62
are putting together some publicity material for the ongoing work on 62-521 / 30076
and we are looking for some video footage of 30075 at the Mid Hants
Spring Gala in 2006. Would it be posible to put out a request for
anyone who has some footage of 30075 and would be happy for us to use
it for publicity purposes to contact us at project62@supanet.com.
cheers
Dave
Brown / Richard White
From:
Richard Walters
Sent: 12 February 2007 11:17
To: Tony
Wood
Subject: rich switz
Hi there Tony
Just
got a new camera...this is
the current snow condition up in the Alps.....basically
unusable ....the shovel stands so far redundant and hasn't been used
this year.
Rich
From: Brian
Emerson
Sent: 10 February 2007 20:50
Subject: Bittern
Hello
May
I first congratulate your staff on the magnificent job they have
made on Bittern.
I
have been watching progress via the photos on your web site,
BRILLIANT ! ! ! ! ! ! !
I have three
photos of Bittern taken
at York Roundhouse about 1967, just after she was bought
from "B-R ", by Mr Geof Drury. Being a friend of
Geof's, I
and some friends were invited to York to see her and Blue Peter. Work on
stripping Bittern's
paint work had started, using "Nitro-mores "
paint stripper,
and what a sorry sight she looked. Also the valve gear was
"labered" with grease, and "muck", as it picked up on its road
journey. However I am attaching these pics. You may use them as you
wish, if they are of any use. I look forward to seeing her come home to
Doncaster in the very near future: that will make
this old
guy a very happy guy.
Good luck to you all. Keep up the good
work.
Brian Emerson
Scunthorpe
From: Andy
Crespin
Sent: 08 February 2007 08:25
Subject: Ropley
water column
Hi Tony
Must say I am very pleased to
see that the water crane at the end of Ropley
platform
has at last been fitted the right way around, i.e. facing towards the
end of the platform, and not as it was originally fitted, facing
back up the platform.
The number of times I used to
fill up
locos in the 80's thinking "I bet this is the only water column in the
World that is facing the wrong way!"
Of course, I am now
bound to be proved wrong, but it certainly looks better facing the
right way.
Congrats all round, and Hi to all who remember me
Regards
Andy
(NZ)
Good to hear from you,
Andy. All OK down there?
Yep, all fine down here.
Boiling hot at 25-30 degs, and not a sign of snow anywhere !!
From: Peter Cutler
Sent: 13 February
2007 12:20
Subject: Ropley
alterations
Hi Tony
Taking up Andy
Crespin's
point, I guess at the time the water crane went in first time nobody
tumbled it should face the direction of travel, not face the loco. I
don't know about other people but for sure the further from 'the steam
age' I get the more knowledge I seem to acquire about how everything
looked and worked then.
A job that the
Building
Department have on the back burner is repositioning the large
'ROPLEY' boards. It turns out they should be on the end of the platform where
the train runs in. They're called ... running in boards!
(I think it's a job for when the down platform is tidied up
when the ground frame goes.)
Pete Cutler
From: Chris
Le
Corney
Sent: 07 February 2007 17:12
Subject: Alton
Station Today
Tony
A few photos at Alton today.
A
crisp frosty but sunny morning, but luckily no wind chill.
FM
Rail Class 73 "Spitfire"
stands on No 1 siding. The only steam to be seen at the station rises
in the background from the Brewery.
Contractors are busy tiling
the floor areas to the new
toilet building. Not too long now before one will be able to
board a train direct from Alresford to "water loo"!
The 16 ton mineral wagon
performs an as-built-for task: holding coal for the steam cranes. With
the frost, it may have been a bit difficult to shovel out
today.
Regards
Chris Le Corney
From: Andy
J King
Sent: 29 January
2007 09:49
Subject: Question for the Engineers
Hi Tony
Here
is a question for the mathematicans and engineers as I haven't seen
this covered elsewhere.
Restored
engines usually work at a lower boiler pressure than when they were in
BR service. In the case of the Bulleid Pacifics considerably so since
they first ran at 280psi, which was later reduced to 250psi
(because of wheelslip?), but in preservation I
believe the
Bulleids are all set to blow off at 225psi. I think a similar
downrating of boiler pressure applies across the board so even solid
performers like the Standard 5 are working on reduced power, which
makes some of its mainline performances even more remarkable.
I
seem to recall that our much missed Maunsell Moguls ran in BR
days at 225psi but have their safety valves set at 200psi now.
My
question is: what impact does this reduced boiler pressure have on
their tractive effort and drawbar horsepower? I know that
cylinder pressure is never as high as boiler pressure but this must
nevertheless create a proportional loss of
capability.
Many engines give good
accounts of themselves on the mainline but in truth they must struggle
to achieve their BR performances.
Perhaps Andy Netherwood
and co have some calculations on this?
Keep up all the
excellent work !
Regards
Andy King
From: Andy Netherwood
Sent:
02 February 2007 19:53
Tony
Andy
King's information about boiler pressures on restored locomotives is
wrong, as currently all our loco boilers are working at the full rated
design pressures. i.e.; WC/MN at 250lb/in2 Std 5
at 225lb/in2. and the Maunsell Moguls
were always rated at 200 lb/in2 and run at that
pressure, and not 225 lb/in2 as he suggests.
In
the early days when we only ran between Alresford and Ropley, the N
class was downrated to 180 lbs/in2, and Bodmin when first
restored in 1979 was rated at 225 lbs/in2.
However, when the line was extended to Medstead and beyond, it was
deemed necessary to run the locos at full boiler pressure.
Reducing
the boiler pressure would definitely save future
maintenance costs and boiler repair work, but a balance between running
cost and working performance has to be struck somewhere.
I'm
not
getting into the tractive effort verses boiler pressures war of
calculations and thermodynamic efficiency curves because it's very
involved, I don't understand all of it and mostly because I can't be
b....y bothered.
Regards Andy
From: Stephen Hoadley
Sent:
02 February 2007 21:34
Dear Tony
I
hope I can add something here. Originally, the Bulleid pacific boilers
were pressed to 280 psi, which was indeed later reduced. This was not
to reduce wheelslip*, it was to reduce boiler maintenance costs. Have a
look at some Bulleid pacific pressure gauges today and they show a
black line at the former blow-off pressure, as well as the more normal
red line at the revised lower pressure. If Mr King would like to work
out for himself what effect the reduction in boiler pressure would have
on tractive effort he might like to try D² x S x .85 p/d
where D is
cylinder diameter in inches, S is piston stroke in inches, p is boiler
pressure in psi and d is driving wheel diameter in inches. Some people prefer to use
.75p
(i.e. 75 per cent of boiler pressure) to give a more reasonable result
but whichever figure one chooses, remember that tractive effort is a
fairly meaningless measure of locomotive overall performance. Almost
soon as the locomotive gets going the formula ceases to work and a
whole other range of physics and mathematics takes over.
Regards
Stephen
*A
lot has been written (and talked!) about Bulleid pacifics’
legendary ability to slip. I have always believed that this unfortunate
tendency was due to a) poor regulator design which meant that the steam
couldn’t be precisely controlled from standing and b) poor
driving techniques, mainly to put on a show when the cameras were out.
Good drivers, such as those on the MHR, can almost always avoid a slip
with a Bulleid pacific, even with a heavy train on a wet rail.
From: Keith Lambert
Sent:
28 January 2007 20:26
Subject: Visit
As
a member of the "G-Scale Society" I would like to say what an excellent
lunch you put on for us on Saturday (27/01/2007) We had
excellent
service and food. It was a pleasure to visit the "Watercress Line" and
travel on the train in the morning with such helpful and friendly
volunteers and hope we will repeat it in the future.
Keith
Lambert
(Chandler's Ford)
From: Matt Allen
Sent: 21 January
2007 20:26
Subject: 73096 today
Hi Tony
I
found some new spots today to photograph the MHR, so caught 73096 in
action. I've also been trying to get a "panned" shot without
any
success but today finally succeeded!
Regards
Matt
One
Two
Three
From: mitchell wyatt
Sent:
22 January 2007 23:26
Subject: photo 3 from Matt Allen
http://www.watercressline.co.uk/images/ma21a07c.jpg
wow
, sorry i'm still hyper from sunday. that head hanging out the
fireman's window is my blond hair. must say its a brilliant shot by
Matt.
great website great shots
what more could we
ask for. keep up the brilliant work with the site Tony and brilliant
shots Matt.
sorry for the randomness
Mitchell was, until he
passed 16 recently, one of our Rangers
- a young and characteristically enthusiastic volunteer ... tw
From: Mike Wells
Sent:
21 January 2007 16:52
Subject: Web Site etc
Hello Tony
