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From: Nicola Hunt
Sent: 24 June 2008 13:57
Subject: War on the Line
Dear Mr Wood
I am writing to say thank you to all who work on the Watercress Line
for a fantastic day on Sunday 22nd June.
We took my 12 year old daughter and my fiancé’s
parents (my future Father-in-Law is a WW2 veteran).
From the moment we stepped onto the platform at Alton we were
transported back in time! The re-enactors were wonderful, bringing the
whole event to life and making the journey very entertaining. The
attention to detail was amazing.
I particularly enjoyed the standard of the hanging baskets and borders
at all the stations - well done to the gardeners.
My daughter absolutely loved the train and went into the engine - she
was caught up in the thrill of it! (She’d never been on a
steam
train before)
What a well organized and educational day we spent…
congratulations to the organizers and volunteers.
We will definitely be back next year.
Yours sincerely
Nicola Hunt
From: Robin Silman
Sent: 23 June 2008 19:48
Subject: bittern
http://www.rspb.org.uk/news/details.asp?id=tcm:9-192847#
Hi Tony
Just wondered if the above link may be of interest. It was
featured on our local news tonight
Cheers
RobinSilman
From: John Wright
Sent: 23 June 2008 17:26
Subject: Jacobites
Hi Tony
A group of us from MHR loco department have spent the last
week up
in Scotland on the support crew of Bert's Black 5 #45231.
Driver Paul Cane and fireman Frank Santrian were on top form and a good
week was had by all.
This was the first outing for 45231 since repairs to her cylinder and
she performed faultlessly.
I have attached a couple of photos: One
Two
Regards
John Wright
From: Tyger Hardy
Sent: 22 June 2008 22:10
Subject: War on the Line
We
have just had a fantastic day. The role playing was
marvellous
(particularly Private Walker and his silk knickers and the land army
girl in her jodpers). Two of our party were
arrested (one for having
an incorrect Identity Card and the other for being Polish!)
It as all
great fun and the day was topped by the Dakota flypast.
Thank you
again for such a fantastic time. We were going to book for one of your
dinner trains but I see by the web site you have sold out for 2008!
TYGER
From: Ken Alexander
Sent: 22 June 2008 18:43
Subject: Cathedrals Express
Tony
Had an excellent run from Kings
Cross to Lincoln behind Bittern yesterday.
The loco performed faultlessly and you must all be very proud of what
you have achieved.
(The poor weather and the loco pulling well through the platform made
photo opportunities difficult.)
The return run was equally exhilarating behind Sir Nigel Gresley.
Two A4s in one day can't be bad.
Regards
Ken
From: Alan Wickens
Sent: 18 June 2008 16:54
Subject: Ropley water column
Tony
Interesting to see your shot of the Ropley
column, looking a bit sad!
Some years ago myself and a colleague painted it all over: we had to
abseil down the outside to reach all the parts as they say!!
I cannot remember the year but I still have the photos and we put our
names and the date under the tank on the track side! Wonder if they are
still legible??
Regards
Alan Wickens
From: David Charlesworth
Sent: 17 June 2008 20:15
Subject: www
Tony
This first item got deferred and nearly forgotten while you were on
holiday: The
Vintage Bus Service was provided by the same pairing as last
June. Ex Aldershot
& District No.370 is seen here at Chawton - looking
from Jane Austen's house, and ex
Southampton No.361 waits at Alton with A&D370.
Looking forward to next weekend with War on the Line you might see something like this.
The aircraft making the flypast will probably have the three stripes
denoting the Normandy invasion but remember it is sixty years this
month since Dakotas helped in the Berlin
Airlift.
Messrs Walden, Pretious, White and Wittekopf - four Marks - and two of them
Stationmasters, though not at Medstead! (There are probably more but
these came instantly to mind!)
Regards
David Charlesworth
From: Rupert Johnson
Sent: 12 June 2008 12:08
Subject: What is EDHP and how is it calculated
Hi Tony
I was looking at some old emails on the Mid Hants website: one email in
particular related to Bodmin’s horsepower
performance (climbing a
gradient) grabbed my attention. The writer of the email
measured/estimated performance in terms EDHP, I think this is
Equivalent Drawbar Horsepower. How is this calculated? There
is
nothing on the internet on this - I assume it is based on estimate of
speed, gradient, total train weight, time and distance travelled?
Kind regards
Rupert Johnson
Engine drawbar
horsepower I
think. If I'm wrong, I expect we shall hear pdq from the
others ☺
... tw
From:
Martin Beckett
Sent: 13 June 2008
15:11
Tony
If you can find
it, I wrote an
article about all this in Mid Hants News. It appeared quite a few years
ago now though, late 1980s or early 1990s probably while MHN was still
in the small page format which had a green front cover with a
photograph.
Briefly:
Drawbar
Horsepower (DHP)
is the power developed by a locomotive at the drawbar. To do useful
work this power is transmitted to an attached load such as
coaches or wagons (i.e. the train) through drawhooks, screw couplings
etc, which are the components that attach the locomotive to its train.
When a train
climbs a gradient work
has to be done to overcome the effects of gravity, and the locomotive
needs to work harder than on level track. EDHP or Equivalent Drawbar
Horsepower is just the drawbar horsepower (DHP) corrected for this
effect of gradient.
The problem with
making accurate
estimates of EDHP on the Mid Hants line is that the gradients,though
steep, are really not long enough to need the power to be sustained for
long periods. Plus the fact that line speeds have to be limited and
locomotives do not need their full power anyway.
For more
information Rupert Johnson
might like to track down an Ian Allan book entitled BR
Motive Power
Performance which I co-wrote with David Clough. Out of print
now I
expect but it does turn up on EBay occasionally. The ISBN is
0-7110-1718-2.
Martin Beckett
From: Karen Tregunna
Sent: 05 June 2008 17:49
Subject: Woodlea School trip
Please can you pass on our thanks to all of the volunteers that helped
to make our
school
visit today so successful.
Everyone that we met, both on our pre-visit trip and today was so kind
and helpful, going out of their way to help.
It was a real pleasure to visit and all 55 of our children had a
wonderful time.
Thank you
Karen Tregunna and everyone at Woodlea Primary School
From: Matt Bentley
Sent: 06 June 2008 20:14
Subject: 66417 atM&4M
#66417 and Stoneblower came from Ashford to
Medstead & Four Marks -
the first Class 66 to Medstead
Regards
Matt Bentley
From: John Wright
Sent: 03 June 2008 13:37
Subject:
Bittern meets the Duchess
Hi Tony
Hope you had a nice holiday.
I was on the support crew with
Bittern at the
weekend when she briefly met the Duchess at Yeovil Junction.
I have attached some photos that I hope you can use:
at Woking running round;
on the
turntable at Yeovil
Junction; and
meeting
the Duchess taken from the top of
Bittern's
tender.
Regards
John Wright
From: Christopher J Wilson
Sent: 03 June 2008 12:53
Subject: Advanced Driving & Firing Experience
Dear Tony
I'd just like to say a big thanks to all the staff who made my
Advanced
Driving & Firing Experience on May 18th such a great
day!
Particular mention should go to Doug the driver and Alan the fireman
whose patience and teaching skills excelled! And of course
a big thank you my partner Sharon who arranged the whole
thing.
It was great to be able to invite my Dad and Mum, David and
Cathy
along too for the ride - my Dad has just had an operation for cancer
and the day was a real tonic for him too.
All the very best
Chris Wilson
From: Richard Kirwin
Sent: 02 June 2008 12:56
Subject: Bittern @Woking
Hello Tony
I was lucky enough to be on duty last Saturday when Bittern visited
Woking at lunchtime to run round it's support coach en route to Yeovil
for Sunday's Steam Dreams tour. I enclose a few pics, and a (poor)
movie on a separate email. Not the best quality as I'm new to digital
cameras.
Please note I am employed by Network Rail and had lookout protection
when taking these shots.
Regards
Richard Kirwin
From: S Walters
Sent: 29 May 2008 08:14
Subject: M4M yesterday: #60019
Hi Tony
Just a few pics of 60019 having a run out up to Alton first thing to
test the repairs.
Signalman is Clive Jackson
Hope you are fine and well
Steve
From: P. Dr. Daniel
Hörnemann
Sent: 27 May 2008 20:14
Subject: Railway Museum
Dear Tony,
Due
to several requests and quite an interest I've just put an ENGLISH
summary of the history and development of our railway museum at Lette
onto our website:
www.bahnhof-lette.de
- see the last of the main categories ENGLISH.
Best regards
P. Dr. Daniel Hörnemann
Abtei Gerleve 1
Daniel
is an annual very welcome summer
visitor as a MHR loco shed volunteer ... tw
From: Malcolm Grant
Sent: 26 May 2008 20:44
Subject: Visit on Saturday, 24th May 2008
Hi Tony
Am just writing to say how much my friend Chris and I enjoyed our day
on the railway this past Saturday.
By chance I chose to start our trip at Medstead & Four Marks,
not
knowing that it was the 25th Anniversary of the re-opening of the
station and the extension from Ropley. It was therefore great that we
were able to enjoy the station tour and to learn of the amazing vision
and hard work that went into turning a wreck of a station site into
what is now a wonderful replica of the South Western heritage - and
certainly feels so much like it ought to be as a real station.
It is a nice combination having both steam and diesel and DMU in
operation and it was great to travel in the griddle car with the fine
side seats and tables - a great bit of preservation. Being a lovely day
everything looked at its best - including the station gardens - and it
is clear that tremendous hard work and attention to detail goes into
delivering the service to us - who have memories back into the steam
era in the 1950's - and others who will never have experienced such
things before: what a great team effort this seems to be.
I guess like all preservation lines the most difficult thing is keeping
the rolling stock and locomotives serviceable in very difficult
conditions. I wondered if there are any plans for developing any
further display accommodation - perhaps at Alresford - where
locomotives waiting repair or out of service for some time might be
given a quick repaint and displayed under cover until a slot and
funding is found for the locomotives to be overhauled and returned to
service? It must also be a real challenge to keep the splendid and
historic passenger and goods rolling stock fully serviceable with very
limited space for this - with little apparent covered accommodation for
this purpose?
Thanks again for providing such an enjoyable day out.
Malcolm Grant
From: Clive Warneford
Sent: Sunday, May 25, 2008 9:05 PM
Subject:
Extension of
MHR from Ropley to M4M
Tony
Some photos taken by me at Alresford and Ropley in
1982
of track stacks in Alresford car park, and the railhead at Ropley:
Clive Warneford
From: David Charlesworth
Sent: 24 May 2008 21:47
Subject:
25th Anniversary
of the extension of the line from Ropley to Medstead & Four
Marks station
Tony
Medstead looked
very festive
in the sunshine today for the 25th.
There was some
super power
out today
to get up the hill from Alton. If the "33" is rated at 1500hp and the
Ivatt reckoned to give 800hp that's 2300hp - about Class 8P.
If you want to know what happens to the fire irons when they get hot,
they're put out to cool!
;-) Here are some red-hot pokers
(alias
Kniphofia)
at Ropley.
Regards
David Charlesworth
Bittern in London on the 14th May (About 20 shots on my mobile phone put together in Photoshop):
Jon
Gibson Skinner,
30 May 2008
2x pannier on the 30th March
2x Std5 21st May
Rgds
H
From: David Mort
Sent: 21 May 2008 16:09
Dear Tony Wood,
I took a trip on your line on Saturday.
I was extremely impressed with the whole setup, so I thought that if
you had a magazine or newsletter, you might like to publish these
photographs in it.
Thanks again
David Mort
From: Alex Penfold
Sent: 19 May 2008 16:12
Subject:
Canadian Pacific
Hi Tony
Over the last weeks and on Saturday, Sunday - 17th, 18th May 2008 - I
managed to get several videos of #35005.
I have compiled them with several images and some details of
#35005’s life into
a video
which I have uploaded to YouTube
Thanks
Alex Penfold
Alex
is a MHR volunteer and has a PTS. CanPac is only stopped for
routine heavy general overhaul, Alex! ... tw
From: Edward J Dyer
Sent: 18 May 2008 20:29
Subject: CanPac's Last Day
Evening Tony
Just returned from another very enjoyable day on the Mid Hants.
Of course, this was CanPac's last day in steam and she performed
superbly as usual.
Lets hope she will return sooner rather than later.
Regards
Edward J Dyer
From: Terry Gale
Sent: 17 May 2008 22:00
Subject:
Bittern
Tony
Alan Daniels tells me that you’re
collecting photos of Bittern.
Here’s a couple taken over the past week: one pulling the
Cathedrals
Express through
Wokingham last Wednesday and the
return to base on
Thursday.
Regards
Terry
(MHR Alton Platform staff)
From: Stewart Legg
Sent: 13 May 2008 22:34
Subject: Watercress Festival
Sunday 11th May 2008 once again saw the
Alresford
Watercress Festival which continues to grow in size
and in the scale of its success.
As in previous years the railway provided a park and ride service using
the field at Ropley and an enhanced train service on the
Ropley/Alresford section. It was a glorious day and passenger figures
were high once again.
The first trains ran just after 8am and the last was shortly after 6pm.
The normal service was operated on the Alresford-Alton service
comprising six departures from Alresford, whilst a further 20
departures were operated using the four-car DMMU. For most of day there
were three trains an hour between Ropley and Alresford, the traffic
being at its most dense in the down direction between 9.30 and 11.30.
Trains had to be emptied out and sent back to Ropley as soon as
possible, the turnround time at Alresford being cut down by having
drivers in both ends of the unit.
The
shortest dwell time at Alresford on Sunday with a busy arrival was
recorded at 90 seconds!
I am proud of the staff from both Traffic and Motive Power who worked
in hot and arduous conditions throughout the day in calm and
professional fashion to deliver such an intensive operation.
Stewart Legg
MHR Chief Operating Inspector
From: Louise and
Alex Heron
Sent: 03 May 2008 10:05
Subject: Birthday party
I wanted to thank you all at The Watercress Line for the fantastic
birthday
party you put on for my little boy Alex and his friend Thomas
on Saturday 19th April.
I am sorry to take so long to thank you but there have been many thank
letters to write, which takes time when you are a six year old boy!
We were really delighted with everything that you provided for us. The
carriage looked great, the food was lovely and just right as all the
children tucked in and the lady who looked after us on the day (sorry I
have forgotten her name) was lovely and could not have been more
friendly and helpful.
The party was a complete success, all of the children who came loved
it, but most importantly my little boy Alex who has been a regular at
The Watercress Line since he was tiny thought it was the most fantastic
birthday party ever and that is what it was all about as I knew it was
his dream to have a birthday party on a steam train.
So thank you for helping to make that dream come true!
With kind regards
Louise and Alex Heron
From: Louise
and Alex Heron
Sent: 09 May 2008 23:55
To: Watercress Line Information
Subject: RE: birthday party
We would be pleased for you to use our letter to recommend you and your
volunteers to others users and we will definitely see you soon.
Louise and Alex x x
From: James Everett
Sent: 11 May 2008
Subject: 35005
Hi
When you said you were not going to renew her boiler certificate, does
that mean she won’t run again or are you going to do a long
overhaul?
Regards
James
Hello
James
As Colin explained in his mail,
we are not intending to apply for an EXTENSION to the current boiler
certificate of #35005.
Extensions follow additional formal inspections and can allow us to run
a loco beyond the expiry of its certificate’s original
validity
period.
In the case of Canadian Pacific, MHR’s in-house boiler
inspector
recommends we replace the life-expired firebox tube-plate – a
lengthy job (compare with current
work on Douglas’s firebox.)
We shall take this opportunity to do a full heavy general overhaul and
our engine will then be out-shopped to full Ropley standard as our
flagship loco. ... tw
From: Matt Allen
Sent: 11 May 2008 13:25
Subject: Can Pac Today
Hi Tony
Hot off the press! Can Pac in action on the 11.00 ex Alrs
this morning.
Despite it being 25°C she put on a great display with some
great
smoke. I gather her boiler certificate is up soon so today
was
probably my last chance to see her in action for a while; shall
definitely miss her in action across the Alps. Looked
marvellous
with the uniform green stock.
Regards
Matt
From: Frank Rushton
Sent: 01 May 2008 19:20
Subject: A Word of Thanks
Almost every day I bless the moment when I found your website. I much
appreciate the many hours of pleasure you continue to provide.
Frank Rushton
Hillsborough, North Carolina
USA
Thank
you Frank, for writing such kind words about our website.
As our railway’s webmaster I am keen to discover which parts
of
our (1.6GB) website you find most interesting, please? ... tw
From:
Frank Rushton
Sent: 09 May 2008 18:45
The videos, Tony, which I watch over and over and over. The enjoyment
is enhanced by the volunteer spirit which permeates your website. What
an incredible group of folks you must be!
I wish I could visit your railroad, to thank you all, and personally
bask in your accomplishments; given age and health I think that
unlikely.
Please consider the possibility (and money is of course always an
issue) of having BBC or Granada come down and make a video of your
operation, not just trains running but shop and restoration efforts as
well. Of course to be used here it would have to be available not only
in Pal but in the NTSC format used in the U.S. and Canada.
I am an unabashed Anglophile and dote on the British mysteries shown
(but not often enough) on our Public Television.
Again, thank you for what you are doing.
Frank Rushton
Well
thank you again Frank, for your encouragement to us all.
We do have visits from the BBC etc., working at MHR quite often, but
most of the results are broadcast for local audiences. Lots of film
companies too use us as a location and more than once, so we must be OK
d:-)
... tw
From: Colin
Chambers
Sent: 08 May 2008 13:13
Subject: 35005
Tony
As you are probably aware
Canadian Pacific's last
day in boiler ticket is
Sunday 18th May.
We have now decided not to present it for a further extension
to
the boiler certificate so if anybody wants a ride behind it before its
heavy general overhaul they had better be quick. Check the
loco roster.
Regards
Colin Chambers
Managing Director
Mid Hants Railway Ltd 'Watercress Line'
Canadian Pacific at 75 mph
through Farnborough Main station
Photo (16th August 2001) © Nigel Kendall
From: Keith Brown
Sent: 05 May 2008 20:57
Medstead & Four Marks station has acquired a new set of SR
"target" signs on the lamp-posts and buildings, to replace
the
previous, life-expired set. These have been funded by a very generous
donation in memory of the late Gerald Clarke (1930-2006), which has
also provided replacement signs for the
booking office and Gents' lavatory.
Members of Mr Clarke's family
visited
the station
on Saturday 3rd May to see the finished articles. Pictured
here
(l-r) are Mence Wilkinson (Mr Clarke's brother-in-law) Brana Clarke (Mr
Clarke's mother), and Ruth Wilkinson (Mr Clarke's sister), with Mike
Scruse (who erected the targets), Derek Seaton (MHRPS fund-raiser
extraordinary) and Keith Brown (M+4M stationmaster). Thanks
also
to Mark Walden and Peter Grant of the MHR Building Dept. for their help
with this project.
Pictures by Keith Brown and Norman Day
Medstead & Four
Marks station history .. station today ..
station news
A 1949 London Transport RTW (in the colours of a later owner,
Stevenson's of Uttoxeter), leaves Medstead & Four Marks on the
first day of our
monthly vintage
bus services
Report and photo (4th May 2008): Keith
Brown
As well as the RTW, this ex Southampton No.402 AEC Regent V also ran.
Although seen at the Alton Bus Rally this is its first appearance on
our vintage bus service, I think.
Report and photo (4th May 2008): David Charlesworth
From: David Warwick
Sent: 04 May 2008 15:17
Subject: Sunday 04.05 pics
Tony
Two from this morning ....
One
Two
David
From: Graham Smith
Sent: 29 April 2008 20:25
Subject: Bittern's second tender
Dear Tony
I wonder if you know the reason why Bittern is
currently not using its second, water-carrying tender on main line trips?
Kind regards
Graham
There
were initially some
outstanding certification issues which have now been resolved and the
water carrier is available for use when required ... tw
From:
Matt Allen
Sent: 29 April 2008 20:36
Subject: Freight Photo Charter
Hi Tony
I'd like to thank the railway for the great photo charter that Warwick
Falconer and myself ran on Sunday. The crews were a real
credit,
making sure we all had a great morning of photography. The
freight stock is looking marvellous, the BR era matching the Ivatt
perfectly, a credit to all those who are putting in lots of hours in
restoring the wagons.
We started from Alresford at 6.30am (yep, a 3.30am start for some of
the crew!), we gradually made our way up to Medstead, finishing at
10am.
We had 20 participants from all over the UK; the feedback was
unanimously good.
Despite a forecast for rain, we got very lucky and actually got some
sun, complete with some very stormy skies in the background.
I've attached a few photos from the morning.
One
Two
Three
Four
Five
Regards
Matt
From:
Paul Martin
Sent: 29 April 2008 19:08
Subject: 41312 Charter 27th April 2008
Just a note to say thanks to all at the Mid Hants Railway who made the
charter possible.
To the crew a big "Thank You" and all the station staff who were so
helpful and polite.
Hope to visit again soon.
Regards
Paul Martin
From: Matthew Oakley
Sent: 28 April 2008 16:55
Subject: #41312
Hi Tony, Heres a pic of #41312
with the demo freight sat at Ropley yesterday afternoon.
Matt
From: Henry ODwyer
Sent: 28 April 2008 12:20
Subject: Sunday Demonstration Freight
Hi Tony
Two pictures from Sunday.
Plus slide
show and two
movies on site.
Also, Keith Brown may like to give a report on his exceptional
signalling duties on Sunday.
08 was at M4M to assist shunting round due to a points failure: country
end of the down loop.
Rgds
H.
From:
Keith Brown
Sent: 28 April 2008 23:17
Subject: Sunday Freight
I
haven't had quite such an interesting day in the box in ages.
With the
Country end points clipped out of use awaiting repair, all passenger
services were crossing at Ropley. The goods train terminated
at
Medstead, using the 350hp diesel shunter to shunt-release the Ivatt and
berthing in the down platform to allow the passenger trains through.
KB
I
love Henry's movie of the freight arriving at M4M - turn up the volume
and bask in nostalgia! ... tw
|
 |
See also
From: Martin Camp
Sent: 28 April 2008 13:40
Subject: RAT (26th April)
May I say what a great night we had on the RAT train Saturday 26th.
We
had about 10 people on with us and have to say how good the
whole
evening was. All the staff were great and the ale was
excellent.
Even
the singing goat we had with us must have had hundreds of photos taken
and even someone videoing so all in all I think everyone had a
most
enjoyable time.
We look forward to seeing you again soon on another RAT and
top marks to all the staff who were working on this.
Regards
Martin Camp
Could
be read as though you had a nearly empty train, Martin, but somehow I
don't think it was. Intriguing about the 'singing goat'!?
d:-)
tw
From: David Charlesworth
Sent: 27 April 2008 21:40
Subject: Kettles & the Infernal
Tony
While other people were out and about snapping those coal fired kettle
things on wheels the infernal combustion engine appeared in classic
form next to the Railway. Last Sunday (20th April 2008) this Austin could be
seen at Medstead and a Bedford
bus brought a party to the Countryman Pullman. Meanwhile the Hampshire Unit
stretched its legs in the station area at Alresford, even shunting a railcar.
This week saw the return of the Trojan
Owners Club.
Lines
were closed today west of Basingstoke due to engineering works
connected with the Bournemouth Line Electrification, and this Bournemouth to Waterloo train
was diverted over the Alps, while the down goods waited for the line
westwards.
Apparently the collective term for a group
of volunteers is a "rumour".
Regards
David Charlesworth
08
about to shunt the goods train
From: RGWedd
Sent: 27 April 2008 10:26
Subject: Cylinder boring machine
Hi Tony
Is the cylinder boring machine you showed re-boring the cylinders of
the BR Std 4 an original machine from the steam age or has it been
purpose made to do the job by the engineers at the loco works?
I think your website gives the best insight into the technical side of
steam restoration with great pics and video clips of what actually goes
on. Sadly, due to health and safety most railway sheds are out of
bounds to the general public and unless you are an active volunteer
with a railway you just don't get to see what goes on.
I used to enjoy walking alongside the engines in the yard looking at
all the various bits and peace's to see how things work or even by an
ex-Barry hulk imagining what it looked like on its last day with BR.
Thanks again for all the work you put into the website.
Cheers
Rob
I
believe the cylinder-boring machine we have on loan from the Bluebell
came originally from Brighton loco works. We
had to make adapters
to use it on some of our locos.
It is highly motivating to learn that our
loco shed pages are helpful and appreciated.
Thank you for your kind
words ... tw
From: Alan Clay
Sent: 27 April 2008 09:59
Hi Tony
Two fantastic examples of what is achieved by the hard working staff
and volunteers at the Watercress Line: Ropley
Box & Bittern
A lasting tribute to them all - well done.
Regards
Alan Clay
More
about Bittern
More about Ropley Box
From: Christopher Searle
Sent: 20 April 2008 14:34
Subject: The continuing adventures of #60019
Hello Tony
My Father and I had our first Main Line run behind Bittern
yesterday and were very impressed by her.
She looked superb and performed magnificently on an excursion to the
Severn Valley Railway from Swindon (returning as far as Oxford in the
evening).
Sapperton and Old Hill banks were tackled in some style and fast
running was very frequent. Wonderful!
She is definitely a star loco as I could not believe the crowds that
waited for her arrival on the SVR.
Attached are some pictures of her very brief visit to Bridgnorth Shed
(for servicing) which was open as the SVR was hosting it's members and
shareholders event.
I think all of the SVR shed staff turned out to see her! A great day
with #60019.
Kind Regards
Christopher Searle
From: Tony Traynor
Sent: 19 April 2008 23:26
Subject: Thomas in Denmark
Tony
Just thought I would send you a picture of Thomas
in Odense on Fri 18th
Also do you know what its original identity is/was?
Thanks
Tony Traynor
Thank you Tony.
Thomas's
history ... tw
From:
Peter Schack
Sent: 22 April 2008
19:14
Hello Tony
After a nice
weekend in Denmark with Thomas and his crew Rod
& Tracy I would like to say thanks for a great weekend
I have uploaded pictures from the Thomas
weekend in Denmark on my private
gallery
Special thanks to Tracy
and Rod
You have given me a weekend I´ll never forget. :-)
Best
regards
Peter "the
Dieseldriver"
From: David Creasey
Sent: 19 April 2008 22:32
Subject: #60019
Gents
Attached
are some pics of #60019 Bittern taken today when it
worked (from
Swindon) a Kensington Olympia to the Severn Valley Railway special.
#67003 hauled the train from Kidderminster to Bridgnorth with #60019 on
the rear.
Best Regards
David Creasey
#60019
enters Kemble en route to the SVR
From: Daniel Stapleton
Sent: 17 April 2008 13:50
Subject: No. 60019
Dear Tony
Been looking at some photos taken of Bittern during
her mainline
stint in the 1970s and have noticed that she used to carry small
plaques on the sides of her casing with a picture of her namesake on
them (similar to the Springbok plaque carried by classmate #60009 Union
of South Africa)?
Are the current whereabouts of these plaques known? If so,
are
there any plans for #60019 to carry them again in the future?
Regards
Dan Stapleton
Such
plaques apparently
weren’t fitted in BR days so MHR are unlikely to fit them. I
think any previously fitted are not with us - if they still exist
... tw
From: Jørgen Larsen
Sent: 16 April 2008 22:44
Subject: Welcome! on Danish tracks Wednesday 9.30pm
Venlige hilsner - Kind Regards - Mit freundlichen Grüssen
Jørgen Larsen
Museumsinspektør - Museum Curator
Danmarks Jernbanemuseum - Danish Railway Museum - Dänisches
Eisenbahnmuseum
Dannebrogsgade 24
DK-5000 Odense C
Tel: +45 6613 6630
www.jernbanemuseum.dk
www.railwaymuseum.dk
www.eisenbahnmuseum.dk
Sent: 13 April 2008 11:28
Subject: The Standard 5
Hi Tony
I see that there has been lots on the website recently about Bittern
- great photos especially at the NYMR gala, which Philip & I
enjoyed last weekend.
However, the Standard 5 continues its fame too and has made it on Coronation
Street.
Roy Cropper is a steam fan and his female flatmate was entertaining a
fella in Friday's episode in the flat - they wanted to put a record on
the turntable and found a record of the sounds of "BR Standard Class
5MT number 73096" and proceeded to play it!
Different eh!
Best wishes
Kevin Kitchen
I
put this here as
consolation to our browsers who suffer CS for the sake of marital
harmony ... tw d:-)
From: Steve Clark
Sent: 12 April 2008 09:00
Subject: Bittern with the North Briton Rail Tour
this morning
Hi There
Have another photo of Bittern taken for you this
morning on the North Briton
Rail Tour around 7:50 at Offord Cluny just south of
Huntingdon.
Enjoy
Steve Clark
From: Horace Ward
Sent: 11 April 2008 19:20
Subject: The Royal Scot/Bittern
Hi Tony
A stranger in town..and Euston at that.
019 Bittern turns up under the guise of THE
ROYAL SCOT pulling a special out of London's Euston
Station on Friday, April 11th.
Actually not to Scotland but a round trip of the Surrey countryside
returning to Victoria a few hours later.
The enthusiasts turned out to see 019 off and plenty of cameras
snapping away to record the event, not usually found on these metals in
the steam days at Euston.
p.s. Pic.3 shows Bittern departing out of
the station. Pictured with a Rolleiflex.
Regards
Horace
From:
Mark Aldred
Sent: 18 April 2008 15:39
Subject: The Royal Scot/Bittern
Hi there,
This really is addressed to Horace and his note with
accompanying
photographs of 019's little excursion from Euston, 11th April.
In the first pic there is a Pendolino in the background - it was the
12.05 to Manchester Piccadilly and I was the driver. I was delighted to
see the old girl alongside my modern counterpart but terribly
disappointed to have a booked departure 25 minutes too early to see her
leave.
It's a great picture of the two of us side by side though, did anybody
else get any?
Regards
Driver Mark Aldred
Virgin Trains
Manchester
From:
Mark Ziemba
Sent: 19 April 2008 19:34
Subject: Plus ça change ... ?
Hi Tony
Driver Aldred's message from London Euston made me have another look at
Horace's first picture.
An examination and comparison of the design of the two front ends is
revealing, don't you think?
Maybe Sir Nigel knew a thing or two, seventy years ago.
Best regards
Mark Ziemba
Fleet, Hampshire
From: Peter Cutler
Sent: 11 April 2008 17:54
Subject: Bittern and Pullmans
It's quite fantastic isn't it that so long after the end of BR steam
the heritage movement can put on a shed display like that at the NYMR.
Can I make a couple of observations about Bittern
with Pullmans which may prompt a reply? Firstly, on its debut run with
us on 7th July 2007 the vehicle immediately behind Bittern
was a BR Mk1-profile MetCam Pullman which it almost certainly hauled in
the 1960s on the ECML. Secondly, there were no MetCam brake Pullmans of
that style so the parlour and kitchen cars had to run with older flat
sided vehicles. Am I right in thinking the one behind No19 in the third
of Matt's photos is the only such vehicle still running?
Pete Cutler
From: Sarah White
Sent: 10 April 2008 10:04
Subject: Day Out With Thomas, 9th April 2008
We got to Ropley at about 9am yesterday and got to see Thomas
having his face and buffers cleaned to get ready for the long
day ahead.
We had a lovely day as always.
Jasmine (5
years) did ask after Percy though!
Thank you
Mrs Sarah White
Miss Jasmine White
Sadly,
Percy wasn't well, so the Fat Controller told Duck
to take his place this time.
We
did get a ride with Duck.
Hope Percy gets better soon, we will be back in August
...
Jasmine 10 April 2008 18:43
From: Ian Knight
Sent: 09 April 2008 23:24
Subject: #48305
Hi
I travelled on the Great Central Railway on Sunday and was hauled by
the 8F on the last round trip.
She performed superbly and the noise was something else on this
basically flat line.
I can't wait to hear her storming up to Medstead.
Here are a couple of shots as a taster of what's to come:
One
Two
Cheers
Ian Knight
From: Matt Allen
Sent: 09 April 2008 22:33
Subject: #60019 on its travels
Hi Tony
Thought you might be interested in these photos of #60019 in deepest
Yorkshire at the weekend
Regards
Matt
From: Horace Ward
Sent: 07 April 2008 16:18
Hi Tony
Goodness,what an exceptional
picture of Boyneswood Bridge taken by Belinda Jacob, April
6th.
Brilliant composition, a one-off picture of a lifetime. Unique.
Regards
Horace
From: Warwick Falconer
Sent: 05 April 2008 19:39
Subject: #48305
Hi Tony
I saw that you have #48305 coming in September which is very good news!
I thought the attached may come in useful.
I am quite interested in chartering #48305 on your freight train if
that is possible.
It's quite a grubby engine and really looks the part on a
goods.
Regards
Warwick
From:
Henry ODwyer
Sent: 06 April 2008 20:38
Subject: #48305
Hi Tony
If Mr Falconer does charter #48305 he can put my name top of the list
now. I hope those cylinders pass through the platforms OK
?
Rgds
H.
From: Brian Gamlin
Sent: 04 April 2008 11:04
Subject: Old 30506 pic!
Tony
I have just had my father's 35mm slides converted onto CD and came
across the attached picture
of 30506 at Feltham circa 1964/65.
I thought the MHR might want it for their archives.
Regards
Brian Gamlin
From: Michael Topham
Sent: 31 March 2008 22:54
Subject: Bittern on the NYMR
Tony
I was up at the NYMR at the weekend for the LNER Gala.
I thought that people might like to see a photo of her up in the North
and performing superbly.
She looked great alongside her sisters.
I am also adding more onto my website
gallery.
There will be some more of Bittern going on there
over the next few days.
Michael
From: Alan Clay
Sent: 30 March 2008 19:29
Subject: A wet & windy day!!
Hi Tony
Another enjoyable day on the Watercress Line despite the weather !!
Our thanks to all
Kind regards
Alan & Lyn Clay
From: Christopher Searle
Sent: 30 March 2008 13:58
Subject: Western visitor
Hello Tony
Some shots from Medstead yesterday featuring the GWR visitor 5764 and
an old favourite 73096.
It was nice to hear some Western bark on the MHR banks again.
The pictures were taken just before the heavy rain came in for the rest
of the day!
Regards
Christopher Searle
From: Hannah Nevett
Sent: 29 March 2008 22:01
I would like to say thank you very much for my first footplate experience for my
sixteenth birthday.
I have been waiting for this for almost a year; it was the best
birthday present I ever had!
I have driven a train on a computer simulator, but I the real thing was
much, much better!
The
day was over too quickly for me and I wished that I could've driven the
engine a little longer, but I still had a great day; and I hope that
I'll do it again on the advanced course. See you
soon.
Hannah Nevett
From: Rob Jones
Sent: 25 March 2008 08:19
Subject: Thomas Day Out
- Monday 24th March 2008
We just wanted to say thanks for a wonderful day out at “The Watercress Line –
Thomas Day Out”
yesterday. My son Leo is only 20 months, but he enjoyed every bit of
our day. He recognised many of the trains, and got to ride on Thomas.
The effort made by everyone who volunteers is outstanding, and this is
shown not only by the well preserved engines and buildings, but also by
the friendly relaxed environment.
I would highly recommend this to anyone who has a child watching Thomas
the Tank Engine.
Thanks again for a brilliant day. We will be back very soon.
Rob, Joanne and Leo Jones
From: Steve Camp
Sent: 24 March 2008 14:11
Subject: Winter has returned!
Tony
A view from Medstead box yesterday morning. More reminiscent of Santa
Specials than Thomas!
Steve Camp |
|
From: Sharon, John, Bradley and Harvey Nicholson
Sent: 25 March 2008 10:32
Subject: Day Out With Thomas, Saturday, 22nd March 2008
Dear Tony
Just wanted to let you know that my family and I had a fantastic time this Easter and the snow
added to the excitement for my boys Harvey and Bradley.
Having
a picnic on the train
was an experience for them both. Had many rides
on Thomas and Toad, and Harvey still keeps talking about it.
Thanks again and I hope all who book enjoy their day as much as us.
Regards
Sharon, John, Bradley and Harvey Nicholson |
 |
From: Michael Gurr
Sent: 21 March 2008 12:11
Subject: Just to say
Dear Tony Wood greetings
Just to say, www.spookey-mick.co.uk
is now running with a few of the railway stories, including a
photograph that you supplied - thank you so much.
All good wishes
Michael Gurr
I
expect Bob Carwright
will get the mickey taken again when his SWTrains colleagues see his
'breakfast' photo in your Shunting section! d:-)
... tw
From: Chris Smith
Sent: 17 March 2008 09:53
Subject: Nick Clark's First Day
Tony
A happy occasion on Saturday as ex-Ranger
Nick Clark had his first day on the footplate after waiting
four years until he was old enough.
Here he is pictured (left) with me and Jim Leven on the Ivatt at Alton.
Thanks to Terry Gale for the picture.
Regards
Chris |
 |
From: Russell Burgess
Sent: 15 March 2008 17:19
Subject: #45132
Hi Tony
Nice to see the air
intake box
which some members (including myself in some places, for parts of the
overly thick red oxide paint in places!) is featured on the site. Shame
I wasn't there today, as I had a bit of a cold, so I had to stay away.
Anyway, getting D22 is going to be more of a case of yanking the genny
out, repairing it and putting it back in, there are many smaller tasks
needing to be looked at. The next largest one is the missing nose on
one end, which has yet to be fitted, connected and painted. (And so
there's also the other nose to look at.). Part of the work includes
reassembling the No.1 cab, which is partially stripped.
Roger has told me that the loco also was a poor starter: asking my
father (also called Roger, but doesn't have any influence on the WCL!)
about the starting issues, may mean the injectors may need to be
checked (so he thinks), although the other Roger thinks the batteries
are the source of the problems. So a set of batteries (9 we know are
not in good shape anyway), may need to be ordered. That's 2.2v per
cell, multiplied by 96.....! Although, there is a set of
NiCads
(amount undetermined) around.
Oil may need to be drained, due to the seven approx years of static
use, and I think (personally) the diesel may need to be drained,
depending on the lifespan. (Theoretically, there should be no problems
with either). Also, the air tanks may also need to be re-certified.
Exhaust silencer box/silencer, etc needs to be repaired, painted,
lifted and secured and finally, painting here and there, particularly
in the engine room, which is best described as a red and silver
wonderland! We are waiting for the spring to come around and
the
generator to be removed, before taking on the task of painting the
areas, which we largely stripped, around the generator, before we
actually put any coat of paint on.
As I said, the generator is the biggest major hurdle (almost!) dealt
with; the others should be a lot easier and getting the loco running,
won't be a dream. On an email and with my lengthy descriptions, it
looks further than it actually is!
Regards
RWSB
From: Andy J King
Sent: 14 March 2008 14:08
Subject: (Another) One for the engineers
Hi Tony
Regarding the Mid Hants' own 4MT #75079, has
it ever been shown that the engines fitted with double chimneys (and
blastpipes) performed better than the single chimney versions?
Why is it that some double chimney classes were regarded as successes
(eg the GWR Castles) while others such as the Ivatt 4MT or
#71000 Duke of Gloucester
as relative failures? My limited knowledge tells me that the
object of the blast is to improve steaming by drawing hot gases through
the boiler tubes, but why would a double blastpipe be so successful in
some cases and so unsuccessful in others?
Congrats for creating the best steam site on the net.
Andy King
From: Daniel Edwards
Sent: 13 March 2008 14:37
Subject: Standard 4 - 75079
Just e-mailing to say its nice to see that work is slowly being carried
out on #75079. I know that its not a lot so far, but even
just
the little bit of work on it looks good!
I'm hoping to take a ride behind her in the future when she is in
operation. I always remember seeing her static at Plym Valley
Railway where they were unable to get her up and running til other
things on the railway were sorted out.
It will be nice to see the first running of this engine when she's
ready!
D Edwards
When the Black
Five team have repaired #45379
they will turn their attention to #75079.
As you may have seen from our previous jobs,
all the work on parts is evident only when it nears completion and is
assembled. There is progress already with #75079 behind the scenes;
we'll be reboring its cylinders (Movie, 11th March 2008,
3.2MB) and valve-chests soon
... tw
From: John Wright
Sent: 10 March 2008 18:43
Subject: RHDR
Hi Tony
A group of us working on the MHR
Black Five had a day in Kent on Saturday at the Romney Hythe and Dymchurch
Railway
We were met by their managing director who spent a couple of hours
showing us around the sheds at New Romney and even organised
discount tickets for the whole party - he could not of been more
helpful
and our thanks go to him and his staff. This railway, although
one-third full size, is a great day out and only two hours drive from
Ropley. The sound of those engines pulling out of New Romney up towards
Dungeness with a ten coach train is something else and the
driver/fireman has a lot of work on his hands as there is only enough
room for one on the footplate.
Regards
John
From:
Tim Gray
Sent: 15 March 2008 21:11
Hi Tony
Glad your members enjoyed their ride behind Southern Maid. I was her
driver on the 8th March and I'm in the picture uncoupling from the
train.
There is more room on the footplate than it appears, although not much
protection from the weather.
Regards
Tim Gray
From: Mike Turner
Sent: 05 March 2008 20:34
Subject: Dick Hardy
Dear Tony
Great to see Dick Hardy*
still going
strong - what a brilliant writer, a terrific speaker, a great
railwayman and champion of steam; and a great example of how to live
life after retirement to the full.
One personal memory: about 15-16 years ago I took my youngest son, then
aged about 4 (now 6ft 3in), to the Autumn Gala and he was driving the
BR mogul. Mr Hardy invited us onto the footplate at Alton, making my
son very welcome. He also managed the bank to Medstead tender-first in
the leaf-fall season without a slip. Long may he continue.
Yours sincerely
Mike Turner
From: Syd Winward
Sent: 05 March 2008 05:10
Subject: Black 5 piston gland bushes
Hi Tony
I was looking at the new
split bushes for #45379's piston gland
on the site earlier today. I was a fitter at Bolton MPD in the
1950s and 60s but don't recall ever seeing dowells on the front bushes
before, we always relied on the square section spring to hold them
together.
Is this a modern invention and are there any advantages of having these
dowels there?
I would have watched the video but my connection speed is so slow that
16MB would take literally hours to download to my computer.
I am interested in how the bushes are split once they have been
machined from the solid brass bar.
Incidentally at the time I left Bolton in 1964 we had the next door
Black 5 allocated to us: #45378.
Syd.
Sorry
you couldn’t watch the video of Hugh explaining the job, Syd;
it’s
very popular and has had over 1000 downloads so far! I used
to limit
web-movies to small file-sizes because of our dial-up browsers, but so
many
people now seem interested in our larger videos that I have relaxed
that rule now.
We didn’t have the original pattern for the piston
gland bushes (which I’m told had castellations) and modified
the new
ones with the dowels.
In the movie, Hugh explains that the
bushes were cut into halves, soldered together, machined, then sweated
apart. He made a good job of them: they fit together with a satisfying
click clearly audible on the video ... tw, 05 March 2008
14:21
I
had forgotten about the
castellations on the bushes - can't remember now which end they were
on, the cylinder cover end or the spring end. You couldn't put the
bushes in the wrong way round - each end is a different diameter.
I never thought of making two half bushes and soldering them together,
I was trying to work out how to cut one bush with as thin a blade as
possible so as to finish up with the right size.
Syd, 05 March 2008 19:46
From: Scard, David
Sent: 05 March 2008 10:48
Subject: Mum's footplate ride...
Hello Tony
My mother, Jane, visited the railway on March 1st for a footplate ride
which she enjoyed very much.
She loved the experience, said the crew were great and would recommend
it as a good gift.
I offered to work that train as the Guard, but we hardly saw each other
anyway.
Included is a pic of the
‘grinning lady’ on the footplate at Alton
(taken by Phil Sharpe)
Thanks
David Scard
From: Nigel Wilson
Sent: 03 March 2008 23:13
Subject: Bittern
Hello Tony
A long way from home but... http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=S1Udd6WHg4o
Best regards
Nigel, Michael & Philip
From: Alex Penfold
Sent: 03 March 2008 21:36
Hi
I was down on the railway on Sunday with the camera and I managed to
get a few videos of CP, the Ivatt and Standard.
I put them into a Movie Maker and uploaded them to You Tube, so here is
the URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3lhU-xZWlQ
Just thought it might be of interest.
Thanks
Alex Penfold
From: David Allsop
Sent: 02 March 2008 21:12
Subject: 35005 Canadian Pacific
Tony
I enclose two photographs of MN Pacific 35005 Canadian Pacific
taken at exactly the same location in the yard at Ropley two days apart
on Sunday 17th February
and Tuesday 19th February
2008, and good weather both days.
Regards
David Allsop
From: Phill Brentor
Sent: 29 February 2008 18:34
Subject: Bittern at NVR
Hi Tony
Took these this afternoon. They are both horrible pictures but at least
show that Bittern got here!
One is at Wansford with
French stock behind it, and the other is on the little used Fletton Loop.
You can use them if you want to but I think they are awful!
Phill
From: Henry ODwyer
Sent: 29 February 2008 12:11
Subject: #19
There you go #19 at Kew East.
Bang on time
Nice quartered buffers as
well.
Rgds,
H
From: Matthew Oakley
Sent: 29 February 2008 10:40
Subject: 60019 Bittern
Hi Tony
I saw Bittern go through Ash today en route to the
Nene Valley Railway and I
took a quick video (1.3MB,
29th February 2008, Matt Oakley)
Cheers, Matt
Letter in The
Independent (28th February 2008): 
Linked photo (by David Warwick, 1st March
2008) shows watercress beds beside the
Watercress Line
From: Andy J King
Sent: 27 February 2008 11:22
Subject: Hugh's video piece
Hi Tony
I thoroughly enjoyed Hugh's piece to camera [ Movie
(18MB, 26th
February 2008)
]
regarding the split bushes for the Black 5, and I particularly
liked his patient explanation of the simple but ingenious jig used to
ensure the two halves would unite successfully after machining. The
sequence put me in mind of watching Jack Hargreaves' TV
programme
"Out of Town" when craftsmen would demonstrate skills, knacks
and
techniques that appear so simple when demonstrated, but in
fact
require a practical ingenuity that few possess.
Mechanical Engineering of the kind practised at Ropley
- that ability to solve practical physical problems
and even
just to "make tools to make other things" - are such rare
skills
now that you should consciously create and document as many of
these short video pieces as possible as the Black 5 comes together and
perhaps release as a DVD to coincide with the engine's
steaming
to show just how a steam engine is rebuilt? This
would serve
as a tribute to the skill of all those at Ropley who
help to
rebuild it.
Just a thought.
Best Wishes
Andy J King
Thank you very
much for writing, Andy; Hugh will be surprised and pleased, I
know.
I used to worry about offering big-file videos on the website but
download stats suggest that's not such a problem these days.
Over the past decade
we've
shown in photos several times the entire process of bringing locos from
scrapyard condition to main line certification. (You can even track the
improvement in affordable digital cameras over this time!)
It's
not practicable nowadays to show everything.
I believe a commercial DVD was made of the restoration of Bittern,
though it may not have all the engineering content you seek.
(Try: marketing@watercressline.co.uk)
If you use the search facility on our main Index
page, you will find many engineering jobs in our archives ...
tw
From: Henry ODwyer
Sent: 27 February 2008 09:59
Hi Tony
I assume that was the old
Ropley distant going to M4M yesterday, on the back of the
utility.
I believe a replacement will be installed between Northside Lane bridge
and the walkers crossing a little further down?
Rgds
H
From: Tony Jacks
Sent: 25 February 2008 19:17
Subject: An enjoyable day
I thought you might like a copy of this photograph that I took on 5th
September 2007. My son and I had an enjoyable day on the line. I
thought that the scene typified the spirit of the line and took me back
to the time when one man could rely on all his friends to give him a
helping hand.
I had an enlightening chat about the man up the ladder and his skills
with a brush and also the fact that one of the other members had just
qualified as a brush handle.
Regards
Tony Jacks
I’m sure the Wednesday Gang will be well
chuffed with your photo, which I have put on
‘their’ page. Thank you. .. tw
From: Steve Robertson
Sent: 26 February 2008 08:48
Subject: MHR Feb 23rd
Hi,
Love the website and the regular updates, managed to make the
transition from 'armchair enthusiast' to paying the MHR a visit on
Saturday and very much enjoyed the day out. Some piccies attached -
looks like great progress is being made on Wadebridge!
Best regards
Steve Robertson
From: David Warwick
Sent: 24 February 2008 15:30
Subject: Sunday 24th Feb Pics
A very mixed bag from Sunday: 35005, D6593 and DMMUs - not bad for a
morning.
David
From: M Hills
Sent: 22 February 2008 19:46
Subject: Celebrity Driver!
Hello Tony
I was at the Watercress Line today with my two boys aged 5 and
2. We had a great day, there was so much happening!
We saw Thomas being shunted in the sheds, there were two steam trains,
and no diesels because someone hadn't delivered the fuel (much to my
elder's consternation - he is a bit of a diesel freak - sorry) and to
top it all we saw Bittern in steam having a few
practice runs
up and down the line! I was a bit confused when I realised I
recognised one of the footplate crew as Charley
Boorman! Is he a
regular? Has he given up on motorbikes for something with a
bit
more horsepower? Thanks for an interesting day.
Mike Hills
PS My wife, who was at work, was gutted when we told her as she is a
bit of a fan of Mr Boorman!
The
BBC were filming something with Bittern today. We
announced that the A4 was in use through the loco roster (link on Loco Shed page.) I
hadn’t heard about a lack of fuel(!) but most people prefer
steam
anyway, although you get probably a better view of the line from the
DMMUs ... tw
From: Gavin &
Elaine
Sent: 21 February 2008 12:55
Subject: Bittern pic
I have just spotted that a nice photo of Bittern in action in the 1960s
in the Scottish borders has just been added to the "Railscot" website!
http://ccgi.ewanbeth.force9.co.uk/cgi-bin/images/location.php?loc=Hawick
Thought you might be interested!
Cheers
Gavin
Thank
you Gavin ... tw
From: Matt Allen
Sent: 19 February 2008 22:46
Subject: #41312 on its holiday
Hi Tony
I had a very similar holiday to #41312, following it from Hampshire to
Yorkshire (not literally, even though the journey did seem to take an
eternity!)
Was great to see #41312 paired with the KWVR's own Ivatt #41241.
Regards
Matt
Also
From: Daniel Edwards
Sent: 19 February 2008 09:51
Subject: #75079
If my memory recalls there was something on the site about #75079
moving to you at the Mid Hants Railway from a railway in
Plymouth,
Devon. I was just wondering what had happened about that
locomotive's restoration and whether it is going to appear again on the
website?
Be a shame if the loco is not restored. I remember seeing it at
Plymouth a few times. Can we possibly have some more information about
this engine on the site?
Mr D C Edwards
Coincidentally,
patterns have just arrived for new tender wheel
castings for this locomotive and I photographed them today for the
website. We are keen to get started on this Standard 4 because it will
be a lovely loco and very appropriate on our line.
As you will have read on our website, we have plenty on
the go
at present including: #92212, #31806, #10 (Douglas), #45379, the #34007
cab and tender, and the three S15s. This is the time of year when we do
a lot of the annual maintenance and #73096, #41312, #1 (Thomas) and
#35005 have all gone through very recently. You will have seen the
lovely new paint jobs on such as DMMU #51405. Our Boiler Dept is busy
installing a reverse osmosis water treatment plant at present and we
expect this to substantially reduce boiler maintenance when it is
operational.
Although we have more loco shed volunteers now than ever
before, with yet more we could make progress even faster than we do
now. Why not come and help us with all this work? ... tw
From:
Colin Chambers
Sent: 20 February 2008 09:00
Restoration work has already started on the Std 4; in addition to the
patterns arriving, the axles for the tender are on order, we have
obtained a complete set of drawings, a set of Timken axle
boxes,
one Silverton 12-feed lubricator and a reversing rod shaft; Andy
Crespin has promised us a whistle and the cylinder and valve bore have
been prepared for boring with the borer we have borrowed from the
Bluebell.
Colin Chambers
Managing Director, Mid Hants Railway Ltd 'Watercress Line'
From: Kyoichi Oda
Sent: 19 February 2008 04:42
Subject: Re: Thomas events etc
Hello Tony
I modified ttte_j
Would you mind checking and uploading it? I think details and how to
book are necessary for Japanese customers.
Driving Bittern was superb; I made the page: http://www.h3.dion.ne.jp/~rsfe/uk_MHR_e.html
Your friend
Kyoichi
From: Ben
Zehetmayr
Sent: 18 February 2008 18:41
Subject: #41312 at the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway
Good
weekend at the KWVR. Unfortunately the left hand rear drain cock stuck
open on the first day - we were going to offer our assistance but they
had cleared it by the Sunday. Someone also seems to have found some Southern discs Sunday
morning too, although with some silly headcodes
on occasions.
Looked good with 41241 but the pairing was only for
the Saturday as theirs failed (driver's side cylinder gland
packing,
when banking a two coach train out of Keighley with #41312 on the
front) and didn't run on Sunday, perhaps in sympathy for #41312's
sticking cock.
BZ & TZ |
 |
From: Jonathan Rumens
Sent: 15
February 2008 21:24
Subject: 34007 tender
Hi Tony
Is it right that 34039’s tender was coupled to 35020 when
new? I thought it was tender 3348?
Rgds
Jonathan
I
was advised by respected Ropley gurus on this matter
because I know nothing. Maybe other gurus can help? ... tw
From:
Doug Mills
Sent: 16
February 2008 23:22
Subject: Wadebridge Tender
Hi Tony
The works plate on the frames of the tender give its number as
3119. This makes it one of the first series Merchant Navy
tenders, originally having 5000 gallons water capacity. It
was
originally paired with 35009 Shaw Savill and apparently remained with
this loco until withdrawal. However, the currently fitted
water
gauge indicates 5500 gallon capacity, so it may have received a new
tender tank at some point? Canadian Pacific currently runs
with
tender 3348.
Regards
Doug Mills
From:
Richard Bentley
Sent: 17 February 2008 21:29
Subject: 34007 Tender
Just to add to the saga of the tender attached to 34007
Wadebridge. Whilst the chassis of this tender I understand
did
belong to 35009 "Shaw Savill", it should be noted that it is not
carrying the tender body it was withdrawn with, and the body has in
fact been at Ropley before.
The tender body was the one purchased from Barry Scrapyard to run with
34067 "Tangmere" which at the time was being restored at Ropley during
the late 1980's. However, it was decided early on during its
restoration to remove the tender body from its chassis and replace it
with the new 5500 gallon style cut down tender, with which Tangmere now
operates.
The redundant tender body was then sold to the then owners of 35005
"Canadian Pacific" at Loughborough and then subsequently transferred to
run with 34039 "Boscastle". With Boscastle currently out of
service at Loughborough, and Wadebridge's brand new tender still
unfinished, a loan was agreed to speed up Wadebridge's return to
service. How incestuous is that!
I understand that the majority of the Bulleid tenders were sold from
Barry scrapyard to the Welsh steel works and used for a number of years
for moving steel ingots on their internal systems. This has
subsequently left a large number of locomotives without tenders, and a
major headache for groups such as the owners of 34007 Wadebridge who
are having to build them from scratch.
I bet you are sorry you asked the question now!!!!!!!
Regards
Richard Bentley
From: Jonathan Rumens
Sent: 18 February 2008 10:03
Tony
Could you pass my thanks on to Doug & Richard for their
answers? I’d started from info in Frys book on
Bulleid
Power- the MN Class – which says that 34039 came out of Barry
with tender 3348 ex 35005. There’s a lot more to
the story!
Regards
Jonathan
From: Cathryn Bennett
Sent: 12
February 2008 23:10
Subject: Bullied Tender History
Hi Tony!
Just wanted to say how fascinating the video
was on the history of Wadebridge's
tender! It was very interesting indeed to see all those different
layers and the various different colours it has been throughout it's
lifetime! Do we know if the tender is the original one from her B.R
days at all? I know that loco's coming from the Woodham's yard came out
with different tenders in most cases, and have heard of loco's being
paired back up with original tenders much later in preservation, is
this the case with "Wadebridge" I wonder?? (Was she at Dai Woodham's
Barry Scrapyard, even?)
Also, I think the new pic of the two
Dads with their sons at Medstead and Four Marks is
incredible! Henry has a truly wonderful eye indeed!!
Cathryn
The
tender, built in 1945, originally ran with Merchant Navy Class
#35020
Bibby Line and is loaned by the Boscastle
Group at GCR... tw
From: Tony Gomm
Sent: 12 February 2008 21:20
Subject: Stitching photos of Bittern's footplate
Tony
I've recently started a new job in Alresford and spend some of my
lunchtimes on the station platform. This week I was fortunate enough to
see Bittern enter the station and get a
few photos.
This led me to look at the MHR site to follow the progess of the
rebuild - I last saw Bittern last year in
the shed at Ropley.
I notice you took some photos on the footplate but
were disappointed
with your attempt at stitching. I would like to briefly share my
experience of PanoramaPlus, a Serif program. I copied the low
res photos on the site and got good stitching and blending,
which
I attach for
your examination. The image is uncropped hence the irregular borders.
Bittern looks so nice after seeing the bare-metal
chassis in the loco shed. A good job, well done I think.
Regards
Tony Gomm
Most
grateful, Tony.
Many of the programs* I use are free, though I have been known to
'donate' towards the better ones. d:-) ... tw
From: Andy Williams
Sent: 11 February 2008 08:07
Subject: Home page
What a brilliant photo on the Mid Hants Railway home page. Two dads ?
and their kids. No trains just the atmosphere.
It was a joy to see first thing on a Monday.
Andy Williams
From: Robin Maunders
Sent: 10 February 2008 15:11
Subject: Visit to watercress line
I am writing to thank your staff at The Watercress Line for the
friendly way we were treated on our visit.We had tea and coffee in the
buffet in Alresford, the staff were friendly and polite, and the
service good. As the trains were not running on the day we visited, and
as I am interested in steam railways, I asked if I could see any of the
rolling stock. I was told if I went to Ropley I may see some.
On arriving at Ropley, we were amazed at the cleanliness and the
standard of the station and grounds; a credit to all your staff. We
spoke to an engineer on the platform and I asked if I could
take
a photograph of some of the rolling stock. I was directed with the help
of an other member of staff to the engine shed where I was allowed to
take some memorable photographs for my album.
As I live in Scotland and was only in Hampshire for a few days I am
truly grateful to have been given the opportunity see your preserved
railway. Keep up your good work; look forward to visiting you in the
near future
ROBIN C MAUNDER
We
do our best, Robin ... tw d:-)
From:
David Charlesworth
Sent: 10 February 2008 09:55
Subject: 9th February
Tony
Yesterday, Saturday 9th February, Bittern was in
service, here at Alton
with plenty of steam for the climb to Medstead. W51400 was also active
looking very shiny in its new paint.
The incoming excursion
arrived in platform 2 at about one o'clock as the "33" waited in
platform 3 ready to join
at the rear as banker.
Regards
David Charlesworth
From: Paul Davie
Sent: 07 February 2008 10:52
Subject: Loco Roster
Tony
I just tried to open the roster, but my work laptop can’t
read
the .xlsx format. Is there any chance you could post it in an
older format?
Other than that, this is an excellent website, which I much
appreciate. My first memories of the line were as a small
child
when it reopened, being taken by grandparents living in Bentley and
Isington; and whenever I get the chance to go to the area I try to
visit (I now live in Grantham).
Regards
Paul
I've
changed it to .xls format for you, Paul ...tw
From: Richard Hay
Sent: 04 February 2008 16:12
Subject: Fixed Distant Signals (lack of)
Dear Tony
Enjoyed Saturday afternoon at the 35th Anniversary
- highlight was the 30 second pause by the DEMU at Ropley with the
second run to Alresford; just like it used to be with no nobody getting
on or off!
However, I write to enquire about the replacement Fixed Distant arms
either side of Ropley and to ask whether the 'modern' ground level
replacements (they are signs really) are to be permanent or not. They
do wreck ambiance in these locations in areas where, as they are fixed
anyway, visibility of the arms on the posts cannot be an issue - surely
every driver knows the position of the next signal down will probably
be on!! Slightly sad that Matt Allen's cover photo in his
recent book is now unobtainable.
5% of visitors being enthusiasts - probably right but I, like many I
suppose, tend to only visit during 'events' and I have never seen any
market researchers!!!
Best regards
Richard Hay
MHRPS member
- The DEMU, as you may
have seen, is still
having its interior renovated so could only work as a demonstration
train between our scheduled service trains. We still meet people (e.g.
from Ropley) who remember going to school on them
- The Mickey Mouse signals*
either side of Ropley are there to comply with the legal requirement
whilst our signals are upgraded; in Phase 2 of the cunning plan they
will be replaced by working distant signals (* Photo prior to temporary changeover: David
Warwick)
- FWIW I reckon market
researchers collared visitors on arrival and hence just before they all were
rapidly converted to rail enthusiasts
d:-)
...tw
From: Bob Ellison
Sent: 03 February 2008 11:23
Subject: Photos Saturday 2nd
February
Dear Tony
Please find attached two photographs from my visit to the MHR on
Saturday which I thought may be of interest to you for the website.
The first shows the Thumper
departing Ropley. The second, 'Canadian Pacific'
arriving at Ropley
on the 3.01 departure from Arlesford with the late afternoon sun
catching the smoke as the loco accelerates away from a signal
check.
Regards
Bob Ellison
Member MHRPS
From: Horace Ward
Sent: 01 February 2008 08:54
Subject: Changing face of "Enthusiasts"
Good Morning Tony
I'm
beginning to notice that more and more 'spotters' of steam engines at
main line stations are women - I think thanks to the internet. I know
several women who love steam engines.
I was at Ascot station on
Saturday to greet 'Clan Line' for the top-up with water; those waiting
to
see the arrival were women, some with children along
with the odd father. These outnumbered the 'enthusiasts' by a long
chalk. They are usually confined to the end of the platform with
cameras chatting over old times, whereas the new breed of onlooker is
more interested in the overall appearance, history and beauty of the
machine at close hand.
Pete Waterman was on the political TV
programme "This Week" last night, talking about 'you cannot get the
skills anymore in railway engineeering'. Yet youngsters would get their hands
dirty if you mentioned steam engines. He saw that with his
own eyes.
...and look how far Pete has come, leaving school at 14 with no
qualifications.
Best Regards
Horace
Interesting snippet:
Market research figures indicate that only 5%
of MHR customers are 'rail enthusiasts'.
What do you make of that ? ... tw, 29th January
2008
From: Charles Lewis
Sent: 29 January 2008 22:11
Subject: Today's interesting snippet
Tony
A long time ago, and from memory about a year after the original
opening, I remember a figure of 7% being spoken of as the figure of
“rail enthusiasts” visiting the Watercress Line.
There was
some early market research done at the time, so the figure quoted on
the site today of 5% is remarkably consistent.
Best wishes
Charles Lewis
From:
Philip Harding
Sent: 30 January 2008
Well, I guess we count ourselves lucky then - hopefully next year it
will be down to 2%.....
 |
From: Jim Russell
Sent: 21 January 2008 10:36
Subject: SIGNAL REPEATERS
We are looking to obtain a minimum of twelve signal repeaters - see
photo - which are required as a part of the final phase of the Ropley re-signalling.
If anyone has any of these hidden in their lofts that they would be
prepared to donate, even if only as a source of parts, then we would
gladly accept them. We have calculated that we need at least twelve
working examples for the signalbox.
It does not matter if the brass is
tarnished as we have people willing to donate a few gallons of Brasso
to restore them to their former glory.
Regards
Jimbo |
From: Martin Orford
Sent: 13 January 2008 00:41
A VOLUNTEER'S TALE
Here's a little story that might interest anyone thinking of
volunteering for the Mid Hants.
I've been a member of the Preservation Society since the early days but
apart from a couple of stints in the booking office at Ropley in the
mid 70s I'd never been much more than an armchair enthusiast. I always
tried to keep up to speed with what was going on at the Mid Hants, but
in the 1990s the railway seemed to have lost its way and become
synonymous with in-fighting and general ill-feeling so I let my
membership lapse for a while. Lately though, things seemed to be on a
more even keel again and with a bit more leisure time at my disposal, I
decided to take a chance and ask to join the Loco Department. I figured
this was asking quite a lot considering I have no engineering
background and my only first-hand experience of steam locomotives was
limited to a couple of Footplate Experience courses on the West
Somerset Railway. To put it bluntly I wasn't in the position to offer
anything much that would potentially be of use to the railway, and I
fully expected my general lack of knowledge to be greeted with
indifference or worse still derision.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
Since joining the Loco Department in November, Frank and the guys have
been absolutely fantastic and I couldn't possibly have received a
warmer welcome.
The order of the day at Ropley Manor seems to be that they believe you
CAN do things, not that you can't, and I've been chucked right in at
the deep end doing tasks I would never dreamed of attempting before.
Sometimes people of great skill and knowledge don't want to share it,
so the patience, understanding and first-rate tuition that's been shown
to me at Ropley is rare indeed. Didn't know how to take the
streamlining off a Bulleid Pacific or remove a brake ejector but I do
now.
We railway enthusiasts often very wrongly assume we know a lot about
the subject from our vantage points on the other side of the fence, but
until you confront a working railway hands-on you'll never
know
quite how much you don't know.
The Loco Department isn't for everyone and standing up to your knees
with a shovel in a filthy and flooded inspection pit won't appeal to
some, but the point of this e-mail is to assure anyone thinking of
volunteering that the Mid Hants is now a really friendly and
flourishing line, and if you want to get out of your armchair and
really learn something about railways this is a great place to do it.
All the
best
Martin Orford (Bishops Waltham, Hampshire)
From: Bev
Pease
Sent: 09 January 2008 10:22
Subject: "The coming of Steam"
Dear Tony,
You may remember publishing a letter
from me while ago,
publicising my page on the Railways as one of the GREAT INVENTIONS OF
MANKIND, which I passionately believe it to be. I got a lot of
hits from it too but like I fool I then rationalised my file names so
that now folk can't find it. I shan't do anything stupid like that
again.
I've found quite a sexy picture of Bittern on your
'latest news'
page to replace the rather insipid one I had before. But to
get
the blood really racing, I reckon that you need more steam -- coming
from where it's supposed to come from, the chimney. There's
one
that would have been quite good, if only the poor girl hadn't been
going backwards at the time. I know that even express
locomotives
have to be run backwards these days, but I hate seeing them do it and I
hate even more seeing pictures of them doing it. They're not meant to
go backwards. They're meant to go forwards at high speed.
Best regards
Bev Pease
I've
changed the link on your previous
e-mail, Bev. The photo you have now put on your website is by David
Warwick, shot during Bittern's first day in service whilst it was still being run in. I hope you asked David's
permission to use it - at the very least you owe an acknowledgement on
your site! Excellent high
speed movies of Bittern were shot on 1st and 15th December
2007 ... tw
From:
Colin Chambers
Sent: 11 January 2008 17:37
Bev Pease's letter:
Personally, I think that 40 years after the end of steam we should be
grateful we can see them going in any direction, and Bulleids
were designed to !
Regards
Colin Chambers
Managing Director
Mid Hants Railway Ltd 'Watercress Line'
From: Malcolm Wilton-Jones
Sent: 08 January 2008 02:37
Subject: Singapore
Railway website move and Steam 200X pages
Hello All
This is for all those of you who have been following the above
websites, or have provided information for them. Both sites ceased to
be updated from December 2006, this was partly due to the fact that I
retired and moved to Spain in early 2007, then set off on a
round-the-world trip which is still ongoing! In addition both websites
became full and my host provider discontinued the FTP program I was
using. The Singapore site has been completely relocated (see link
below) and is now undergoing a major update.
The Singapore website has been updated with more information and
pictures/maps covering the Tank Road to Newton section and I also have
more for the Tank Road to Pasir Panjang section including photographs
of Borneo Wharf station from the contractors who built the Tanjong
Pagar dock in the early 1900s.
Updated site:
http://searail.mymalaya.com/
South-East Asia Rail covering Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia
and Thailand.
Malcolm Wilton-Jones
From: Christopher Searle
Sent: 06 January 2008 12:36
Subject: Off-peak superpower !
Hello Tony
May I first wish you a Happy New Year.
My father and I popped down yesterday morning just to see what was
happening and found to our delight the MHR's latest main line
star rostered for duty.
#60019 was quite a contrast to the Bubblecar which was working the
other service. Attached are some of my shots from M4M.
Who would have thought in the early days of the MHR that one of
Gresley's finest would be hauling off-peak service trains!
Regards
Chris Searle
From: Chris Shaftoe
Sent: 04 January 2008 19:20
Subject: A4 Bittern Restoration Website
Hi, Tony!
Just popped in to say a huge "Well Done" for all your hard work on the
A4 Bittern website.
I am that moment creating a computer generated 3D model of 4472 Flying
Scotsman
and I was looking for reference shots of the backhead and cab. Your
photos have given me a great deal of information that I can use to
finish that part of the loco as of course the two are very similar.
I've attached a few shots of my model but it is far from complete. I
can send more if you are interested.
I use a kind of 'Computer Aided Design' or CAD software to create my
models and this is I believe the first time Flying Scotsman
has been modelled in this way to this amount of detail.
Please pass on my heartfelt thanks to all those involved in what must
have been an enormous undertaking. It's great to see that people are
still willing to give of their time and skills to restore our
heritage.
Regards
Chris Shaftoe
aka The Bryster
One
Two
Three
Four
Five
Thank you Chris. If
anyone else is engaged
in similar work I'll happily forward mail to you. (I delete e-mail
addresses here to avoid spam) .. tw
 |
From: Jenny H
Sent: 02 January 2008 23:05
Subject: 40's leave
Tony
Just to let people know that the photos we took at the 40's Leave event
are now up for viewing on our
website.
Attached are a couple of samples. Our thanks to all who took part and
to the Watercress Line; it really was a great day.
regards,
Jenny H |
From: Colin Fuller
Sent: 30 December 2007
Subject:
Christmas Leave
Dear Tony
Just a quick note to report the most successful
Christmas Leave event
so far. Re-enactors
arrived at Alresford from all over the country; from the Midlands,
South Wales, Kent, the West Country and even one regular from
Australia. The six coach train had to be strengthened to a
seven coach
one and even then there was standing room only. The volunteer
catering
staff on board had to work from table-tops and did a splendid job
supplying everyone with refreshments. Arrangements had been
made to
pick up hot water for tea and coffee from the Stations along the Line.
Many
thanks to all those volunteers who really put themselves out to ensure
that the visitors to our Railway and the re-enactors had a really
enjoyable time and from the reactions so far everyone really did have a
great time. It was interesting to learn just how many
re-enactors
were visiting us for the first time as the word had been spread that
the Watercress Line was the place to be for Christmas Leave.
Best Wishes
Colin
One
Two
From: Keith Brown
Sent: 30 December 2007 20:04
Subject: Missing Person enquiry
Tony - back in September, Medstead
and Four Marks station received a visit from a gentleman who
announced himself as the last resident stationmaster
at the station in the 1950s. He was very
complimentary about
the appearance of the present-day station, but unfortunately
the staff on duty didn't take a note of his name!
I'd very much like to get in touch with this gentleman for
the purposes of historical enquiry. Since September
I've been
trying to track him down, without success.
The only information I have is that he apparently moved to
Alresford soon after the DEMUs came into service in November
1957,
and that he lives in a former stationmaster's house
in Devon
(possibly at Feniton, the former Sidmouth Junction).
I wonder whether any of the readers of our fine website might
be able to help. Any leads gratefully received!
Keith Brown
KB
is M&4M stationmaster ... tw
Earlier
letters
Letters about our
main line
runs are usually moved
here
after a while
Publication
should not be taken as MHR endorsement
of the views expressed; we do like to stir things up a bit now and
then!
