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Current
main line excursions Latest photos of Bittern
in action
( = further correspondence to a recently-published mail)
We are on the lookout for an old signal box (wooden construction, not too large please) to be incorporated within a planned development scheme on the railway. Ideally we would like one of LSWR origin, second choice would be any Southern Railway or predecessor (SER, LBSCR etc) and third choice any other part of the country.
Do you know where one may be available sometime over the next 1-2 years? This might apply to a box still in situ on the current network, or one previously rescued and now lying in someone’s garden. The MHR would be willing to arrange removal.
If you know of one, or better still you own one and are willing to discuss its passing into MHR ownership for a worthwhile future use, then please contact us via the webmaster: tonywood@watercressline.co.uk
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
There were initially some outstanding certification issues which have now been resolved and the water carrier is available for use when required ... tw
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: 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 |
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From: David CharlesworthLines 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".
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. (*Not Eastleigh as previously stated)
Thank you for your kind words ... tw
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"
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: 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
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: 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: 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
Thanks Henry; these are very popular! ... tw
| 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 |
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| 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 |
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| 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 |
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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: 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
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
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
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
http://ccgi.ewanbeth.force9.co.uk/cgi-bin/images/location.php?loc=HawickThought you might be interested!
Also
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: 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 |
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From: Jonathan RumensFrom: Cathryn Bennett
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
- 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
... and here's March
Rgds
H.
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%.....
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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 |
Great picture, now on my wall here - thanks Henry ... tw
Just in case you think it's a good idea here's Feb.
H.
From: Martin Taylor
Sent: 12 January 2008 10:10
Subject: Henrys Calendar
Tony
Just a short note of thanks, which Im hoping you can pass on to Henry, for the two calendar pages made available via your website – fantastic pictures as always from Henry: I really do love seeing Henry's works of art.
Regards
Martin
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'
