Mid-Hants Railway Loco Shed

Recent News

Recent News from Ropley Motive Power Depot: showing work-in-progress of interest to the steam railway enthusiast
Reports and photos by your webmaster, or by others where acknowledged

Follow our restoring of heritage steam engines from Barry wrecks to high performance, mainline certified steam classics
team classics

14th January 2004:

MN #35005 Canadian Pacific has been moved to the running shed for work to begin on re-tubing the boiler

We have the Queen of Scots set at Ropley for contract work on the brakes

Three photos (14th January 2004): Tony Wood

6th January 2004:

A lot of shunting at Ropley today. Tom Turner needed some of the Queen of Scots set moved onto the pit to do (contract) work on the vacuum braking system, a TSO had to be moved from the shed for Terry Peach (left, on his birthday!) to get access to load the finished (dusty) cab of #35006 for delivery**. Steve Humby (hooking straps) and Roger Ventin (up the ladder) did most of the restoration and Duncan Richardson painted it.

** What happened next

Other news is that Maunsell* S15 #828 is coming to MHR

*Pronounced 'Mansell' by the Maunsell family, I learned today

Photos (6th January 2004): Tony Wood

24th December 2003: Loco Shed staff might be interested in this bit of news of a past volunteer

16th December 2003:

At the Loco Shed Christmas lunch, Clive Holliday was today presented with the New Ways To Bend Metal Trophy (2003). (Just don't ask)

Below: P&OSNC cab has had its numbers applied

View of the shed today

Photos (16th December 2003): Tony Wood

Did you miss anything?

10th December 2003:

9F #92212 rests on blocks whilst its driving wheels are re-tyred

Two photos (Ropley, 9th December 2003): David Couchman

9th December 2003:

Engineering Manager Clive Holliday has sent five photos he took of the 9F wheels removal job last week

One Two Three Four Five (Chronological sequence)

5th December 2003:

Good progress with #92212 on the wheeldrop

John removes springs and tapes journals to prepare wheels for despatch for re-tyring.

The station has been cleared of locos (see below, 27 Nov) ready for the start tomorrow of the Santa Special trains

Four photos (midday, 5th December 2003): Tony Wood

2nd December 2003:

The Class 11 ('Day') shunter was outside again after having its coupling rods serviced, and Rod was changing oil filters. Bittern's tender has been moved to the pit road ahead of the front streamlining* and frames. On 27th November, the Stanier Black Five was put under cover for the first time since its BR days. P&OSNC cab awaits return of the signwriter for its cab-side numbers. Graham is repairing corroded ends of the TSO you can see, for which new moquet has already been fitted on the stored upholstery

Richard was dismantling the front end of the 9F ready for the removal of its truck.

The cunning plan is to remove all its wheels, an axle at a time, working from front to back. The rearmost drivers will be removed with the aid of the 45-ton steam crane, and that end will be supported on another specially made green trolley.

The drivers can then be sent away to be re-tyred this month. The truck tyres don't yet need replacing

Three photos (2nd December 2003): Tony Wood
*Photo (5th December 2003): Tony Wood