RMweb Gold TomE Posted October 25, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted October 25, 2018 I'd love to see the line acquire more vintage coaching stock. The Carriage shop is doing amazing work with the Bulleid coaches and hopefully once they have the 3 set finished they'll move onto the LBSCR stock they were gifted a couple of years ago. They just need to find something appropriate to pull them! Tom. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sem34090 Posted October 25, 2018 Author Share Posted October 25, 2018 (edited) Ah, see my comments elsewhere! With question marks hanging over Waddon's future in Canada... Naturally, as a pre grouping fan, I want to see as much of that stuff up there as possible! Put Alresford into LSWR colours too... Edited October 25, 2018 by sem34090 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zomboid Posted October 25, 2018 Share Posted October 25, 2018 It would have been many years ago now, but I think Ropley was painted in LSWR colours in the early days of preservation. Would be nice generally to see more pre-grouping themed stations (Ongar is painted for the GER, I believe, and there must be others, but I couldn't name many - Sheffield Park perhaps?). I'd actually like to see some stations in post steam BR colours too, but I suspect I'm in a tiny minority there. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mvrnut Posted October 25, 2018 Share Posted October 25, 2018 Ah, see my comments elsewhere! With question marks hanging over Waddon's future in Canada... Naturally, as a pre grouping fan, I want to see as much of that stuff up there as possible! Put Alresford into LSWR colours too... Couldn't agree more with you Sem. The Meon Valley line from Alton to Fareham was my local railway when I was a nipper. It is now the subject of my 00 layout which is a work in progress. I had a great uncle that started his working life with the LSWR as a cleaner in Bishops' Waltham and finished, retiring as a top link Waterloo to Southampton driver with BR ! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve45 Posted October 25, 2018 Share Posted October 25, 2018 It would have been many years ago now, but I think Ropley was painted in LSWR colours in the early days of preservation. Would be nice generally to see more pre-grouping themed stations (Ongar is painted for the GER, I believe, and there must be others, but I couldn't name many - Sheffield Park perhaps?). I'd actually like to see some stations in post steam BR colours too, but I suspect I'm in a tiny minority there. Hebden Bridge used to be in L&Y colours a while back Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sem34090 Posted October 25, 2018 Author Share Posted October 25, 2018 I think there is a place for all periods to be represented, but that post-steam periods are, by default, rarer on account of how and when most heritage railways came to exist, and how they operate today. I wouldn't, for example, want to see Medstead and Four Marks in NSE colours, as Mr David Scard keeps teasing me about! I say that because it would be too incongruous for me, as Medstead closed long before the NSE era. However, even I would like to see a station restored to NSE spec, I think a good candidate would be Eridge. I know the Spa Valley line had shut by then, but Eridge itself has never closed and was painted in NSE colours at some stage. Any thoughts? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zomboid Posted October 26, 2018 Share Posted October 26, 2018 NSE maybe not, but it did survive past the end of main line steam traction until the early 1970s (weren't the last trains all over blue?) so if history is in any way important it would be entirely appropriate to have a station in the 1970s corporate image. Of course nostalgia for those days is not fashionable, so I don't expect to see it any time soon. And Alton in NSE colours would be entirely appropriate 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold TomE Posted October 26, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted October 26, 2018 Speaking of Alton, anyone know what's happening with the old footbridge? Tom. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sem34090 Posted October 26, 2018 Author Share Posted October 26, 2018 NSE maybe not, but it did survive past the end of main line steam traction until the early 1970s (weren't the last trains all over blue?) so if history is in any way important it would be entirely appropriate to have a station in the 1970s corporate image. Of course nostalgia for those days is not fashionable, so I don't expect to see it any time soon. And Alton in NSE colours would be entirely appropriate True, but given the MHR has very little BR blue stock... As for the old footbridge, there's a campaign to save it. In other news, I get the double joy of my first night turn and my first turn at Ropley tomorrow! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold TomE Posted October 27, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted October 27, 2018 They have Lion, a few MK1s in NSE would go nicely with that! The MHR has never struck me as a line that goes in for Diesel in a big way though. Tom. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tug002 Posted October 28, 2018 Share Posted October 28, 2018 The MHR has never struck me as a line that goes in for Diesel in a big way though. Like many lines in the South/South East. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sem34090 Posted October 30, 2018 Author Share Posted October 30, 2018 Indeed, and that's the way it should be! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold TomE Posted November 4, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 4, 2018 I see that the replacement of Butts bridge is planned to take place next year and that for approximately 6 months between January & July the MHR will be severed between Medstead and Alton. The ropley headshunt is being extended to accommodate the rolling stock usually stored at Alton. Personally I'm surprised it's going to take so long to replace the bridge, 6 months seems an awfully long time, even for this sort of thing. Tom. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sem34090 Posted November 6, 2018 Author Share Posted November 6, 2018 I'm looking forward to the closure! It'll give us more to do at Medstead! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zomboid Posted November 6, 2018 Share Posted November 6, 2018 If it was NR replacing the bridge, chances are the blockade would only be a weekend (or a week at most), but the site compound doing prep and post commissioning work would be there for a matter of months. What's going in to replace the bridge(s)? That horrible roundabout next to the bridges is one of my least favourite landmarks in Alton. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium phil-b259 Posted November 6, 2018 RMweb Premium Share Posted November 6, 2018 I see that the replacement of Butts bridge is planned to take place next year and that for approximately 6 months between January & July the MHR will be severed between Medstead and Alton. The ropley headshunt is being extended to accommodate the rolling stock usually stored at Alton. Personally I'm surprised it's going to take so long to replace the bridge, 6 months seems an awfully long time, even for this sort of thing. Tom. Its not a straight like for like replacement - there are embankment modifications etc to do. Yes NR can do things quickly but that comes at a signifiant cost in terms of manpower and kit (i.e. paying night rates, arranging lighting etc. If you can do it slower during normal daytime working hours then it all becomes much cheaper. Also the MHR is not part of the national rail network there are no rail replacement buses to organise or compensation to be paid to TOCs for every minute the line is closed. Finally I believe that one key driver of the works is to allow a large housing development to happen and the developers are stumping up a significant lump of cash towards the project. As with many such initiatives part funded by developers (new relief roads, community facilities, etc), the developers don't want to spend more than they have to so will be looking to keep costs down If it was NR replacing the bridge, chances are the blockade would only be a weekend (or a week at most), but the site compound doing prep and post commissioning work would be there for a matter of months. What's going in to replace the bridge(s)? That horrible roundabout next to the bridges is one of my least favourite landmarks in Alton. The project has its own website - see here https://www.buttsbridgeroadworks.co.uk/ Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sem34090 Posted December 22, 2018 Author Share Posted December 22, 2018 I wish sometimes that the MHR had the ability to run an early morning staff train (using the 2H perhaps?) From Alton. Trouble is I'd probably be the only patron of it!!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sem34090 Posted January 1, 2019 Author Share Posted January 1, 2019 (edited) So here it is! The last day of running into Alton for quite some time... Come and see 92212 battle the sharp bank out of Alton for the final time for a few years. Edited January 1, 2019 by sem34090 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sem34090 Posted January 1, 2019 Author Share Posted January 1, 2019 Just leaving Ropley... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sem34090 Posted January 1, 2019 Author Share Posted January 1, 2019 Anyone else going to be on the last down run out of Alton? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold adb968008 Posted January 4, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 4, 2019 Its not a straight like for like replacement - there are embankment modifications etc to do. Yes NR can do things quickly but that comes at a signifiant cost in terms of manpower and kit (i.e. paying night rates, arranging lighting etc. If you can do it slower during normal daytime working hours then it all becomes much cheaper. Also the MHR is not part of the national rail network there are no rail replacement buses to organise or compensation to be paid to TOCs for every minute the line is closed. Finally I believe that one key driver of the works is to allow a large housing development to happen and the developers are stumping up a significant lump of cash towards the project. As with many such initiatives part funded by developers (new relief roads, community facilities, etc), the developers don't want to spend more than they have to so will be looking to keep costs down The project has its own website - see here https://www.buttsbridgeroadworks.co.uk/ Thats all good, but how is it the MHRs problem ? I sssume the MHR is getting compensation for having their revenues fall for 6 months whilst property developers work with the council to widen the road that has no obvious benefits to the MHR ? 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zomboid Posted January 4, 2019 Share Posted January 4, 2019 The MHR is getting a brand new bridge that should be much less of a liability than the old one was. A longer term benefit maybe, but like all their other bridges the old one wasn't going to last forever without having significant money spent on it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold TomE Posted January 4, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 4, 2019 Thats all good, but how is it the MHRs problem ? I sssume the MHR is getting compensation for having their revenues fall for 6 months whilst property developers work with the council to widen the road that has no obvious benefits to the MHR ? From the MHR website: The Long running saga of the Butts Bridge over Whitedown Lane, Alton was finally resolved at an EHDC Planning meeting last night when the scheme to demolish the brick arch section and widen with a new steel girder bridge was approved. The MHR Ltd has been in negotiation with the two groups of landowners on the old Treloars Hospital and Borovere farm site for over 3 years and is fully supportive of this scheme; and has reached, with the aid of professional advisors, a deal which is of significant financial benefit to the Railway. The funds generated will facilitate substantial Capital investment in the Railway’s infrastructure over the next few years. Temporary disruption to the operations of MHR services between Alton and Medstead will be minimal and negotiations have included proper provision for this. The substantial capital investment is rumored to be in the region of £8 million, although presumably the cost of the bridge & building work has to come out of whatever figure it is. Tom. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Chris116 Posted January 4, 2019 RMweb Premium Share Posted January 4, 2019 (edited) A rather poor photo of Alton on the last day of MHR service for around six months. ☹️ Edited January 4, 2019 by Chris116 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sem34090 Posted January 5, 2019 Author Share Posted January 5, 2019 Yes, all very sad... BUT! It does make our lives at Medstead all the more interesting! Next month we're gonna party like it's nine-teen-eigh-ty three! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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