Mid Hants Railway Diesel Gala - 31st May 2009

1st June 2009

Well the omens weren't good - no published roster....the potential for 053 to be a brake translator for the Grid all weekend....sound advice on Saturday not to make the 400 mile return trip as loco's were proving unreliable, the timetable had disolved and there were a number of freight trains diagrammed! However...the lure of my first 33/0 of 2009 and the first opportunity to have 053 at the Mid Hants proved too much and I boldly ventured south on the Sunday and got lucky as the sun shone and the freight trains got withdrawn which meant 053 got a further round trip! Despite the odds, an excellent day with some top Crompton action. I wonder how many were put off by the lack of advance information though!

Awaiting traction motor repairs and overhaul, 33208 awaits its fate at Ropley, 31/5/09 1280x960	Awaiting traction motor repairs and overhaul, 33208 awaits its fate at Ropley, 31/5/09 1280x960	45132 Ropley 31/5/09 1280x960	27007 making good progress towards an operational return at Ropley 31/5/09 1280x960
37905 Ropley 1050 Alresford - Alton 31/5/09 1280x960	56098 & 33053 Ropley 1030 Alton - Alresford, thankfully 053's only run as brake translator during the day 31/5/09 1280x960	33053 engaged in shunting at Alton 31/5/09 1280x960	33053 Alton 1230 Alton - Alresford 31/5/09 1280x960
BE waits for the road at Ropley with the 1230 Alton - Alresford 31/5/09 1280x960	With the heat haze evident, 33053 arrives at Ropley with the 1320 Alresford - Alton 31/5/09 1280x922	33053 Ropley 1320 Alresford - Alton 31/5/09 1280x960	33053 Ropley 1320 Alresford - Alton 31/5/09 1280x960
33053 Ropley 1320 Alresford - Alton 31/5/09 1280x960	A classic southern pair - 33053 & 73201 Alton 31/5/09 1280x960	33053 & 73201 back onto the 1430 Alton - Alresford 31/5/09 1280x960	33053 & 73201 back onto the 1430 Alton - Alresford 31/5/09 1280x960
33053 & 73201 Alton 1430 Alton - Alresford 31/5/09 1280x960	33053 & 73201 Alresford 1430 Alton - Alresford 31/5/09 1280x960	33053 Alresford 31/5/09 1280x960	33053 & 73201 Alresford 31/5/09 1280x960
33053 & 73201 back onto the 1520 Alresford - Alton at Alresford 31/5/09 1280x960	33053 & 73201 back onto the 1520 Alresford - Alton at Alresford under the watchful eye and control of BE 31/5/09 1280x839	33053 & 73201 Alresford 1520 Alresford - Alton 31/5/09 1280x960	The Southern in the 1980's (except it should be 73142) 33053 & 73201 Alresford 1520 Alresford - Alton 31/5/09 1280x960
Welcome back Broadlands! 1280x960	33053 & 73201 Alresford 1520 Alresford - Alton 31/5/09 1280x960	56098 & 73107 Alresford 1550 Alresford - Alton 31/5/09 1280x960	The Bubble Car, 55003 in the cattle dock at Alresford having worked the 1632 ex Ropley 31/5/09 1280x960
56098 & 73107 depart Alresford nearly 1 hour late with the 1550 Alresford - Alton 31/5/09 1280x960