It has been a busy time for the Trust and its members over the past few weeks.
As mentioned in the last blog, FR 20 departed to the Mid Hants Railway on Sunday, 19th April in order to take part in the MHR’s Spring Steam Gala over Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 24th-26th April. Ade also took the opportunity that day to do some shunting which saw Cumbria’s chassis moved around to the Ribble Steam Railway’s running shed. It was replaced in the FRT shed by the locomotive’s saddle tank so that a start could be made on repainting it.
The chassis subsequently departed to Statfold barn on Wednesday, 22nd April for repairs. The motion has since been dismantled for detailed examination and measurement, and a programme of repairs has been agreed.
Ben and Tim set off to the MHR on Tuesday, 21st April, having a good journey there, arriving in time to light a warming fire and also replace the sand pipes and guard irons which had been removed for the locomotive’s journey to the south.
FR 20 was steam tested on Wednesday the 22nd, with Ben and Tim spending the Wednesday and Thursday cleaning the paint and brass work ready for the Gala. Anne and Phil joined them on Thursday evening at the Alton and Four Marks Travelodge in readiness for staffing the sales stand during the Gala.
Friday, Saturday and Sunday saw Ben and Tim answering 4.30am alarm calls in order to have some breakfast and attend the shed at Ropley in time to greet the rostered driver and fireman at the signing on time of 5.45am.
The timetable required FR 20 to operate four return trips between Ropley and Alresford at the southern end of the MHR, the journeys being three miles in length and involving a 1 in 80 uphill gradient between Alresford and Ropley. It is pleasing to be able to record that the old engine had no problem in operating the service over the three days and made many friends in the process. This is it about to set off on the first trip.
Anne and Phil did a great job with the sales stand, seen here with Tim. As you can see, the sales tent was alongside the railway which enabled waves to be exchanged as and when FR 20 arrived and departed.
The loco was also popular with the loco crews. Ben, left, is seen enjoying an ice cream with Sunday’s fireman and driver.
There is plenty of good YouTube footage of FR 20 at the Gala, it featuring here starting at 1 minute 15 seconds:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7aWnkrDx4Xs&t=9s
You may recall that Cumbria’s boiler was despatched to the MHR for repair on the 2nd April. The opportunity was taken during the visit to discuss the repairs with MHR’s locomotive foreman, Mark Drinkwater. The tubes are expected to have been removed this week and the boiler then being ready for a first visit by the Trust’s boiler surveyor.
