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Visits
to the Mid Hants Railway were always enjoyable. I travelled from the
Midlands on class 47 hauled Cross Country services to Winchester, then
caught an Alder Valley bus for the pleasant journey to Alresford. Once
the Mid Hants arrived in Alton, there was an alternative. Birmingham to
Euston, then over to Waterloo to pick up an Alton service. In fact I
used to catch preceding class 33 hauled Salisbury service down to Woking,
then over the bridge for the Alton which was right behind us. I did the
same on the way home. Off at Woking and on to an up Exeter service for a
class 50 run back to Waterloo.
the
railway is just over 10 miles in length, and the principal feature is
the 1 in 60 grades to Medstead in each direction. The Alresford to
Ropley section is more modest at 1 in 80. This section has mileposts in
situ, although at least one is known to be misplaced. From Ropley to
Medstead there were no mileposts, though small marker posts were visible
subject to vegetation. The Medstead to Alton section has no posts
whatsoever, so it is a combination of "Rail joints per 41 secs",
backed up by over and underbridge timings, for which miles and chains
are available. Quite apart from locomotive performance, the railway runs
through extremely pleasant Hampshire countryside, though the Alton end
of the line would benefit from a chain-saw. I certainly rate the line as
being in my "top 5" preserved lines.
I
have chosen a selection of Mid Hants logs which I have divided into pre
and post Alton sections. Each locomotive is represented, as are double
headed combinations. I have tried to choose the most interesting logs.
In the 1980's, speeds considerably in excess of the statutory 25 mph
were usual on some preserved Railways. The Mid Hants was one of the more
responsible lines in this respect, though running speeds of around 30 to
35 mph were common, usually uphill. There are two logs below where there
was a serious breach, so I have omitted the speeds from the relevant
section.
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