A full day of photography at the Mid-Hants Railway with 30925 Cheltenham in BR livery on goods stock

About this event

We are delighted to offer the chance to photograph the recently-repainted 慡chools Class 4-4-0 No.30925 Cheltenham in British Railways lined green livery at the head of a train of mixed goods wagons.

Cheltenham has recently been repainted into British Railways lined green livery as a direct result of negotiations between TimeLine Events, the Mid‐Hants Railway (where the locomotive is based) and the owners of 30925, the National Railway Museum. We would like to extend our grateful thanks to both organisations for their help and co‐operation in allowing this project to come to fruition. TimeLine Events has been assisting with fundraising for the repaint costs through an appeal to photographers and other enthusiasts keen to see the locomotive appear in Brunswick Green livery.

Cheltenham was built in 1934 for the Southern Railway, one of forty members of the class which proved the most powerful 4‐4‐0 design to run in Britain. All were named after English public schools. Withdrawal began in January 1961 and as Southern Region electrification advanced apace, all were gone by December 1962. Three members of the class have been preserved, the others being 926 Repton and 928 Stowe, the latter recording a speed of 95mph on one occasion in 1938. Cheltenham is seven years into its current boiler certificate, having been returned to steam in 2012.

The locos were at home on both passenger and goods workings, and, as 30925 runs with a smaller tender, the combinations should perfectly recreate a train of the early 1960s.

This will be a full day charter which is expected to start from Alresford Station. There is reasonably priced parking immediately outside the main station building which available at circa £1.50 for four-hour stays or more. We will have use of the whole line, as the bridge repairs which have shortened the available running distance during recent months will by then have been completed. We also expect the cafe to be open for breakfast ahead of our event starting.

We hope you will wish to join us for the first of these very special Southern Region charters.

Event requirements

Equipment

• Spare batteries
• Camera
• Lense cloths
• Lenses
• Camera protection - rain covers etc

Other things you should bring

• Snacks
• Bottled water

Knowledge

• All levels welcome

Fitness

• Medium

Other essentials

• High vis jacket
• Sturdy outdoor shoes
• Warm clothing
• Wet weather gear