Mid Hants Galas 1989-2019

Presenter: Tony Storey

Our November meeting was an exercise in nostalgia as Tony Storey gave a comprehensive illustration of steam galas held at the Mid-Hants Railway between March 1989 and October 2019. Tony is a photographer for the Mid -Hants Railway and this enabled him to gain access to locations which were out of bounds to the general public. There were generally two galas a year, some of them themed to mark anniversaries such as the 40th and 50th anniversary of the end of steam on the Southern. The locomotives used on gala days included ones based at the railway at the time and guest locomotives from a variety of other preserved lines. In the photos of the earlier galas it was noticeable that the coaching stock was in a variety of liveries, but in later ones the rakes were of a uniform livery. Passenger workings dominated the galas, but a number of demonstration freights were run. Thanks to Tony for recording the galas held at our local preserved line.