47853 seen outside at Eastleigh, 28th January

47853 is seen being shunted outside Eastleigh Works, 28th January. Reported on 22nd by WNXX .com as being into the paint facility. Mobile phone image by Chris Finch.

23rd -28th January 2012

Today's highlight was 66414 (formerly Stobart livery James the Engine) on 4O27 05:26 Garston - Maritime, seen here at Millbrook

A closer shot of 66414 was was recently reinstated by Freightliner Intermodal from storage pool DFTZ. Earlier at Didcot.

66025 leaves  the docks with 4M15 11:00 Western Docks - Bescot

66533 passes Millbrook with 4B08 10:31 Maritime - Bevois Valley Sidings

66569 had brought empty flats into the Millbrook terminal

66591 passes Millbrook with 4O14 06:33 Birch Coppice - Maritime

150101, recently transferred from London Midland to First Great Western, following introduction of Class 172, forms the Southampton - Great Malvern service.

Monday 23rd January:

Tuesday 24th January:

Wednesday 25th January:

Thursday 26th January: 

Friday 27th January:

Saturday 28th January: 57303 0Z57 13:00 Eastleigh - Tonbridge (via Havant) (seen here on Fri 27th)

A rather quiet week for notable workings.

Eastleigh Footbridge now unveiled.

The craning out of the class 58's at Eastleigh appears to have slipped to 31st January.

Eastleigh Works lease renewed for five years.

Bridge Works Completed at Lee Drove - 28th January 2012

For the last week or so the yard established in an adjacent field was cleared up and ploughed. The Lee Drove road was reopened on Friday 27th January (one month later than scheduled), and these pictures were taken on Saturday 28th. Unless you are closer to 6 foot tall the parapet is too high for easy photography unless one brings a ladder. On the positive side, pavements have been provided.

Earlier pictures from February and November 2011.

 Looking west.

Looking east (the south side seen in the Feb 2011 picture)

10 years of "47's at Southampton", 20th January 2012

Yes, it started as a page on a personal web space, and was entitled 47/8's at Southampton, reflecting the then imminent decline of the Virgin Cross-Country ILRA fleet. The first page even featured a video in AVI format.

As a recap on the original page's content:

47848 Newton Abbott Festival of Transport passes Redbridge with a northbound cross-country, Sunday 20th January 2002

47843 VULCAN passes Maritime with a northbound cross-country, Sunday 20th January 2002

On the "Sprat & Winkle", 15th January 2012

Bridge over the River Test to the south-east of Fullerton Junction. "Sprat & Winkle" now part of the Test Way.

Platforms at Fullerton Jct. I am standing on the Romsey platform, and that further away is for Andover. Seen here c. 1964 from north of the Andover platform.

Telephone pole remains further north of Fullerton Jct.

Bridge under the Longparish branch at Wherwell. Closed 1956 and lifted by 1960.

Leaflet on the Sprat & Winkle from Test Valley Borough Council.

16th - 21st January 2012

Sunday 15th January: 66002 5Z57 11:08 Didcot - Eastleigh
Monday 16th January: 31465 3Z15 10:30 Derby - Eastleigh, 3Q08 20:12 Eastleigh - Hither Green 1 2
Tuesday 17th January:
Wednesday 18th January: 66711 5O38 West Ruislip - Eastleigh  1 2 3 4 5 6 (4TC move - 76297 71163 70823 76324)
Thursday 19th January: 66711 5E01 09:21 Eastleigh - Peterborough
Friday 20th January: 66085 + 66213 T+T 5Z74 04:xx Eastleigh - Paddington (for railtour 1 2 3 4 5)
Saturday 21st January:

Tuesday 24th may see removal of the three grounded 58's from Eastleigh - reported planned to be by crane lift into the airport long term car park.

59202 stored at Merehead

WNXX.com reports that 59202 Vale of White Horse has been stored in pool WNTR (DBS Locomotives Tactical Reserve) at Merehead. This is the second storage for this locomotive, placed into traffic in 1995 and previously stored from July to October 2011.


UPDATE: 20th January - reinstated to WDAK pool (DBS Class 59 Construction)

In better times, 59202 passes Crampmoor, 6th June 2010.