Wednesday 31 October 2012

Classic Diesels at the Great Central Railway, 28th October 2012

A selection of pictures of classic diesels in Sunday service at the Great Central Railway. Further coverage.

Metro-Cammell Class 101 50321 (April 1958) leads into Quorn & Woodhouse with the 09:40 from Loughborough. 
The 101 is a power-twin, and here 51427 (February 1959) leads the return 10:10 from Leicester North, arriving at Quorn.
D123 Leicestershire and Derbyshire Yeomanry (Crewe, October 1961, later ETH fitted 45125) arrives at Rothley with the 13:00 from Loughborough. 28th October was its 50th anniversary of its release into traffic allocated to 17A Derby.
MADE IN LOUGHBOROUGH. D1705 Sparrowhawk (Brush, November 1965 as a Class 48, later 47117) and D5830 (Brush, January 1962, later 31297 then, from February 1985, 31463 & 31563).
37198 is seen at Quorn & Woodhouse, and is expected to leave the GCR shortly - likely for use at a Network Rail location. The locomotive is the fifth Class 37 owned by Network Rail, and was formerly preserved, initially by BRE Ltd at Wensleydale, but ended up at EMR Kingsbury (a scrapping location) in November 2007, then was moved to the GCR in April 2008. 37255 of Nemesis Rail was also present.
45041 Royal Tank Regiment (built as D53 at Crewe, June 1962) has arrived at the Great Central from the Midland Railway Centre, and has received electrical repairs. 

Steam at the Great Central Railway, 28th October 2012

A late October Sunday spent on the Great Central Railway. A fuller set of pictures can be found here.

Red LMS 8F 48624 (SR Ashford 1943) arrives at Quorn & Woodhouse in rainy conditions with 15:15 from Loughborough.
 LMS 3F 47406 (Vulcan Foundry, 1926) arriving at Rothley from Leicester North with the "Halloween Express".
 70013 Oliver Cromwell in the shed at Loughborough.
Newly repainted into a 1930s Malachite Green is SR N15 777 Sir Lamiel.
GWR 'King' 6023 King Edward II has arrived at Loughborough from Didcot for completion of repairs.

Friday 26 October 2012

Thumper DEMU Retrospective

Some pictures from my archive, inspired by reading the new book by Kevin Robertson and Hugh Abbinnett. All of these units were built by BR at Eastleigh, using underframes from Ashford. From when I travelled on them in the 1980s, my remaining impression is of the smell of carbolic through the passenger area.
3-H 1126 of Eastleigh, at Dunbridge, 10th September 1982. Headcode 88 = "Portsmouth Harbour - Salisbury/Westbury (semi fast) via Netley".
3-T 1402 at Salisbury, 18th September 1982. This shows the connections at the disused cab of the former Tadpole, former EPB coach 77508 used as a trailer from February 1980 when added to what had been two coach 1122, originally built in 1958 for Hastings duties. The formation of the Eastleigh allocated unit was 60121 + 77508 + 60821. 60121 was new in June 1958, withdrawn November 1987 and was disposed of at Vic Berry, Leicester in March 1990; 77508 originally in 2-EPB 5709 from May 1954, was formed into Tadpole 3-R 1205 in January 1965, withdrawn in November 1987 and was disposed of at Mayer Newman, Snailwell in January 1989; 60821 was new in June 1958, withdrawn in November 1987 and was disposed of at Mayer Newman, Snailwell in December 1988.
3-H 1126 again, at Romsey on 9th January 1983, on an 87 service 'Portsmouth Harbour - Salisbury or Westbury (slow) via Netley'. 1126 formed 60125 + 60671 + 60825 was new in December 1959 and finished service as 205026 in November 1990, with disposal coming at Mayer Parry, Snailwell in January 1992.
3-H 1105 of Eastleigh approaches Romsey on 16th April 1983. 1105 entered service as a 2-H formed 60104 + 60804 in August 1957, and TSL 60654 was added to make the unit into a 3-H from October 1959. Renumbered to 205005 in August 1986, the unit was withdrawn in August 1987. 60104 was disposed of at Vic Berry, Leicester in March 1990, and the other cars at Mayer Newman, Snailwell at February 1989.

Further information:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_Class_204
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_Class_205
http://www.preservedthumpers.co.uk/
http://www.watercressline.co.uk/The-Works/Diesels/12
http://www.hsups.org/
http://www.dartmoor-railway-sa.org/cms/files/DRSA-Info-Sheet5.pdf
http://eorailway.co.uk/departments/rolling-stock/demus/


21st - 27th October 2012

Sunday 21st October: 67021 10:40 Doncaster Belmont - Eastleigh, 47501 + 47802 5Z11 12:46 Crewe - Eastleigh one two
Monday 22nd October: 47501 + 47802 5Z53 03:05 Eastleigh - Swindon, 31106 3Q06 21:59 Eastleigh - Redbridge - Salisbury - Exeter - Salisbury - Romsey - Eastleigh - Hither Green
Tuesday 23rd October: 47501 + 47802 5Z54 00:45 Swindon - Eastleigh, 0Z54 15:37 Eastleigh - Crewe, 70007 4O22 01:20 Trafford Park - Maritime - failed across the down roads at Eastleigh :-( - 66516 sent 1Z99 from Maritime to recover, 60040 6X01 10:17 Scunthorpe - Eastleigh one two three
Wednesday 24th October: 60040 6M44 05:36 Eastern Docks - Halewood one two three four five
Thursday 25th October: 43013 + 43014 1Q23 04:48 Old Oak Common - Weymouth (route?), 17:07 Weymouth - Old Oak Common, 67006 + 67022 T+T 5Z91 07:10 Stewarts Lane - Bournemouth one two, 1Z92 11:39 Bournemouth - Basingstoke, 1Z93 13:13 Basingstoke - Laverstock - Bournemouth one two, 5Z94 15:38 Bournemouth - Eastleigh, 1Z94 18:42 Eastleigh - Victoria, 37038 + 37606 1Q14 16:55 Eastleigh - Salisbury - Basingstoke - Eastleigh - Basingstoke - Salisbury - Romsey - Eastleigh, 60049 6O27 19:10 Stud Farm - Eastleigh
Friday 26th October: 73201 + 73138 1Q08 05:25 Woking - Waterloo - Southampton DGL - Clapham - Hither Green (change to 31285) - Derby one two three, 66126 + 60024 6V27 13:28 Eastleigh - Hinksey (60024 is N123 "Cams, camshafts and timing gears"), 37038 + 37606 1Q14 13:45 Eastleigh - Salisbury - Yeovil Jct - Romsey - Basingstoke - Derby one two
Saturday 27th October: 67006 5Z23 07:58 Eastleigh - Eastern Docks, 1Z23 10:05 Eastern Docks - Glasgow Central

Saturday 20 October 2012

First LT C69/77 stock at Eastleigh for scrapping - 20th October 2012

LT C69 Uncoupling Trailer 6575

Reading this thread on District Dave's London Underground Forum, the first C69/77 stock to be sent for scrapping included this coach 6575. The train 5532 + 6532 + 6575 + 5575 was involved in a side-swipe incident, however all of the remainder of this stock will now be following it to scrapyards.

There is some video of the train being moved under its own power to Northwood, which was then followed by road transport, also seen on more video.

The C69 stock started service in September 1970 on the Circle and Hammersmith & City Lines, and was constructed by Metro-Cammell at Washwood Heath.

More information:

15th - 20th October 2012

31106 and 37038 at Eastleigh Works, 20th October, 37038 + 37606 were expected to leave on 1Z14 to  Hither Green but this did not run. 37038 is the last old liveried DRS locomotive, and was new to Hull Dairycoates as D6738 on 11th May 1962. Stored by EWS in March 1999 and sold to Ian Riley, then DRS in May 2003.
 73107 Redhill 1844 - 1994 at St Denys, 17th October. Image by Ian Knight.
 73138 at St Denys, 17th October. Image by Ian Knight.
 70019 with 4M61 12:51 Maritime to Trafford Park - which failed at Northam Jct and was rescued by 66516. Image by Ian Knight.
Special container celebrating new cranes and 40 years of operation at Southampton Maritime. Image by Ian Knight. Also at Bsingstoke.

Monday 15th October: 37682 + 37688 1Q14 10:13 Eastleigh - Romsey - Salisbury - Yeovil Jct - Basingstoke - Eastleigh - Basingstoke - Salisbury - Romsey - Eastleigh one two three four five six , (20:50 Eastleigh - Romsey - Redbridge - Southampton - Weymouth - Southampton - Lymington Pier - Southampton - Redbridge - Romsey - Eastleigh - no reports), 73205 + 73207 1Q13 08:35 Hither Green - Portsmouth - Fareham - Eastleigh, 31465 3Q01 23:10 Hither Green - Eastleigh - Fareham - Eastleigh
Tuesday 16th October: 31465 3Q01 04:01 Eastleigh - Southampton - Eastleigh,  37682 + 37688 1Q14 08:25 Eastleigh - Romsey - Salisbury - Yeovil Jct - Basingstoke - Eastleigh - Basingstoke - Salisbury - Romsey - Eastleigh one two three four, 19:30 Eastleigh - Romsey - Redbridge - Southampton - Weymouth - Southampton - Lymington Pier - Southampton - Redbridge - Romsey - Eastleigh, 73205 + 73207 1Q13 09:00 Eastleigh - Southampton - Fratton - Havant - Fareham - Eastleigh - Havant - Ashford, 8:35, 73138 + 73107 1Q07 06:20 Hither Green - Basingstoke - Fawley - Eastleigh47818 + 47828 1Z85 10:59 Glasgow Central - Eastern Docks one two three, 5Z85 21:10 Eastern Docks - Eastleigh, 31465 3Q02 20:45 Eastleigh - Hither Green
Wednesday 17th October: 73107 + 73138 1Q08 05:18 Eastleigh - Fareham - Eastleigh - Weymouth - Southampton - Portsmouth & Southsea - Southampton UGL - Eastleigh, 37682 + 37688 1Q14 08:31 Eastleigh - Basingstoke - Battersea Loop, 47818 + 47828 5Z85 12:45 Eastleigh - Crewe one two three
Thursday 18th October: 31465 3Q08 03:36 Basingstoke - Eastleigh, 73107 + 73138 1Q11 04:50 Eastleigh - Lymington Pier -  Hither Green, 60054 + 67021 6O15 17:30 (Wed) Mossend - Eastleigh, 60054 6B93 09:39 Eastleigh - Fawley, 6B94 12:00 Fawley - Eastleigh, 15:55 0V41 Eastleigh - Westbury, 60040 6X01 10:17 Scunthorpe - Eastleigh one two, 6E15 21:06 Eastleigh - Scunthorpe, 37682 + 37688 1Q14 19:28 Staines Loop - Basingstoke - Eastleigh, 47802 + 47818 1Z86 10:46 Edinburgh - Southampton Central one two three four five, 5Z86 20:42 Southampton Central - Eastleigh, 31465 3Q15 22:31 Eastleigh - Botley - Hither Green
Friday 19th October: 66182 + 37038 DIT + 37606 DIT 6O15 17:30 (Thu) Mossend - Eastleigh, 60024 0Y20 10:10 Eastleigh - Laverstock - Ludgershall, 6Y21 12:39 Ludgershall - Laverstock - Eastleigh, 66095 + (37682 DIT + 37688 DIT from Eastleigh) 6V38 11:00 Marchwood - Didcot one two, 37038 + 37606 1Q14 11:04 Eastleigh - Basingstoke - Havant, 20:14 Havant - Basingstoke - Eastleigh one two, 67005 1Y91 11:42 Victoria - Eastleigh - Hove, 47843 + 50026 0Z47 10:30 Washwood Heath - Eastleigh one two, three four, (47843 Eastleigh - Didcot),47802 + 47818 5Z86 12:45 Eastleigh - Crewe, 60007 14:50 0C01 Bescot - Eastleigh, 6E15 21:06 Eastleigh - Scunthorpe, 67021 5Z69 21:26 Eastleigh - Doncaster Belmont. 31106 21:15 Hither Green - Eastleigh
Saturday 20th October: 37038 + 37606 still at Eastleigh Works, also 31106.

Eastleigh Works Blog updated

71000 was moved into Eastleigh Works on 3rd October

70014 (FL HeavyHaul) has suffered an electrical fire.

70099 has arrived. Will we see it at Southampton? Colas, GBRf?

Steam on the Watercress Line - 13th October 2012

 Some steam age activity while Lion was on the extra diagram on Saturday 13th. There is a fuller gallery at this link.

34007 Wadebridge approaching Ropley amongst autumn shades.
34007 entering Ropley station.
45379 has been to the West Somerset, and has been returned facing 'Up'.
850 Lord Nelson arriving at Ropley from Alton.
I believe that this is the second oldest Mk 1 on the Mid-Hants, 3769 is a TSO built at York as part of Lot 30079 completed in December 1953, and later fitted with Commonwealth bogies.

Thursday 18 October 2012

1Q14 Radio Survey Train, Romsey - 16th October 2012

1Q14 19:30 Eastleigh - Romsey - Redbridge - Southampton Central - Weymouth - Southampton - Lymington Pier - Southampton - Redbridge - Romsey - Eastleigh

37682 - completed at EE Vulcan Foundry in April 1964 as D6936 and allocated to Landore. Later renumbered to 37236. Rebuilt and renumbered to 37682 in March 1987 at Crewe. Last worked for EWS in 2004, then sold to HNRC in November 2007. Returned to traffic with DRS from January 2009.

37688completed at EE Vulcan Foundry in November 1963 as D6905 and allocated to Landore. Later renumbered to 37205. Rebuilt and renumbered to 37688 in February 1987 at Crewe. last worked for EWS in 2003, then sold to DRS in November 2005. Returned to traffic from July 2007 when named at Kingmoor open day.

977868 and 6264 - details are in my entry from 6th October.

37688 Kingmoor TMD leads in from Eastleigh for the turn around at Romsey
37688 and Radio Survey Coach 977868
37682 is readied for the run forward to Eastleigh and Southampton
37682 starts away from Romsey, with the rare R for Redbridge route shown in the signal here, as most trains leave for Eastleigh.
37688 on the rear of the formation.

Sunday 14 October 2012

"Taming Lion" event on the Watercress Line - 13th October 2012

The first running day for 50027 Lion, in generally good autumn weather, apart from one shower just when Lion was about to make its departure from Ropley.

My gallery with a full set of pictures can be found here.

50027 was built at English Electic Vulcan Foundry, and entered traffic as 427 to D05 (Stoke Division) on the LMR from 15th June 1968, later CD (Crewe Diesel). Reallocation to the WR followed in March 1974, with allocations to BR (Bristol Bath Road), LA (Laira), OC (Old Oak Common) and LA again. 

The locomotive was named on 17th April 1978. It went to Doncaster Works for refurbishment on 7th February 1983, work commenced on 2nd March, and the locomotive returned to traffic ~27th July.

Network South East Livery was first applied following an F-exam at Laira, completed in December 1987. The locomotive was withdrawn in July 1991, and entered preservation in January 1992.

Leaving Ropley in the rain, with the second working to Alton.
 Arriving at Alresford to take up duty in the morning chill. No ETH stock!
 Running around at Alton onto the stock for the 10:20 train to Alresford.
Leaving Ropley with the first train, smoking 50 style.
  Departing from Alresford at 14:20 with the third train.

Further coverage: one two three four five six seven eight nine ten


8th - 13th October 2012

Monday 8th October: 37038 + 37606 T+T 1Q13 09:20 Grove Park Down Reception Siding - Brighton - Havant - Cosham - Eastleigh, 47805 + 47828 5Z54 08:45 Crewe - Eastleigh, 67025 5O61 09:52 Wembley - Eastleigh
Tuesday 9th October: 37038 + 37606 T+T 1Q13 09:22  Eastleigh - Fareham - St Denys - Northam - Eastleigh - Southampton DGL - Fareham - Fratton - Petersfield - Fareham - Eastleigh - Havant - Preston Park - Grove Park Down Reception Siding one two47802 + 47805 + 47828 + two coaches47818 T+T 0Z54 12:45 Eastleigh - Crewe one two three four five six seven eight, 47245 5Z48 Stewarts Lane - Eastleigh, 0Z49 15:24 Eastleigh - Southall
Wednesday 10th October: 34067 5Z85 09:45 Southall - Laverstock - Redbridge - Southampton UGL - Swanage one two, 67025 21:15 5Z72 Liverpool St - Eastleigh
Thursday 11th October: 70013 1Z86 08:44 Victoria - Swanage one two three four, 34067 1Z87 17:00 Swanage - Victoria one two31465 3Q22 21:05 Hither Green - Eastleigh
Friday 12th October:  70013 5Z88 09:45 Swanage - Southampton UGL - Redbridge - Laverstock - Southall, 67028 + 67022 T+T 5Z91 07:10 Stewarts Lane - Winchester, 1Z91 10:41 Winchester - Southampton - Westbury - Melksham - Swindon - Didcot - Southampton Airport one two, 5Z94 14:56 Southampton Airport - Eastleigh, 1Z94 18:42 Eastleigh - Victoria, 31465 3Z08 22:00 Eastleigh - Redbridge - Bath - Redbridge - Portsmouth & Southsea - Southampton - Eastleigh - Hither Green
Saturday 13th October: 67006 05:57 1Z22 Glasgow Central - Eastern Docks one two, 67025 + 67006 5Z22 15:25 Eastern Docks - Eastleigh
Sunday 14th October: 37682 + 37688 1Q14 13:51 Derby - Eastleigh

Saturday 13th October: 50027 Lion on the Mid-Hants Railway - Watercress Line "Taming Lion" event
LE Ropley - Alresford, 09:30 Alresford - Alton, 10:20 Alton - Alresford, 12:08 Alresford - Alton, 13:28 Alton - Alresford, 14:20 Alresford - Medstead, 15:47 Medstead - Alresford, LE Alresford - Ropley(?)

Sunday 7 October 2012

FOTOPIC picture recovery

I can see that Fotopic servers are running again for a while, giving opportunity for former users to rescue photos, by means of download of zip file. I didn't lose any pictures, but have used the download facility to place these archives to place into other backups. Thanks to the Fotopic Legacy Team!

Saturday 6 October 2012

Shawford Scenes, 6th October 2012

47818 (new in December 1965 from Brush as D1917, later 47240 and 47663) leads 5Z67 approaching Shawford from Eastleigh.
The mission today was to London Euston for the filming of a Debenhams commercial for Christmas. Will the 47s be out of shot?
47802 Pride of Cumbria (new in September 1966 from  Brush as D1950, later 47552) on the rear of the train.
31106 (new in March 1959 from  Brush as D5524) leads 1Q14 for Derby
The test cars were 6264, 977868 and 999508. 6264 is a generator van converted from BG 80971 (York 1956) later 92923. 977868 is a radio survey coach coverted from Mk 2E TSO 5846 (Derby 1972-73). 999508 was formerly a BR built inspection saloon (Swindon 1960) and continues as a track inspection coach. Why no DBSO?
Recently overhauled 37419 Carl Haviland 1954 -2012 (English Electric, June 1965 as D6991, later 37291) on the rear of the train
66532 P&O Nedlloyd Atlas approaches with 4O29 08:14 Basford Hall - Maritime

1st - 6th October 2012

Sunday 30th September: 37419 + 31106 T+T 1Q14 13:45 Derby - Eastleigh
Monday 1st October: 37419 + 31106 T+T 1Q14 (08:52 Eastleigh - Romsey - Westbury - Salisbury - Yeovil Jct - Basingstoke - Eastleigh - Basingstoke - Salisbury - Romsey - Eastleigh) however ran 11:21 Eastleigh - Basingstoke - Eastleigh, 20:51 Eastleigh - Romsey - Redbridge - Southampton - Weymouth - Southampton - Lymington Pier - Southampton - Redbridge - Romsey - Eastleigh,  , 37605 + 37608 5Z39 23:34 Salisbury - Eastleigh
Tuesday 2nd October: 37608 + 37605 + 57309 + 47501 + 47813 0Z39 01:06 Eastleigh - Laverstock - Gresty Bridge, 57305 + 57306 + 57310 0Z35 12:48 Eastleigh - Stowmarket one two three four
Wednesday 3rd October:  37419 + 31106 T+T 1Q14 08:31 Eastleigh - Basingstoke - Battersea Loop, 18:01 Battersea Loop - Old Oak Common, 47828 + 47802 + 47818 0Z48 08:45 Gresty Bridge - Eastleigh
Thursday 4th October: 47828 5Z49 12:45 Eastleigh - Crewe one two, 37419 + 31106 T+T 1Q14 19:09 Virginia Water - Basingstoke - Eastleigh
Friday 5th October: 37419 + 31106 T+T 10:50½ Eastleigh - Basingstoke - Battersea Loop - Wimbledon Park Guildford - Havant - Guildford - Wimbledon Park - Alton - Aldershot - Alton - Woking - Basingstoke - Eastleigh one two
Saturday 6th October: 67022 5Z71 00:55 Eastleigh - Southall, 47818 + 47802 T+T 5Z67 07:48 Eastleigh - Euston one two three , 5Z68 19:32 Euston - Eastleigh, 31106 + 37419 T+T 1Q14 13:59 Eastleigh - Derby one two three four

Hamworthy stone terminal reported to have closed 28th September.

Eastleigh to Hoo traffic is now in the hands of Freightliner, using the locomotives seen being transferred on Saturday 29th September.