Tuesday 31 December 2013

SRPS Diesel Gala, 29th December 2013

A set of 36 pictures is available on SkyDrive.

37401 Mary Queen of Scots is now restored, and spent the second day of the gala at the Bo'ness end of the train, providing ETH, This picture reminds me of its display at the Haymarket Rail Festival in August 1985.
37401 returns to Bo'ness in the later light of the afternoon.
The largest crowd was present when 55022 Royal Scots Grey came out, with the owner at the controls.
DC Rail 56312 Jeremiah Dixon about to come onto its train.

37175 WS Sellar (for Colas) & 47739 Robin of Templecombe were both present, but not for suitable photography while I was there.

SRPS Diesel Goup and on Facebook
37401 Restoration Gallery

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Saturday 28 December 2013

23rd - 28th December 2013

58008 at Milford, Salisbury, 16th September 1995. Image by David Mant.  Understood to still be intact at Eastleigh, although 58017 is now being cut up, with ony cab remaining.

Monday 23rd December: 34046 1Z92 09:55 Waterloo - Salisbury, 1Z94 15:41 Salisbury - Southampton - Victoria, 59004 + 59102 + 59103 0Z40 13:35 Merehead - Eastleigh for attention over holiday period
Tuesday 24th December:
Wednesday 25th December:
Thursday 26th December: 
Saturday 28th December:

Eastleigh Works photo updates: 12Dec - 19Dec - 24Dec

Wednesday 25 December 2013

Rocket 150, The Great Railway Exposition, Liverpool Road, Manchester, 10th September 1980

Rocket 150 took place in 1980, marking the 150th anniversary of the Rainhill Trials in 1829 and the Liverpool & Manchester Railway the following year. The Great Railway Exposition at Liverpool Road took place from 2nd August to 14th September.

On  Wednesday10th September 1980, I made a long student railcard journey to Manchester to see the exhibition, which took place at Liverpool Road station, now the Museum of Science & Industry. Also on the same day was a visit to Dinting, and my only opportunity to see the Class 76 electrics, of which regrettably no photos, partially because I was within a Class 506 EMU. Notable in my memory was the delay of the last train north that evening from Preston to Edinburgh, but my onward connection was thankfully held at Haymarket.  No mobile phones or RealTimeTrains in those days.

Coverage of the cavalcade at Rainhill is available on BBC iPlayer, presented by the late Brian Redhead. It is delightful to again hear his style of words, and I noted a  Class 40 in the background while he was presenting at 03:36. Cheltenham  is seen in steam at 27:03.

Also in retrospect, it is strange to reflect that this event took place only 12 years after the end of BR Steam.

The NRM Rocket replica giving very short rides at Liverpool Road. The poster says "Ask us today about coal, the fuel of the future". The building in the background is the Lower Campfield Market Hall, of 1882 now the air and space hall at the museum.
A more general view of the same location with Rocket in motion. The Class 08 on the left was 08477 which at the time was allocated to Longsight. This locomotive was new from Crewe to order E496  in January 1959 as D3592, and was withdrawn in December 1986, after which it was disposed of at Allerton depot in March 1990. In June 1980 it has been through works attention at BREL Swindon, just prior to the exhibition.
24081 (CD) was the last survivor of the class, by over a year at this time, and was on display at the exhibition soon before it was withdrawn in the following month. It had already worked its last revenue train in January 1980, and was used for exhibitions through the year. I was pleasantly surprised to find it here that day, there was always an element of surprise in those days, with no internet, and magazines publishing information which was a month to six weeks in the past. 24081 is now working on the Gloucester Warwickshire Railway.
Considering that my camera was an Instamatic, it is amazining that this picture worked out at all. The locomotives I can identify are:
Dane Road was a station in southern Manchester, now on Metrolink.
4472 Flying Scotsman, with 6115 Scots Guardsman in the background and Gresley Buffet coach 24287 to the right.
44008 Penyghent is seen rather lonely at the west end of the site. By this time only three members of the class existed, and these were all withdrawn two months later in November 1980. Now working at Peak Rail.

My spotting record from the grand day out:

Another set from the same exhibition - notable that the exhibits were moved around the site
Pictures of transition of the MOSI site

Saturday 21 December 2013

16th - 21st December 2013


Sunday 15th December: 31190 + 56312 6Z41 09:05 Branksome - Totton Yd one two, 56312 0Z56 14:15 Totton Yd - Maritime - Romsey - Washwood Heath
Monday 16th December: 44871 + 45407 1Z82 07:45 Victoria - Havant - Eastleigh - Romsey - Yeovil Jct one two three four, 1Z84 16:42 Yeovil Jct - Romsey - Eastleigh - Havant - Victoria, 56312 + 50026 + 50031 + '50135' 0Z51 13:21 Kidderminster - Salisbury - Romsey - Eastleigh one two three four, 56312 0Z56 21:26 Eastleigh - Totton Yd, 31190 + 56312 6Z42 22:47 Totton Yd - Weymouth, 56113 6Z30 17:23 Westbury - Eastleigh one two, 6Z31 20:12 Eastleigh - Westbury 
Tuesday 17th December: 
Wednesday 18th December: 60045 Eastleigh - Western Docks, 6B44 Western Docks - Eastleigh one two three four
Thursday 19th December: 37218 1Q23 13;44 Salisbury - Redbridge - Southampton - (Redbridge) Chandlers Ford - Westbury - Andover - Reading - Theale - Reading - Andover - Salisbury - Andover - Reading - Old Oak Common one two, 60045 6B93 09:48 Eastleigh - Fawley one two, 6B94 12:05 Fawley - Eastleigh one two56113 6Z30 15:30 Westbury - Eastleigh, 6Z31 20:12 Eastleigh - Westbury
Friday 20th December: 31190 + 56312 6Z41 04:40 Weymouth - Totton Yd, 6Z42 10:13 Totton Yd - Doncaster Decoy one two three four
Saturday 21st December:

Saturday 14 December 2013

9th - 14th December 2013

47818 at Eastleigh Works, 14th December, having arrived on Friday.
57301 & 57303 await further duties at Eastleigh, 14th December

C-stock 5582 for disposal at Eastleigh, 14th December. Withdrawn during November, to Northwood on 28th.
44871 + 45407 with the 'Cathedrals Express' to Chichester, Shawford, 14th December. The majority of the train was SRPS Railtours stock.

Monday 9th December: 44871 + 45407 1Z82 07:41 Ipswich - (steam from Willesden) - Winchester one two three four five six seven eight, 5Z83 14:02 Winchester - Eastleigh one two three, 5Z84 16:50 Eastleigh - Winchester, 1Z84 17:09 Winchester - (steam to Willesden) - Ipswich, 67005 5O61 09:52 Wembley - Eastleigh, 31190 6Z42 11:17 Par - Romsey - Eastleigh- Totton one two three, 31190 + 56312 6Z42 22:00 Totton - Waterloo
Tuesday 10th December: 31190 + 56312 6Z41 04:55 Waterloo - Totton, 6Z42 22:22 Totton - Waterloo
Wednesday 11th December: 31190 + 56312 6Z41 04:55 Waterloo - Totton, 6Z42 22:00 Totton - Waterloo one two
Thursday 12th December: 31190 + 56312 6Z41 04:55 Waterloo - Totton, 6Z42 22:00 Totton - Waterloo, 67005 + 67011 5Z34 13:01 Salisbury - Eastleigh one two, 5Z35 16: 20 Eastleigh - Salisbury
Friday 13th December: 31190 + 56312 6Z41 04:55 Waterloo - Totton, 6Z43 10:13 Totton - Eastleigh one two three four five six seven eight, 6Z44 13:30 Eastleigh - Totton, 47818 0Z47 05:35 Crewe - Eastleigh Works one two three, 47790 0Z48 14:30 Eastleigh - Willesden (was to be to Crewe)
Saturday 14th December: 44871 + 45407 1Z82 08:24 Southend - Eastleigh - Chichester one two three four five six, 31190 + 56313 6Z41 22:00 Totton - Moreton (Dorset)

Eastleigh Works update: 12Dec

Colas 70805 in transit across USA from Erie, PA, also here & some more info

Cathedrals Express formation was Black 5's + support coach 35517 + 4836 + 21241 + 5239 + 4831 + 4856 + 1666 + 3150 + 3115 + 3096. Those linked are to their home at SRPS Railtours, except for 1666 which appears to be from the NYMR.

RAIB appeal for pictures of 34067 at and after departure from Waterloo on Saturday 23rd November

Thursday 12 December 2013

58002, 58017, 58037 cut up at Eastleigh, 12th December 2013

Report on WRGEN today to say that 58002, 58017 and 58037 have been cut-up on site at Eastleigh. Work may be starting on 58008.

Most recent coverage for these locomotives.

UPDATE 14Dec: Cutting activity has been executed on 58002 and 58037 down to the engine and frames, the other pair are as they were.

UPDATE 28Dec: 58002 and 58037 are cut up. 58017 reduced to one cab and frame, 58008 intact.

UPDATE 09Jan: 58017 now cut. All 3 scrapped locomotives removed from TOPS.

Saturday 7 December 2013

"The Bath Christmas Market" returns through Romsey, 7th December 2013


2nd - 7th December 2013

44871 + 45407 The Lancashire Fusilier pass Lockerley, 7th December.
The train was "The Bath Christmas Market" organised by The Railway Touring Co.
The double headed Black 5's are substituting for the failed 34067 Tangmere
The return train, seen passing Romsey, was then 5 minutes late, but was right time by Hedge End.

Monday 2nd December: 
Tuesday 3rd December: 56312 0Z57 11:30 Washwood Heath - Basingstoke - Totton one two three56113 6Z30 17:23 Westbury - Eastleigh, 6Z31 20:12 Eastleigh - Westbury
Wednesday 4th December: 73138 + 73201 1Q31 06:06 Hither Green - Southampton DGL - Southampton - Southampton UGL - Hither Green, 60045 6O34 06:56 Eastleigh - Fawley, 56312 0Z56 11:16 Totton Yard - Eastleigh - Laverstock - Andover, 6Z56 13:20 Andover - West Ealing Loop
Thursday 5th December: 67006 5Z15 02:47 Eastleigh - Bristol, 44871 + 45407 + 57313 1Z44 08:45 Victoria - Havant - Eastleigh - Bath one two three four five six seven eight nine ten eleven twelve thirteen, 1Z45 17:47 Bath - Salisbury, 57313 Salisbury - Eastleigh - Havant - Victoria (44871 + 45407 to Southall via Andover), 60045 6B93 09:53 Eastleigh - Fawley, 6B94 12:05 Fawley - Eastleigh 
Friday 6th December: 67006 5Z66 00:10 Bristol - Eastleigh
Saturday 7th December: 44871 + 45407 1Z84 07:55 Three Bridges - Bristol one two three four five six seven eight nine ten eleven twelve thirteen fourteen, 1Z85 16:35 Bristol - Three Bridges, 56312 0Z56 18:02 West Ealing - Totton

70801 moved from Landore to Cardiff - now expected to be for repainting. one two three four