Wednesday 29 June 2016

Grid and NOHAB, Budapest, 27th June 2016


630 003-1 (56117) and 3.623 at Budapest Keleti, 27th June 2016. Location is over a wall on Kerepesi Ășt (in middle as shown)

56117 was new from BR Crewe on 13th March 1983, and was withdrawn as surplus from Crewe in December 2003. Sent to France for Fertis between October 2004 and October 2006, then stored at Eastleigh. Sold to Floyd in 2011, initially moved to Nemesis Rail in 2012, then moved to Hungary via Immingham in July 2013. Understood to be kept for spares to support the former 56018 and 56115.

3.623 was the NOHAB demonstrator sent to Hungary in May 1960, and led to an order for 20 units of the popular class M61, which could not be followed by further orders because the sourcing was beyond the Eastern Bloc. In April 2014 the locomotive suffered an electrical fire, and a rescue followed for preservation in Hungary.

56117 at Eastleigh, 9th November 2008.

Saturday 18 June 2016

37175 departs from Eastleigh with a test train, 18th June 2016


37175 with ultrasonic test train 3Z18 10:51 Eastleigh - Hither Green, which departed 50 mins early. The previous time I wanted to catch this, on 21st November last, it left early and I was left standing in Lidl, just watching it go by. I was rather better prepared this time.

At the works in preparation for departure. 37175 was new as D6875 from English Electric Vulcan Foundry EE/VF3353/D839 1963 on 20th September 1963, allocated to Cardiff Canton. Withdrawn in June 1999 it spent time with the EWS Heritage Fleet, before being sold for preservation in 2006, and reaching Bo'ness in September 2007. Sold to Colas in January 2014.

6260 is Generator Van converted from a BG (formerly 81450 then 92116, Lot 30400, Pressed Steel August 1958). The departmental conversion was made in March 2003.

Leaving the works and heading into platform 3 at the station.





62384 was a 4-CIG MBSO which ran from July 1971 to April 2005, in unit 7396 later 1296, then 4-BIG 2258 and 4-CIG 1393 (with 4-CEP TSO). This was preserved at the Great Central Railway, then sold in September 2011 to be converted to Ultrasonic Test Train Coach, released into traffic in May 2012.

9703 was originally Mk2F BSO 9517 completed at Derby to Lot 30861 in June 1974. Converted to DBSO for Edinburgh - Glasgow services in June 1979, and taken into departmental use in February 2007 as a DTC.

Heading out past Lidl in the Up direction,




Eastleigh, 18th June 2016


66418 approaches with 4O18 05:03 Lawley Street - Maritime.

66124 with 6M48 09:48 Eastern Docks - Halewood.

66591 leads 4M55 10:00 Maritime - Daventry.

66504 heading south with 4O14 07:37 Hams Hall - Maritime.

70014 passing with 4O27 05:21 Garston - Maritime.

60017, new to traffic in October 1990, is sitting on the naughty step after failing on Thursday, understood to be an AWS fault.

DRP81532 is a Plasser & Theurer GPC72 heavy duty diesel hydraulic crane (number 5530 of 1981)

13th - 18th June 2016


59201 heading 7O44 13:35 Merehead - Eastleigh passing Romsey, 17th June.

The last JHA was OK 19317, built by Orenstein & Koppel in Germany in 1989.

Sunday 12th June: 60100 7O44 21:20 Westbury - Botley (but some issue caused long delay in Warminster area, may have failed)
Monday 13th June: 67010 + 60017 T+T 5O61 09:54 Wembley - Eastleigh one two three four, 67010 0M61 14:27 Eastleigh - Wembley; 66768 5O08 09:42 Wolverton - Eastleigh (barrier coaches) one
Tuesday 14th June: 60017 6B45 09:14 Eastleigh - Marchwood one two three, 6B38 11:00 Marchwood - Eastleigh one two
Wednesday 15th June: 
Thursday 16th June: 60017 6B43 09:37 Eastleigh - Western Docks (reported failed on down line at Eastleigh with AWS fault, train ran forward 100 mins late) one; 37175 3Q22 20:57 Wimbledon - Eastleigh Works one
Friday 17th June: 37175 3Z08 21:57 Eastleigh - Redbridge - Bath - Redbridge (- Fareham) - Southampton - Eastleigh, 60017 at Eastleigh one
Saturday 18th June: 73961 + 73964 5Z61 02:55 Eastleigh - Ashford; 37175 3Z18 10:51 Eastleigh - Hither Green (ran early from Eastleigh, then held at Wallers Ash)

Saturday 11 June 2016

The Purbeck & Bomo Explorer part two, 11th June 2016


1Z52 16:05 Swanage - Derby

The location is Redbridge, where the train was 8 minutes late, right time being recovered by Winchester.

50050 Fearless now leads with 50007 Hercules in multiple.



Southampton Maritime, 11th June 2016

It's been quite a while since I was at Maritime, it appears to have been 6 months, more or less.

08531, now in a Powerhaul scheme.

70015 is moved within the confines of the yard.

The other shunter present was 08785.

The Purbeck & Bomo Explorer part one, 11th June 2016


1Z50 (04:48 Derby -) Saltley - Swanage. Hoover time!

The location is Crampmoor.

50007 Hercules was new as D407 to LMWL (London Midland Western Lines) on 16th March 1968, later to DO5 (Stoke Division) and CD (Crewe Diesel), all in effect Crewe. In May 1974 it was reallocated to LA (Plymouth Laira). Refurbished at Doncaster between September 1982 and February 1983. The locomotive was withdrawn after the final BR Class 50 railtour on 26th March 1994, working in the same pair as here in 2016. Preserved by the Class 40 Appeal at Butterley, until sale in 2013 to Boden Rail Engineering.

50050 Fearless was completed at English Electric / Vulcan Foundry in August 1967. Allocated new to LMWL on 7th October 1967 as first of class D400. The allocation was later changed to DO5, but it was moved to the WR at BR (Bristol Bath Road) between October 1972 and May 1973, then back to the LMR at CD until May 1974 when it again went to the WR at OC (Old Oak Common). Refurbished between January - July 1983. Similarly to 50007, it ran until March 1994, and was then privately purchased, latterly kept at the Yeovil Railway Centre, before sale to Boden Rail Engineering in January 2015.


3325 is a Mark 2F FO, from Lot 30859, built by BR Derby, and placed in traffic in December 1973. Still in basic Virgin Trains colours.

3390 comes from the same lot, also being delivered in December 1973. More recently it was 'Constable' in the "Great Briton" set.

6th - 11th June 2016


66115 at Eastleigh with 6O42 11:42 Halewood - Western Docks, 9th June.

Monday 6th June 2016: 66750 5M66 08:25 Eastleigh - Wembley one two three four, 0O66 11:36 Wembley - Eastleigh; 67022 5O61 09:53 Wembley - Eastleigh one two; 37219 + 37421 T+T 1Q51 11:15 Derby - Eastleigh -Weymouth - Eastleigh one two three four five six seven eight nine
Tuesday 7th June 2016: 66710 + 50026 0V27 07:42 Eastleigh to Didcot (to pick up 33035 and proceed to the NNR Diesel Gala) one; 73962 + (brake force runner 9523) + 73965 T+T 1Z02 10:14 Derby - Eastleigh one two three four five; 60100 7O43 21:12 Westbury - Eastleigh
Wednesday 8th June 2016: 60100 7V98 03:28 Eastleigh - Merehead, 7O44 21:12 Westbury - Botley one two three four; 73962 + 73965 T+T 1Q53 11:37 Eastleigh - Eastern Docks - Wimbledon - Eastern Docks - Wimbledon - Totton Yard - Eastleigh - Romsey - Eastleigh ne two three four five six seven
Thursday 9th June 2016: 60100 7V97 02:59 Botley - Merehead one two, 7O43 21:12 Westbury - Eastleigh; 73962 + 73965 T+T 1Q54 12:27 Eastleigh - Staines - Woking - Reading - Staines - Reading - Woking - Alton - Hither Green one two three four
Friday 10th June 2016: 60100 7V98 03:28 Eastleigh - Merehead, 7O40 13:35 Merehead - Eastleigh one two, 7V33 20:00 Eastleigh - Merehead one; 37421 + 37219 0Z73 07:42 Eastleigh - Derby one two; 67010 1Y91 11:42 Victoria - Eastleigh - Hove one two three four
Saturday 11th June 2016: 50007 + 50050 1Z50 (04:48 Derby -) Saltley - Swanage one; 1Z52 16:05 Swanage - Derby

Eastleigh Works: 03May - 04May

57010 57011 and 57012 have been moved from Crewe - Kingmoor - Longtown for storage one two three four. 6 of the DRS 57/0's are now in storage leaving just 57003 and 57007 in the operational fleet. Changed days from 2014 when the "Caterpillar Cat" went to Crewe, reflecting the introduction of Class 68 builds.

Friday 10 June 2016

Colas feature part 2 - Two Class 37's at Eastleigh Works, 9th June 2016


37421 + 37219 at the works in evening sunlight.

37421 was was new as D6967 from English Electric / Vulcan Foundry on 13th February 1965 and allocated to Sheffield Darnall. Rebuilt at Crewe as 37421 in June to December 1985, and allocated to Inverness. Stored by EWS in September 2007, and preserved in December 2008, going to Blaenavon. Sold to Colas in January 2014. I first saw this on 3rd May 1997 while on "The Crewe Cut".

37219 was new as D6919 from English Electric / Vulcan Foundry on 16th January 1964 and allocated to Cardiff Canton. Stored by EWS from Janaury 2001, it was at Eastleigh until preserved in 2005, initially at Chasewater. In November 2010 it was at Dereham, Mid Norfolk Railway, and later was at Blaenavon until sold to Colas in January 2014. I first saw this locomotive on 31st January 1997 on a day trip to Bristol.

Colas feature part 1 - all 5 Class 66/8's in Eastleigh at same time, 9th June 2016


  • 66848 was in the sidings when I arrived.
  • 66850 + 66847 +70804 arrived off 6Y42 13:54 Hoo Jct - Eastleigh
  • 66846 + 66849 arrived 0O31 17:30 Westbury - Eastleigh

66850 David Maidment OBE

66847

66848, 66847, 66850.

66846 + 66849 Wylam Dilly



Number Previously EMD number
66846 66573 20028462-13 / 2003 sold by Eversholt to Colas Rail 2011
66847 66574 20028462-14 / 2003 sold by Eversholt to Colas Rail 2011
66848 66575 20028462-15 / 2004 sold by Eversholt to Colas Rail 2011
66849 66576 20028462-16 / 2004 sold by Eversholt to Colas Rail 2011
66850 66577 20028462-17 / 2004 sold by Eversholt to Colas Rail 2011


Saturday 4 June 2016

30th May - 4th June 2016


66750 Bristol Panel Signal Box, 66848 and 66432 at Eastleigh Works, on an ICRS Members' Day, 4th June. 66432 arrived on 1st June for repainting.

47841 is in storage, and is missing some lights and a driver's side window.

47818 (operational), 08611 and 50026 Indominatable.

Stored 442422 is also present on the right.

Monday 30th May: 66743 0E66 08:44 Eastleigh - Doncaster one
Tuesday 31st May: 60100 7O35 06:05 Westbury - Fareham, 7V16 12:50 Fareham - Merehead one two three
Wednesday 1st June: 66432 0Z70 06:17 Willesden - Eastleigh one; 66433 0Z568 10:21 Eastleigh - Willesden one two
Thursday 2nd June: 43013 + 43014 13:39 Salisbury - Southampton UGL (- Salisbury) but then vanished on RTT after Millbrook
Friday 3rd June: 67029 (DVT 82146) 5Z05 04:02 Toton - Basingstoke - Salisbury (reverse) - Southampton one, 1Z05 10:42 Southampton - London Gateway one two three four five
Saturday 4th June: 

Eastleigh Works: 19Apr - 20Apr - 21Apr - 25Apr - 26Apr - 27Apr - 28Apr - 29Apr

Elsewhere, DRS has moved 57004 + 57008 + 57009 into storage at Longtown one two three, with 57010 + 57011 + 57012 reported to follow shortly.