67027 in ECML Thunderbird scheme, Romsey, 7th January 2025.

66850 David Maidment OBE + 67027 0Z72 11:35 Eastleigh Arlington (Zg) - Westbury Down T.C.

A pause was made at Romsey, while awaiting a green signal. The driver stopped off for a coffee, allowing these pictures while static.

67027 is nameless, and finished in Colas colours.

The new feature is this ECML Thunderbird artwork.

Proceeding to Westbury.

Eastleigh Works, 6th January 2026

On a frosty morning, 20096 (nearer) + 20107 (farther) were both running.

41162 has been at the works since 10th November. The labelling reads 'BAXT PAINT THIS SIDE'.

08454 has emerged from the Works after air tank re-certification, and is now shunting.

08454 then shunted this Pullman, believed to be former 'Brighton Belle' car 99537 280 AUDREY which has spent some months in the Works.

Dirty 66850 DAVID MAIDMENT OBE had just arrived on Works, and had been forecast to drag 67027 to Westbury. Now apparently rescheduled for Wednesday.

20107 was on its own when I returned from the shops, with no external sign of 20096.

SRPS Winter Diesel Gala, 29th December 2025 Part 1: 56090 and 56105

A final fling? The stars of the show, and we don't know what happens with them next, as RHTT season is over, the locomotives are in 'N660' status preventing allocation to traffic, and Colas are expecting Class 66s when GBRf returns them to lessor Eversholt. 56090 and 56105 are leased to Colas by Beacon.

56090 (DR Doncaster, March 1981) comes off a train at Bo'ness, having arrived from Manuel.


In the yard, 56090 + 56105 (BR Doncaster, March 1982) were coupled together.

56090 + 56105 are backed onto the stock to form 13:00 to Manuel.

56090 is seen in closer views.

56090 was the Colas 56 I had seen least of, until this event. I even managed a ride behind it.

56090 head away from Bo'ness with the 13:00 depaerture.

After return to Bo'ness 56090 came off the train.

56105 then worked the 14:00 to Manuel.

29th December 2025 - 3rd January 2026

 

67023 Stella reversing at Redbridge, 30th December. Image by Ian Knight.

69003 The Railway Observer arriving at Eastleigh with 6O41 from Westbury, 29th December. Image by Roger Homan.


68020 running through Eastleigh with 5Q69 10:46 Eastleigh - Banbury. Image by Roger Homan.

68032 on the rear of the train.  Image by Roger Homan.

Monday 29th December: 67023 0Z67 09:10 Westbury - Redbridge - Swanage (for ETH testing) one two
Tuesday 30th December: 67023 0Z67 14:30 Swanage - Redbridge - Westbury one
Wednesday 31st December:
Thursday 1st January:
Friday 2nd January: 67024 (+ 99534 / 245 IBIS [the car seen at ZG does not correspond] + 99543 / 284 VERA) 5Z25 14:18 Stewarts Lane - Eastleigh one, 67024 0Z25 17:47 Eastleigh - Stewarts Lane 
Saturday 3rd January:

20096 + 20107 have completed their repaint at Eastleigh Works one

56051 is at Eastleigh, but is in 'N 660' status to prevent its allocation to trains, along with most of the rest of the Colas 56 fleet. one two

East Grimstead Quarry, last noted for holding stored REP / TC stock c. 1988 - 1990, is reportedly being considered for a rail served hydrogen facility.

Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway Diesel Gala, 25th July 2025: Mk 1 coaches

There is an excellent blog covering C&W matters.

BSK 35308 (BR Wolverton 1963) was at Toddington, and is intended to be painted in blue/grey colours, the first of four, which will all be ETH fitted examples, for use in the quieter and colder seasons.


Interior of TSO 4790 (BR York 1957).

TK, later SK, 24006 (BR Derby 1951) is the oldest surviving Mk 1 coach, and is under restoration.

TSO 5023 (BR Wolverton 1961-62) was in the paintshop.

FK 13326 (BR Swindon 1962).

SK 24804 on a 10 year agreement from NYMR (BRCW 1955).

Compartment interior of SK 25488 (BR York 1958), also on a NYMR agreement.

Stockport, 3rd October 2025 Part 4: GBRf Miscellany

 

69006 Pathfinder Railtours was on a move from Doncaster to EMD at Longport.

    66728 Chartered Institution of Railway Operators passing 390011 while running through platform 3 with 6E10 10:45 Liverpool Biomass Terminal - Drax.

The final biomass wagon in this working was IIA 83.70.0698.042-4, built by WH Davis in 2013.

22nd - 27th December 2025

 
Sunday 21st December: 47739 0E47 18:00 Eastleigh  - Peterborough
Monday 22nd December:
Tuesday 23rd December: 47727 0Z84 08:24 Eastleigh - Marchwood; 47727 (+ 701022 - the last from Marchwood) 5Q84 10:56 Marchwood - Wimbledon Park one two three four five six seven (then 47727 to Leicester)
Wednesday 24th December:
Thursday 25th December:
Friday 26th December:
Saturday 27th December:

Eastleigh Works: 02Dec - 03Dec - 04Dec - 09Dec - 10Dec - 16Dec - 17Dec - 18Dec

The former Mendip Rail Marcroft JNAs, stored at Gascoigne Wood for 2 years, are now being delivered to EMR Attercliffe for disposal. The first working was on 17th December one two, with a second on 23rd.

VTG 3467 (nearer) and VTG 3428, seen on 8th November 2022, were again (still?) coupled up together on the way to the scrapyard on 23rd.

Class 455 tours on 21st December: Train A one two three four five six seven : Train B one two three four five