37412 runs around at Bristol Temple Meads, about January 1997

This was likely a Monday taken to burn off leave, on a use it or lose it basis, before company leave year finished at end of February. Studying the records, this may have been on 27th January 1997, when the loco was recorded as working 2O93 16:33 Bristol TM - Weymouth.

37412 Driver John Elliott arrives at Bristol, possibly from Weymouth.

The train appears to have terminated in platform 8, the four coaches as I recall were on hire from West Coast.

Away from platform 8 for the run around.

On a through road adjacent to platform 12.

Now approaching to run through platform 7 for platform 8.

In platform 8 coupled up for the journey to Weymouth.

37412 is seen in withdrawn condition at Long Marston on 7th June 2009. It had been stored serviceable in October 2002 at 9830 engine hours. Sold to Harry Needle and moved to Barrow Hill in 2008, then at some time to Long Marston. Moved to West Coast at Carnforth at the end of November 2010, to Barrow Hill in May 2011, then to EMR Kingsbury for disposal, completed in August 2012.

22nd - 27th June 2026

 
Monday 22nd June:
Tuesday 23rd June:
Wednesday 24th June:
Thursday 25th June: 1X23 was cancelled and the NMT ran early from Salisbury to Reading (seen earlier one two)
Friday 26th June:
Saturday 27th June:

69016 was relocated to Doncaster from Eastleigh over Tuesday to Wednesday, and has been replaced by 69011. All Class 69s have now returned from storage status.

Europhoenix Rail (EPR), the operating company. appears to have been restructured into a new ownerrship, thus avoiding closure.

NMT at Aberdour, 24th February 2026

43013 (+ 975984 + 977993 + 975814 + 977984) + 43062
1Q26 13:45 Edinburgh - Aberdeen - Markinch (or Thornton) - Perth - Dundee - Perth - Ladybank - Edinburgh - Slateford

43013 Mark Carne CBE (BREL Crewe, May 1976) leading through Aberdour.

A close view of 43013.

43062 John Armitt on the rear.

The Engine House at Highley, 10th May 2026

The Engine House contains many of the stalwarts of the Severn Valley from when I first visited over 40 years ago.

GWR 45xx 4566.,

L95 or GWR 5764, a 57xx Pannier Tank.

Dukedog 9017 Earl of Berkeley, on loan from the Bluebell Railway, and recently swapped with the Vale of Rheidol for 7819 Hinton Manor.

LMS 2MT 46443.

LMS 8F 48773.

WD600 Gordon and 686 The Lady Armaghdale.

A lower level view of Gordon, built by North British in Glasgow in 1943.

The Engine House

15th - 20th June 2026

 

66518 at Winchester with 4E65 13:13 Maritime - Doncaster Europort, 17th June. Image by Roger Homan.

Ermewa owned Greenbrier JNA 81.70.5500.031-6 at Eastleigh Works for repair, 16th June.

Monday 15th June:
Tuesday 16th June: 802105 5X82 09:20 Eastleigh - Reading
Wednesday 17th June: 802113 5X81 13:16 Reading to Eastleigh
Thursday 18th June:
Friday 19th June:
Saturday 20th June:

Investigation into a collision between a passenger train and a portable rail grinding machine near to Redbridge, Hampshire, 19 May 2026.

'Vindication' for Alliance Rail despite regulator rejecting open access plan for second time

Eastleigh, 16th June 2026

 

66514 4M61 12:54 Maritime - Trafford Park.

DR 98958 leading 3Z00 0803 Totton Yard - Guildford - Totton Yard.

66501 Spirit of '65 - Celebrating 60 years of Freightliner 4O90 04:03 Doncaster Europort - Maritime.

59004 PAUL A HAMMOND 6V62 13:21 Up Yard - Westbury Tarmac.

66509 Freightliner Retirement Association 4E65 13:13 Maritime - Doncaster Europort.

'Clan Line' returns to London, 13th June 2026

35028 Clan Line + 47802  1Z61 1608 Portsmouth Harbour - Redbridge - Laverstock - Victoria.
Images by Ian Knight.

35028 passing through St Denys.


47802 on the rear of the train.


After a water stop in Southampton, 35028 is seen running through Redbridge.

Again, 47802 on the rear.