Statfold 'Spectacle of Steam' 8th March 2026 1: Statfold Junction

A first visit to Statfold, to a 'Spectacle of Steam' event. I arrived about 08:30, exchanged my bar code for a wrist band,  and looked through the exhibition area before watching and riding the trains. I was present for 5 hours, and there was never a time without anything to see. Statfold is located between Tamworth, and Jct 11 of the M42.

Details of the locomotives are on Statfold's website, and on Wikipedia.

Sybil Mary (Hunslet 921 / 1906) and Marchlyn (Avonside 2067 / 1933) arrive to couple up at Statfold Junction.

Howard (Hunslet 1842 / 1936) and Harrogate (Peckett 2050 / 1944) on shed.

Harrogate waits to be called on to a train. This locomotive was for many years kept in storage at Boston Lodge, Ffestiniog Railway, for potential build into a locomotive suitable for that railway.

Sragi No. 1 (Krauss 4045 / 1899) and Lautoka No.19 Hudswell Clarke (1056 / 1914) departing.

Isaac (Bagnall 3023 / 1953).

Howard came off the shed, and awaiting forwarding onto a train.

Trangkill No. 4 (Hunslet 3902 / 1971 - the last engine built under the classical ownership) arrives, with two Darjeeling pattern coaches in the train, built at Ffestiniog Railway, Boston Lodge, for Adrian Shooter's Beeches Light Railway.

Cegin (Barclay 1991 / 1931) and Liassic (Peckett 1632 / 1923).

Lunchtime Loco Workings, Eastleigh 9th March 2026

The busiest weekday time at Eastleigh tends to be 13:00 to 13:40, in particular the latter 20 minutes. The weather on Monday 9th was somewhat misty.

66847 Terry Baker prepared to work 6V27 13:49 Eastleigh - Hinksey.

66733 Cambridge PSB 0V44 12:18 Marchwood  - Bicester.

66515 4M61 12:56 Maritime - Trafford Park.

66571 4O90 06:15 Leeds - Maritime.

59205, now a Heavy Haul Rail asset, 6V62 1321 Up Yard - Westbury Tarmac.

66507 4E65 13:13 Maritime - Doncaster Europort.

Miscellany at Eastleigh, 9th March 2026

 

Looking pretty manky, this is 73202 which is in a Southern livery. It has been at the Works since 15th December.

69014 and 69016 at rest, while 08511 did the shunting.

701019 pauses with 5Q50 12:32 Bournemouth T&R.S.M.D - Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs.

66551 and 66544, both on hire to Colas.

57302 parked in a strange corner at the Works.

57012 brings the LT 4-TC to Eastleigh, 9th March 2026

57012 + 4-TC (76297 + 70823 + 71163 + 76324) 5Z33 10:31 Southall - Eastleigh Arlington, believed to be the first visit of 57012 to Eastleigh following  sale to West Coast. The 4-TC coaches had been reformed at Southall, following wheelset damage in the autumn.

57012 approaching Eastleigh, passing restricted 69016 (farther) and 69014 (nearer) in the East Yard.

57012, which was sold to West Coast in 2022, via Ron Hull's scrap buisness, now has a modernised cooler group, applied under DRS management.

57012 delivered as D1854 in July 1965, later 47204.


DTSO LT 76297.

TBSK LT 70823.

DTSO 76324 as the rear most coach.

Kirkby Stephen West, 7th March 2026

 

My first 47 picture of the year. 47593 Galloway Princess 1Z40 07:15 Hereford - Appleby, approaching Kirkby Stephen. Scaffold around the signal box, seen in 2022-23, has now been removed.

158792 seen with LMR style signage, working 2H89 1058 Carlisle - Leeds.

My first sighting of a Heavy Haul Rail locomotive, 66545 0M68 1118 Leeds Balm Rd - Carlisle New Yard.

A closer view of 47593 running in to pass the station platform.

D1924 Crewe Diesel Depot (47810) on the rear.

70817 wide open when working 'the Logs' 6J37 1244 Carlisle Yard - Chirk Kronospan.

A closer view of 70817.

2nd - 7th March 2026

 

Monday 2nd March: 66549 + 56051 0Z30 09:10 Eastleigh - Romsey - Salisbury - Westbury - Rugby one two three four; 37884 0O86 09:50 Leicester -Eastleigh one two, 37884 + 68024 0M59 15:19 Eastleigh - Loughborough 1Z99 Eastleigh -Basingstoke one two three four five to rescue 68027 5Q86 12:25 Banbury - Eastleigh one two; 66106 (+ 99541 / 243 LUCILLE) 5Z26 10:50 Stewarts Lane - Eastleigh East Yard one two three

Tuesday 3rd March: 37884 + 68021 0M59 07:26 Eastleigh - Loughborough Brush one two; 800012 5X80 09:22 Eastleigh - Reading
Wednesday 4th March: 800005 5X81 13:15 Reading - Eastleigh one; 68014 0O93 08:11 Crewe  Eastleigh T&RSMD (for removal of vinyls) one two three
Thursday 5th March: 43013 + 43062 1X23 15:28 Salisbury - Southampton - Salisbury one
Fridaay 6th March:
Saturday 7th March:

Swietelsky are offering 73951 & 73952 for sale. Formerly 73104 and 73211.

Edinburgh, 9th February 2026

 

43024 at Haymarket shed, where it brought to from Ely, as a spares source.


Coupled to 08754 of RMS Locotec.

801219 being prepared for 1E10 10/;00 Edinburgh - Kings Cross. Seen at Eastleigh, 20th December 2019.

Trans-Pennine 802213 which had arrived as 9S05 05:26 Newcastle - Edinburgh.

43145 ready to work on the rear of 1H17 13:32 Edinburgh to Inverness, alongside 158718.

801215 arriving as 1S09 09:03 Kings Cross - Edinburgh. Seen at Eastleigh, 17th December 2019.