The Dorset Coast Express, 22nd July 2026

47848 + 47237 1Z94 08:46 Victoria - Weymouth (retimed for Class 47 operation throughout).

47848 leading as the train passed the Signalling Centre at Eastleigh.

Flying through the station.


47237, believed to have last visited these parts on 26th July 2017, on the rear.

A short distance further along, 47848 passes St Denys. Image by Ian Knight.

47237 on the rear. Image by Ian Knight.

56051 and 69008 at Eastleigh, 21st July 2026

 

56051 Survival and 69008 Richard Howe.


69008 was prepared for 0V30 14:05 Eastleigh - Westbury. This locomotive was built at BREL Doncaster as 56038, and entered traffic in February 1978.


Richard Howe nameplate on 69008.


56051, which had arrived from Hinksay, was also built at BREL Doncaster, and entered traffic on 24th August 1980

A final view for the day, of the pair of classic locomotives.

Eastleigh Works and T&RSMD, 21st July 2026

 

73107 Tracy outside the Works, expected to depart to Tonbridge on 22nd.

Windhoff MPV DR 98931 has arrived. Not a regular in these parts, it seems to spend most time in Kent. Alongside is JNA  81.70.5500.023-3.

142007 and 59003 in similar positions to when previously seen on the 7th.

Two Locomotive Services owned Mk 3 coaches. On the left is former EMR TF 41208 (formerly 12112 and later 42406), which has been at the Works since 2nd August 2023, after which it appeared that parts were removed. More interestingly, on the right, former GWR TC 46006, which now sports its former number "41081 L/F" in chalk, as a TF. 46006 arrived on 11th June 2020, and was noted with cuts in the roof on 19th September 2021. Is it making a comeback? As a Lounge First?

Chiltern 68025 seen on a shunt at the T&RSMD.

13th - 18th July 2026

 

69008 Richard Howe working 6O41 from Westbury, seen at Lee, 14th July. Image by Roger Homan.

D1924 47810 Crewe Diesel Depot, passing Crampmoor, 18th July.


FO 3045 (Lot 30091, Doncaster, 1954).

D1645 47830 on the rear of the train. There are suggestions that Locomotive Services is "struggling with availability of its Type 4 fleet in early July"

Sunday 12th July: 66613 0W66 17:35 Alton - Maritime
Monday 13th July: 
Tuesday 14th July: 68019 (+ 6371 / 96371) + 68030 5M71 0850 Eastleigh - Stourbridge Junction one two three four five six seven eight nine 
Wednesday 15th July:
Thursday 16th July: 800032 5X81 13:16 Reading - Eastleigh
Friday 17th July: 69006 moved to Eastleigh one two
Saturday 18th July: 47810 + 47830 T+T 1Z07 06:25 Woking - Havant - Eastleigh - Salisbury - Kingswear one, 1Z08 16:35 Kingswear - Salisbury - Eastleigh - Havant - Woking, 5Z08 23:54 Woking - Eastleigh; 37240 + 47773 1Z34 07:45 Birmingham Snow Hill - Eastleigh - Portsmouth Harbour one two rhree four five six seven eight nine, 1Z41 16:40 Portsmouth Harbour - Eastleigh - Birmingham Snow Hill

31128, in these parts a week ago, worked 0Z31 18:02 Burton Ot Wetmore Sidings - Grosmont on 17th, to support a motive power shortage at the NYMR, this loco being capable of working to Whitby.

Post from Freightliner on LinkedIn: "In May 2026 Network Rail completed new gauge clearance on the Midland Main Line and associated routes, unlocking for the first time the ability to run high cube (9ft 6in) containers on standard height wagons. 

Starting this week, #Freightliner will take advantage of this new clearance by diverting our Southampton to Doncaster service via Nottingham and Newark, allowing it to directly access our Doncaster terminal from the South, without having to divert via Sheffield and take a longer route before running round North of the terminal. 

This will allow us to offer an earlier arrival for our service on this key South Coast to North East Corridor. This service will operate via this route 5 days per week."

These trains now run as 4E92 and 4O92.

Hamworthy: Proposal to restore Dorset branch line as a freight route - believed last used 8 years ago.

Loram to relinquish train operating licence and 950001 also likely to be withdrawn at that time.

HXA Coal Hopper 370529, seen at Barnetby, 22nd May 2015. New from Greenbrier in 2006; now tripped 6Z89 09:45 Hunslet Yard - EMR Attercliffe for disposal, on 14th July. This batch of 109 wagons had been intact until this disposal of nine of them.

'The End of Southern Steam', 9th July 2026

59 years since the end of Southern Region steam. 3 images from Ian Knight.

35028 Clan Line + 47802 T+T 1Z96 17:38 Weymouth - Waterloo

35028 approaches Southampton, at the Saxon Road footbridge.

A trailing view, having passed under the bridge.

47802 working on the rear, necessary because of the high fire risk conditions.

6th - 11th July 2026

 

69010 NORTH NORFOLK RAILWAY 1975 - 2025 THE POPPY LINE at Eastleigh, 7th July, waiting to work 6V30 to Westbury.


66162 4O21 08:20 Trafford Park- Western Docks, approaching Eastleigh, 9th July.


A 4-VEP '7717' looking perfectly normal at Eastleigh, 9th July, although it is now 21 years on.


220006 1O20 13:25 Manchester Piccadilly - Bournemouth passing 66514 working 4O38 09:27 Lawley Street - Maritime.

A closer view of 220006 in the new colours for Cross-Country.

66068 PRIDE IN MOTION 4V39 17:33 Eastern Docks- Morris Cowley, Eastleigh, 9th July.

Monday 6th July: 66744 (+ 4-TC) (+ 66751 locally from Works) 5Z38 19:28 Eastleigh - West Ruislip one two
Tuesday 7th July: 37423 + 37901 (+ Mk 3 generator 6371 / 96371) 5Z86 10:30 Great Yarmouth - Eastleigh Trsmd one two three four five six seven eight nine ten eleven twelve thirteen, 37423 + 37901 0Z57 17:30 Eastleigh Trsmd - Chaddesden Sdgs (Derby) one two three
Wednesday 8th July: 
Thursday 9th July: 66613 0W66 08:12 Maritime - Alton; 47810 + 47830 1Z82 06:38 Stafford - Weymouth one two three four five six, 1Z84 15:37 Weymouth - Stafford; 31128 + 31210 (+ 4-VEP 3417) 5Z31 12:50 Strawberry Hill C.S.D. - Eastleigh - Fareham - Havant - Alton one two three four five six seven eight nine ten eleven (31210 failed at Strawberry Hill with a potential axle related problem); 35028 + 47802 1Z96 17:38 Weymouth - Waterloo one
Friday 10th July: 800017 5X82 0920 Eastleigh - Reading
Saturday 11th July:

57304, in storage at Eastleigh Works, and noted outside on 4th, appears to have been sold to West Coast.

69008 has taken overe from 69010 on the Eastleigh - Westbury cycles. 66314 + 69010 worked 0E15 21:17 Eastleigh East Yard - Doncaster Down Decoy Gbrf on 8th, so 69010 is now likely at Roberts Road for servicing.

395008, under repair at Eastleigh since 12th December 2025, was noted outside in a shunt on 8th July, with a revised colour scheme.

Brush Traction at Eastleigh, 9th July 2026

 

31128 CHARYBDIS of Nemesis Rail  + 4-VEP 3417 Gordon Pettitt 5Z31 13:50 Strawberry Hill - Alton, approaching Eastleigh. 31128 was new as D5546 from Brush, Loughborough, in August 1959.

Running into platform 3. Unfortunately 31210 had to be left behind at Strawberry Hill with a potential axlebox issue.


Brush meets Brush, as D1924 (47810, Brush, Loughborough, December 1965) Crewe Diesel Depot passes with 1Z84 15:37 Weymouth - Stafford.

D1645 (47830, BR Crewe, December 1964) on the rear of the train.

31128 departing in the Fareham direction.

S76273 in 3417 has adjusted unit number 7717 at one end only, this reflecting the original unit number when it entered into traffic on 8th July 1967.