40 on tour, "The Highland Peak", Aberdour, 19th September 2026

D213 (40013) ANDANIA (+ 4856 + 1859 + 35185 + 3115 + 1730 + 3096 + 3112) + 37409 Loch Awe
1Z31 07:11 Linlithgow - Inverness, 1Z33 16:00 Inverness - Linlithgow

Running through Aberdour station

D213 was new from English Electric Vulcan Foundry in June 1959, and was withdrawn on 18th October 1984.

... and approaching Hawkcraig Road bridge, a recreation of my picture of 40085 from 50 years before.

A going away seen so often in past years.


37409 on the rear.


On the return 1Z33, D213 leads through Aberdour station.


Running past the station canopy, and some videographers.


37409 on the rear.

Further coverage on Flickr.

SRPS Railtours

Aberdour observations, early to mid-September 2026

43014 leads 1Q26 13:45 Edinburgh -Slateford, 8th September.


The train was the same formation as seen at Romsey on 20th August. 43013 Mark Carne CBE on the rear.


An evening session as there were three 70s to see within 20 minutes. 70802 passes with 6B36 19:25 Craiginches - Oxwellmains cement empties, 14th September.

The next working was  1B96 20:05 Aberdeen - Edinburgh, led by 43031.


70815 leading the first formal RHTT working in Scotland in  2026, 3S93 18:30 Carstairs - Alloa, which is a complicated diagram immediately followed by 3S93 05:03 Alloa - Carstairs, about 18 hours in total.

70810 on the rear, surrounded by spray. The next reversal would be at Ladybank.

43152 (set HA11 + 43169) 1A75 07:31 Edinburgh - Aberdeen, 19th September.

43141 (set HA18) 1B68 05:57 Aberdeen - Edinburgh, 19th September.

43037 on the rear of 1B68.

'The Dorset Coast Statesman', 17th September 2026

Two images from the camera of Ian Knight.

D1935 (47805) Roger Hosking MA 1925 - 2013 + 47712 Lady Diana Spencer 1Z46 0551 Ludlow to Weymouth, passing Totton.

The return working, 1Z47 15:36 Weymouth - Ludlow, passing Redbridge.

In the Dorset Echo.

'The Swanage Belle', Totton, 16th September 2026

Three images from the camera of Ian Knight.

34028 Eddystone leading 1Z94 08:46 Victoria - Swanage.

47746 Chris Fudge 29.7.70-22.6.10 on the rear.

153385 returning from Marchwood with 2Q43 11:04 Eastleigh East Yard - Eastleigh East Yard.

Eastleigh, 14th September 2026

Four images from Roger Homan.

92020 BILLY STIRLING was moved from Wembley to Eastleigh Works over two nights, arriving from Basingstoke early on 14th. The locomotive was running on a wheelskate, and requires wheel and axle attention.


View of the 'nameplate', first unveiled in November 2021.


67006 Royal Sovereign leading the Belmond British Pullman set ecs 5Z84 16:40 Eastleigh Trsmd - Winchester.

67024 on the rear of the train, which returned with passengers as 1Z84 17:13 Winchester - Eastleigh - Havant - Preston Park - Victoria.

An unexpected Class 47 sighting, 5th September 2026

 

No, it is not AI, but a real Class 47 cab parked in the garden of a property near New Mills. I was walking on the opposite hillside, and only noted the cab when I was working with my pictures on the computer.

Facebook advises that this is the cab of 47973 (formerly D1614 / 47034  / 47561 / 97561), which was withdrawn in August 1996, and broken up by MRJ Phillips at Crewe Works in March 1997. The cab has been at Barrow Hill, and Bridgend, before making a recent arrival at this new location.

My notes record that I first saw 47034 in the 1978-79 period. 

'Tornado' touches down at Redbridge, 10th September 2026

Four images from Ian Knight.

66063 + 60163 5Z81 10:32 Tyseley Steam Trust - Basingstoke - Laverstock - Redbridge (run around) - Swanage

Arriving at Redbridge from the Test Valley line.


Having run around, 66063 now drags Tornado and its support coach 21249, heading to Swanage.