Lumo on the West Coast, Scout Green, 5th July 2026

Early days for Lumo on the West Coast. On a Sunday, there are two workings in each direction, requiring two train sets, which pass close together in time in the Shap area. Rather diffferent weather in Cumbria compared with Hampshire at the same time - by over 10°C.

222601 1S00 08:22 Euston - Stirling. This 6 coach unit has been reformed from 220001, by removing 60341.and re-ordering other coaches, coming out of the Bombardier facility at Widnes on 1st May. 222601 operated the first service on 25th May.

A going away shot of 222601.

222603 1M00 10:06 Stirling - Euston. 222603 was formed from 222003, by removal of 60343, and re-ordering of the other coaches.


A going away shot of 222603, which ran its first service on 12th June.

Scotland, June - July 2026

 

The longer evenings around the solstice give the chance to see 6B36 19:25 Craiginches - Oxwellmains cement empties in the daaylight. 70813 is seen with this task at Aberdour on 25th June.

801226 and 801218 at Edinburgh Waverley, 27th June.

92018 was tucked away between workings of the Caledonian Sleeper, and platform access was by ticket at the time I was there.

In EWS colours, but marked for DB, 66028 passing Aberdour with  6K01 04:05 Auchterarder - Millerhill, 29th June.


A short while later came 37418 An Comunn Gaidhealach + 975025 Caroline ...


... working as 5Z55 06:03 Slateford Depot - Inverness C.S.D. (Carriage Servicing Depot). It is understood that Loram may be relinquishing their operating licence in September.

37418 was new from English Electric Vulcan Foundry in March 1965 as D6971, later 37271, then Heavy General Overhaul and ETH conversion to 37418 was completed in November 1985. 975025 Caroline was built at Eastleigh in 1958 as Hastings DEMU buffet 60755, but laid aside in 1964. Converted to the Southern Region General Manager's Saloon as DB 975025 in 1969.

43169 (+ set HA20 + 43182) 1B80 12:07 Aberdeen - Edinburgh. at the former Donibristle Halt, 3rd July.

At the same location, 66746 Piper Major Iain Grant with 'Royal Scotsman' 1H79 13:45 Edinburgh - Keith.
 

29th June - 4th July 2026

58029 at Maritime, 14th July 2001. New from BREL Doncaster in April 1985, stored in June 2002. To Spain in May 2004 as L44, and broken up January 2020.

Monday 29th June: 73961 + 73963 1Q51 11:50 Derby - Eastleigh - Weymouth - Eastleigh one two three four five six
Tuesday 30th June: 73961 + 73963 1Q52 10:46 Eastleigh - Portsmouth Harbour - Littlehampton - Barnham - Chichester Havant - Portsmouth Harbour - Totton Yard  - Havant - Guildford - Havant - Fareham - Eastleigh - Winchester - Basingstoke - Woking - Lymington Pier - Eastleigh one two three four
Wednesday 1st July: 73961 + 73963 1Q53 12:00 Eastleigh - Up Yard - Wimbledon - Up Yard, 1Q53 18:05 Up Yard - Wimbledon - Totton - Romsey - Eastleigh
Thursday 2nd July: 73961 + 73963 1Q54 12:55 Eastleigh - Reading
Friday 3rd July:
Saturday 4th July:

59003: It is now suggested that there is no agreed sale.

56094 and 56302 to Ghana: one (UK footage, some may be at Marchwood, also showing the FSA wagons, ex-Freightliner) two (in Ghana) three (delivery in Ghana) four (on test) five & six (some local controversy).

A German classic at Bozen / Belzano, 5th June 2026

 

It just came trundling along into Bozen / Belzano while I was minding other business. A DB V100 diesel hydraulic, now numbered 270 208-8 but historically V100 1346 (Jung 13473, delivered 18th November 1962).

On DB this loco became 211 346-2 in 1968, and was retired in 1988. In 1991 it was registered to work in Switzerland. Then in 2009 it was sold to Ing. De Aloe Costruzioni Srl, Brescia, and it appears to work between Bozen / Bolzano and Brenner.

As built, this may have been powered by several engine types, one of which was the Maybach MD650, which was that used in the BR Warship class. 

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.