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Facebook advises that this is the cab of 47973 (formerly D1614 / 47034  / 47561 / 97561), which was withdrawn in August 1996, and broken up by MRJ Phillips at Crewe Works in March 1997.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.

Northbound Observations, 5th and 6th September 2026

 

66724 Drax Power Station leading 6E17 12:30 Liverpool Biomass Tml Gbf - Drax Aes (Gbrf), near New Mills, 5th September, on a SO path via the Hope Valley route. GBRf  haulage of these services is expected to conclude in April 2027.


On a break near Scout Green, on 6th September, Avanti Pendolino 390043 9M53 09:46 Glasgow Central - Euston.

Trans-Pennine Express 397002 1S46 10:10 Manchester Airport - Edinburgh.


Trans-Pennine Express 802215 1M85 10:13 Edinburgh - ManchesterAirport 


Heavy Haul Rail 66562 6Y30 09:00 Bradley Wood Jn - Carlisle New Yard.

Avanti Pendolino 390119 1M11 10:34 Glasgow Central - Euston.


Lumo 222601 1S00 08:25 Euston - Stirling.

222602 1M00 10:06 Stirling - Euston. 

73096 with The Daylight Limited, Romsey, 15th March 1998

 

BR 5MT 73096 (BR Derby, 1955) passing Romsey with the outbound 1Z96 08:33 Alton - Salisbury.

The return 1Z97 13:32 Salisbury - Alton.

A closing visit to Romsey, 2nd September 2026

 

158884 arriving from Salisbury.

166217 with a Portsmouth - Cardiff working.

66742 Port of Immingham Centenary 1912 - 2012 running through as 0O41 10:14 Westbury - Eastleigh. 

Nameplate detail.

This locomotive was delivered as DRS 66406, seen above at Greenholme, Cumbria on 6th July 2006.

A late fling at Eastleigh, 28th August 2026

 

Debranded 59202 Pride of Ferrybridge leading 6O68 09:11 Westbury Tarmac - Crawley,

66771 Amanda with late running 6O45 07:51 Kineton - Marchwood.

69004 RIDC Melton + 66068 PRIDE IN MOTION + 66035 Resourceful approach as 0O41 10:14 Westbury - Eastleigh.

66035  on the rear.

59101 Village of Whatley 6V16 11:55 Fareham - Whatley.

66570 4O14 05:08 Garston-Maritime.

66007 4O39 09:35 Morris Cowley - Eastern Docks.

I didn't manage a great set of pictures for Cappagh liveried 60028 + 50026 0Z61 11:42 Eastleigh - Willesden, which departed an hour late, but skipped a timetabled 50 min wait in the East Yard.

24th - 29th August 2026

 

69001 Mayflower moving wagons at Eastleigh, 25th August

66766 Gail Richardson 4M46 14:19 Western Docks - Trafford Park, Eastleigh, 25th August.

153385 VIU3 between turns at Eastleigh, 28th August.

66551, which is working for Colas, Eastleigh, 28th August.

66068 PRIDE IN MOTION coupled up to a Civil Engineering consist, Eastleigh, 28th August.

Monday 24th August: 
Tuesday 25th August: 73964 + 73965 1Q51 11:50 Derby - Eastleigh - Weymouth - Eastleigh one two three four
Wednesday 26th August: 73964 + 73965 1Q53 1704½ Eastleigh - Up Yard, 1Q53 18:06 Up Yard - Wimbledon - Totton - Romsey - Eastleigh
Thursday 27th August: 73964 + 73965 1Q54 12:55 Eastleigh - Reading one two
Friday 28th August: 60028 0Z60 05:20½ Willesden - Eastleigh; 60028 + 50026 0Z61 11:42 Eastleigh - Willesden one two three four five six seven eight nine ten eleven
Saturday 29th August:

59003 has been moved at Eastleigh Works, and was not visible from Campbell Road on 25th.

This concludes my weekly coverage, thank you to those who have supported these efforts. Will be hitting the road in the coming week.