'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.

Eastleigh, 7th July 2026

 

66598 4O92 05:00 Doncaster Europort - Maritime. The Doncaster services have both had changes in reporting numbers, in this case from 4O90, which was shared with a timetabled working from Leeds. This was the first southbound 4O92, which has a newly cleared route via the Midland Main Line.

66551, leased to Colas.


69010 prepared to work 6V30 to Westbury.

The first wagon was YEA 'PERCH' DB 979614,  loaded with Gantry Crane DR 89110.

66849 Wylam Dilly.

66519 4M61 12:54 Maritime - Trafford Park.


66511 4E92 13:13 Maritime - Doncaster Europort. This train ran previously as 4E65, which was a derivation from the former 4M65, which ran to Lawley Street in this path.

JNA-Y 81.70.5831.136-3, rebuilt in July 2023, at Loram in Derby.

Eastleigh Works, 7th July 2026

 

802113, which entered the Works on 17th June, and appears to have received a cosmetic refresh.

800017, which entered the Works on 22nd May. It had previously received a cosmetic refresh, so appears to be in the process for the full modification - noting built up plate below the '800', which is painted green. It had been returned into the Works when walking past later, but appears close to completion.

142007.

The 'Britannic Explorer' and 59003, which now faces an uncertain future.

One of two 'Royal Scotsman; coaches in the Works, either 99961 or 99964.

IWA 33.80.2693.040-8 (marked 83.80.......), last finished for Colas bagged cement traffic.

Ermewa JNA 81.70.5500.023-3.

Another two JNAs had been shunted on later, with 81.70.5500.015-9 now at the end. 319380 in the background.

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.