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Facebook advises that this is the cab of 47973 (formerly D1614 / 47034  / 47561 / 97561), which was withdrawn in August 1996, and broken up by MRJ Phillips at Crewe Works in March 1997.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

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.