30 years ago: Two Class 50's at Reading, 31st March 1984

Actually a visit to Didcot, these pictures of Class 50's were taken on the journey to and from my destination.

50034 Furious (OC), named in April 1978, arriving at Reading from the west with a Paddington bound service. New to traffic in July 1968, withdrawn in June 1990, and broken up by Coopers Metals at Old Oak Common in February 1991. In the background can be seen Ford Escort Mk 1, Cortina Mk IV, Austin Marina van, and Morris Marina Coupe.

Later in the day, 50046 Ajax (LA), named in October 1978 is in the sidings, and I think that this may have been taken from the train to Basingstoke. 50046 was new to traffic in November 1968, and was withdrawn in March 1992, being disposed of at MC Metals in Glasgow in June of that year.

CE & Diverted Freightliner Workings, Romsey to Redbridge, 29th March 2014

Class leader 70001 PowerHaul passes Spaniards Lane with from 4O27 05:26 from Garston.

40 minutes later, 70001 is in repose at Southampton Maritime.

66063 with CE train 6Nxx 09:58 Eastleigh - Woking - Laverstock - Redbridge where it was met with a red signal, and then obtained permission to enter possession.

66567 passes Coldharbour Lane with 4O29 08:14 from Crewe Basford Hall. Derelict SR Exmouth Jct concrete platelayers' hut.

24th - 29th March 2014

 56303 (once 56125) passing Shawford with 6Z31 Clacton - Eastleigh, 24th March. Image by Ian Knight.

31190 arriving at Totton, 25th March. Image by Ian Knight.

70801 on 6Z30 at Romsey, 28th March

Monday 24th March: 56303 + 56312 6Z31 04:15 Clacton - Eastleigh one two three four five six seven eight nine ten, 6Z42 23:20 Eastleigh - Hinton Admiral

Tuesday 25th March: 56303 + 56312 6Z41 04:55 Hinton Admiral - Eastleigh, 31190 0Z31 10:48 Eastleigh - Totton, 0Z32 12:40 Totton - Eastleigh one two three, 56303 + 31190 6Z42 23:00 Eastleigh - Hinton Admiral, 56312 0Z56 10:42 Eastleigh - Washwood Heath, 70802 7Z30 17:18 Westbury - Eastleigh with crane
Wednesday 26th March:  56303 + 31190 6Z41 04:55 Hinton Admiral - Totton, 6Z42 23:59 Totton - Hinton Admiral
Thursday 27th March: 56303 + 31190 6Z41 04:55 Hinton Admiral - Totton, 6Z42 23:14 Totton - Hinton Admiral
Friday 28th March: 56303 + 31190 6Z41 04:55 Hinton Admiral - Eastleigh, 6Y75 15:01 Eastleigh - Totton, 6Y69 21:05 Totton - Eastleigh
Saturday 29th March: 56303 + 31190 6Z42 23:00 Eastleigh - Hounslow

A short visit to Swanage, 26th March 2014

Ian Knight was lucky enough to be sent to Swanage. The Swanage Railway Spring Steam Gala is on 5th - 6th April.

Drummond LSWR T9 30120 (Nine Elms 1899) and BR 08436 (Derby 1958)

LSWR M7 30053 (Nine Elms 1905) departing Swanage with 15:20 to Norden.

30053 passing the loco shed.

The same train approaching Harman's Cross.

17th - 22nd March 2014

60045 at Millbrook, 15th March. After shunting at Westbury this week, reported back at Toton by Saturday. Image by Ian Knight.

56312 + 31190 pass Redbridge with 6Z42 from Chaddesden, 17th March. Image by Ian Knight.

70804 passing Romsey with 6Z30 Westbury - Eastleigh, 20th March. It's getting lighter each week.

33207 with 6Z33 Kirow Crane move to Totton, 21st March. Image by Ian Knight.

57 power at Eastleigh, 22nd March. 57010 has been on works since 17th February and may be completed.

Sunday 16th March: 66849 +  47727 7C02 23:30 Waterloo - Eastleigh

Monday 17th March: 31190 + 56312 6Z42 09:23 Chaddeseden - Totton one two three four five six seven, 6Z42 22:30 Totton - Effingham Jct, 66098 + 60045 6V41 14:47 Eastleigh - Westbury, 47727 at Eastleigh 

Tuesday 18th March: 31190 + 56312 6Z41 04:35 Effingham Jct - Totton,  6Z42 22:20 Totton - Leatherhead one two three four, 47727 at Eastleigh one two three

Wednesday 19th March: 31190 + 56312 6Z41 04:54 Leatherhead - Totton, 6Z42 22:10 Totton - Leatherhead, 73136 + 73138 1Q85 06:06 Woking - Southampton DGL - Southampton - Southampton UGL - Shalford one two three, 47727 0Z58 10:42 Eastleigh - Doncaster one two three four five

Thursday 20th March: 31190 + 56312 6Z41 04:44 Leatherhead - Totton, 6Z42 21:25 Totton - Boxhill & Westhumble, NMT (43013 + 43062) 1X23 13:44 Salisbury - Redbridge - Southampton - Redbridge - Salisbury 

Friday 21st March: 31190 + 56312 6Z41 04:44 Boxhill & Westhumble - Eastleigh, 56312 (only) 6Z42 18:39 Eastleigh- Willesden one two, 33207 0Z33 07:58 Southall - Eastleigh, 6Z33 11:11 Eastleigh - Totton one two three four five six seven eight, 0Z34 13:59 Totton - Southall, 47727 5Z47 12:10 Wimbledon Park - Eastleigh

Saturday 22nd March:

Class 70/8's

70801 ran 6Z30 &6V31 on Monday 17th.
On Tuesday 70802 + 70804 + 70803 0Z70 08:55 Eastleigh - Westbury one two. 70804 then ran 6Z30 / 6V31 on Tuesday 18th, and for the rest of the week, partnered with 70801 for the Westbury - Eastleigh on Friday 21st.

Eastleigh Works: 13th March

Rumour: Class 56 for Freightliner?

CE & Freightliner Workings, Romsey, 15th March 2014

66705 Golden Jubilee with 6G11 11:30 Redbridge - Woking - Eastleigh

70018 passing with diverted 4O27 06:49 Crewe Basford Hall - Maritime

66528 passing with 6Y90 13:30 Redbridge - Woking - Eastleigh

A further look at the Watercress Line Spring Steam Gala, 9th March 2014

Images from Ian Knight.

Metropolitan No.1 at Alresford

Metropolitan No.1 at Ropley

850 Lord Nelson arriving at Medstead from Alton

35028 Clan Line awaits departure at Alresford

10th - 15th March 2014

66544 with Angerstein Wharf - Wool sand empties, 10th March. Image by Ian Knight.

66719 METRO-LAND with the first GBRf car empties from Tonbridge, 10th March. Image by Ian Knight.

Sunday 9th March: 66021 + 66250 5Z64 22:28 Paddington - Eastleigh
Monday 10th March:
Tuesday 11th March:
Wednesday 12th March:2
Thursday 13th March: 70803 + 47727 Westbury - Eastleigh
Friday 14th March:  47802 + 68002 5Z48 19:20 Crewe - Eastleigh (68002 is understood to require a change of alternator) one two three four five, 70803 + 70804 + 70802 6Z30 17:18 Westbury - Romsey - Eastleigh (I saw / heard this in the dark - 70802 first trip into this area)
Saturday 15th March: 60045 at Millbrook, then 6N03 15:36 Redbridge - Woking - Eastleigh one two three four

70804 was tripped to Eastleigh for repair on Monday 10th as 0Z70 behind 70805

70801 still appears to be at Eastleigh TMD and was not in use - but is reported at Westbury on Saturday, may have worked back to Westbury with 6V31 on Friday, following arrival of 70802/3/4 at Eastleigh.

Watercress Line Steam Gala, 9th March 2014

More pictures on OneDrive.

SR West Country 34046 Braunton on its second visit to the Watercress Line, departing Ropley.

SR U 31806 may be making its final appearance at a Mid-Hants gala, arriving at Ropley.

Metropolitan Railway No. 1, built at Neasden in 1898.

BR 9F 92212 arriving at Ropley.

Diverts at East Grimstead, 8th March 2014

Further engineering works at Redbridge saw some diverts via Laverstock, in addition to CE workings. My first visit to the new bridge at East Grimstead - I needed to use a small stepladder.

66160 with delayed 6N06 07:41 Eastleigh - Redbridge.

57305 with 6G10 13:00 Redbridge - Eastleigh, with reversal at Woking.

66566 with 4O27 05:26 Garston - Maritime.

66953 3MG MERSEYSIDE MULTIMODAL GATEWAY with 4O29 08:14 Basford Hall - Maritime.

The 10:45 Margam to Eastleigh was only 66021, earlier accumulated at Alexandra Dock Junction as 0X12 66172+66137+66140+66079+66015+66060+66021+66003+66155 but now likely 0O12 from Westbury, running one hour early.

A first look at the Watercress Line Spring Steam Gala, 7th March 2014

Images from Chris Finch, both seen at Alresford.

 Metropolitan Railway No. 1 (Neasden, 1898)

Bulleid SR WC 34046 Braunton (Brighton, 1946)

3rd - 8th March 2014

158885 is now back in traffic with ZF gearboxes, seen here on 7th March. Leaving Romsey the sound and performance were rather like first generation DMMUs such as class 101 and 108.

37423 + 47805 arrive at Eastleigh, Monday 3rd March. Image by Ian Knight.

33207 passes Millbrook, 6th March. Image by Ian Knight.

Monday 3rd March: 37423 + 47805 0Z28 07:16 Crewe - Eastleigh one two three four five six seven, 31190 + 56312 6Z32 11:24 Newark Northgate - Eastleigh one two three four five, 6Z42 21:18 Totton - Basingstoke - Wallers Ash one two

Tuesday 4th March: 31190 + 56312 6Z41 04:55 Wallers Ash - Totton,  6Z42 21:18 Totton - Basingstoke - Wallers Ash one two, 47805 5Z28 09:24 Eastleigh - Crewe one two three four five six seven eight

Wednesday 5th March: 31190 + 56312 6Z41 04:55 Wallers Ash - Totton,  6Z42 21:18 Totton - Basingstoke - Wallers Ash one two, 60045 6B39 05:15 Eastleigh - Northam, 0B39 07:39 Northam - Eastleigh, 4B41 11:30 Eastleigh - Northam one two, 4B42 13:15 Northam - Eastleigh

Thursday 6th March: 31190 + 56312 6Z41 04:55 Wallers Ash - Totton, 33207 0Z33 05:57 Southall - Swanage, 5Z33 10:51 Swanage - Eastleigh Works (Class 108 DMU 54504 + 51933) one two three four five six seven, 0Z34 15:14 Eastleigh - Southall one two 

Friday 7th March: 31190 + 56312 6Z42 00:20 Totton - Shawford, 05:00 Shawford - Totton, 6Z56 10:12 Totton - Chaddesden one two three four five six seven, 31105 3Q03 23:18 Hither Green - Southampton - Old Oak Common

Saturday 8th March: 66021 + 66250 5Z61 20:23 Eastleigh - Hanwell Bridge Loop

Colas Class 70 introduction

70803, new to traffic this week, 0Z30, Romsey, 7th March.

Sunday 2nd March: 70804 at Westbury, 70805 at Eastleigh one two three four five

Monday 3rd March: 70801 + 66849(?) 6C21 00:30 Three Bridges - Southampton UGL - Eastleigh, 70805 0Z70 12:47 Eastleigh - Redbridge - Westbury one two , 6Z30 17:18 Westbury - Eastleigh, 6V31 20:13 Eastleigh - Westbury
Tuesday 4th March: 70805 6Z30 17:18 Westbury - Eastleigh, 0V31 20:13 Eastleigh - Westbury
Wednesday 5th March: 70805 6Z30 17:18 Westbury - Eastleigh, 70805 + 70803 0V31 20:13 Eastleigh - Westbury,  70804 failed at Hinksey
Thursday 6th March: 70803 at Westbury then 6Z30 17:18 Westbury - Eastleigh (first revenue service) , 6V31 20:13 Eastleigh - Westbury
Friday 7th March: 70803 0Z30 17:18 Westbury - Eastleigh, 6V31 20:13 Eastleigh - Westbury, 70804 moved by now to Westbury, suggested to be tripped to Eastleigh, but was not moved.
Saturday 8th March:

70801 appears to have spent the week in Eastleigh, 70802 remains at Seaforth Dock, Liverpool

Colas Class 70s start to get down to work, 17th February - 1st March 2014

70805 unexpectedly rescues 4M44, upon arrival at Redbridge for Maritime, 27th February. Image by Joe Loughlin.

70805 unexpectedly rescues 4M44, East Grinstead, 27th February. Image by David Mant (more linked below).

For the Colas 70/8's based currently at Eastleigh, it is understood that the current workings include driver training.

Monday 17th February: 70801 + 56302 0Z70 10:12 Eastleigh - Redbridge - Westbury one two three four five six seven,  70801 0Z70 14:48 Barton Hill - Westbury - Eastleigh
Thursday 20th February: 70803 + 70804 + 70805 0Z70 15:00 Seaforth Docks - Eastleigh one two three four five six seven eight nine ten

Monday 24th February: 
Tuesday 25th February: 70801 0Z31 14:16 Eastleigh - Westbury one two, 70801 + 56302 6Z30 17:18 Westbury - Eastleigh one two three four five, 56302 6V31 20:12 Eastleigh - Westbury
Wednesday 26th February: 70801 0Z70 09:22 Eastleigh - Acton one two three four five, 70801 + 56078 6V62 Tilbury - Llanwern one two three four five six seven eight nine ten, 70801 0Zxx 17:45 Llanwern - Eastleigh
Thursday 27th February: 70805 0Z31 14:16 Eastleigh - Westbury one two three, but preceding train 66540 4M62 14:19 Maritime - Hams Hall failed at Dean following a fire. 70805 rescued the train back to Maritime one two three four five six seven eight nine, and then proceeded 0Zxx 16:58 Maritime - Westbury, 6Z30 17:18 Westbury - Eastleigh one two three four five
Friday 28th February: 70801 0Z70 12:00 Eastleigh - Woking - Eastleigh one two three four five, 70804 6V31 16:39 Eastleigh - Westbury, 70801 + 70805 6C21 20:57 Eastleigh - Southampton UGL /Totton Yard - Tinsley Green
Saturday 1st March: 70801 + 70805 6C22 05:30 Tinsley Green - Southampton UGL - Eastleigh, 70804 parked at Westbury one two

70803 is still to work a revenue earning train.

MainlineDiesels.net has a Colas Class 70/8 tracker which reports the arrival in Liverpool of 70802 on 28th February

24th February - 1st March 2014

 31190 + 31452 6Z41 13:19 Templecombe - Totton at Redbridge, 23rd February. Images by Ian Knight.

Sunday 23rd February: 31190 + 31452 6Z41 13:19 Templecombe - Totton (ran early and reversed at Redbridge) one two three four five six seven eight
Monday 24th February: 31190 + 31452 6Z42 22:32 Totton - Weymouth, 56302 6Z30 17:18 Westbury - Eastleigh, 6V31 20:12 Eastleigh - Westbury
Tuesday 25th February: 31190 + 31452 6Z41 05:15 Weymouth - Totton, 6Z42 22:32 Totton - Weymouth, 66079 + 60010 6O15 (17:30 Mon Mossend -) Didcot - Eastleigh, 60010 6B43 09:39 Eastleigh - Western Docks, 6X44 12:07 Western Docks - Eastleigh, 6V38 13:50 Eastleigh - Didcot, 66723 +317723 + 317710 5L17 09:27 Eastleigh - Ilford  one two three four, 66723 + barriers 5O56 19:13 Ilford - Eastleigh
Wednesday 26th February: 31190 + 31452 6Z41 05:15 Weymouth - Totton, 6Z42 22:59 Totton - Dorchester, 66723 +317714 + 317729 5L17 09:27 Eastleigh - Ilford one two three, 66723 + barriers 5O56 19:13 Ilford - Eastleigh, 56312 0Z57 13:46 Wembley - Totton one two
Thursday 27th February: 31190 + 31452 6Z41 05:15 Dorchester - Totton, 31190 + 31452 + 56312 6Y75 10:05 Totton - Eastleigh http://www.flickr.com/photos/johndedman/12830842274/, 6Y76 13:00 Eastleigh - Totton one two three four, 6Z42 22:32 Totton - Weymouth, 66723 +317708 5L17 09:27 Eastleigh - Ilford one two
Friday 28th February: 31190 + 31452 + 56312 6Z41 05:15 Weymouth - Totton, 31190 + 31452 + 56312 6Z31 12:33 Totton - Newark Northgate one two three four five, 31233 3Z01 09:30 Hither Green - Eastleigh,
Saturday 1st March: