Sunday 30 November 2014

The Festive Portsmouth Explorer, Eastleigh, 29th November 2014

 1Z36 07:02 Stafford - Portsmouth Harbour - Eastleigh, 1Z38 15:31 16:31 (retimed) Eastleigh - Portsmouth Harbour - Stafford

 37688 Kingmoor TMD leads in from Portsmouth to complete the working of 1Z36.
 37688 was completed at English Electric Vulcan Foundry in November 1963 as D6905 and allocated to Landore. Refurbished at Crewe and reallocated to Tinsley as 37688 in February 1987. Moved into reserve by EWS after Sandite duties in November 2003, and sold to DRS in September 2005, returning to traffic after repairs in August 2007.

37218 waits to move the stock into the TRSMD.
 At 16:26 37688 brings the empty stock back into the station.

37218 is prepared for the return to Portsmouth, and later to Stafford.


Formation: 37218 + 5961 + 6024 + 5955 + 1212 + 3340 + 3386 + 80042 + 3344 + 3345 + 17105 + 37688

Operation was one hour late following non-availability of a platform at Swindon, as another train was timetabled to be in platform for that period, then a medical emergency caused further delay at Swindon on the revised return schedule.

More pictures on OneDrive.

Saturday 29 November 2014

The Festive Portsmouth Explorer, Shawford, 29th November 2014


37218 leads into Shawford on the down slow with 1Z36 07:02 Stafford - Portsmouth Harbour - Eastleigh, running about one hour late, after a lot of time was lost at Swindon.
37218 was built as D6918 by English Electric, entering traffic in January 1964 at Landore. Stored by EWS in September 1998, and restored to traffic by DRS in early 2003. Latest DRS colours were applied in May this year.
17105 is a "Service Couchette". Originally completed as BFK 14105 to Lot 30790 at Derby in March 1969, this was taken out of traffic in July 1975 and converted with a generator, under Lot 30888 at Wolverton, becoming Staff Sleeper / Power Brake 2905 in the Royal Train from 1977. Withdrawn in November 2000, it became 17105 from July 2001,
37688 Kingmoor TMD on the rear.
70019 leads 4O27 05:26 Garston to Maritime.
66504 leads 70016 (failed?) on 4O54 05:27 Leeds to Maritime

24th - 29th November 2014


Monday 24th November: 56301 + 56312 6Y57 22:01 Totton - Milford (Surrey)
Tuesday 25th November: 56301 + 56312 6Y57 05:05 Milford (Surrey) - Totton
Wednesday 26th November: 45407 5Z25 09:59 St Philips Marsh (Bristol) - Redbridge - North Yard (reverse) - Swanage one two three; 47746 5Z85 09:45 Southall - Swanage one; 47739 13:31 Wimbledon - Eastleigh (attention to wheel flats) one two; 56301 + 56312 6Y57 22:32 Totton - Haslemere
Thursday 27th November:  56301 + 56312 6Y57 05:05 Haslemere - Totton, 22:32 Totton - Haslemere; 45407 1Z87 06:50 Poole - Bristol one two three four five six seven eight nine ten eleven twelve thirteen, 34092 1Z88 17:36 Bristol - Poole one two three
Friday 28th November: 56301 + 56312 6Y57 05:05 Haslemere - Totton; 47746 + 34092 5Z90 09:45 Swanage (Motala timing) - Southall
Saturday 29th November: 67016 1Z23 06:18 Eastleigh - Shrewsbury one two three four, 1Z24 15:54 Shrewsbury - Eastleigh; 37218 + 37688 1Z36 07:02 Stafford - Portsmouth Harbour - Eastleigh one two three four five six seven eight nine ten, 1Z38 15:31 Eastleigh - Portsmouth Harbour - Stafford one; 56301 + 56312 6Y57 22:08 Totton - Box Hill & Westhumble

Friday 28 November 2014

Kirow Crane Eastleigh to Westbury, 27th November 2014

70804 on a CE and Balfour Beatty Kirow Crane move, waiting at and starting from Romsey. The crane is Kirow 100 tonne KRC810UK DRK81602. This train was 20:13 Eastleigh to Westbury but was running 50 minutes early.

70804 in a slight mist, awaiting a green signal.

Bulleid in the Dark, Romsey, 27th November 2014

1Z88 17:36 Bristol to Poole was halted at Romsey as the preceding 08:07 Romsey - Chandler's Ford - Salisbury was still in the other platform.

34067 Tangmere draws slowly into Romsey.
It's strange how few people were there, the canopy is pure LSWR.

47746 is back in traffic following engine repairs (seen here on test 05Nov)


All images were shot hand held, using available light and higher ISO settings.

A few more at OneDrive.

Saturday 22 November 2014

17th - 22nd November 2014


Newly returned 08691 Terri, along with new and old signs for the rather abrupt "SMMD".
 New as D3858 in October 1959, allocated to 27E Walton on the Hill.
70001 PowerHaul is yet to receive its modifications including new vent ....
... as modelled here by 70007 arriving with 4O29 08:14 Basford Hall - Maritime

Monday 17th November: (08691 returned by motorway to Maritime); 31601 + 56312 6Y57 23:17 Totton - Haslemere
Tuesday 18th November: 31601 + 56312 6Y57 01:20 Haslemere - Totton, 23:17 Totton - Haslemere
Wednesday 19th November: 31601 + 56312 6Y57 05:05 Haslemere -Totton, 31601 Totton - Eastleigh, 31601 + 50026 0Z50 13:21 Eastleigh - Romsey - Westbury - Taunton (for Polar Express on Dartmoor Railway) one two three four five six; 60015 + 66595 6O26 10:19 Hinksey - Eastleigh one two
Thursday 20th November: 66143 + 60015 6X38 13:50 Eastleigh - Didcot one two three four
Friday 21st November: 56301 0Z56 15:29 Washwood Heath - Totton, 08904 is shunting again at Eastleigh
Saturday 22nd November: 56301 + 56312 6Y57 22:38 Totton - Wimbledon
Sunday 23rd November: 56301 + 56312 6Y57 13:30 Wimbledon - Fareham - Eastleigh - Totton one two

158798 has appeared in new marketing vinyls for Gunwharf Quays one two three four five six seven


Long Term Planning: Network Rail Wessex Route Study

"The Route Study anticipates a requirement in Control Period 6 for a third freight path between Southampton Docks and the Midlands/North, operating via Laverstock Junction owing to capacity constraints on the more direct route via Winchester. In order to path this additional train alongside the existing trains in the Basingstoke area robustly, grade separation of Basingstoke Junction is required to eliminate conflicts between Southampton bound freight and passenger paths and those existing passenger services operating on the South West Main Line. Hence it is the additional freight path in CP6 that provides the driver of the need for the basic grade separation of the junction. Initial development work suggests that the capital cost of basic grade separation of Basingstoke Junction is in the range between £75 million and £175 million (Anticipated Final Cost, in 2014 prices). 
...

"As part of the Electric Spine concept it is intended to provide 25kV AC overhead line electrification between Basingstoke and the docks at Southampton at some point during CP6. This could enable a large proportion of intermodal freight traffic to and from the port to be electrically hauled (potentially playing a part in enabling longer, heavier trains to be operated, and therefore using capacity more efficiently), as well as being an incremental step towards the electric operation of cross-country passenger trains. Given the position of this national scheme in the Department for Transport’s High Level Output Statement (HLOS) for CP5, the Route Study has treated this option as baseline and has not undertaken further analysis on the case for such an intervention.

It is recognised that as a standalone scheme, there are a number of potential disadvantages, including for example:
at present, freight operators have the option of a gauge-cleared diversionary route between Southampton and Basingstoke via Laverstock and Andover. This diversionary route would not be available for electrically-hauled freight, potentially requiring diesel-haulage to be specially arranged whenever the main route was unavailable
a significant cost is involved in converting the present-day DC electric passenger fleet to dual-voltage capability, it being assumed that it will not prove possible or practicable to keep in place the third-rail DC system as well as the AC system
whilst some minor passenger journey time improvements might be achievable between Basingstoke and Southampton, there is very little overall passenger benefit in the short to medium term
from an asset management and maintenance perspective, the scope of AC electrification may be insufficient to offer efficiencies of scale.

For these reasons it is proposed to extend the scope of the Southampton to Basingstoke project to include consideration of electrification of the lines between Basingstoke and Salisbury (including the Laverstock loop), between Salisbury and Redbridge, and possibly between Romsey and Eastleigh.

This would provide an electrified diversionary route for freight, and offer the potential for electric operation of Waterloo to Salisbury passenger services, and Salisbury to Southampton local passenger services.

Sunday 16 November 2014

10th - 15th November 2014


66759 at Eastleigh, 14th November.Image by Ian Knight.

Monday 10th November: 66133 + 60054 6N01 01:00 Basingstoke - Laverstock - Eastleigh, then 60054 shunting at Eastleigh one two, then 6E15 21:06 Eastleigh - Scunthorpe; 56301 + 56312 6Y57 23:16 Totton - Aldershot
Tuesday 11th November: 56301 + 56312 6Y57 05:34 Aldershot - Totton, 23:16 Totton - Aldershot; 66703 + 317714 5L08 04:50 Eastleigh - Ilford, 5O17 10:45 Ilford - Eastleigh one two; 57010 5Z57 11:05 Norwich - Eastleigh (Mk 2F 5995 for works) one two; 66147 6Z69 19:53 Wembley - Eastleigh (38 MEAs + 13 coaches)
Wednesday 12th November: 56301 + 56312 6Y57 05:34 Aldershot - Totton, 23:46 Totton - Pirbright; 73119 + 73138 09:28 Woking - Southampton DGL - Southampton - Southampton DGL (UGL ?) - Hither Green one two three four five six
Thursday 13th November: 56301 + 56312 6Y57 05:19 Pirbright - Totton, 23:46 Totton - Pirbright
Friday 14th November: 56301 + 56312 6Y57 05:19 Pirbright - Totton; 56301 0Z50 13:17 Totton - Washwood Heath, 31601 0Z56 15:29 Washwood Heath - Totton
Saturday 15th November: 31601 + 56312 6Y57 21:59 Totton - Eastleigh - Laverstock - Motspur Park
Sunday 16th November: 31601 + 56312 6Y57 23:00 Motspur Park - Totton

Freightliner Group is now reported as "for sale" - Reuters - discussion - discussion

59003 in Eastleigh Works - 14Oct15Oct16Oct20Oct - 20Oct

Elsewhere:

Saturday 15 November 2014

Diverts at Dean, Saturday 15th November 2014

66569 with 4O54 05:27 Leeds - Maritime.

70019 with 4O27 05:26 Garston - Maritime.

66746 with 6Y41 (?) 09:28 Eastleigh - Hoo Jct., running 116 minutes late.

66095 leads 08:50 Eastern Docks - Halewood, 128 minutes late

66568 with 4M61 12:58 Maritime - Hams Hall.

My full set on OneDrive
A set from Dave Mant, who was on the other platform

Saturday 8 November 2014

Diverts and Deluge at Romsey, Saturday 8th November 2014

Before the flood.......

66588 paused at Romsey station, which I assume was crew change related, while working 4O14 07:37 Hams Hall - Maritime.


70003 passes under dark skies with 4O27 05:26 Garston - Maritime. 70003 is a Heavy Haul locomotive, but is in Intermodal service following modifications completed in late October.


66572 pauses for a red signal at Romsey with 4M61 12:58 Maritime - Hams Hall. The train would shortly be delayed by 40 minutes by flooding in the Dean area.

The deluge, which only lasted about 5 minutes, envelopes 221133 running as 1O10 08:27 Manchester - Bournemouth.


Some MPV operations, 3S80 and 3S82. DR98922 +DR98972 on 3S80 had been from Eastleigh to Havant, Guildford and return then to Warminster, to then return to Eastleigh via Chandler's Ford. DR98924 + DR98974 on 3S82 went firstly to Winchester,then via Southampton to Warminster, then to Basingstoke, Yeovil, and back via Southampton to Eastleigh.The rain had slackened off.

66957 Stephenson Locomotive Society 1909 - 2009 with 6O26 10:50 Hinksey - Eastleigh. This train had passed Dean about 13:30 and was the last train from there for some time following flooding.

221139 arrives at Romsey against a red signal with 1M54 13:06 Bournemouth to Manchester. This was turned around at Romsey, and then rerouted via Southampton and the Portsmouth Direct to Reading, where it was terminated 93minutes late at 16:36. Passengers were already gathering for late trains.

News was appearing on Twitter and displays started to deliver news of the disruption. I quit at that point.

4O54 05:27 Leeds to Maritime appears to have been delayed approaching Laverstock and then between Laverstock and Dean when the flood occurred, eventually passing Dean 91 minutes late.

4O29 08:14 Basford Hall to Maritime was sidelined between Basingstoke and Worting, resuming 94 minutes late, and eventually arriving 111 minutes late at 16:46.

The 0O12 (? - ran as STP) EWS Class 66 convoy ran onwards from Westbury and was 7 minutes early.

Finally, the cause of the problem.

3rd -8th November 2014

Monday 3rd November: 37688 3Z05 09:48 Eastleigh - Ferme Park one two; 56301 + 56312 6Y57 23:09 Totton - New Milton
Tuesday 4th November: 56301 + 56312 6Y57 04:59 New Milton - Totton, 23:09 Totton - New Milton; 60054 6X01 10:17 Scunthorpe - Eastleigh one two three four
Wednesday 5th November: 56301 + 56312 6Y57 04:59 New Milton - Totton, 23:09 Totton - New Milton; 60054 0Z32 06:19 Eastleigh - Fawley, 6Y32 08:24 Fawley - Holybourne one two three four five six seven eight nine ten, 6Y34 20:03 Holybourne - Eastleigh one two
Thursday 6th November: 56301 + 56312 6Y57 04:59 New Milton - Totton, 23:09 Totton - New Milton; 60049 6B43 09:38 Eastleigh - Western Docks, 12:07 6B44 Western Docks - Eastleigh one two; 60054 at Eastleigh
Friday 7th November: 56301 + 56312 6Y57 04:59 New Milton - Totton; 60049 10:14 6O41 Westbury - Eastleigh one two, 6V41 15:54 Eastleigh - Westbury; 60054 6B43 09:38 Eastleigh - Western Docks, 6B44 12:07 Western Docks - Eastleigh
Saturday 8th November: 56301 + 56312 6Y57 22:15 Totton - Redbridge - Laverstock - Richmond
Sunday 9th November: 56301 + 56312 6Y57 15:50 Richmond - Laverstock - Redbridge - Totton one two three four, 60054 6N01 01:00 Basingstoke - Eastleigh

Sunday 2 November 2014

Saturday 1 November 2014

Diverts at Dunbridge, Saturday 1st November 2014

66201 4O43 06:35 Birch Coppice - Eastleigh
66416 4O18 05:03 Lawley St - Maritime
221126 1O08 07:27 Manchester Piccadilly - Bournemouth
70001 Powerhaul 4O27 05:26 Garston - Maritime
66547 6O26 10:50 Hinksey - Eastleigh
66534 4O54 05:27 Leeds - Maritime
Later at Romsey, 70009 4O59 10:57 Wentloog - Maritime

Further coverage on OneDrive.

Related gallery coverage: David Warwick     David Mant

27th October - 1st November 2014

Monday 27th October: 66192 + 60049 T+T 6N07 04:00 Basingstoke - Eastleigh
Tuesday 28th October: 56301 + 56303 6Y57 00:28 Totton - Winchester, 05:00 Winchester - Totton; 37405 3Q01 19:26 Didcot - Southampton, 3Z01 21:03 Southampton - Woking
Wednesday 29th October: 56301 + 56303 6Y57 00:28 Totton - Winchester, 05:00 Winchester - Totton
Thursday 30th October: 56301 + 56303 6Y57 00:28 Totton - Winchester, 05:00 Winchester - Totton; 60001 7O35 06:05 Westbury - Fareham, 7V16 12:47 Fareham - Westbury one two three four five six; 37688 3Z01 10:30 Derby - Eastleigh one two three four five; 56303 0Z56 18:11 Totton - Washwood Heath; 56312 0Z57 23:15 Washwood Heath - Totton
Friday 31st October: 60071 0O01 10:17 Scunthorpe - Eastleigh one two three four, 6E15 21:06 Eastleigh - Doncaster Belmont
Saturday 1st November: 56301 + 56312 6Y57 21:02 Totton - Fulwell
Sunday 2nd November: 56301 + 56312 6Y57 17:12 Fulwell - Totton

DRS Halloween storage cull:

37682 (Romsey, 16th October 2012) - I saw this at Crewe in July, and there was significant rust bubbling on the body. It did perform on the Pretendolino tour on Saturday 25th. However it now requires an F-exam. 37682 was new as D6936 on 29th April 1964, allocated to Landore.
47841 (Millbrook, 21st April 2012) - through Eastleigh Works in April - June 2013 when the marker light areas were converted to flush format. I also saw at Crewe in July, but it is understood that the locomotive was something of a black sheep with little recent work. 47841 was new in March 1964 to 86A Cardiff Canton.
57007 Freightliner Bond - is currently within Eastleigh Works for modifications - will it return to traffic in due course? Seen here at Maritime on 4th June 2000, with 47157 behind. As a Class 47 it was delivered as D1813 in February 1965 to the Nottingham Division of the LMR.

When will Mary Doll return?

Ledbury, 23rd October 2014

Looking east towards the tunnel and Colwall beyond.
The ticket agency building and telephone box.
1885 built signalbox.
43196 arrives with 1W00 08:17 Paddington - Hereford
43026 was on the rear, now moving into the single line section to Shelwick Junction, just north of Hereford.
A final view at signal L5 and the tightly dimensioned tunnel, opened in 1861, but slighty shortened by excavation for the opening of the branch to Gloucester in 1885.

Useful article: Railways of Ledbury, Michael Hale, Railway World, April 1976 (available on eBay)
Mapping