26th - 31st January 2015

70008 approaches Romsey with 4O54 05:27 Leeds - Maritime using its alternative WTT route through Melksham. Westbury and Salisbury.

GE clag after the signal cleared off, for the Redbridge route.

Monday 26th January:
Tuesday 27th January:
Wednesday 28th January:
Thursday 29th January:
Friday 30th January: 31233 3Z05 Gatwick - Eastleigh; 3Z08 21:57 Eastleigh - Southampton - Bath - Southampton - Fratton - Southampton - Eastleigh one two
Saturday 31st January:

GBRf Railvac used Totton Yard from Monday 26th.

D1062 withdrawn from Swanage Gala.

19th - 24th January 2015

66558 approaches Southampton with 4M61 13:01 Maritime - Hams Hall, Saturday 24th January.

66527 Don Raider on 0O26 11:52 Hinksey - Maritime move. This earlier had an Enron badge above the name, now removed.

70014 getting close to its destination with 4O54 05:27 Leeds - Maritime

66570 heading 4O29 08:14 Crewe - Maritime 

66766, from the most recent delivery, unloaded at Newport on 7th December and into traffic about 10th January, arriving at Eastleigh from Hoo on January 19th. It performed some Railvac duties in the past week. Seen along with 66755 at Eastleigh. 

Monday 19th January: 57306 6Z68 12:38 Eastleigh - Willesden one two three four, 70803 + 70804 + 70809 + 56087 6Z70 12:26 Eastleigh - Hinksey one two three four
Tuesday 20th January:
Wednesday 21st January:
Thursday 22nd January:
Friday 23rd January: 31285 3Z07 09:17 Hither Green - Eastleigh one two; 3Q31 21:56 Eastleigh - Hither Green; 60059 0O17 10:17 Scunthorpe - Eastleigh, 6E15 21;06 Eastleigh - Scunthorpe
Saturday 24th January:

DRS owned coaches 5700 and 3366 at Eastleigh Works

Eastleigh Works: 12Jan

Hong Kong investor buys up a third of UK's trains

Almost a third of all Britain’s trains have been bought by billionaire Hong Kong investor Li Ka-shing after rolling stock group Eversholt Rail was sold to CK Investments (CKI).
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/transport/11356822/Hong-Kong-investor-buys-up-a-third-of-UKs-trains.html

More:
http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/business/single-view/view/ck-investments-to-buy-eversholt-rail-leasing-company.html

Look At Life - Turn Of The Wheel 1964

This too good to miss - quality colour from 1964.

• New D1557 at 2:42
• Local scenes from 7:19. D6541 (later 33023) departing from a a yard (Brighton area?) with exhibits being delivered for Beaulieu - Pullman car 'Agatha' is one. Then by road via the Marchwood Bypass, where the bridge is recognisable. I am afraid that I don't recognise the street (below) where 928 Stowe is being hauled, nor the roundabout scenes. I do rather like the Ford Consul Capri in the foreground - Five Star Motoring!

"Mendip Mariner"and "the Hinksey", Saturday 17th January 2015

Video for the two Class 66 workings seen today, starting with the 'Mendip Mariner' tour.

12th - 17th January 2015

73138 leads into St Denys on Tuesday 13th, the loco suffering a hot box later in the day. Image by Ian Knight.

73119 Borough of Eastlegh on the rear.

66129 with 1Z70 passing Romsey on Saturday morning.

66956 (again!) with  6O26 10:50 Hinksey - Eastleigh, made up as auto-ballasters and sleepers on wagons.

HQAJ Autoballaster 380334, with generator.

YSA Salmon now YKA Osprey DB996312 - built by G R Turner Ltd 1954 Lot No. 2615

Monday 12th January: 73119 + 73138 1Q40 09:40 Hither Green - Totton - Eastleigh one two; 57011 + 57310 + 57301 6Z70 00:54 Crewe - Eastleigh; 57312 6Z68 12:38 Eastleigh - Willesden Brent one two; 67005 + 67026 T+T 5O61 09:53 Wembley - Eastleigh (then to Didcot on 6X38 with 66161) one two

Tuesday 13th January: 73119 + 73138 1Q41 07:28 Eastleigh - Portsmouth & Southsea - Southampton - Romsey - Laverstock - Andover - Ludgershall (not run) - Andover - Laverstock - Romsey - Southampton - Eastleigh (stopped at Southampton Airport Parkway with loco hot box on 73138 proceed slowly to Eastleigh Works) one two three four five
Wednesday 14th January: 56087 0Q02 08:28 Eastleigh - Oxford North Jct, 0Q02 14:42 Oxford North Jct - Eastleigh
Thursday 15th January: 73119 + 73201 1Q44 04:23 Eastleigh - Southampton - Eastleigh - Romsey - Eastleigh - Fareham - Eastleigh - Southampton UGL- Hither Green one two
Friday 16th January: 57301 + 57310 0Zxx Eastleigh - Western Docks
Saturday 17th January: 57301 + 57310 8Z66 01;17 Western Docks - Eastleigh Arlington (DRS Mk2 coaches for overhaul, following road delivery from Barrow Hill); 66129 1Z70 07:16 Eastleigh - Avonmouth, 1Z71 11:05 Avonmouth - Eastleigh

Eastleigh Works: 06Jan - 07Jan - 08Jan - 09Jan - 10Jan

47739 still present at the works

The DRS Mk 2 coaches are thought to be M3366 (Mk2F blue grey), 5700 (Mk2D old First Great Western), and 9488 (Mk2D old First Great Western).

Colas at Eastleigh, 11th January 2014

47739 Robin of Templecombe at Eastleigh Works running shed. New in August 1964 as D1615 from BR Crewe to 85A Worcester, later 47035 and 47594. The locomotive was in the EMR Scrapyard from July to October 2007, then overhauled at Eastleigh for Colas.

56087 was new from BREL Doncaster in December 1980, withdrawn in 2004 and sent to France, returning in 2007, eventually being stored at Crewe DMD from where it was sold to Colas.

Further detail of 47739,

5th - 10th January 2015

66956 approaches Romsey with 6O26 10:50 Hinksey - Eastleigh, which ran via Melksham. Gunwharf Quays vinyled 158798 receding in the distance. 

The train left Hinksey 1 hour late, and was 103 minutes late at this point. EMD 20078922-009 of 2008 owned by Beacon Rail Leasing.

3170 3992 036-1 is an "Ealnos", deployed as a virtual quarry box wagon. Believed to have been constructed by Greenbrier in Poland from 2009.

Monday 5th January: 56078 5Z47 12:28 Eastleigh - Washwood Heath one two three four five six seven eight nine; 57313 6Z00 12:56 Hornsey - Eastleigh, 0Z39 16:50 Eastleigh - Southall; 66732 + 317714 5L17 09:22 Eastleigh - Ilford
Tuesday 6th January:
Wednesday 7th January:
Thursday 8th January:
Friday 9th January: 47739 0Z47 10:11 Wimbledon Park - Eastleigh, 67026 5M61 Eastleigh - Wembley
Saturday 10th January: 47739 at Eastleigh one two

Eastleigh Works: 30th December
56087 remains in the works area

GBRf Railvac workings - since these are operated by modern Class 66 traction, 66743 + 66746 initially, it isn't intended to cover them here, unless something remarkable occurs.

DCR was fun while it lasted, here is Justin Foulger's tribute video.

Class 800 - en route to Southampton?

Hitachi Begins Shipment of Trains from Kasado Works for the UK Intercity Express Programme

http://www.japancorp.net/press-release/30766/hitachi-begins-shipment-of-trains-from-kasado-works-for-the-uk-intercity-express-programme

Hitachi starts shipment of trains for the UK Intercity Express Programme 
http://www.thejournal.co.uk/business/business-news/hitachi-starts-shipment-trains-uk-8404864

Video: SRPS Diesel Gala, 27th December 2014

29th December 2014 - 3rd January 2015

59101  Village of Whatley + 59102 Village of Chantry + 59103 Village of Mells pass Romsey on morning of 2nd January.

The locomotives returned to Merehead following attentions at Eastleigh through the "festive period".

56078 across the platform at Eastleigh, 2nd January.

Detail of 56078 - new from BR Doncaster in May 1980,

56087 lay beyond 56078

57306 proceeds through its repaint to DRS colours at Eastleigh Works, 2nd January.

Monday 29th December:
Tuesday 30th December:
Wednesday 31st December:
Thursday 1st January:
Friday 2nd January: 59101 + 59102 +59103 0Z59 08:09 Eastleigh - Merehead
Saturday 3rd January: 56078 + 56087 moved into Eastleigh Works (possibly for 12:28 Eastleigh - Washwood Heath on Monday 5th)

56078 + 56087 have remained at Eastleigh through the week until Saturday one two three four five six seven eight

Railvac remains parked at Eastleigh.

Elsewhere the last DCR move of a Railvac took place on 2nd January: one two three

SRPS Diesel Gala, 27th December 2014

One of the best gala events yet at Bo'ness

 DCR 31601 (of Railvac fame) and 26038 Tom Clift, The 31 worked north from Derby by ECML on Christmas Eve, then proceeded on the Sunday on a two day route learning run to Aberdeen, Inverness and Carlisle.

 37518 Fort William worked down from its namesake town in the early hours of Saturday, as no snow was forecast.

 37703 placed on loan to the SRPS from DRS.

37703 working the 14:30 to Manuel

55022 Royal Scots Grey

66721 Harry Beck worked in from Craigentinny on Saturday lunchtime, and returned there with 55022 on Monday 29th.

A full set appears on OneDrive.

HAPPY NEW YEAR