Saturday 30 April 2016

25th - 30th April 2016


66536 leads into Romsey with 6Y19 17:50 Fairwater Yard - Arundel.

DR92283 is a MFS-A Materials Handling Train Interface Wagon, built by Plasser & Theurer in 2000, followed by a Swivel Conveyor Wagon DR92281.

66509 on the rear.

313217 preparing to stop at Bedhampton with 2N65 12:57 Littlehampton - Portsmouth Harbour. 313217 was built at BREL York and entered traffic as 313017 (62545 Lot 30879 + 71229 Lot30880 + 62609 Lot 30885) in June 1976. I did first see this in the 1981-83 period. Renumbered 313117 in October 1998, then 313217 in June 2010 when the ac pantograph was removed.

Monday 25th April: 37602 + 37610 1Z43 16:35 Carlisle - Eastleigh one two three four; 37219 3Q01 23:07 Hither Green - Southampton - Eastleigh
Tuesday 26th April: 47739 0Z47 09:24 Hoo Jct - Eastleigh one two; 37602 + 37610 0Z44 14:55 Eastleigh - Crewe one two three four; 37219 3Q01 22:31 Eastleigh - Hither Green
Wednesday 27th April: 57305 (+ 9527 for overhaul for Northern) 5Z70 Crewe - Eastleigh, 0Z68 10:51 Eastleigh - Willesden Brent
Thursday 28th April: 47739 6S47 09:32 Eastleigh - Derby St Andrews Economac (CargoWagons) one two three four five
Friday 29th April: 37219 3Q77 19:00 Hither Green - Laverstock - Romsey - Eastleigh - Southampton - Eastleigh - Salisbury - Basingstoke one two three, 3Z77 03:14 Basingstoke - Eastleigh
Saturday 30th April: 73109 + 73119 5Z94 04:00 Eastleigh - Euston (then back to Eastleigh one); 66747 1O95 11:00 Manchester Piccadilly - Eastleigh one two; 66747 + (73109 + 73119) (T+T) 1Z96 18:06 Eastleigh - Waterloo, 5Z96 22:15 Waterloo - Eastleigh

58008 is now being broken up at Eastleigh one (with 37219)

70803 remains at Laira.

Elsewhere 47749 has been repaired and re-instated for Colas. A covered up new name can be seen, likely to be unveiled at the Bristol event.

Sunday 24 April 2016

2H 1125 on the Watercress Line, 23rd April 2016

2H 1125 (60124 + 60824 to Lots 30540 and 30541) was originally delivered from Eastleigh as a 3H unit in December 1959, Renumbered 205025 in October 1986, this "Thumper" was reconfigured as a 2H in 1998, and eventually withdrawn in February 2004, after which it delivered itself into preservation in May that year,

I first noted 1125 on 3rd August 1982, a month before taking up employment in Hampshire.

At Alresford before the first train of the day.

Resting for 10 minutes at Medstead.

Arriving at Ropley.





50027 on the Watercress Line, 23rd April 2016


50027 was delivered as D427 from English Electric Vulcan Foundry (EE3797/D1168) on 15th June 1968, and was allocated to DO5 (Stoke Division, generally meaning Crewe), and formally to CD (Crewe Diesel) from May 1974, before being sent to the Western Region in March 1974 with the pending introduction of "The Electric Scots" services north of Weaver Junction through to Glasgow.

Once on the Western Region, the locomotive was allocated to BR(Bristol Bath Road) and then LA (Plymouth Laira) in March 1974, to OC (Old Oak Common) in April 1982 and back to LA in January 1984. The locomotive was refurbished at Doncaster between February and July 1983, emerging in 'large logo' colours. The name Lion was applied on 17th April 1978. Laira completed an 'F' exam on the locomotive in December 1987, turning it out in a Network South East livery.

The locomotive was withdrawn on 23rd July 1991, with worn out wheelsets and pending engine repairs. Initially preserved on the Mid-Hants in May 1991, it has spent most time in preservation on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway from 1994, before making a return to the Mid-Hants in 2012. Amazingly, the main line career of 23 years has now been exceeded by 24 years in preservation.

My notes show that I first saw Lion on 22nd March 1986, I would appear to have been in Eastleigh / Southampton area.

At Ropley, but platform and angles remind me of the Waterloo - Exeter period.

Running around at Alton.

Preparing to return from Alton to Alresford.

Entering Medstead from Ropley.

Majestic in its break at Medstead.

Doing the Fifty rattly thing away from Ropley.

The end of my day at Alresford, drawing in from Alton.




37901 on the Watercress Line, 23rd April 2016


37901 is understood to be sold for future main line use with Colas, and should be expected to leave the Mid-Hants Railway in the near future, once the Network Rail landslip problem at Wrecclesham is resolved. This performance at the Diesel Weekend may have been a final opportunity for pictures and haulage. On the haulage front, I felt that its performance on "the Alps" out of Alton was very confident - not spectacular, but delivering the goods. The locomotive's finish is best described as "weather worn"and the Mirrlees Pioneer nameplates were not being carried.

Originally delivered as D6850 in July 1963 from English Electric Vulcan Foundry to Cardiff Canton, later in September 1966 to Haymarket, and May 1970 to Eastfield. Renumbered 37150 in April 1974, further reallocations took place to Motherwell in November 1979, with a brief allocation to Eastfield in January 1984. In March 1985, the locomotive was reallocated to Stratford, and to Cardiff in February 1986 when the locomotive was sent to Crewe to be re-engineered, emerging as 37901 in October 1986.

Naming Mirrlees Pioneer took place in December 1986. The locomotive worked until 1998, when it was stored, and entered the world of preservation in 2003.

When re-engineered, the new power unit was a Mirlees MB275T of 1800 bhp, which was a 6 cylinder version of the 8 cylinder unit deployed in Class 60. This was mated with the same Brush BA1005A alternator type as on Class 37/5 and 37/7. Of its 35 year working life, 12 years were sent in refurbished condition, but now at 53 years old, 30 years have been spent refurbished.

This one evaded my attentions until the Merehead open day on 21st June 2008, where it appeared with 37906.

Running around at Alton.

Arriving at Medstead.

Ten minute break at Medstead.

Leaving Ropley.

Returning into Ropley from Alton.

Arriving at Ropley from Alresford.



My full set of 37901.


18th - 23rd April 2016


66759 Chippy at Eastleigh, 23rd April.


66003 works through platform 3.


66719 with 0V31 on Tuesday, This locomotive appears to be hired to Colas.

Monday 18th April: 67028 5O61 09:53 Wembley - Eastleigh
Tuesday 19th April: 73212 + 59003 0Y68 Tonbridge - Eastleigh one two (59003 reported as having starter issues); 60044 6X01 10:17 Scunthorpe Trent - Eastleigh one two three four five six seven eight nine; 60044 + 67028 + 66021 + 66206 21:06 6E15 Eastleigh - Scunthorpe Trent one
Wednesday 20th April: 66424 0Z70 01:27 Crewe - Eastleigh; 66423 0Z68 10:48 Eastleigh - Willesden Brent one two three
Thursday 21st April: 37059 + 37610 0Z36 06:08 Crewe - Salisbury - Romsey Eastleigh one two three four five
Friday 22nd April: 37059 + 37610 1Z36 05:13 Eastleigh - Romsey - Salisbury - Carlisle one two three four
Saturday 23rd April:

Eastleigh Works: 04Apr - 05Apr- 06Apr -07Apr

70803 remains at Laira.

Saturday 23 April 2016

Bluebell Railway Diesel Gala, 16th April 2016


Images from the camera of Ian Kight. All are at Horsted Keynes.

47739 Robin of Templecombe with 73119 Borough of Eastleigh as translator.

20905 + 20901. the latter failing during the day with dragging brakes.

09018.

73964 Jeanette with the LT 4TC set.

66770 with 73136 Mhairi as translator.

Further coverage from Simon Howard.

Saturday 16 April 2016

1Z63 16:36 Bristol - West Brompton and others workings at Romsey, 13th April 2016

Running one hour late, and getting towards sunset by the time it reached Romsey.

47760 has Eastern Region pattern marker lights at one end.

47760 has a new item on top of the horn box, which looks like it may be a communication antenna.

66418 passes with 4M97 17:32 Maritime - Hams Hall.

70802 running as 0O31 17:30 Westbury - Eastleigh ....

.... which turned around at Eastleigh East Yard, and returned as 0V31, 95 minutes early.

1Z61 07:51 West Brompton - Bristol, Crampmoor, 13th April 2016


47580 + 47760 lead the train past Crampmoor. 47580 was new from Brush to 41A Tinsley as D1762 in September 1964, and latterly ran as 47732 Restormel. I first noted it on 29th March 1982 on my return from the interview which brought me to Hampshire, at that time allocated to Stratford.

47760 was new from BR Crewe as D1617 to 16A Toton in September 1964. I first saw it as 47036 on 10th August 1977, following earlier reallocation  from Immingham to Haymarket in May that year.

13320 ANNA is now an FO, but was actually an FK (BR Swindon, Lot 30667, August 1962) until rebuilt by West Coast.

SO 5249 (BR Derby, Lot 30752, about January 1967).

11th - 16th April 2016


37175 arrives at Totton Yard, 11th April. Image by Ian Knight.

37421 on the rear of the formation at this point. Image by Ian Knight.

Monday 11th April: 66746 (Royal Scotsman colours) 0E66 09:30 Eastleigh - Doncaster Roberts Road one two three four five six seven eight nine; 37175 + 37421 1Q51 11:15 Derby - Eastleigh - Weymouth - Eastleigh one two three four five six seven eight nine ten
Tuesday 12th April: 37175 + 37421 0Z37 13:50 Eastleigh - Derby one two three four five six; 73138 + 73141 0Z73 20:10 Woking - Eastleigh
Wednesday 13th April: 47580 + 47760 1Z61 07:51 West Brompton - Havant - Eastleigh - Bristol one two three four five six seven eight nine, 1Z63 16:36 Bristol - Eastleigh - Havant - West Brompton one two three four five six; 73138 + 73141 1Q53 12:50 Eastleigh - Wimbledon Park - Eastleigh - Wimbledon Park - Eastleigh - Romsey - Eastleigh one two three four
Thursday 14th April: 73138 + 73141 1Z54 17:00 Eastleigh - Woking 
Friday 15th April:
Saturday 16th April: 67028 5Z29 05:03 Eastleigh - Clapham Junction

70803 has been moved from Tavistock Junction to Laira.

Wednesday 13 April 2016

Spring Steam Gala at the Swanage Railway, 10th April 2016


Images from the camera of Ian Knight.

4247 (GWR Swindon, 1916) at Norden. Not a locomotive you would expect to be 100 years old.

30053 (LSWR Nine Elms, 1905) at Corfe Castle.

31806 (SR Brighton, 1926 rebuilt 1928) at Harman's Cross.

34070 Manston (SR Brighton, 1947) at Corfe Castle.

80104 (BR Brighton, 1955) approaching Harman's Cross.

Sunday 10 April 2016

Eastleigh, 9th April 2016


66014 moving wagons from East Yard to the virtual quarry.

66543 passes with 4O18 05:03 Lawley Street - Maritime. Thumbs up from the driver.

66168 stops to change crew with 6M48 09:28 EasternDocks - Halewood empty car carriers.

66570 with 4O14  0737 Hams Hall - Maritime.

70001 PowerHaul leads 4O29 0815 Basford Hall - Maritime. The last Freightliner of the day, and no Mountfield working.

Saturday 9 April 2016

4th - 9th April 2016


Monday 4th April:
Tuesday 5th April: 442422 5Z42 10:11 Stewarts Lane - Eastleigh Works one two three four five six seven
Wednesday 6th April: 57305 0Z70 01:27 Crewe - Eastleigh, 5Z68 10:48 Eastleigh - Willesden Brent (with coach 5937one two three four five six seven
Thursday 7th April: NMT 13:39 Salisbury - Southampton - Salisbury one
Friday 8th April:
Saturday 9th April:

70803 still appears to be located at Tavistock Junction.

Eastleigh Works: 23Mar - 24Mar - 30Mar - 31Mar - 01Apr

Dusk at Romsey, 6th April 2016


66546 leads the MOBC 6Y19 17:00 Fairwater Yard - Arundel, stopping for a crew change.