Saturday 28 January 2017

Eastleigh Works, 28th January 2017


Riviera Trains stock has moved home from the depot to the works. At the same time, two Class 442s have been transferred to the depot.

Update: both 21245 and 17096 were moved to Crewe on 31st January, and 21245 was moved onwards to Burton on 1st February.

 Current resident shunter 08790 moves some Riviera stock.

BCK W21245 from Lot 30669, completed at Swindon in March 1962 for the London Midland Region. In service until December 1982, then 99356 with SLOA / Pullman Rail from September 1983 until March 1999 (also 99656 in 1983-84) when it returned to 21245.

The MNLPS support coach 17096 Mercator, a Mk IIa BFK, which was built at BR Derby in 1968, as 14096 in Lot 30786. Renumbered in April 1983, withdrawn briefly in August-September 1993, then again in May 1997 becoming Mercator from May 2008. 35028 Clan Line is currently under overhaul at Crewe and Mercator has been at Eastleigh for attention since 13th January 2016.

23rd - 28th January 2017


Monday 23rd January:
Tuesday 24th January: 37175 3Q01 23:38 Woking - Wimbledon - Basingstoke - Reading - Basingstoke - Woking - Eastleigh
Wednesday 25th January: 57007 + 57303 + 57011 0Z70 01:10 Crewe - Eastleigh; 57007 (+ coach 17159) 5Z68 10:20 Eastleigh - Norwich one two three; 59201 7O51 06:05 Westbury - Hamworthy one two three four five, 7V52 15:35 Hamworthy - Whatley one two three four five ; 66599  + 442405 + 442424 5Z25 11:30 Eastleigh Works - East Yard - T&RSMD; 37175 3Q02 21:36 Eastleigh - Weymouth - Eastleigh
Thursday 26th January: 37175 3Q04 21:17 Eastleigh - Totton Yard - Old Oak Common one
Friday 27th January: 59101 7O51 06:05 Westbury - Hamworthy one two, 7V52 12:35 Hamworthy - Whatley one
Saturday 28th January:

Eastleigh Works: 12Jan - 13Jan - 16Jan

47830 has been stored in the DHLT pool.a decision made because it was due for a 'B' exam. After the work done on this one as recently as 2015, it is to be hoped that it sees further usage, possibly through a sale.

Tuesday 24 January 2017

6 Freightliner Class 70's formally stored, 24th January 2017


6 Class 70's are now in the DHLT pool (Freightliner locomotives awaiting maintenance / repair / disposal)

  • 70001, 70002, 70003, 70009, 70013, 70014

The question is as to whether we will see them run again under the current lessee? Only 7 of the fleet appeared to be working in recent days, with the remainder at Leeds.

70001 PowerHaul, Ipwsich, 23rd November 2010.

70002 Eastleigh, 12th March 2016.

70003, Shawford, 5th March 2011. In January 2011 this had been the first of class at Southampton.

70009, Millbrook, 21st September 2013.

70013, Eastleigh, 17th December 2016.

70014, Eastleigh, 18th June 2016.

Sunday 22 January 2017

88002 'Prometheus' in Southampton, 22nd January 2017


Images by Ian Knight.

88002 Prometheus is heading for Carlisle Kingmoor.

 Location is near Redbridge roundabout.


Saturday 21 January 2017

16th - 21st January 2017


Welcome McPet to the South Coast! 37025 leads 1Q01 past Totton, 17th January. 37025 has a working steam heat boiler and is through wired for ETH, Image by Ian Knight.

Later 37099 leads the returning 1Q01 through Totton. Recently on the Watercress Line as 37324. Image by Ian Knight. 

60054 leads 66050 on 6V41 at St Denys. 18th January. Image by Ian Knight,

Monday 16th January: 37025 + 37099 1Q51 11:15 Derby - Eastleigh - Weymouth - Eastleigh one two 
Tuesday 17th January: 37025 + 37099 1Q52 10:37 Eastleigh - Portsmouth Harbour - Littlehampton - Portsmouth Harbour - Totton Yard - Havant - Guildford - Havant - Eastleigh - Woking - Eastleigh - Lymington Pier - Eastleigh one two three four five six seven eight nine ten eleven twelve thirteen fourteen fifteen sixteen seventeen eighteen nineteen twenty
Wednesday 18th January: 60054 6O41 Westbury - Eastleigh one, 6V41 14:47 Eastleigh - Westbury one two three four; 37025 + 37099 1Q53 11:38 Eastleigh - Basingstoke - Eastleigh (cancelled at Eastleigh station) - but evening part of original diagram appears to have been worked (Eastleigh - Wimbledon Park - Basingtoke - Salisbury - Romsey - Eastleigh - Totton Yard - Eastleigh - Romsey - Eastleigh)
Thursday 19th January: 37025 + 37099 12:37 Eastleigh - Hither Green (unplanned 4 hour delay reported at Woking Yard) one two three four five
Friday 20th January:
Saturday 21st January:

Eastleigh Works: 09Jan - 10Jan - 11Jan (with a focus upon recent 37608 repaint)

Class 70s at Leeds Midland Road: Currently reported to be 70001 / 70002 / 70003 / 70009 / 70017 OOU of 10 total on the depot (20th January).

57011 is still at Crewe, and has now been noted on 18th January with its engine running.

DRS Class 37s: news from Barrow

Thursday 19 January 2017

37685, Bo'ness, 29th December 2016



37685 was lying over at Bo'ness in a standby role for West Coast, possibly related to potential snow duties, although no usage has been recorded so far in January, where DRSClass 37 locomotives have been used.

New as D6934 from English Electric Vulcan Foundry on 10th April 1964, and first allocated to Landore. Renumbered to 37234 in March 1974. Completed overhaul at Crewe in March 1987 and emerged as 37685. Withdrawn in June 1999 and sent to France, returning in August 2000, working again briefly in September to November 2001. Purchased by West Coast in September 2007, who returned it to traffic in May 2010.

In March 2015 the locomotive encountered a tree in the Highlands, and was not returned to traffic until June 2016.

In repose at Bo'ness.

Detail of one cab end.

Sunday 15 January 2017

In the News: The End of the Circus Train - seen in California in 1997


News this morning from the USA is that the Ringling Brothers, Barnum and Bailey circus is to close: CNN, NPR. Chicago Tribune.

This will mean the closure of the unique circus train operations, which were run as two trains, the 'blue' and the 'red'. The entire circus has been moved by train across the USA and Canada, with recent forays into Mexico, and will continue this way until closure in May 2017.

I was once lucky enough to see the 'red' train, and by chance, while in Chico, California, on 8th September 1997. Chico depot seems to have been improved for passengers, but has lost its sidings in the past 20 years.

The immense length of the train, at about 40 coaches and 20 further flats, may start to be appreciated here. It was heading northbound over what was originally the  California and Oregon Railroad Company opened here in 1870. The Southern Pacific brand was in control by 1887, and lasted until taken over by Union Pacific in 1996. The line is now part of the "I-5 corridor" after the parallel interstate highway, and the line is the Valley Subdivision (East Roseville - Dunsmuir).

Rio Grande style 'Speed Lettering is applied to these SD40T-2 "tunnel motor" locomotives, showing that they have been repainted since 1991. 

Lead locomotive 8350 (EMD Serial No 73685-1) was built in June 1974. Retired by UP on 27th August 2002. After SP/UP service it appears to have been sold to Helm Leasing (HLCX 6130), and after service with them it ended its days in Brazil in 2008.

SP8315 (EMD Serial No 776069-9) was new in March 1978. Retired 17th January 2001, and disposed by UP to National Railway Equipment (NREX 8315). Also exported to Brazil in 2008.

The lead cars are for animals, this part of the train said to have the best ride, RBBX 60004 was originally UP 6300 an aluminium bodied vehicle built by AC&F in 1961 as a Baggage / Storage car, sold to Ringling in 1972, becoming surplus in the wake of the foundation of Amtrak. To Florida Railroad Museum, Parrish, Florida, in 2012.

Flat cars supporting the ancillary functions of a circus.

RBBX 80701, an 89 foot flat,was built by AC&F in 1967 as GTW 303109.

Resources:

Maritime oddities, 14th January 2017


66603 newly arrived from Leeds and in position for its exam. The 66/6 variant has been rarer in these parts since Wool sand trains stopped running.

'DRS Compass' remnants in the livery of 66413.

St Denys, 14th January 2017


Mainly the Saturday early afternoon Freightliner cavalcade.

66513 leads 4O14 07:37 HamsHall - Maritime.

70018 passes with 4O27 05:21 Garston - Maritime.

Surprise 66603 leading DIT 70020 on 4O90 05:27 Leeds - Maritime, under darkening skies. The 66/6 is limited to 65 mph, but the train was running more or less to time on a 75mph schedule. 66603 is understood to have been sent to Southampton Maritime for an exam, as Leeds appears to be resource constrained.

66096 with the longest train seen in this area, 4O40 10:44 Morris Cowley - Eastern Docks.

Believed to be one of the last two 'DRS Compass' liveried locomotives running for Freightliner, 66413 passes with 4O29 08:20 Basford Hall - Maritime.


Saturday 14 January 2017

9th - 14th January 2017


60054 with 6V41 Eastleigh - Westbury at Redbridge, 10th January. Image by Ian Knight.

Monday 9th January:
Tuesday 10th January: 60054 0O41 10:14 Westbury - Eastleigh one two three, 6V41 14:47 Eastleigh - Westbury one
Wednesday 11th January: 37608 now named Andromeda was outside at Eastleigh one two
Thursday 12th January: 66111 + 66177 (?) 5Z60 13:05 Eastleigh - Western Docks - planned to be move of 4 coaches, 5Z61 18:46 Western Docks - Eastleigh; 37604 3Z17 10:52 Derby- Eastleigh. 37604 + 37608 3Q94 20:46 Eastleigh - Waterloo - Eastleigh; 43013 + 43062 NMT 13:39 Salisbury - Southampton - Salisbury
Friday 13th January: 37608 + 37604 3Z01 11:15 Eastleigh - Derby one two three four five six seven eight nine ten eleven
Saturday 14th January: 66182 5Z25 (?) 04:15 Eastleigh - Westbury, 5Z27 (?) 23:30 Westbury - Eastleigh

Eastleigh Works: 03Jan - 04Jan - 05Jan - 06Jan

57011 has been removed from storage at Longtown, initially moved to Kingmoor, then to Crewe on Tuesday one two and planned for onward transit to Eastleigh for a bogie swap with 57308, which is currently under overhaul at the works.

Parts were delivered to Laira at Christmas for 70803, which may be to enable movement to another location for repair.

Hamworthy Stone - timetable now in place for Mondays from 23rd January:
     7O51 00:05 Whatley - Hamworthy
     7V52 12:35 Hamworthy - Whatley

Next Colas Class 70s on test in Erie, PA area in the USA:



Thursday 12 January 2017

In the SRPS Diesel Workshop, 29th December 2016


The longer term restoration projects are now 25235 and 27005, both with previous running history here in better days.

25235 in particular is in need of new tyres, and has a fund for this purpose. Quotes seem to shortly be being requested for the new tyres. There is also a restoration gallery.

I believe that the piston is from the Sulzer 6LDA28-B engine in 25235.

The fibre glass is from a cab roof from 27005.

27005 has one cab stripped down for corrosion repairs, following a pattern seen elsewhere for BRCW cabs.

27005 also has a restoration gallery.

A wag has added a GNER logo to the front of 27005.

Video is projected on the intact No. 2 cab front of 27005.

The No. 1 cab is well stripped, with clear evidence of new metal and welds.

Sunday 8 January 2017

60056, Bo'ness, 29th December 2016


The first Class 60 to Bo'ness. 60056 arrived on loan while laying over at Grangemouth.
09:25 Grangemouth Colas Rail to Bo'ness Jn Exchange Sdg
16:44 Bo'ness Jn Exchange Sdg to Grangemouth Colas Rail

Departing as the delayed 12:30 to Manuel.

Returning through the Bo'ness shoreline, on the rear with the delayed 13:59 from Manuel.
Departing with the delayed 14:30 from Bo'ness.

60056 was new in May 1991 to Immingham and was named William Beveridge.

Running around to join 47643 on the rear for delayed 15:30 from Bo'ness, for return to the main line.

Saturday 7 January 2017

Eastleigh, 7th January 2017


442414 at Eastleigh Works,not yet ever hauled to Ely.

70008 with a late running 4M55 10:00 Maritime - Daventry. The only Class 70 seen today.

66554 arriving with 4O27 05:21 Garston - Maritime.

4 trains moving at once, 444030, 444020, 444036 and 66503 (hidden) entering East Yard with 'Ecofret' flats from Maritime.

66598 with 4O90 05:27 Leeds - Maritime.

2nd - 7th January 2017


Monday 2nd January:
Tuesday 3rd January: 37099 3Z40 06:09 Reading - Eastleigh one two, 3Q05 22:48 Eastleigh - Woking - Guildford - Woking - Portsmouth Harbour - Guildford - Woking - Fareham - Eastleigh
Wednesday 4th January: 37099 3Q60 22:22 Eastleigh - Redbridge - Salisbury - Bristol High Level Siding
Thursday 5th January: 47815 + 442405 + 442424 5O86 07:52 Ely - Eastleigh one two
Friday 6th January: 47815 + 442423 5L46 10:31 Eastleigh - Ely one two             (& 37099 at Basingstoke one)
Saturday 7th January:

Class 70's out of use at Leeds on 1st January:  70001 70002 70003 70007 70009 70010 70014 & 70017. 70004 & 70006 have been reassigned to support the Intermodal DFGI pool.

Grand Southern (Alliance Rail Holdings Ltd) track access application to bring Class 442's to provide Southampton - Waterloo service. The consultation responses indicate a fair degree of opposition.

DBC Class 67 sale: 67023 and 67027 have been reallocated to a Colas Storage pool.

Eastleigh Works: 01Dec - 08 Dec - 09Dec - 12Dec - 14Dec - 15Dec - 16Dec - 19Dec - 22Dec - 23Dec

Thursday 5 January 2017

Around and about at Eastleigh, 2nd January 2017


Logo changes at GBRf. The TML Circle and "Part of Europorte" message seem to being removed following the recent sale transaction. 66712 (left) and 2016 delivered 66774 (right).

59205 appeared to be working on crew training duties, arriving as 0Z63 10:35 Westbury - Eastleigh. It later ran to and from Salisbury.

It is about 10 years since 158880 was refurbished and delivered to SWT. It has recently been repainted in the new whiter version of the SWT livery.

47818 with a 5-WES Class 442 "Plastic Pig".

08879 was recently delivered to Raxstar from Margam, and appears to be in position for disposal.