First MTR South Western Trains Limited wins South Western franchise

Return of the Plastic Pigs!

Farewell to South West Trains

Department of Transport Press Release

Chinese firm MTR to help operate UK's South West trains franchise - The Guardian

Discussion

The 18 refurbished 5 coach trains for the Portsmouth Direct (2 + 2 seating) appear to be Class 442s equipped with a new traction package, replacing that which came from the 4-REPs and now 50 years old.

For liveries, time to get the SWT photos over the next four months or so.

47771 basks in the sunshine at Maritime, 25th March 2017

Potentially  the last Class 47 on Southampton Maritime, 47771 has been prepared with a through brakepipe hose for the drag move to Eastleigh Works.

47771 was new from Brush at Loughborough on 6th July 1966, as D1946 allocated to D16 on the London Midland Region (Toton). With ETH fitted, it was renumbered to 47503 in May 1974, and then 47771 in June 1994. Withdrawn in April 2000, and preserved in June 2003.

The locomotive carried the name The Geordie from August 1998 to June 1991, previously carried by 47403 and 47411. Later named Heaton Traincare Depot from 18th March 1993.

My own first sighting of 47503 was on 18th February 1984, arriving at Southampton with a cross-country service.

20th - 25th March 2017

Still almost light - and the clocks change this weekend, 70808 passes Romsey with 6O31 17:30 Westbury - Eastleigh, 18:37, 24th March.

Monday 20th March: 08650 delivered to Eastleigh Works one two

Tuesday 21st March: 37057 '399Y' 23:38 Woking - Wimbledon - Basingstoke - Reading - Basingstoke -Woking - Eastleigh

Wednesday 22nd March:73963 +73964 1Q66 06:07 Woking - Laverstock - Romsey - Eastleigh Fawley - Eastleigh - Romsey - Laverstock - Andover - Ludgershall - Andover - Woking one two; 37611 0Z37 11:38 Cardiff Canton - Reading - Basingstoke - Eastleigh one two three; 37057 '345Z' 22:54 Eastleigh - Brighton - Eastleigh

Thursday 23rd March: 37057 3Q04 21:17 Eastleigh - Totton Yard - Eastleigh - Basingstoke - Reading one two

Friday 24th March:

Saturday 25th March:

47771 at Maritime one two three four

Eastleigh Works: 06Mar - 09Mar - 10Mar - 14Mar - 15Mar

Hamworthy Stone: Tue 21st: 59002, Fri 24th: 59202

Eastleigh Works, 23rd March 2017

37057 is stabled with a test train.

Super shunter 47818.

57011 has given up its good bogies. The engine was a runner a few weeks ago, it is uncertain if the locomotive moves under its own power.

73201 Broadlands has spent recent months under repair in the weeks - the bogies appear to have received attemtion.

47771 arrives at Maritime, 21st March 2017.

Images by Ian Knight.

47771 Heaton Traincare Depot has arrived in the docks, ready for unloading.

After inspections it is due to be tripped to Eastleigh Works.

59002 Alan J Day is seen returning from Hamworthy.

70803 will be back soon

A test run took place, running with 70812, from Plymouth - Penzance - Tavistock Jct on Friday 17th.

Moved to Westbury 23rd March.

DRS rebuilt BSOs

Brodie Engineering in Kilmarnock has recently converted Mk 2E BSOs 9506 and 9508 into nuclear escort vehicles, which are fitted with hopper windows, and have had gangways removed and replaced with glazed ends. It is not yet clear if these will be in addition to, or will replace Mk 2A BSOs 9419 and 9428, which are currently in use.

There are few photographs so far of the converted BSOs. 9508 is seen here, but the reported hopper windows cannot be discerned.  UPDATE: can be seen here.

While in the ownership of Cargo-D, 9506 is the first vehicle in this railtour at Crampmoor, 14th August 2010.

Closer detail of 9506.

Before Cargo-D, 9506 ran for Wessex Trains. Here Mk 2F BSO 9525 is seen at Westbury, this also now being in the inventory of DRS.

9508 was kept at Barrow Hill in recent years, seen here on 6th July 2013.

9419 and 9428 are seen here at the Open Day at Gresty Bridge, 19th July 2014, soon after a repair at Eastleigh.

Return journey of The Bath & Bristol Steam Express, 18th March 2017

LMS Class 5MT 45407 1Z94 16:39 Bristol Temple Meads - Three Bridges

Running a few minutes late, and slowing to a stop at Romsey ....

.... as the Southampton route had been incorrectly set by the signaller.

3058 FLORENCE is the oldest FO running on Network Rail from Lot 30169 completed at Doncaster in August 1955 (the oldest TSO is now from 1959).

Withdrawn October 1972 becoming DB975313, an HST Instruction Coach. "P 1983 ex Exeter by 5542 Group, then West Somerset Railway 1989 where converted from FO to RMB as 'Taunton Cider Bar': passenger service Easter 1990. Commonwealth bogies 2003. Middle doors removed, 4 windows panelled over bar side. Now loose seating. Chocolate/cream livery. To Carnforth by 03/11. By 03/14: named 'Florence'. By 10/15: in West Coast Railways maroon livery."

The Bath & Bristol Steam Express, 18th March 2017

1Z92 07:53 Three Bridges - Bristol Temple Meads

LMS Class 5MT 45407 ,new in September 1937, leads the train past a recently cleared photo location at Halterworth Crossing, near Romsey.

13th - 18th March 2017

Monday 13th March: 73136 +73212 1Q51 Derby - Eastleigh (- Weymouth - Eastleigh) Southampton Up Yard - Eastleigh one two three. A problem with Class 73212 overheating on the way south from Derby - a vulnerability experienced since BR days, although the 73/9's seem to be improved - caused late running and the change in plan.
Tuesday 14th March: 73963 + 73964 1Q52 10:37 Eastleigh - Portsmouth Harbour - Littlehampton - Portsmouth Harbour - Totton Yard - Havant - Guildford - Havant - Eastleigh - Woking - Lymington Pier - Eastleigh one two - replaced 73136 + 73212 which went to Tonbridge.
Wednesday 15th March: 57310 0Z70 01:10 Crewe - Eastleigh, 6Z68 10:50 Eastleigh - Willesden Brent one two; 73963 + 73964 1Q53 11:38 Eastleigh - Southampton Up Yard - Wimbledon - Eastleigh - Southampton Up Yard - Wimbledon - Redbridge - Eastleigh one two three four five
Thursday 16th March: 73963 + 73964 1Q54 12:27 Eastleigh - Dollands Muir one two
Friday 17th March: 66717 5S66 18:47 Eastleigh - Bo'ness (Royal Scotsman empty stock)
Saturday 18th March: 45407 1Z92 07:53 Three Bridges - Bristol one two three four, 1Z94 16:39 Bristol - Three Bridges; 66238 1Z39 06:18 Eastleigh - Havant - Newport (97301 + 97302 onwards to Llandrindod Wells) one two, 66177 1Zxx (16:35 Llandrindod -) Bescot - Havant - Eastleigh one two

Hamworthy Stone: Tue - 59001, Wed - 59103

6th - 11th March 2017

DB Cargo latest colours on 66149, working 6V41 on 7th, at Romsey.

Monday 6th March:

Tuesday 7th March:

Wednesday 8th March: 37405 0Z68 10:20 Eastleigh - Norwich one two

Thursday 9th March: 43014 + 43062 1X23 13:39 Salisbury - Southampton - Salisbury 

Friday 10th March:

Saturday 11th March:

Eastleigh Works: 22Feb - 23Feb - 24Feb - 01Mar - 02Mar

70017 is now back in traffic, but 70020 is now stored DHLT. 70013 as a shunter at Basford Hall - one two

60054 on the Hamworthy Stone, 1st March 2017

60054 7V52 13:15 Hamworthy - Whatley, seen passing Crampmoor.

Closer view of the big red locomotive - now being returned to Toton for a B exam.

NACO 3902 is a JNA built by Marcroft in 2000.

OK 3274 is a JYA built by Orenstein & Koppel in Germany 1988.

27th February - 4th March 2017

59203 leads past Romsey with 7O40 13:35 Merehead - Eastleigh, 3rd March.

OK19305, a JHA built by Orenstein & Koppel in 1989.

Monday 27th February: 
Tuesday 28th February:
Wednesday 1st March: 66304 0Z70 01:10 Crewe - Eastleigh one; 66303 0Z68 10:19 Eastleigh - Willesden Brent one two; 37099 3Qxx 22:55 Reading - Cardiff - Bristol - Salisbury - Romsey - Redbridge - Eastleigh; 67022 + 67029 5Mxx 05:41 Eastleigh - Hanwell Bridge (and to Paddington), 5Oxx 22:33 Hanwell Bridge Loop - Eastleigh
Thursday 2nd March: 66090 + 60054 0O41 10:14 Westbury - Eastleigh (60054 on move back to Toton for B exam - was at Doncaster Decoy on Sat 4th, most likley via the 6E15 21;06 Eastleigh - Scunthorpe on 2nd); 37099 3Qxx 23:45 Eastleigh - Romsey - Eastleigh - Eastern Docks - Fratton - Fawley - Totton - Lymington Pier - Redbridge - Romsey - Salisbury - Bristol one two three four five
Friday 3rd March:
Saturday 4th March:

70003 has made a return to traffic, 70013 has been 'SHNT' at Basford Hall

Hamworthy: 60054 on Wednesday one two, 59205 on Thursday one

Eastleigh Works: 14Feb - 15Feb - 16Feb - 17Feb - 20Feb - 21Feb

'Slinger' FEA wagons at Eastleigh, 24th February 2017

66730 Whitemoor + 640936 640937 640941 640942 640943 640938 640939 640940 640931
4O65 09:55 Peterborough Sidings - Eastleigh Yard

66730 creeps through East Yard

The FEA wagons are modified container traffic spine wagons, known as 'Slinger' type, built by Wagony Swidnica, Poland in 2007 in number range 640931 - 640943. The 'Slinger' rail and sleeper delivery equipment was fitted at York after delivery for Trans Plant, a subsidiary of Tube Lines. 640938 is seen here.

640931 is one of two cars with on-board generator.

DB996530 YKA wagon, Eastleigh, 24th February 2017

50t rail flat wagons are rather interesting, since their underframes are relatively ancient. This example is actually relatively new, being built by Teeside B&E in 1958, other examples go back to 1952.

DB996530 is a YKA 'Osprey' most recently converted in 2009 when the stanchions were fitted.

Teesside Bridge & Engineering - were located at Cargo Fleet, Middlesborough, and were part of Dorman Long.