Sunday 10 September 2017

"Northern Belle" at Eastleigh, 9th September 2017


1Z57 06:21 Kidderminster-Hove
1Z59 16:45 Hove - Kidderminster

The morning weather was a bright, relatively lower sunshine, with Equinox some 12 days away. 57306 Her Majesty's Railway Inspectorate 175 leads the train into Eastleigh. This locomotive was new from Brush as D1919 to 86A Cardiff Canton in November 1965. Renumbered to 47242 in March 1974, then converted with ETH to 47659 in September 1986 and renumbered 47814 in June 1989 named Totnes Castle in May 1997. Rebuilt as a Class 57/3 in April 2003, named Jeff Tracy as part of the Thunderbirds theme. Later through a period of Network Rail ownership based at Eastleigh, and now with DRS.

3267 BELVOIR is a Mk2E FO built to Lot 30843 at Derby in early 1973. Withdrawn by 1997, to Riviera Trains, then to VSOE (now Belomond) in 1999.

1566 CAERDYDD is a Mk 1 RKB built by Cravens in 1961 to Lot 30624 in 1971. After withdrawal in 1981 it spent time at Carnforth and the Bluebell before being acquired in 1995 for its current role.

By the time of the evening return there were thunderstorms in the area. 57301 leads the return train. Originally D1653 delivered from BR Crewe to 86A Cardiff Canton in January 1965. Renumbered to 47069 in January 1974, overhauled with ETH and renumbered 47638 in February 1986, named County of Kent in June 1986, later renumbered 47845 in November 1989. Rebuil to 57301 Scott Tracy in July 2002. Now in DRS ownership and named Goliath from October 2014.

The train switches to the Up lines and returns onwards, arriving at Kidderminster only 1 minute late.