IETs at Newport, 25th - 26th January 2018

800006 at Newport on 25th.

800005 departs for Cardiff on the 25th, While these look impressive, away from the wires they sound and behave rather like a Voyager.

800008 arrives on 26th.

800023 + 800005 arriving at platform 2, on 26th.

800024 on the rear of a departure on 25th. Earlier that day this was the first IET that I had seen , at Bristol Temple Meads.

MSO 813008 of 800008 on 26th.

On the 25th the following were reported in traffic:

800005+800012 

800006+800016

800008+800024 

800011

800013+800015

800018

800021+800023

800025

The plan showed no single units heading to South Wales, but in practice some were seen.

800026 and 800028 were on commissioning runs.

I saw those in blue over the two days.

"Development of Class 800/801 High-speed Rolling Stock forUK Intercity Express Programme"

66781 at Eastleigh Works, 29th January 2018

66016 is now 66781, and it is anticipated to be running for GBRf this week. EMD 968702-16 delivered in 1998

"Tesco Liner" at Newport, 25th January 2018

66431 4V44 10:47 Daventry - Wentloog at Newport

Seen here as repainted at Eastleigh in March 2016. Works number 20078946-001, originally for Victa Westlink, delivered to the UK and leased to DRS in November 2008.

Returning with 4M36 18:58 Wentloog - Daventry. Some of the flats were noted to be the same as those on the earlier run, turned around in the afternoon at Wentloog.

60001 and the "Murco" tanks, Newport, 25th - 26th January 2018

Two views of 60001 on "Murco" workings between Robeston and Westerleigh.

We know these as "Murco" workings, but the refinery facility at Milford Haven was sold to Puma Energy, along with terminals at Bedworth, Theale and Westerleigh, and changed to a storage and distribution status in 2015.

Class leader 60001 was new to traffic in August 1991 and has at times been named Steadfast and The Railway Observer. Refurbished  in its current condition as a "Super 60", returning to traffic on 26th October 2013.

On Friday 26th 60063 was also on Robeston oil workings, working to and from Theale.

 6B47 18:14 Westerleigh - Robeston empty tanks on 25th January.

A closer view - not so easy, some luck required taking pictures of moving trains after dark.

On Friday 26th, leading 6B13 05:00 Robeston - Westerleigh loaded tanks.

EWS 870328 a TEA tanker on the rear of the train. Built in Poland by Wagony Swidnica in 2006.

Class 166 and the Ride Height Modification

Several Class 166's noted operating in the Bristol and Newport area last week, all sporting the "Ride Height Modification" (RHM). This is a key item to allow these trains to operate on the Portsmouth - Cardiff services, replacing the 158/9's. The trains seen here are working Taunton - Cardiff services, the Weymouth duties may be added this week.

There is also an ASDO modification under way, but it's not clear which units have this so far.

As of 16th January, 166202/3/4/5/6/8/10/12/14/16 & 19 have the RHM and are working from Bristol.

I did not look inside, but it seems that seating is still 3 + 2 meantime, with interior refurbishment yet to start.

Class 166 were new from ABB York as "Networker Turbo" units in 1992-93, similar to the preceding Class 165 but with air conditioning and additional toilets.

166202 seen arriving at Newport, 26th January.

RHM triangle for "Ride Height Modification"

The modification is a spacer which sits on top of the air bags in the suspension. This has some similarity in look and colour to an over-sized "Polo Mint", and thus raises the body by about "an inch".

GWR colours on 166216, at Newport on 25th.

166219 departing Newport on 25th.

WNXX forum discussion: 

GWR DMU developments & deployment - Part 10

GWR DMU developments & deployment - Part 11

GWR DMU developments & deployment - Part 12

22nd - 27th January 2018

Monday 22nd January: 66782 departed from the works 0Y63 09:42 Eastleigh - Hoo one two three
Tuesday 23rd January:
Wednesday 24th January:
Thursday 25th January:
Friday 26th January:
Saturday 27th January: 

37884 seems likely to be repaired. Rumours suggest that 47815 may be repaired at Eastleigh. Both locomotives remain in the exchange sidings at Foxton.

37025 may be retired from Colas duties this weekend - being kept in reserve at Barrow Hill, rather than an immediate return to Bo'ness.

DRS January Sale - only three Class 20s (20304, 20308 & 20309), four Mk IIA & IIC barrier coaches, and lots of Mk III coach bogies.

66954, which was in Southampton two weeks ago, has been moved to Immingham for export.

A rather quiet week, but fear not, 47soton has been to where there are Tugs, the Flying Banana, jacked up 166s, Colas 70's on freight, IETs and more ...... so watch this space!

6Z12 Alexandra Dock - Eastleigh, Romsey, 20th January 2018

This had started earlier as a triple header, as seen at Newport. 66011 came off at Westbury,

66168 + 66074
TIPH 78213 - TDA tanker
23.87.4384.032-0 - IPA quad (2+2) 4 wheel single deck car carriers (Cartic)
23.87.4384.034-6

6Z12 12:42 Newport Alexandra Dock Junction - Eastleigh Yard, via Chandler's Ford

Similar previous working on 4th November 2017.

66168 leads the train into Romsey, in very murky conditions, some 10 minutes before nominal sunset.

While 66168 is marked with 'DB', 66074 is still marked 'EWS'.

TIPH 78213, a TDA, is not a regular sight at Romsey, and may be heading for attention at one of the facilities in Eastleigh. Built by Marley Industrie in France in 1991-93, this has been active through South Wales on Westerleigh - Robeston tank traffic: one two three.

Detail of the rear car carrier.

Eastleigh, 20th January 2018

66544 stopped at signal at the Campbell Road bridge with 4B06 11:10 Maritime - East Yard empty flats for weekend storage. In practice this train often runs early.

70017 smokes away from a signal stop with 4O27 05:21 Garston - Maritime.

70008 departs from Eastleigh with 4O90 0527 Leeds - Maritime. This locomotive was in storage for a period in 2017.

Clever or what? Two of these were moving trains. Does anyone have a 4 @ 444 shot at Eastleigh?

Eastleigh Works, 20th January 2018

Newly repainted and renumbered 66782 (formerly 66046) and 66058 awaiting its repaint, both now for GBRf. The rear view mirrors have been removed from 66782, although the knuckle buckeye auto coupler is retained.

57307 LADY PENELOPE has now emerged from the works, but rather surprisingly has retained its 20 Years of DRS vinyls. Arrived at the works on 12th July 2017, and seen the next day for a comparison.

57003, stored in September 2017 at Eastleigh, having worked through that year until then.

73133 parked between shunt manoeuvres.

15th - 20th January 2018

Monday 15th January: 67023 + 67027 1Q51 11:30 Derby - Eastleigh - Weymouth - Eastleigh one two
Tuesday 16th January: 67023 + 67027 1Q52 10:37 Eastleigh Arlington (Zg) - Fratton - Littlehampton - Fratton - Totton Yard - Havant - Guildford - Havant - Fareham - Eastleigh - Woking - Lymington Pier - Eastleigh Arlington (Zg) one two three four five six
Wednesday 17th January: 67023 + 67027 1Q53 11:48 Eastleigh - Southampton Up Yard - Wimbledon Park - Southampton Up Yard - Wimbledon Park - Totton Yard - Eastleigh - Romsey - Eastleigh one two three four five six seven; 73961 + 73965 0Z73 10:10 Crewe - Eastleigh one two
Thursday 18th January: 67023 + 67027 0Z73 10:51 Eastleigh - Derby one two three; 73961 + 73965 1Q54 17:00 Eastleigh - Hither Green
Friday 19th January:
Saturday 20th January:

66782 (formerly 66046) has briefly appeared outside at Eastleigh.

66954 has been stored DHLT (Freightliner Locomotives Stored) at Leeds. It worked from Hinksey - Maritime last Saturday, and was on Maritime on Sunday, but was at Leeds by Tuesday. It is in the JP Morgan / Beacon leased group, which Freightliner chose to similarly store examples from in summer 2017, including this locomotive.The word by later in the week is that it may be about to be prepared for transfer to Freightliner Poland.

08585 is seen back at Maritime.

37884 and 47815 have been involved in a collision at Barrington. The damage to the 37 has resulted in a drooped nose - one two - which does not look very good for the Europhoenix owned locomotive, which was once stored at Eastleigh, and which had been having a good week. By Friday 19th the locomotives had been moved to the Foxton Exchange Sidings, with 37884's nose under a tarpaulin - one two three four five.                                                                    Discussion: one two.

97304 (previously 37217) has been involved in collision with a shed (agricultural and garden variety) near Newtown in Wales, in Storm Fionn.

Newton Abbot update: Network Rail have granted a lease for the Heathfield line - discussion.The Aldi plan proceeds, with demolition anticipated for the one time railway sheds.

Test train, Havant, 16th January 2018

1Q52 10:37 Eastleigh Arlington (Zg) - Fratton - Littlehampton - Fratton - Totton Yard - Havant - Guildford - Havant - Fareham - Eastleigh - Woking - Lymington Pier - Eastleigh Arlington (Zg)

Passing Havant almost one hour late, the test train is led by 67023 Charlotte. 

977983 is a Electrification Measurement Vehicle, capable of making inspection assessments of both overhead and 3rd rail. Previously Gatwick Express 75203 and originally Mk IIF FO 3407, built at BR Derby in August 1974 to Lot 30859.

72639 is a Plain Line Pattern Recognition coach, also once on the Gatwick Express, and built at Derby as MkIIF TSO 6070 in August 1973 to Lot 30860.

977974 is Track Inspection Coach 2. Originally MkIIE TSO 5854 completed at Derby in December 1972 to Lot 30844.

977868 is a Radio Survey Train Test coach. Originally MkIIE TSO 5846 completed at Derby in December 1972 to Lot 30844.

67027 Stella on the rear.

Diverted GBRf Gypsum Train, Romsey, 13th January 2018

66752 The Hoosier State leads 4Y19 12:02 Mountfield - Western Docks. This picture was at 16:13 and nominal sunset was at 16:25.

This loco was assembled by Progress Rail at Muncie, Indiana.

66723 Chinook on the rear. The train was top and tailed since it reversed in Southampton Down Loop before entering Western Docks.

Freightliner Diverts at Romsey, 13th January 2018

66954 0O26 09:20 Hinksey - Maritime.

66507 4O14 07:33 Lawley St - Maritime (new brighter lights fitted in October - these pictures are mostly taken on manual settings given generally poor lighting)

70020 4O27 05:21 Garston - Maritime.

70014 seems prone to clagging in my recent pictures of it, 4O90 05:27 Leeds - Maritime.

66524 + 66510 DIT 4O29 08:20 Basford Hall - Maritime.

8th - 13th January 2018

Monday 8th January:
Tuesday 9th January:
Wednesday 10th January: 37884 6O86 04:30 Wembley - Eastern Docks (but actually went into Eastleigh Works) one two three four five six, 0Z72 13:35 Eastleigh - Wembley; 08585 delivered to Maritime one, with 08624 removed
Thursday 11th January: 57303 5Z70 01:27 Crewe- Eastleigh, 0Z68 10:19 Eastleigh - Willesden Brent; 43013 + 43062 (NMT) 1X23 (?) 15:13 Salisbury - Redbridge - Southampton UGL - Redbridge - Salisbury (on same day one two three four)
Friday 12th January:
Saturday 13th January:

70011, seen last weekend being worked DIT to Maritime, was forwarded DIT to Leeds on Mon 8th, it appears to be a roundabout set of workings to get from Ipswich to Leeds.

Eastleigh Works (including 66046): 02Jan - 03Jan - 08Jan - 09Jan - 10Jan - 47812 is now receiving replacement wheels.

Change in landlord ownership of Eastleigh Works

• St Modwen factsheet
• Website for the location

Great Western Rail Franchise Public Consultation

GWR DMU changes in 2018

We should start to expect to see the end of the 158/9 operations on the Cardiff - Portsmouth cross country corridor, as these units are reassigned to services in Devon and Cornwall, allocated to EX (Exeter). They will be replaced by Class 166 units which are being reallocated from RG (Reading) to PM (Bristol St Philip's Marsh).

166202/3/5/6/8/10/14/16/19 are currently understood to be allocated to PM, and are working on Bristol Parkway to Weston-super-Mare and Severn Beach services. For working on the longer distance services, 2+2 seating is to be fitted, and ride height is to modified to improve clearances.

166202 ran to Southampton on 18th December for gauging purposes.

158950 (above) passes Dunbridge, on 6th January, the location of all of these pictures. This unit has been refurbished into the current GWR scheme.

158954 still carries the "dynamic lines" colours.

Both Class 150/0 prototype units were also on these services on 6th January, reflecting their reallocation from RG to PM which took place during 2017. 

Diverts at Dunbridge, 6th January 2018

A father and son, who had just disembarked from a local train, admire 66524, complete with job opportunities advert, as it trundles over the crossing as 0O26 (?) 09:20 Hinksey - Maritime - all eastbound trains appeared subject to a slack. 66524 was the second of two trains at this time, but the the level crossing barriers did not go up for some 5 minutes after it had passed, assumed to be an intervention from the Salisbury signalman. 66524 has been on Eastleigh - Hinksey duties in the past week, and features revised headlights, fitted after a visit to Brush Loughborough in October - November 2014..

66415 with 4O14 07:30 Lawley St - Maritime, one of three Freightliner locomotives still in the remnants of the DRS Compass colours - the others are 66413 and 66419. Also seen here at Nursling.

70017 leads 4O27 05:21 Garston - Maritime. A few minutes later at Nursling.

70004 with 4O90 05:27 Leeds - Maritime, still height restricted, and with many pocket and small wheel wagons. Also seen at Romsey.

66536 + 70011 (DIT) 4O29 08:20 Basford Hall - Maritime. Seen earlier at Reading West: one two.

70011 appears to be for repair at Maritime. On Thursday 4th, this loco and 70020 were noted being dragged from Ipswich to Crewe, and noted as for repair: one two.