Monday 27 August 2018

Watercress Line Diesel Gala Focus, 3rd June 2018: 47579


47579 James Nightall G.C. is currently on a hire to the Watercress Line, and is seen here at the diesel gala held earlier this year. Next planned for running on 8th September.

The locomotive was built at Brush, Loughborough, as D1778 and entered traffic on 23rd October 1964. Renumbered 47183 about February 1974, then converted with ETH to 47579 in March 1981, named James Nightall G.C. on 28th September 1981 at March, nameplates removed in November 1995. Converted to 47793 about December 1995, the last RCH jumpers conversions, named Saint Augustine on 24th June 1996, later named Christopher Wren in 2003. Stored by EWS in March 2004, and preserved in 2007 at Mangapps Farm.

Departing from Ropley.

A further shot of the departure.

The token is prepared for handing to the signalman, when arriving at Ropley from Alton.

Sunday 26 August 2018

Swanage Diesel Gala Focus, 12th May 2018: 45041 'Royal Tank Regiment'


Already featured in a 2017 diesel gala focus item, 45041 Royal Tank Regiment returned to Swanage in May 2018.

45041, seen here between turns at Swanage, was new as D53 from BR Crewe on 25th June 1962. Named on the 24th September 1964. Air brakes fitted in 1968. Renumbered in May 1975. Marker lights fitted in March 1979.

Seen here between Corfe Castle and Norden. The locomotive was last in traffic for BR on 18th May 1988, and was formally withdrawn on 8th June that year. 

Returning from Norden.

Seen here later in the day, in a further layover at Norden.

Saturday 25 August 2018

20th - 25th August 2018


33012 departs Southampton for Clapham Jct on the re-pathed return of the 'Dorset Coast Express', 23rd August. Image by Ian Knight.

Monday 20th August: 
Tuesday 21st August:
Wednesday 22nd August:
Thursday 23rd August: 60009 + 47580 T+T 1Y50 08:45 Victoria - Weymouth (60009 for the day). 47580 failed at Weymouth, 33012 came from Swanage to cover the re-timed return 1Y52 19:36 Weymouth - Clapham Junction one two three four. 60009 came off at Southampton and returned 5Y53 21:15 Southampton - Laverstock - Southall which lost time all of the way, 47580 is still at Weymouth, discussion threads one two; 43014 + 43062 NMT Salisbury - Southampton UGL - Salisbury
Friday 24th August:
Saturday 25th August:

"Traction power supply threatens SWR franchise": article - discussion

WCR 47580 recovery: expected on Tuesday 28th - loco + 33012 to Wareham, then loco to Weymouth to return with 47580

Freightliner Class 70: 70003 / 005 / 007 / 008 / 011 / 014 / 020 seem to be in traffic

Eastleigh Works: 24Jul - 25Jul - 26Jul - 27Jul - 30Jul - 01Aug - 02Aug - 13Aug - 15Aug

Thursday 23 August 2018

OCAs in Colas operated 6O31, Eastleigh, 16th August 2018


It's not always that you get the opportunity to photograph an entire train, but when it is as short as 6O31 17:30 Westbury - Eastleigh can be, then it's possible.

70802 arives at Eastleigh.

112146 is an OCA, built at Shildon in 1981.

112297 a similar OCA.

112087 a third OCA, again of similar background.

Ambling on into platform 2, and hence the yard.

Wednesday 22 August 2018

Livery peculiarities: 313201, 8th August 2018


313204 (April 1976) alongside 313201 at Havant, 8th August.

313201 was orginally the first in class 313001, introduced as a 25KV + 750V dc unit for GN Suburban and Moorgate services in February 1976. Renumbered to 313101 in November 2000, for use on Euston - Watford and North London lines, modified with additional 3rd rail shoes, and then 313201 in 2010 when converted for 750V dc only for Southern Railway.

The oldest emu currently in service, at 42 years old, longevity assisted by aluminium construction. ( (Some LMS/BR Class 503 ran for 47 years.)  The repaint was made at completion of C6 overhaul at Wolverton in December 2017. 

Departing on its way to Portsmouth - these local services seem subject to cancellations in the current RMT vs. GoVia Southern dispute.

Monday 20 August 2018

Eastleigh Works, 16th August 2018


D1944 (47501) CRAFTSMAN continues its sojourn outside the works. 

73213 Rhodalyn had arrived at the works earlier in the day, from Tonbridge. Recently in warm store, it was on a test run in Kent on 13th.

Recently repainted barrier coach 68504, with 68501 adjacent to it. In the foreground is finished VTG 4027, a remodelled JSA which appears ready for traffic.

370024 is a redundant HHA coal hopper of Freightliner, built by Greenbrier Wagony Swidnica about 2001. Some of these wagons have already been scrapped, with parts recovered for MWA box wagons, and these will be similarly, arriving at Eastleigh in groups of 10.

Sunday 19 August 2018

KFA wagon works activity, Eastleigh, 16th August 2018


4B91 17:17 Eastleigh Works - Maritime operates ThuO and on an as-required business. Here seen at Eastleigh on Thursday 16th, moving two KFA wagons back to Maritime.

 After a run-around in the East Yard, 66509 runs through the station, towards Southampton.

TIPH 93487 appeared to have seen attention to wheelsets

TIPH 93456 was the second similar wagon, both built by Rautarukki in Finland in 1987-88.

At the works, similar TIPH 93448 was noted, it may have just been delivered for attention.

Saturday 18 August 2018

12th - 18th August 2018


66428 Madge Elliot MBE Borders Railway Opening 2015 leads 4M98 17:24 Maritime - Garston past Romsey, 15th August.

Some 40 minutes later, 70805 leads two JNA wagons as 6O31 17:30 Westbury - Eastleigh, Romsey, 15th August.

Sunday 12th August: 67002 5Z64 13:05 Bristol - Eastleigh one two three
Monday 13th August: 66135 5O61 09:53 Wembley - Eastleigh one
Tuesday 14th August: (60009 + 47760) + 47580 T+T 1Y50 08:45 Victoria - Weymouth, 1Y52 16:40 Weymouth - Southampton - Laverstock - Victoria 60009 for the day
Wednesday 15th August: 
Thursday 16th August: 47580 + 47804 T+T 1Z62 07:21 Alton - Paignton one two three, 1Z63 17:14 Paignton - Alton one
Friday 17th August:
Saturday 18th August: 66007 5Z25 15:22 Eastleigh - Bristol one two three

The Freightliner warm storage of Class 70 is dynamic. 70003 & 70005 have been working from Trafford Park and 70005 was at Southampton, at least on Wednesday 15th, By Friday 17th, most had been seen back in traffic, 70003 & 70014 had reached Southampton, and 70007 was expected to run south on Saturday 18th.

47804 is the next WCRC Class 47 for a planned overhaul, and 47854 has been on a successful test run this week, after a fire at Northampton in May 2017, now moved to Crewe with 47746 for tour duties.

Saturday 11 August 2018

Are Freightliner sidelining all their class 70s?


Copying the title of a thread on WNXX forum, and also read something related elsewhere.

As of Friday night
70003 DFGI IPSWICHYD IPS LOCOS N DITL
70005 DFGI BASFDHALL BASFDHALL 9 N STOR
70007 DFGI SOTON M T SOTON M T 9 N DITL
70008 DFGI BASFDHALL CRWBHFPFL X STOR
70014 DFGI SOTON M T SOTON M T 9 N DITL
70020 DFGI THLG FL 514M37C710 9 BASFDHALL N STOR
all were assigned as as "dead in tow locomotive" or store.

70014 actually hauled 70007 DIT as 4M46 02:10 Southampton - Garston on Saturday morning, leaving no Class 70 at Southampton. It is believed to have come off at Crewe Basford Hall, leaving 70007 to proceed to Garston, then return to Basford Hall - where it seems that there will be a storage line.

Earlier today I read the latest G&W Investor 2Q results presentation of 27th July where I noted:

"U.K. Optimization/Restructuring Update 

• Overall plan unchanged with ~$55 million of restructuring and related costs expected to unlock ~$18 million of annual savings 
• Q2 2018 restructuring and related charges of $9.4 million ($6.1 million from equipment rationalization and $3.3 million from management restructuring and technology initiatives) 
• Locomotive fleet rationalization partially deferred into 2H 2018 given strengthening commercial demand for bulk commodity shipments 
EITHER $23 million of equipment charges in 2H 2018 (yielding $8 million of annual savings) OR new business to be contracted for higher profit using the excess equipment"

We will know in the next day or two if all Freightliner Class 70 have been parked.
UPDATE Monday 13th: Confirmed - the traffic requirements can reportedly be managed in the short term with the Class 66 / 86 /90 fleet.

66413, Saturday 11th August 2018


A further look at 66413 while it remains unique in Genesee & Wyoming colours, running past Millbrook with 4O14 07:29 Lawley Street - Maritime.

Further coverage of this working one two three four.



The locomotive was new in May 2006, and has been leased to Freightliner by Macquarie European Rail Ltd, and their predecessors, since January 2009.



Later, at Maritime, alongside 66591, which had arrived on 4O12 02:44 Hams Hall - Maritime.

5th - 11th August 2018


 66413 at Maritime, 5th August. Now stored 70015 in right background. Image by Ian Knight.

66413 on 4M67 14:17 Maritime - Hams Hall, at Test Lane, 7th August. Image by Ian Knight.

Sunday 5th August: (50049 + 50007) + 47727 on rear 5Z52 21:00 Basingstoke - Eastleigh one two three
Monday 6th August: 47749 + 47727 + 66713 0M27 11:57 Eastleigh - Leicester one two three four; 50007 + 50049 0Z50 14:02 Eastleigh - Kidderminster one two three four five. The line was blocked beyond Hinksey, so the 47s appear to have been sent to Wembley Yard, the 50s ran an altered route via Swindon; 37175 3Q10 20:53 Burton - Eastleigh
Tuesday 7th August: 37175 3Q01 22:30 Eastleigh - Wimbledon - Basingstoke - Reading - Basingstoke - Woking -Eastleigh
Wednesday 8th August: 37175 3Qxx 21:37 Eastleigh - Weymouth - Southampton - Fratton - St Denys - Eastleigh
Thursday 9th August: (60009 + 47760) + 47580 T+T 1Y50 08:45 Victoria - Weymouth; 1Y52 16:40 Weymouth - Southampton - Laverstock - Victoria; 37175 20:17½ Eastleigh - Bournemouth - Reading Triangle Sidings
Friday 10th August:
Saturday 11th August: 

Class 70s to store:
70002 - was running on 8th
70011 - last ran about 25th July, seen 10th at Leeds Midland Road
70015 - last ran on 4th one two three, then designated for dead in tow to Leeds (seen at Maritime with number obscured in upper right of picture at top of this update).

70801: repairs completed after about one year

Potential new timber freight flow to Totton Yard: a run was planned for Wednesday 15th: from Chirk (14:05 at Totton) - Thursday 16th: to Chirk (15:17 from Totton). Although not expected next week, if and when this operates, it is anticipated to be Colas Rail. There were three management-pose types in orange waistcoat hi-viz in Totton Yard on Thursday, so something is happening there.

GBRf stone train, operated earlier in the month: 
  • Monday 30th July: 6O44 19:27 Whatley - Southampton Up Yard
  • Tuesday 31st 6V43 09:07 Southampton Up Yard to Whatley
  • Continued to run cycle on Wed 1st and Thursday 2nd
  • Saturday 4th: 6M43 09:35 Southampton Up Yard - Wellingborough Up Tc Gbrf - but 66742 operated light engine, leaving the wagons in the yard
  • one two three four five six seven eight
These pink ONE containers (Ocean Network Express) - suddenly seem to be everywhere, and in the picture above. "Ocean Network Express was established on July 7, 2017 by the integration of 'K' Line, MOL and NYK". The colour is actually 'cherry blossom magenta'.

Thursday 9 August 2018

"The Dorset Coast Express", 9th August 2018


60009 Union of South Africa
47760
47580 County of Essex

1Y50 08:45 Victoria - Weymouth
1Y52 16:40 Weymouth - Southampton - Laverstock - Victoria

Further pictures by other photographers.


The first three pictures show the down working passing Totton Yard.





The up working returns through Redbridge in the evening. Image by Ian Knight.

Two evening pictures at Dunbridge.





Saturday 4 August 2018

GBRf Class 47 activities, Eastleigh, 3rd August 2018

The plan was for 47749 CITY OF TRURO to work from Leicester to Eastleigh to pair up in some way with 47727 Edinburgh Castle / Caisteal Dhùn Èideann for the early hours ECS to Crewe, for a GBRf staff special. However 47749 had issues at Eastleigh, now understood to be resolved, and 47727 proceeded north on its own. The return on Sunday 5th is an excursion as far as Basingstoke, which was advertised for two Class 47, and a path has been created "0Z51 1323 Eastleigh Arlington (Zg) to Coventry Yard". Eventually the ECS will be "2100 Basingstoke to Eastleigh Arlington (Zg)"

UPDATE Sunday 5th: No fit Class 47s for today - 47727 had to be pushed on the ECS this morning. 50007 + 50049 to run through to Basingstoke & then ECS to Eastleigh (seen earlier at Droitwich). 47749 is judged not able enough to handle the train and dead 47727.

47749 approaches Eastleigh as a light engine from Leicester - upgraded brighter headlight. New as D1660 in February 1965.

It was running a few minutes early at this point. A GBRf / Caledonian Sleeper repaint may be anticipated before too long?

Running through the station. The current CITY OF TRURO nameplates were re- applied ahead of the Bristol St. Phillips Marsh event on 30th April 2016, having originally been named at Truro on 8th June 1965.

47727 was prepared on the tour stock at Eastleigh Works.

47749 at Eastleigh Works, with 47818 beyond.

50 years ago today, the end of BR Steam, 4th August 1968

I was a boy, my awareness was via an item on the BBC TV News.

Some items found elsewhere:

Michael Clemens Railways

Heritage Railway

Last day of steam Carnforth 1968

Flickr selection

Eastleigh Works, 1st August 2018


RMB W1832 (delivered from BR Wolverton as SC1832 in 1961) has been outshopped in chocolate and cream, replacing carmine and cream. 47727 is in the background.

D1944 (47501) CRAFTSMAN has arrived at Eastleigh, along with adjacent FO 3330.

47739 is hidden away in an unknown livery, which can be seen to be with full yellow ends.

Geismar VMT 860 PL/UM (MPV / GP-TRAMM) DR98306 + DR98305 has been moved away from the Raxstar area. Have they been sold?

Another view across the yard.

JSA VTG 4119 awaits the transformation treatment. Built by Dorman Long in 1977-78, converted with hood at WH Davis 2007-08.