Swanage Railway Diesel Gala Focus, 11th May 2019: 26007

This one goes way back for me, and it's hard to believe that it's more than 60 years old, and a genuine piece of railway history. As class leader D5300, the locomotive was new from Birmingham Railway Carriage & Wagon Co on the 30th July 1958, and initially worked from Hornsey on Kings Cross suburban duties. The class was then concentrated in Scotland, with this locomotive reallocated to Haymarket in the week ending 23rd April 1960.

In Scotland this was one of earlier and heavier locomotives, and was selected for dual braking and boiler removal in 1966, for operation of MGR trains for Cockenzie Power Station, also sometimes seen on ECS duties from Craigentinny to Edinburgh Waverley.

Renumbered to 26007 on 25th May 1974, general overhauland refurbished December 1982, withdrawn from service on 4th October 1993.

I first saw this locomotive at the "Edinburgh Rail Festival" of 24th September 1977. The locomotive has previously visited Swanage for the diesel gala in 2009, and is now present at the Swanage Railway for the summer months of 2019.

History at 6LDA

Arriving at Swanage.

Shunt at Swanage.

Departing from Harman's Cross.

Approaching Harman's Cross from Swanage.

On the rear of a working to Frome River Bridge at Corfe Castle.