Wednesday 31 July 2019

Gloucester & Warwickshire Diesel Gala, 26th July 2019: 45149


45149 was originally delivered as D135 from BR at Crewe on 30th December 1961, and allocated to Derby. ETH was fitted and the locomotive was renumbered to 45149 in February 1975. Withdrawn from BR service on 14th September 1987, with a defective traction motor. After extended storage at Cricklewood then Leicester, disposal into preservation followed in 1992, initially at Crewe where the power unit was lifted out. The separated parts arrived at Toddington in April 1997 following sale to the Cotswold Mainline Diesel Group.

The loco made its preservation debut at the Diesel Gala in July 2013.

My records show that I first saw this locomotive on the night of the 2nd - 3rd September 1983, probably at York. I was travelling on a cheaper overnight train ticket in a summer relief train to Edinburgh hauled from Kings Cross by 46014, which itself lasted only another 8 months. I recall that I had room to sleep lying on the seat of a Mk 2a 1st class compartment.

Approaching Cheltenham Race Course with the ecs for the first train of the day.

 Running around at Cheltenham.

At Winchcombe in a timetabled long stopover.

Departing Toddington for Winchcombe.

Tuesday 30 July 2019

Gloucester & Warwickshire Diesel Gala, 26th July 2019: 26043


26043 was new as D5343 from BRCW on 2nd October 1959, and allocated to 64B Haymarket, although by July 1960, 60A Inverness was its home depot.

Renumbered to 26043 in January 1974. Heavy General overhaul and air brake fitted at Glasgow Works, completed in May 1985,

Withdrawn on 19th January 1993, following a power earth fault.

Preserved by the Cotswold Mainline Diesel Group, and based at Toddington since April 1994. Restored to use in 2013, but did have some traction motor issues, now resolved.

I first saw this locomotive in Glasgow Works when I visited on 4th October 1980 (RCTS visit?). The repair work was completed the following month. More recent appearances at Swanage in 2017 and on the Mid-Hants in 2018.

Preparing for a departure from Broadway.

Passing the neck of the yard at Toddington.

Pulling into the platform at Winchecombe.

Departing from Winchcombe.


Monday 29 July 2019

Gloucester & Warwickshire Diesel Gala, 26th July 2019: 50035 'Ark Royal'


D435 was completed at English Electric Vulcan Foundry, Newton-le-Willows, and placed into traffic on 30th September 1968, in D05 (Stoke Division), later Crewe Diesel. Renumbered to 50035 in January 1973. Transferred to the Western Region in January 1976, initially to Bristol Bath Road, but reallocated to Laira in early December that year. Named Ark Royal on 17th January 1978. Reallocated to Old Oak Common in June 1980.

Refurbished November 1980 - March 1981 at Doncaster (ZF). Intermediate overhaul April to July 1986. Last passenger working 14th July 1990, withdrawn on 3rd August 1990.

My personal record shows that I first saw the locomotive on 14th October 1983, a Friday, and I think while returning from a week working in London area.

It appeared as 50135 in Loadhaul scheme at Eastleigh Works Open Event in May 2009, and at the Swanage Railway, in 2010, 2015 and 2016.

Class 50 Fund history


50035 arriving at Winchcombe from Toddington.

Arriving at the new station at Broadway, completed for passenger use, but with ongoing expansion to the second platform.

Light engine at Toddington awaiting the next train - the run-around at Broadway requires a repair.

Between Greet Tunnel and Winchcombe.


Sunday 28 July 2019

Gloucester & Warwickshire Diesel Gala, 26th July 2019: The Shed


8137 was new from English Electric Vulcan Foundry on 12th April 1966, and was withdrawn in December 1992, thus half of its years are now after its mainline career.

47105 was new on 6th December 1963, and was withdrawn in January 1994, arriving at the railway later that year. Under overhaul since 2011.

24081 was poorly. The locomotive was new in traffic on 19th March 1960, and was the last class survivor when withdrawn in October 1980. Now in the ownership of the 24081 Locomotive Group.

26010 is at the railway from Llangollen for traction motor repairs. Notes: one two three 

I first saw this locomotive over 40 years ago. It was new to traffic on 6th January 1959, and was withdrawn in December 1992.

37215 sits on accommodation bogies, while its traction motors receive repairs. The locomotive was new as D6915 on 1st January 1964, and came out of traffic in 1992, arriving at Toddington in 1994.

47376 sits on shed between turns.

Saturday 27 July 2019

22nd - 27th July 2019


59003 YEOMAN HIGHLANDER 6O41 10:14 Westbury-Eastleigh approaching its destination. All pictures were on 25th July.

66416 passes Eastleigh with late running 4O05 07:19 Birch Coppice - Maritime.

70010 was early and held outside of Eastleigh, before passing with 4O14 05:36 Garston - Maritime.

Trans-Pennine 802208 appears ready for departure.

Monday 22nd July: 47245 5Z56 10:04 Acton - Eastleigh one, 0Z56 12:52 Eastleigh - Southall; 60026 in East Yard at the weekend, it was in the works by 24th - body repair and repaint
Tuesday 23rd July:
Wednesday 24th July: 66703 + 802211 + 802212 6X80 04:12 Dollands Moor - Eastleigh one two three four; 33012 0Z43 10:13 Swanage - Eastleigh one two, 33012 + 55028 5Z43 15:10 Eastleigh - Swanage one two three four five six seven eight nine
Thursday 25th July: 60009 + 47802 T+T 1Z82 08:45 London Victoria to Weymouth one two, 1Z84 16:35 Weymouth to London Victoria Flickr for the day
Friday 26th July: 67024 11:31 1Y91 Victoria - Hove one
Saturday 27th July: 47245 0Z25 10:31 Southall - Eastleigh one; 5Z25 15:47 Eastleigh - Didcot - Bristol Kingsland Road - which failed at Basingstoke, 33025 sent to assist, failed at Swindon, 47802 sent to further assist one two three four five six

Third rail being re-instated at Eastleigh, noted on 25th, replacing that removed in May 2017. More similar rails arrived by truck across Campbell Road Bridge. A possibility appears to be that the sidings will be used for new SWR emus.

Eastleigh Works: 24Jun - 25Jun - 27 Jun

37188 was broken up on the past week at Leicester, in November 2015 it seemed to become part of the Colas operating fleet.

66773 is in the paintshop at Eastleigh, and may be booked to Brighton and return on Friday 2nd.

'The Dorset Coast Express', 25th July 2019


60009 Union of South Africa + 47802 T+T
1Z82 0845 London Victoria to Weymouth
1Z84 1635 Weymouth to London Victoria

Trainspotters out in the sunshine as 60009 storms past, making up time at this point.

The locomotive entered traffic on 29th June 1937, and may now be in its final year of activity.

The return train enters Romsey station.

And passes by on its way to Laverstock and eventually London Victoria.


Saturday 20 July 2019

The Cathedrals Express, 20th July 2019


44871 + 61306 Mayflower T+T
1Z91 13:45 Portsmouth & Southsea to Salisbury
1Z92 16:36 Salisbury to Portsmouth & Southsea

The outward leg was led by 44871, seen above working hard at Mottsfont & Dunbridge, ...

... and earlier passing Millbrook. Image by Ian Knight.

61306 lead the return, passing Romsey ...

... with 44871 on the rear.

The train then proceeded to Redbridge, where this picture was taken by Ian Knight.

15th - 20th July 2019


67006 approaches Romsey with 5Z24 12:57 Bristol - Eastleigh, the empty stock of 'The Torbay Express' on 15th ....

.... and passes 59003 with 6V41 14:45 Eastleigh - Westbury.

59204 passing Romsey with 7V16 11:55 Fareham - Whatley on 18th.

70809 pauses at Romsey with 0Y68 16:13 Eastleigh East Yard -Westbury Down T.C., 20th July.

Monday 15th July: 800205 + 801112 5X82 07:26 Eastleigh - Willesden one two; 47810 0Zxx 15:04 Eastleigh - Crewe one two; 67006 5Z24 12:57 Bristol - Eastleigh one two three; 37254 3xxx 20:48 Eastleigh - Hither Green; 5O61 19:30 Wembley - Eastleigh;73962 + 73965 1Q64 19:32 Eastleigh - Woking one
Tuesday 16th July:
Wednesday 17th July: 67006 + 67029 5Z62 11:03Eastleigh - Tyseley one two three four five six seven
Thursday 18th July: 66107 + rake of HRA wagons 6O55 05:25 Wembley - Eastleigh one, 4V02 Eastleigh Aggregate Sidings - Wembley; 61306 + 47802 1Z35 09:06 Southend - Eastleigh one two, 1Z36 16:43 Eastleigh - Southend one two three; 37254 3Q21 20:40 Hither Green - Eastleigh one
Friday 19th July: 37254 3Z01 10:21 Eastleigh - Staines - Eastleigh EastYard one two three; 47245 0Z60 10:40 Southall - Eastleigh one; 5Z60 13:58 Eastleigh - Acton Lane one two three four47815 0M59 14:20 Eastleigh - Leicester one two three; 800202 5X81 Willesden - Eastleigh one two three; 66736 + 66761 + 60026 6Y42 14:14 Hoo - Eastleigh one two
Saturday 20th July: 44871 + 61306 T+T 1Z91 13:45 Portsmouth & Southsea - Southampton - Salisbury one two three, 1Z92 16:36 Salisbury - Southampton - Eastleigh - Portsmouth & Southsea one; 60026 in East Yard one


Wednesday 17 July 2019

Mendip Rail Trial for 70003, 18th July 2019


The trial took place on Thursday evening with 7A91 22:50  Merehead - Acton.

70003 was selected and was run to and prepared at Southampton Maritime, then 0V70 light engine to Merehead in the midday period Thursday, seen here passing Romsey. There as then a Merehead - Westbury and return familiarisation run.


59203 followed the train as 00:14 Westbury - Acton. It was not needed, as with a 46 wagon 4495 tonnes load, 70003 made it out of the quarry with no pushing assistance (normally provided for Class 59 at over 3800 tonnes), then gained 15 minutes on a 54 minute schedule on the climb from Heywood Road Junction to Savernake. This would appear to be an a.c. traction advantage.

70003 returned to Maritime as 04:28 Acton - Southampton, and arrived over two hours early at Maritime at 04:55. It is due back on intermodal duties later in the day 19th July.

Flickr for 70003 this week - nothing visible from the trial, similarly on YouTube.

Freight through Crampmoor and Dunbridge, 16th July 2019


A busier, Class 59 intensive, period for this patch, even without 59003 working with 6V41, which did run on Monday.

59201 with bell cab leading passing Crampmoor with 7V16 11:55 Fareham A.R.C. Sidings - Whatley Quarry empties.

66548 passes with 4M65 13:46 Maritime - Lawley Street.

59004 PAUL A HAMMOND passing Dunbridge with 6V07 12:41 Chichester Recp. - Merehead Quarry empties.

59202 leads 7Z52 14:52 Southampton Up Yard - Whatley Quarry empties.

Tuesday 16 July 2019

Westbury, 11th July 2019


66847 Terry Baker 6M40 11:56 Westbury Down T.C. to Cliffe Hill Stud Farm Gbrf, now operated by Colas, and formed of Network Rail IOA (E) box wagons.

59001 YEOMAN ENDEAVOUR arrives with  6V18 11:25 Allington A.R.C. Sdg. to Whatley Quarry empties.

66154 pauses for a crew change with 6Z42 14:32 Acton T.C. to Merehead Quarry empties.

800021 arrives with 1C89 16:33 Paddington - Exeter.

This was the working of the day at about 40 wagons, but I was in the wrong place. 59005 KENNETH J PAINTER + 59102 Village of Chantry 7A15 17:05 Merehead Quarry to Acton T.C. The locomotives were both under power working in multi.

59004 PAUL A HAMMOND arrived with 7V12 15:38 Woking - Merehead and ran around the train.

609001 appears to be in a line of parked wagons. The FAA type is a well container wagon, built as a batch of 100 by Thrall Europa at York in 1999 for EWS, and latterly believed to have been most active on MoD traffic. More than half of these are understood to be stored, and in recent weeks some of these have been going to scrapyards. Greenbrier still list the wagon type on their website.