Friday 31 January 2020

Diverts at Romsey, 29th January 2020


An unexpected sequential series of days of 'diverts' via Laverstock, following the derailment at Eastleigh. The best weather was on the first day, Wednesday, 29th.

66515 4O05 07:15 Birch Coppice - Maritime.

66510 4M61 13:00 Maritime - Trafford Park.

70014 4O14 05:36 Garston - Maritime, this loco was reinstated from storage in November.

66518 4O90 06:08 Leeds - Maritime.

66773 Pride of GB Railfreight 0Z45 13:46 Westbury - Marchwood.

66501 Japan 2001 4M65 13:46 Maritime - Lawley Street.

66541 4O49 09:21 Basford Hall - Maritime.

66541 passes 66720 4M51 14:24 Western Docks - Trafford Park.

66720 bears its special 'Rainbow' Night & Day' livery.

Wednesday 29 January 2020

Great Central Railway Winter Steam Gala, Saturday 25th January 2020


Ten locomotives in steam on Saturday, plus the NER railcar.

46521 seen at Loughborough, following a successful steam test the previous day.

78018 and 46521 with a mineral train at Quorn.

78018 with the first northbound train of the day at Rothley, a two coach local train to Loughborough.

47406 running through Rothley.

48305 running north at Rothley with a minerals train.

62005 between turns at Loughborough.

73156 similarly between turns.

92214 departs south from Quorn.

North Eastern Railway Electric Autocar 3170 of 1903.

A busy scene at Swithland in Saturday afternoon. At this point the service was 30 minutes late, I departed shortly after this picture, but the final trains of the day were over 2 hours late.

Further gallery on One Drive.

Monday 27 January 2020

Great Central Railway Winter Steam Gala, Friday 24th January 2020


Five locomotives in steam on Friday.

45305 arrives at Rothley with the first train of the day, mineral wagons for Leicester North.

4953 Pitchford Hall + 6990 Witherslack Hall arriving at Rothley, where 4953 was removed for its next duty.

73156 arrived only a few moments after the previous train departed.

Onwards to Quorn and Woodhouse, and 6990 departing for Leicester.

62005 passes Quorn with a mineral train.

4953 prepares to depart from Rothley at dusk.

Services were curtailed as they ran over an hour late. This was the last train of the day (62005 + 73156 T+T) being given the right away by gaslight.

Sunday 26 January 2020

Tamworth Low Level, 23rd January 2020


Perhaps even murkier than High Level.

Low Level was a LNWR station.

66951 covers for Class 86s with 4L75 05:00 Trafford Park - Felixstowe.


350118 slows to stop with a down local train.

57301 Goliath, leased to Rail Operations Group, returning to Leicester as 0M59 09:55 STP light engine from Warrington Bank Quay.

390131 in the interim DfT base scheme, in which most of the Pendolinos appear to be operating.

88008 Ariadne passes with 4M27 05:48 Mossend - Daventry.

221101 wears DfT base colours with Avanti labelling. This Voyager was formerly reliveried in a Virgin scheme laid upon the DfT base.

390155 wears the full Avanti West Coast scheme.

88001 Revolution passes with 4S44 12:16 Daventry - Mossend. The headlights were on, 1/500th can capture them in an off moment.

Saturday 25 January 2020

Tamworth High Level, 23rd January 2020


Dismally overcast conditions at Tamworth High Level, but brightened up by two Tugs.

The High Level station is of Midland Railway heritage, and was rebuilt in 1962.

43378 arrives from Burton with 1V50 06:06 Edinburgh - Plymouth. The other power car was 43285.

66751 Inspiration Delivered Hitachi Rail Europe leads 4M11 1007 Washwood Heath - Peak Forest formed of Cemex liveried shortened HYA hoppers.

66702 with 4E34 05:28 Southampton Western Docks - Doncaster iPort.

66421 passing with STP 4M51 06:35 Tees Dock - Daventry Tesco containers.

60063 6E08 10:02 Wolverhampton Steel Terminal - Immingham.

60040 The Territorial Army Centenary being mighty with 6M57 07:15 Lindsey - Kingsbury.

66703 Doncaster PSB 1981 - 2002 passing with 6D44 11:10 Bescot.-.Toton.

20th - 25th January 2020


68009 Titan in the woods at Crampmoor on Sunday 19th.

66758 approaching Redbridge with 6G28 06:48 Eastleigh - Redbridge, 21st January. Image by Ian Knight.

Sunday 19th January: 68009 5Z51 14:14 Bristol - Eastleigh, 0Z51 16:48 Eastleigh -  Gresty Bridge (68009 on tour and ecs)
Monday 20th January: 66732 + 800101 5X98 07:45 Eastleigh - Acton (onward to Craigentinny) one two three47813 + 47815 0O86 07:12 Leicester - Eastleigh; 156496 arrived in East Yard from Heaton, and is for the T&RSMD; 73962 + 73965 1Q51 11:15 Derby - Eastleigh - Weymouth - Eastleigh one
Tuesday 21st January: 47813 0M59 09:24 Eastleigh - Leicester one two; 73962 + 73965 1Q52 10:37 Eastleigh - Portsmouth Harbour - Littlehampton - Portsmouth Harbour - Totton Yard - Havant - Guildford - Havant - Fareham - Eastleigh - Woking - Lymington Pier -Eastleigh one; 802205 5X99 12:34 Acton - Eastleigh one two three; 166211 3Z87 23:09 Portsmouth - Brighton (gauging special)
Wednesday 22nd January: 166211 3Z88 0310 Brighton - Portsmouth; 802207 5X98 07:08 Eastleigh- Acton one two three; 73962 + 73965 1Q53 11:48 Eastleigh  - Southampton Up Yard - Wimbledon Park - Southampton Up Yard - Wimbledon Park - Totton Yard - Eastleigh - Romsey - Hamworthy Poole - Eastleigh
Thursday 23rd January: 73962 + 73965 1Q54 12:45 Eastleigh - Tonbridge
Friday 24th January: 802204 + 801222 5X98 07:11 Eastleigh - Acton one two three four
Saturday 25th January:

Eastleigh Works: 09Dec - 11Dec - 13Dec - 17Dec - 18Dec - 23Dec

Friday 24 January 2020

Lunchtime workings at Eastleigh, 20th January 2020


66758 The Pavior was on the Westbury workings, and was returning from refueling at the depot.

66110 4O40 09:43 Cowley - Eastern Docks.

66415 You are Never Alone 4M61 13:00 Maritime - Trafford Park.

66587 (again!) 66546 66553 0W27 12:20 Maritime - East Yard.

70010 4O90 06:08 Leeds - Maritime.

66727 + 66717 SITT 3Y88 10:30 Totton Yard - Totton Yard.

70003 4O70 09:47 Wentloog - Maritime.