Tuesday 30 June 2020

47815 on 442 drag, Ashurst, 29th June 2020


47815 + 442411 5Q70 0635 Bournemouth T&R.S.M.D - Wolverton Centre Sidings, passing Ashurst New Forest. A fair bit of time was lost between Poole and Christhurch, but was made up later in the journey. 

442411 has been operational following storage at Ely in 2016-17, and has been sent to Wolverton with the original 4-REP equipment fitted.

47815 Lost Boys 68-88 leads the train with four barrier coaches.

Barrier ADB 977087 is attached to 442411, the third-rail shoes and beam have been removed.

There is an interesting tail lamp hook arrangement.

Sunday 28 June 2020

701002 returns from Wareham to Eastleigh Works, 27th June 2020


66741 Swanage Railway + 701002 + 66775 HMS Argyll 
 - 6X70 0513½ Worgret Jn - Eastleigh Works Gbrf
 - departed 28 minutes late, and was 52 minutes late on arrival at Eastleigh, just as rain started to fall.

66741 leads as the train approaches the Campbell Road Bridge. The first barrier was 87.80.2797.014-3, an IWA Cargowaggon, which appears to have only recently been converted..

DMS 489002 at the No.2 end, and the special coupling to the Cargowaggon.

Detail of the bogie and the rather unusual 'retractable' 3rd rail shoe arrangement, the cover marked 'No Step', with arrangement tied up by cord for this journey.

DMS 480002, the No.1 end.

The second IWA was 87.80.2797.013-5, similar in recent background to that above.

The following ballast / brake wagons were IGB Cargowaggons, some of which had previously been seen on the Class 802 delivery workings from Dollands Moor.

33.80.4737.023-8
33.80.4737.002-2
33.80.4737.027-9
33.80.4737.047-7
33.80.4737.039-4

66775 on the rear.

Saturday 27 June 2020

22nd - 27th June 2020


43083 of Locomotive Services at Eastleigh Works on the morning of 27th June. LSL have now also taken delivery of 43046 and 43055 to Crewe, so appear to be on a Paxman 12VP185 strategy.

66505 passes the Campbell Road bridge viewpoint with 4O22 01:23 Trafford Park - Maritime, 27th June.

Monday 22nd June: 47812 5O86 10: 38 Leicester - Eastleigh one two
Tuesday 23rd June: 47812 5M59 10:30 Eastleigh - Leicester (swapped barrier 6340 for overhauled 6346) one two three
Wednesday 24th June: Barrier 6340 at Eastleigh Works
Thursday 25th June:
Friday 26th June: 47815 + 442419 5Q86 16:53 Wolverton - Bournemouth one two three four - the work at Wolverton took two months, and this unit was the first to be converted earlier.
Saturday 27th June: 156496 5Q12 14:50 Eastleigh - Heaton one two three four

Eastleigh Works: 02Jun - 05Jun - 08Jun

314204 at Eastleigh Works has had its unit number flame cut and removed.  

701002 went down to Wareham on Wednesday 24th and was returned on Saturday 27th. Flickr for the week. SWR shared s short video of it on test at Weymouth.

It seems that 319373 is not for Class 769 conversion, but will have different roller floor systems installed to show potential customers what is possible, and will be dragged by a 769.

Class 73 to run on Bio-LPG: 73952 - G-Volution - video (where I caught the word 'imported' for the LPG)


Tuesday 23 June 2020

Eastleigh, 22nd June 2020


Mk2A TSO 5366 was recently overhauled for LSL at the works, where the centre door was removed. It returned with the movement of 11th June. Originally completed at BR Derby to Lot 30787 in June 1968.

Mk III TF FO 41106 was built by BREL Derby to Lot 30896 in 1977-78, originally running in ECML set 254025. In 2017 this was running in set OC35. Moved from Laira to Ely on 26th April 2019. Delivered to Eastleigh from Ely on 15th May, this coach may have been set aside for potential future interest.

66585 leads 4M61 13:00 Maritime - Trafford Park.

66621 + 59002 ALAN J DAY pass with 7V62 13:21 Up Yard - Whatley, all but the third wagon were O&K JYA box wagons from 1988. 66621 had arrived at Maritime earlier with 66529 on 4O14 from and this move transferred it to the quarries.

47812 arrives with 5O86 10: 38 Leicester-Eastleigh (6340 + 6344 + 6330 + 6338)

Saturday 20 June 2020

15th - 20th June 2020


59003 YEOMAN HIGHLANDER has returned to the Westbury circuit in the revised GBRf scheme, passing Redbridge on 18th with 6O41. Image by Ian Knight.

66539 leading 4O57 13:29 Wentloog-Maritime passing Dunbridge, 19th May.

Sunday 14th June: 66745 + 701002 + 66775 6X70 20:36 Eastleigh - Wareham one two three four five six &onward onto Swanage Railway metals.
Monday 15th June: 66769 + 66790 (ex Sweden for repaint) 4O65 09:55 Peterborough - Eastleigh one two three four five six seven eight nine ten; 66769 + 73968 6E35 17:34 Eastleigh - Peterborough one two three four five; 37099 3Q09 20:53 Eastleigh - Hither Green one two
Tuesday 16th June:
Wednesday 17th June: 59003 released from Eastleigh Works - Flickr for the week, 43083 fired up at Eastleigh Works one
Thursday 18th June:
Friday 19th June:
Saturday 20th June: 66745701002 +  66775 6X70 0512 Worgret Jn - Eastleigh Works one two three four

Eastleigh Works: 18May - 19May - 20May - 26May - 27May - 28May - 01Jun

Halewood to Southampton car traffic resumed this week, running on Tuesday (66037) and Thursday (66056) while in this area



Friday 19 June 2020

A pair of great disappointments, Tucson, April 2000


UP double stack intermodal train passing south into Tucson, AZ. As a historical note, on March 20, 1882, two days after the shooting death of Morgan Earp, Wyatt Earp led a posse that hunted down and killed Frank Stilwell in the Tucson railyard, lying further south.

The SD90MAC-H, powered by the 16 cylinder 6000 hp 265H engine was a rare beast, as only 4 were completed for Canadian Pacific, and 62 for Union Pacific. At this time, the 4 stroke 16 cylinder H engine was under-developed and suffered issues. Some SD90MAC-H locos lasted only about 5 years, all were gone from CP and UP by 2009.

The majority were completed as SD9043MAC which were 4300 hp 'convertible' locomotives using the 16 cylinder 710G3B engine, with a view to later conversion to the H engine. Given the problems with the H engine, none were ever converted, many of those remaining have been rebuilt by later operators, notably Norfolk Southern.

The 4 stroke engine has been later developed into the 1010 engine, which is currently offered at 12 cylinder 4500 hp.

GE offered the AC6000CW which was powered by the 7HDL-16 engine at 6250 hp, jointly developed with Deutz. This suffered from vibration issues, and only 317 locomotives were produced from 1995 - 2001, for CSX and Union Pacific. The partnership with Deutz was subject to legal proceedings, but GE developed the engine platform further into the successful GEVO series. The AC6000W locos ran for longer than the EMD offering, but many were changed to 4400 hp by software change, as already covered here for a CSX example. 

Above we can see both types, pretty much the first train which came along that day, good luck since I did not have much available time, I was not in town to see trains. Location, now much further developed.

  • 7517 GE Serial No 50951 was a AC6000CW, built July 1998, delivered in October that year, the 6000 hp 7HDL-16 powered competitor to the SD90MAC-H. Later UP 6904 in early 2009, following change to 4400 hp as a AC4460CW. Now scheduled for a rebuild into a C44ACM for UP.
  • Unidentified former SP SD40M-2 (rebuilt by Morrison-Knudsen using SD45 body)

Monday 15 June 2020

Mk 3 HST trailer cars in the LSL movement to Eastleigh, 11th June 2020


TGS 44078 built at Derby to Lot 30949 in 1980-82, was in Porterbrook ownership. In 2017 it was running in set OC45, which was active until the last day of HST services from Paddington, 18th May 2019. Removed from Laira to Long Marston on 3rd June 2019, then to LSL at Crewe on 21st May 2020. It seems that these coaches were removed to Crewe to yield spares, and would now be expected to be scrap.

TFKB 40801 (TRSB 40027 which ran in ECML 254010, later 40427) built at Derby to Lot 30883 in 1976-77, most recently converted in 2003, and latterly in Porterbrook ownership. In 2017 it was running in set OC32, this coach was moved to Long Marston on 24th March 2019, then to LSL at Crewe on 21st May 2020.

TC 46006 formerly FO 41081 built at Derby to Lot 30896 in 1977-78, delivered in ECML set 254013, most recently reconfigured as a composite in 2014-15. In 2017 this was running in set OC47. Latterly in Porterbrook ownership, off-lease initially stored at Penzance in November 2018, then moved to Long Marston 15th February 2019. Moved from Long Marston to Crewe on 5th May, said to be for spares.

TKFB 40802 has similar history to 40801. (TRSB 40012 which ran in 253012, later 40212,40412) built at Derby to Lot 30883 in 1976-77, most recently converted in 2003, and latterly in Porterbrook ownership. In 2017 it was running in set OC37. Moved to Long Marston 24th January 2019, then moved from Long Marston to Crewe on 5th May.

TC 46014 formerly FO 41168 built at Derby to Lot 30963 in 1982, ran in sets 253054, later 254049, in the mid 1980s,  most recently reconfigured as a composite in 2014-15. In 2017 this was running in set OC42. Latterly in Porterbrook ownership, off-lease moved to Long Marston 30th January 2019. Moved from Long Marston to Crewe on 5th May, said to be for spares.

Saturday 13 June 2020

8th - 13th June 2020


47712 Lady Diana Spencer in the yard at Eastleigh Works, 11th June.

59005 Kenneth J Painter passes Dunbridge with 7O40 13:35 Merehead - Eastleigh, believed to be the first time that this had run for a few weeks. However, the following Wentloog Freightliner train appears to have been rerouted from Bathampton via Swindon and Reading.

The second wagon was 81.70.6774.055-2 a HOA newly constructed by Greenbrier-Astra Rail in Poland, arriving in the UK during May, and delivered to Merehead on 25th. These bear a remarkable, but not complete, similarity to the 37.70.6955.xxx-x series IIA built at the same facility by Wagony Swidnica in Poland in 2008-09, the company is the same as 'Greenbrier Swidnica'. The new wagons appear to be in their catalogue as their Tanpps 55 m³ - T05A, with Axiom LN25 bogies. A further 20 of these wagons have just arrived at Wembley.

Sunday 7th  June: 37800 0M59 11:52 Eastleigh - Leicester one two three
Monday 8th June: 37025 + 37116 T+T 1Q51 11:15 Derby - Eastleigh - Weymouth - Eastleigh one two three four five six seven eight nine ten eleven twelve
Tuesday 9th June: 60046 0Z60 07:49 Up Yard - Reading one two, 0Z61 089:55 Reading - Up Yard one two, 0Z62 09:57 Up Yard - Reading one two (onward to West Ealing Loop), 0Z65 12:8 Acton - Eastleigh one; 37025 + 37116 T+T 1Q52 10:37 Eastleigh - Portsmouth Harbour - Littlehampton - Portsmouth Harbour - Totton Yard - Fareham - Eastleigh - Woking Winchester Baltic Siding - Lymington Pier -Eastleigh; 37099 3Q01 23:37 Woking - Eastleigh one two
Wednesday 10th June: 60046 0Z60 07:57 Eastleigh - Acton Mainline (then to Reading and back), 0Z63 12:49 Acton Mainline - Eastleigh; 37025 + 37116 T+T 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 eight; 66740 + 701002 + 66745 6X20 1054 Derby - Eastleigh one two three; 37099 3Q02 21:34 Eastleigh - Weymouth - Fratton - Eastleigh
Thursday 11th June: 60046 0Z60 07:57 Eastleigh - Acton Mainline one two (then to Reading and back), 0Z63 12:49 Acton Mainline - Up Yard one two; 37025 + 37116 T+T 1Q54 12:45 Eastleigh - Tonbridge one two three four; 47712 [5366 + 44078 + 46014 + 40801 + 46006 + 40802] + EMR 43083 5Z36 07:14 Crewe - Eastleigh one two & Flickr coverage, 47712 + 90001 + 90002 0Z37 15:56 Eastleigh - Crewe one two three four & Flickr coverage; 37099 3Q04 21:19 Eastleigh - Totton - Reading one
Friday 12th June:  60046 6Z90 07:51 Up Yard - Eastleigh, 6Z91 13:20 Eastleigh - Up Yard; 37099 3Q40 23:50 Reading - Eastleigh
Saturday 13th June:  60046 0Z60 08:15 Up Yard - Eastleigh (fuel) - Up Yard, 6Z90 09:15 Up Yard - Willesden Flickr for the day

59003 has been finished at Eastleigh Works in the current revision of GBRf colours.

Prototype HST trailer TS 42356 (42002, 41173) is reportedly set aside at Raxstar for a potential resale.

The recently delivered Class 319 units going into Eastleigh Works may be for conversion for parcels traffic with Orion - Rail Operations Group.

47712 arrives with the LSL movement, Eastleigh, 11th June 2020


47712 [5366 + 44078 + 46014 + 40801 + 46006 + 40802] + former EMR power car 43083 
5Z36 07:14 Crewe - Eastleigh

47712 Lady Diana Spencer arrives with the train.

47712 is now in the ScotRail scheme which was first applied in May 1985. For me this locomotive goes back to my time in Edinburgh, first noted just after delivery as a 47/7 from works, on Friday 16th November 1979. A previously shared 47712 retrospective.

Paxman 12VP185 powered 43083 was detached from the coaches, and taken aside by 08567. It was in service in late May, and powered its own way to storage at Long Marston on 3rd June, from where LSL fetched it on 10th June. It is believed that it has arrived to be be painted for future static display at Margate, rather than for the anticipated LSL high speed train. 

43083 was completed at BREL Crewe in February 1978, assigned to ECML set 254014, and I first noted it in the Edinburgh area on Wednesday 6th December 1978, as part of that set, then allocated to HT, Heaton.

37099, 43083 and 08567in a panorama.

47712 and 43083 in rhe rain.

The former HST trailer coaches will be covered in a future update.

Friday 12 June 2020

Test trains at Eastleigh, 10th & 11th June 2020


Rather amazingly, 37025 + 37116 are now (Friday 12th) in Scotland, having worked Tonbridge to Oxwellmains, there seems to be an engineering job for them as far as Taynuilt this weekend.

37025 leads 1Q53 on 10th, 11:48 Eastleigh - Eastleigh, passing at 18:11 following reversal at Up Yard.

37116 on the rear.

37099 with its nocturnal test train 96608 + 6262 + 999606 + 9806 (recent addition from Caledonian Sleeper, for retention toilet) + 9702, at rest at Eastleigh 10th.

37025 prepares to depart 1Q54 12:4 Eastleigh - Tonbridge, 11th.

37116 on the rear of the departing train.

37099 English Electric Vulcan Foundry - Works Number EE/VF3228/D753 to traffic as D6799 on 14th December 1962. For a period in  BR days was 37324, and ran similarly at the Watercress Line in 2014-15, immediately before acquisition for Colas. Seen on 11th.

Ultrasonic Test Coach UTU-4 999606,  once MBSO 62356 from 4-CIG 1850, stored in June 2003.

Tractor hauled Test Train at St Denys, 10th June


37025 + 37116 T+T 1Q53 11:48 Eastleigh  - Southampton Up Yard - Wimbledon Park - Southampton Up Yard - Wimbledon Park - Totton Yard - Eastleigh - Romsey - Eastleigh

Three pictures from 'The Image Team'. 

37116 passes through St Denys as the train approaches the Up Yard.

The train continues into the Up Yard (the red tail lights are on).

37025 awaits in the electrified loop siding at Up Yard, with the DCR JNA wagons in the yard.

Notes at Eastleigh, 10th & 11th June 2020


73968 missed a path earlier in the day for a return to Caledonian Sleeper, seen under test following a change of bogies, in the evening of the 10th. Formerly E6023 and 73117, which was withdrawn in 1999 and sold to Fragonset, kept at Meldon, then later in storage at Nemesis Rail.

66729 DERBY COUNTY  ran early with 6Y82 19:55 Western Docks - Tonbridge loaded gypsum, on 10th.

66745 Modern Railways The first 50 years arrives with 6O41 10:14 Westbury -Eastleigh, on the  11th.

The single empty wagon was DC967615, a YQA, and a previous Wagon of the Week.

66524 hauled 4O14 04:59 Garston - Maritime.