A visit to Haymarket Shed, Edinburgh, 27th February 1980

Wednesday afternoon was assigned for recreation while at university, so an organised trip, with a permit, to Haymarket shed, one of two that I attended during these years. I did not always take a camera, photography was relatively expensive in those days, especially on a student budget.

We appear to have taken the train from Waverley to Haymarket. A Deltic could be heard under the station roof, 55011 The Royal Northumberland Fusiliers was found waiting to depart with 1E15 14:25 Edinburgh - Newcastle. This Deltic last worked a train to Kings Cross on 5th November 1981, and was withdrawn on the 8th, to move a power unit to 55022. It moved to Doncaster Works on 24th, with disposal completed in December 1982. 

26025 awaited us, with engine running, upon arrival at the shed. The locomotive was at time allocated to Inverness (IS). It had been delivered new from BRCW as D5325 on 14th May 1959, received its HGR and air brakes in July 1986, and was withdrawn in October 1993. It is preserved, one of two at the Strathspey Railway, which have spent a long time in deep storage.

The locomotive behind was 40077 of Gateshead (GD). This locomotive was new as D277 on 30th May 1960, and was withdrawn on 17th June 1983, leading to scrapping at BREL Doncaster in April 1984.

47703 Saint Mungo was also present with engine running. Originally delivered as D1960 from Brush, Loughborough, in July 1967, later becoming 47514. It became 47703 in March 1979 following overhaul and push-pull conversion at BREL Crewe. After running through the ownership of Waterman, Fragonset and Cotswold, and now Harry Needle Railroad Co. It currently is at Doncaster Wabtec, performing duties as an ETH supply.

55002 King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry was on shed following arrival of 1S12 05:50 King's Cross - Aberdeen where it had come off at Edinburgh. It returned south later on 1E42 23:15 Edinburgh - King’s Cross. Now part of the National Collection.

46050 lay beyond the Deltic. My notes on this one have been confused for over 40 years, as I had noted it along with 55012 from a trip into Edinburgh on the preceding Sunday evening. I did not note it again separately on the 27th. The identity is verified by the distinctive gash pattern in the bodyside grilles. 

46050 (GD) was delivered new as D187 from BR Crewe to Gateshead on 23rd November 1962. It was withdrawn on 26th October 1982, with less than 20 years of service. Following storage at Healey Mills and Leicester, it was broken up at BREL Swindon in March 1985.

20223 can just be seen at right, inside the shed. It was delivered to Haymarket on 20th October 1967, and was always allocated in Scotland. Withdrawn on 19th November 1987, after which it was stored at Thornton and Kingmoor before disposal at MC Metals at Glasgow in December 1983. A flamecut is still around.

47460 was on the naughty step, in the sidings along with a handful of other locomotives which typically spent weeks awaiting parts and repairs. This locomotive was new as D1580 from BR Crewe on 8th May 1964, allocated to Gateshead. In April 1978 it was controversially named GREAT EASTERN in an initiative by Stratford Shed, and contrary to a no-naming policy. It arrived at HA in July 1979, and served on the Scottish Region until November 1990. At the time of the picture, the locomotive was both dual-brake and dual-heat. Withdrawn in January 1992 from CD, and broken up in May 1994 at Booth, Rotherham.

Millbrook, 22nd December 2020

Images and update from Roger Homan, with thanks.
"It appears they have already removed the ramp on the far side, and access to the remaining concrete footbridge is blocked off. Soon to be demolished I believe. Sad, yet another photo spot removed."

A view of the concrete bridge, with ramps removed, and the temporary structure to access the platform.


66143 was arriving with 4O43 05:10 Wakefield Europort - Western Docks. The locomotive became dirty while working in RHTT season, and remained so over Christmas Day when stabled at Didcot.

59203 passes with 7V07 12:41 Chichester - Merehead. a few minutes before passing Redbridge.

• Network Rail notes on the footbridge work and media update.
• Southampton Council coverage and Q&A
• The unadopted footpath to the south is the former foreshore, before the Southern Railway created Western Docks in 1927 - 1934. Aerial image of constructon. Relevant movie coverage.
• The concrete bridge likely dates from the widening of the lines in 1934, and was likely a product of the Exmouth Junction Concrete Works.

One hour at Romsey, 23rd December 2020

Last of the year from Fareham? 66606 7V62 13:21 Up Yard - Whatley.

The only KEA was VTG 3178. The train was operated as single piped from the locomotive.

Running 29 minutes late, 70016 passed with 4M65 13:46 Maritime - Lawley Street, the last run before Christmas. After return from Lawley Street, the locomotive has been assigned for exam at Maritime, expected available again on 1st January. The smoke is because the green signal had just been sighted.

KFA wagon TIPH 93388.

21st - 26th December 2020

 

166220 prepares to depart Romsey, 23rd December. The painters have started work to change the canopy pillars to SWR grey from GWR green.

Monday 21st December: 73961+ 73965 1Q51 11:15 Derby- Eastleigh - Weymouth - Eastleigh one two
Tuesday 22nd December: 73961+ 73965 1Q52 10:37 Eastleigh - Portsmouth Harbour - Littlehampton - Portsmouth Harbour - Totton Yard - Fareham - Eastleigh - Woking - Lymington Pier -Eastleigh one
Wednesday 23rd December: 73961+ 73965 1Q54 22:11 Eastleigh - Tonbridge
Thursday 24th December:
Friday 25th December:
Saturday 26th December:

59003 appears to have worked 7O41 from Westbury on Monday, and proceeded into Eastleigh Works, where it remains.

59103 and 59104 have gone to spend Christmas in Yorkshire one two, where they are visiting 59005.

Eastleigh Works: 02Dec - 04Dec - 07Dec (47749 is present for new wheels) - 09Dec - 11Dec - 14Dec - 15Dec

Intermodal, Aggregate and Test Trains, Redbridge, 22nd December 2020

 

701011 running as 5Q51 11:25 Staines Up Loop to Staines Up Loop via Poole

70006 draws up slowly to prepare to depart with 4M65 13:46 Maritime - Lawley Street.

59203 was repainted into the current scheme in October, and passed with 7V07 12:41 Chichester - Merehead.

70006, which returned to service in October, makes a characteristic smoky departure.

701011 returned in the Up direction.

After a delay while it was held at St Denys, the test train 1Q52 passed, led by 73965.

73961 Alison was on the rear. The train was formed 977868 + 977983 + 5981 + 9701.

Saturday stone working, Romsey, 19th December 2020

The Chi-stone ran as an exception on a Saturday, likely because of the forthcoming festival of nothingness.

66504 ran as 7V07 12:41 Chichester - Merehead with a mixed rake of various JNA and JYA wagons.

The amber signal is already set for a through train running on the historical main line to Eastleigh.

A few minutes later, 66192 passed as 0O12 11:02 Margam - Eastleigh, running 108 minutes early.

14th - 19th December 2020

 

158951 approaches Dunbridge with  1O98 10:41 Great Malvern - Brighton on 18th December. GWR appears to have resumed some more services with the timetable change, bringing both 150s and 158s back to this line.

Advance notice of disruptive works in February, and this is the URL.

Monday 14th December: 57312 + 442413 5Q86 09:28 Wolverton - Bournemouth one two three four five six seven eight nine (442413 went to Wolverton on 11th July), 57312 5xxx 18:00 Bournemouth - Eastleigh
Tuesday 15th December: 57312 + 442404 5Q70 08:05 Eastleigh - Wolverton one two three four five
Wednesday 16th December: 66739 + 701015 + 66745 6X24 0735 Derby - Eastleigh one two three four five six seven
Thursday 17th December: 67023 + 67027 1X23 15:15 Salisbury - Southampton UGL - Salisbury Flickr for the day
Friday 18th December: 43055 + 43046 5Z36 08:00 Crewe - Eastleigh one two three four five six
Saturday 19th December:

Eastleigh Works: 25Nov - 26Nov - 27Nov - 30Nov - 01Dec

GWR Class 143 operations were to last run on 12th December, but 143618 was out on the 18th.

SWR staff shortages - West of England trains terminate at Basingstoke. Daily Wail report (this pre-dates the 16:00 conference from 10 Downing street).

Network Rail: "Building back better - Longer trains are delivering for freight customers" - 775m trains

There is still no agreement for Channel Tunnel service after 31st December.

Standard Terminology for British Railways (July 1981) - useful for understanding some of the abbreviations on Real Time Trains.

A Crane and a Test Train, Dunbridge, 17th December 2020

 

59003 passes with 6V40 14:05 Eastleigh - Westbury.


DRK81612, the Colas Kirow 125 tonne crane, built in 2005.

67023 Stella 1X23 15:15 Salisbury - Southampton UGL - Salisbury. The test train was formed 9481 + 72639 + 977974 + 6263. The first three coaches were the formation of one year previously, all four worked to Fawley on 22nd April this year.

67027 Charlotte on the rear.

Dunbridge, on a rainier day, 15th December 2020

 
59202 Alan Meddows Taylor MD Mendip Rail Limited 7V16 11:55 Fareham-Whatley,the same O&K set as on the previous day.

DR98972 leads 06:15 Totton Yard - Totton Yard. Is this the last week for RHTT?

66619 Derek W. Johnson MBE returning with 7V62 1321 Up Yard - Whatley.

Coupling and single pipe air brake arrangement of KEA wagon VTG 3178 in 7V62.

66537 with a moderately loaded 4M65 13:46 Maritime - Lawley Street.

66504 in the rain with 6V09 13:41 Chichester - Merehead.

30 minutes at Romsey, 14th December 2020

 
70808 operated as VSTP 0C01 11:41 Eastleigh East Yard to Doncaster C.H.S., although this was cancelled from Kingsbury, to proceed to Bescot.

66601 The Hope Valley approaches a red signal with 7V16 11:56 Fareham - Whatley.


A closer view of the locomotive, last pictured on these pages in August 2014, since when it has received cab refurbishments.

Orenstein & Koppell constructed JYA wagon OK 3306.

Detail of the coupler and two pipe air brake arrangement.

7th - 12th December 2020

 
66606 was still the regular on 7V16 1156 Fareham - Whatley, Monday 7th, but 66601 took over from Tuesday.

JYA wagon OK 3306.

66726 SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY and 66721 Harry Beck with the SITT train at Totton, 12th December. Images by Ian Knight.

Monday 7th December: 47749 on Eastleigh Works one
Tuesday 8th December: 57312 + 319011 5Q86 08:38 Long Marston - Eastleigh one two three four five

Wednesday 9th December: 57312 5M57 08:32 Eastleigh -Derby one two three; 66590 + 66955 + 66620 + 4 FLA wagons 4Z47 11:20 East Usk - Reading - Maritime one two; 43046 + 43055 5Z44 1553 Eastleigh - Crewe (including 40802 as a kitchen car) one two three four five

Thursday 10th December:
Friday 11th December:

Saturday 12th December:

Eastleigh Works: 10Nov - 11Nov - 12Nov - 17Nov - 18Nov - 19Nov - 23Nov - 24Nov

Congestion problems at UK ports stacking up as rising imports drive delays - monitor at DP World

Ports gridlocked and retailers struggling as Brexit deadline looms

South Western Railway scraps its onboard catering

Blue Pullman on Saturday 12th

Dunbridge, 8th December 2020

 
The RHTT turn was still running, this is DR98970 with 06:15 Totton Yard - Totton Yard.

66564 pulling 7V62 13:21 Up Yard - Whatley. The consist included the same two KEAs as last week.


70020 workng 4M65 13:46 Maritime - Lawley Street.

KTA wagon GERS 97760 in the consist.

59003 with DIT 66074 running as 0V41 14:48 Eastleigh - Westbury.

Immediately following, and earlier running off-route through Southampton, was 59201 with 7V09 13:41 Chichester-Merehead.