1st - 6th March 2021

66789 British Rail 1948 - 1997 + 66716 Locomotive and Carriage Institution Centenary 1911-2011 run through Redbridge with 6O41 from Westbury, 1st November. Image by Ian Knight.

On the same day, 66623 passes Crampmoor with 7V16 11:55 Fareham - Whatley. The leading KEA was VTG 3172.

59101 Village of Whatley leading 7V09 13:41 Chichester - Merehead, at Romse, 2nd March with  VTG 3430 as the leading JNA.

Late running 37611 with 442404, passing Redbridge, 5th March. Image by Ian Knight.

Monday 1st March: 20007 + 484003 + 20142 5Q20 15:00 Eastleigh East Yard - Eastleigh Trsmd one

Tuesday 2nd March:

Wednesday 3rd March: 60046 6Q42 08:36 Ely - Eastleigh (see below); 20007 + 484004 + 20142 5Q20 15:00 Eastleigh East Yard - Eastleigh Trsmd one two; 60028 6Q43 11:51 Ely - Eastleigh (see below); 60028 0Z61 21:53 Eastleigh - Willesden

Thursday 4th March: 57312 (+ 317346 + 317652 for scrap) 5Q86 12:03 Ilford to Eastleigh one two three four five six seven eight, 57312 1548 0Zxx Eastleigh - Wenbley

Friday 5th March: 60046 0Z43 09:36 Eastleigh - Willesden (see below); 37611 (+ 442404, which delayed the working with a brake fault) 5Q86 09:42 Wolverton - Bournemouth one two three four five, 37611 (+  442423) 5Q71 18:00 Bournemouth - Wolverton; 08511 left Eastleigh by road, possibly return to Wishaw?

Saturday 6th March:

HST power car moves

Wednesday

 

60046 + 43423 + 43468 + 43308 + 43467 6Q42 08:36 Ely - Eastleigh one two three four five - Flickr for the day

60028 + 43465 + 43296 + 43484 + 43480 6Q43 11:51 Ely - Eastleigh one two three four five six - Flickr for the day

Hanson & Hall coverage on Facebook: one two three four

Friday

 

60046 + 43467 + 43308 + 43296 + 43423 0Z43 09:36 Eastleigh - Willesden one two - Flickr for the day - and from Hanson & Hall

Reportedly this working was in the plan, since there was not enough room for them at Eastleigh, so are being stored further at Willesden, leaving 43465, 43468 , 43480 and 43484, all buffered examples, for attention at the works.

Eastleigh Works: 03Feb - 04Feb - 08Feb - 09Feb - 16Feb - 19Feb

Eastleigh derailment, 28th January 2020, RAIB report now published: press release - report

HST power cars move to Willesden, Eastleigh, 5th March.

 60046 William Wilberforce + 43467 Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service / British Transport Police + 43308 + 43296 + 43423 VALENTA 1972-2010 0Z43 09:36 Eastleigh - Willesden, for short-term storage.

The working departed 34 minutes early, and the Campbell Road location was a quickly chosen plan B, having seen the formation move through the works yard, pretty much there on my own.

60046 leads away with 43467 following.

43308 (Highland Chieftain when in LNER service).

43296 (formerly Stirling Castle as a painted name in GNER days). This was the lead power car on my last LNER HST ride in 2019.

43423 on the rear.


VALENTA nameplate, seen before departure.

Onwards to the station, and eventually Willesden.

Eastleigh Works, 5th March 2021

 

Former East Midlands Railway 43468 (BREL Crewe, November 1977) had arrived on 3rd March, and appears to be for reconfiguration for a future unidentified operator. 317652 arrived on 4th March and is for scrapping. It was delivered new from BREL York (with trailer vehicle from BREL Derby) in January 1986, as 317352, later renumbered to 317652 in August 1998

The power cars seen here, from front, are 43480 + 43484 & 43468 + 43465. All arrived on 3rd March.

A more visible view of 43480 + 43484. All are buffer fitted, and are fitted with MTU engines.

• 43480 new as 43080 in January 1978
• 43484 new as 43084 in February 1978
• 43468 new as 43068 in November 1977
• 43465 new as 43065 in October 1977

47501 (D1944) Craftsman arrived at the works, for repairs, on 9th February.

317657 arrived at the works from Ely on 15th February, this unit being completed  at BREL York in February 1986 as 317357, and renumbered in September1998. DTCO 77228 and TSO 71742 were seen coupled together.

It is likely that these are MSO 62854 and DTSO 77208 from the same unit, and now in the scrap line.
 

317346 arrived at the works on 4th March. This unit was delivered from BREL York in August 1982.

22nd - 27th February 2021

 
Understood to have been repainted at Maritime during the week of the blockade, 08785 shows off its new G&W scheme, 21st February. Image by Ian Knight. Another view.

Almost at the end of a single daily walk, 66623 returns with the empties from Fareham, 23rd February. The KEA wagon, third last in the rake, was VTG 3202.

66415 in the reconstructed yard lines at Redbridge with 7V07 12:41 Chichester - Merehead, 23rd February. Image by Ian Knight.

66728 + 66710 out for an 11C spin with the SITT train 3Y88 0942 Totton-Totton passing Redbridge, 25th February. Images by Ian Knight.

Monday 22nd February: 57305 0O86 11:55 Derby - Eastleigh one two
Tuesday 23rd February: 57305 0xxx Eastleigh - Wembley one (a 5Q26 drag to Worksop was cancelled) ; 57312 (+ 442403) 5Q86 09:42 Wolverton - Bournemouth one two three four five six seven eight nine ten eleven, 57312 (+ 442417) 5Qxx 18:00 Bournemouth - Wolverton one two

Wednesday 24th February: 313202 + 313121 5Z31 09:10 Three Bridges - Eastleigh one two, 313202 5Z32 11:38 Eastleigh - Lovers Walk one two; 56090 0Z56 09:41 Westbury - Eastleigh, 6Z56 12:19 Eastleigh - Gloucester New Yard; 66705 + 66793 + 66750 6X01 10:18 Scunthorpe - Eastleigh one two three four five (66793, a low geared recently imported Class 66, for paintshop)
Thursday 25th February: 47813 5Q26 06:53 Eastleigh - Worksop one two three four; 47812 0O86 10:15 Derby - Salisbury - Redbridge - Eastleigh one two 

Friday 26th February: 47812 5Q26 06:44 Eastleigh - Worksop one two three four five six seven (failed, reported loss of coolant,at Rotherham Masborough and was rescued by 47813); 20007 + 20142 Eastleigh - Fareham training one two three
Saturday 27th February:

HST power cars for reconfig  at Eastleigh for reuse - 8 expected in two moves from Ely for Hanson & Hall, who advise moves departing Ely on Wed 3rd, 6Q42 depart 08:36 and 6Q43 depart 11:51 with traction DC Rail Class 60. Expected to be 6 buffer fitted 43423/465/467/468/480/484 plus 43296 & 43308. The actual future use is not known, and there are rumours of being exported.

484002 at Eastleigh: one two (subsequently tripped at night to the T&RSMD three)

Grand Central  Mk 4 sets were debranded, and prepared for return to lessor, at Eastleigh T&RSMD. They are now understood to be in cold store at Worksop, and it is up to Eversholt to determine their future placement, if any.

Thur:

WB02   12224 + 12477 + 12326 + 10321 + 11320 + 82220

WB03   12222 + 12461 + 12323 + 10330 + 11321 + 82227

Fri:

WB01   12211 + 12434 + 10310 + 10318  + 11319 + 82201

WB04   12210 + 12452 + 12316 + 10301 + 12322 + 82230

Eastleigh Works: 11Jan - 12Jan - 18Jan - 21Jan - 22Jan - 28Jan

47812 works light engine Derby - Eastleigh, 25th February 2021

47812, the one-time Pride of Eastleigh, worked 47812 0O86 1015 Derby - Didcot - Swindon - Westbury - Salisbury - Redbridge - Eastleigh.

Approaching and then passing Dunbridge.

47812 was delivered to traffic from Brush to 86A Cardiff Canton on 18th November 1965 as D1916.

Passing Redbridge some 13 minutes later. Image by Ian Knight.

56090 with the Sinfin tanks, Dunbridge, 24th February 2021

56090 worked 0Z56 09:41 Westbury - Eastleigh Works, then 6Z56 12:19 Eastleigh Works - Gloucester New Yard, seen here passing Dunbridge.

This rake of TDA tanks, marked 'Aviation Fuel', was working the Grangemouth - Sinfin working, and has been through a repair exam at Eastleigh during this month. It is due to move to Carlisle from Gloucester on Thursday evening and then on to Grangemouth during daylight on Friday:

• Thu 23:00 Gloucester N.Y. to Carlisle N.Y. 
• Fri 10:05 Carlisle N.Y. to Grangemouth Ineos

56090 was completed at BREL Doncaster, and entered service on 8th March 1981 at TI (Tinsley). Withdrawn in December 2003 by EWS, as at a 13000 hours engine time limit. Sent to France in October 2004, and returned October 2006, after which it was stored at Old Oak Common, and at Crewe from May 2009. Sold to EMR at Kingsbury in December 2011, and moved in March 2012, then sold to Colas in 2013, and returned to service in June 2018, following work at Washwood Heath and Nottingham Eastcroft.

TDA wagon TIPH 78265 was built by Marley Industrie in France in the 1991-93 period, and is now marked for Touax.

56090  COFS  ELGHARLTN   866Z561K24   D *  GLOSNEWYD    N         

 TIPH 78211 D TDA 
 TIPH 78275 D TDA 
 TIPH 78277 D TDA 
 TIPH 78263 D TDA 
 TIPH 78266 D TDA 
 TIPH 78267 D TDA
 TIPH 78272 D TDA
 TIPH 78265 D TDA
 TIPH 78269 D TDA

9 LDS   0 MTYS   223 TONNES  540 FT

Further coverage on Flickr.

Scotland in Snow, February 2021

More at the same places, but with snow! 

Full snow at Standing Stone Bridge on 9th, 158725 + 158722 pass with 1L06 13:59 Perth - Edinburgh.

5 minutes later, 170415 climbs the gradient with 1L05 14:38 Edinburgh - Perth.

The same two trains on 10th at Aberdour. 158723 + 158726 pass with 1L06 13:59 Perth - Edinburgh.

170393 passes with 1L05 14:38 Edinburgh - Perth.

Back to Standing Stone Bridge on 11th, 170409 working 2K05 14:42 Edinburgh - Glenrothes with Thornton. Perth trains were not operating because of a weather related signalling problem.

15th - 20th February 2021

 

Diverted for the Southampton blockade, 66518 running past Dunbridge with 4O05 07:48 Lawley Street - Maritime, on 18th February.

Immediately following was 66509 with 4O14 05:04 Garston - Maritime. Both trains were of shorter formation than typical.

Monday 15th February: 57305 10:20 Eastleigh - Derby one two three four five; 66743 (+ 317657 + 317672 for scrap) 5Q17 10:00 Ely - Eastleigh one two three four five six seven eight nine ten eleven; 67023 + 67027 1Q51 11:15 Derby - Eastleigh one two three
Tuesday 16th February: 47813 (+ 2 Grand Central Mk4 sets) 5Q86 10:01 Wembley -  Eastleigh one two three four five six; 67023 + 67027 1Q52 10:37 Eastleigh - Littlehampton - (slow line adjacent to Up Yard) - Guildford - Fareham - Winchester - Woking - Winchester - Southampton - Winchester - Eastleigh one two three
Wednesday 17th February: 67023 + 67027 1Q53 11:49 Eastleigh - Up Yard - Wimbledon - Up Yard one two, 1Q53 18:04 Up Yard - Wimbledon - Southampton - Romsey - Eastleigh
Thursday 18th February: 67023 + 67027 1Q54 12:46 Eastleigh - Tonbridge one two three four five
Friday 19th February: 57305 (+ 317890) 5Q86 12:09 Wembley - Eastleigh one two three four five six seven eight, 57305 5M57 19:35 Eastleigh - Derby
Saturday 20th February:

70017 made a nocturnal Merehead - Acton run on Wednesday 17th. It came down from Leeds in 4O95 on Monday 15th one two three four, then ran light engine 19:10 Maritime - Merehead on Wednesday. There was a 4200 tonne working from Merehead - Acton at 22:50. Then light engine 03:10 Acton - Maritime, and worked 4E96 back to Leeds on Thursday.

Eastleigh Works: 20Feb

Eastleigh carriage works to be demolished?

Southampton blockade: removed from Friday afternoon. Network Rail illustrated twitter updates - one - two - three - four - five - six - seven - eight - nine - ten - eleven - twelve - thirteen - fourteen - fifteen - sixteen - seventeen - eighteen - nineteen

Permanent Way Institution / Network Rail: Presentation: 'Learning from the Eastleigh Derailment' 

20007 + 20142: an expanded selection of the workings n week of 8th February. Locos are still at Eastleigh.

Class 67s on 1Q52 test train, St Denys, 16th February 2021

With thanks to The Image Team for these three pictures. 67023 Stella and 67027 Charlotte running with 1Q52, which paused on the slow ine adjacent to Up Yard, as the blockade prevented it from proceeding to Totton Yard.

Led by 67027 the train passes through St Denys, having arrived from Fareham.

The train paused on the slow line adjacent to Up Yard, where 66619 was locked in, as the return to Whatley was cancelled and ran as 6V62 on Wednesday 17th.

Detail of 67027, as seen from the boardwalk.

Scottish DMUs and HSTs under lockdown, February 2021

 A few more at the Standing Stone bridge.

170432 passes on 5th February.

170401 followed on two minutes later.

On 7th, in light snow, and 43152 + 43144 pass with 1B72 14:06 Dundee - Edinburgh.

43144 rounds the bend towards the site of Donibristle Halt (1942 - 1959, although platforms and lighting were extant a decade later).

Scottish DMUs under lockdown, January 2021

A necessary and permissible relocation to lockdown in Fife, where daily exercise is permitted in local authority area + 5 miles. 

Aberdeen trains were not running because of a bridge collapse, one bridge to the north of the location of the serious derailment in August. There is some discussion of 'ballast overload' as the collapse revealed layers of ballast including ash ballast, likely from a century or more ago. Reopening not expected until 22nd February.

So, some rather boring DMUs, just what turned up when I arrived at two chosen bridges in quiet locations. This stretch of railway is relatively new, being opened in 1890, as an approach route to the Forth Bridge.

170402 approaches Aberdour, 25th January.

Four minutes later, 158703 + 158706 + 158733 depart with an Edinburgh bound train. 158703 in September 1990 - many external features have changed.

170471 at Standing Stone Bridge, Dalgety, 26th January.

170452 passed three minutes later.

170405 passing Aberdour, 27th January.

170452 passed two minutes later.

8th -13th February 2021

Monday 8th February: 156496 + 156447 5Q12 10:20 Eastleigh - Heaton one two three four five; 37608 + 37611+ 442408 (taken to Wolverton 8th October 2020) 5Q86 09:42 Wolverton - Bournemouth one two three four five six seven eight nine ten eleven, 37608 + 37611 + 442406 5Q70 19:06 Bournemouth - Eastleigh one two three 
Tuesday 9th February: 20007 + 20142 0Z20 09:00 Eastleigh - Fareham - Eastleigh, 0Z21 10:15 Eastleigh - Fareham - Eastleigh, 0Z22 11:14 Eastleigh - Fareham, 0Z23 12:43 Fareham - Eastleigh - Fareham, 0Z24 13:43 Fareham - Eastleigh - Fareham, 0Z26 15:43 Fareham - Eastleigh (not sure what all worked, RTT seemed to lose track); 47593 + 47501 (+ 17056 + 41167 + 41160 + 41166 + 41187 + 40804 + 44081 +41169 + 6311 - HST trailers understood for proposed 2021 summer Staycation Express HST) 5Z36 06:31 Crewe - Eastleigh one two three four five six, 47593 (+ 12171 + 6311)5Z37 16:00 Eastleigh - Crewe one two three four five six; 37608 + 37611 + 442406 5Q70 14:20 Eastleigh - Wolverton one two three four five six
Wednesday 10th February: 20007 + 20142 0Z20 09:00 Eastleigh - Fareham - Eastleigh, 0Z21 10:15 Eastleigh - Fareham - Eastleigh, 0Z22 11:14 Eastleigh - Fareham, 0Z23 12:43 Fareham - Eastleigh - Fareham, 0Z24 13:43 Fareham - Eastleigh (arr 13:36)  - Fareham, 0Z26 15:43 Fareham - Eastleigh - Fareham, 0Z27 16:43 Fareham - Eastleigh
Thursday 11th February: 20007 + 20142 0Z20 09:00 Eastleigh - Fareham - Eastleigh, 0Z21 10:15 Eastleigh - Fareham - Eastleigh; 43013 + 43014 1X23 15:13 Salisbury - Southampton UGL - Salisbury (earlier at Wilton one two three)
Friday 12th February:
Saturday 13th February:

20007 + 20142 on Wednesday 10th one two three four

59003 has been working T+T on the Mountfield workings one two & Flickr for the week.

DB Cargo / ABP have moved the BMW Mini traffic from Purfleet to Southampton.

Next week: The line from Southampton to Redbridge is blocked with freight accessing Maritime from Redbridge.

Protect the UK's historical railway infrastructure from Highways England's wrecking ball.
A related article.

1st - 6th February 2021

Sunday 31st January: 156496 5Q86 11:05 Heaton - Eastleigh one two (returned for additional work)
Monday 1st February:
Tuesday 2nd February: 57305 + 57303 5Q85 11:42 Wembley - Eastleigh one two three four five six seven - Grand Central Mk 4 stock sets to Arriva TrainCare  GC02 (12224, 12477, 12326, 10321, 11320, 82200) & GC03 (12222, 12461, 12323, 10330, 11321, 82227) - some further discussion
Wednesday 3rd February:
Thursday 4th February: 20007 + 20142 0Z20 1252 Kings Norton - Eastleigh one two three four five six- for route learning between Eastleigh - Fareham and possibly Fratton, in turn for delivery and mainland testing of Class 484
Friday 5th February:
Saturday 6th February:

Network Rail Southampton Freight Upgrade: Twitter - one - two (including updates to Eastleigh panel)

Picture Coverage

Class 69 update from GBRf

A Miscellany from 2006

Already 15 years ago !

57009 Freightliner Venturer arrives at platform 2 at Eastleigh with a southbound Freightliner train, 20th February 2006. Under DRS ownership, this example was stored in December 2015, and is in secure storage at Longtown. Originally delivered from BR Crewe as D1664 on 27th February 1965, and a named Western Region example as GEORGE JACKSON CHURCHWARD from May 1965. Renumbered 47079 in February 1974, stored in April 1999, and emerged as 57009 in January 2000.

Midland Mainline 43073 arrives with a Cross Country train at Edinburgh Waverley, 28th December 2006. This power car was stored in December 2020, and is parked at Burton.

Class Forty Preservation Society 40145 passing Romsey with stock of 'The Christmas Cracker', 25th November 2006. 

37405 with ECS at Shawford, 10th September 2006. This locomotives remains in the DRS fleet, but may have an uncertain future.

31190 soon after starting up at Westbury, 27th February 2006. Currently painted in golden ochre and located at the Weardale Railway, as property of RMS Locotec and for sale.