Freight snapshot at Romsey, 23rd April 2021

59206 John F Yeoman Rail Pioneer approaches with 7O40 13:35 Merehead - Eastleigh. The reversal of this train, and other aggregates trains, at Westbury has recently been changed, moving from the DBC operated yard to the cement works sidings known as 'Westbury Tarmac'. Others are scheduled to run around in the Up Receiving road at Westbury.

The following train was 4O57 13:29 Wentloog - Maritime, hauled by 70003. The first wagon was the last numbered KTA, GERS 97774.

With the signal now off, the characteristic smoke comes from the Class 70 as power is applied.

66743 around Redbridge, 20th - 21st April 2021

 Images from the camera of Ian Knight. 'The Royal Scotsman' is currently expected to resume operations from 19th May.

66743 is hauling part of a HOBC, as 6O41, through the station, 20th April.

The return 6V41 on the same day.

Another day, another 6O41, this time consisting of two YKA 'Osprey' wagons, 21st April.

Eastleigh Works in passing, 20th April 2021

I was passing, so stopped by. I could see part of the newly re-liveried Rail Adventure 43480, but not a presentable picture.

73133 was attached to 57303 Pride of  Carlisle, which is hired to Rail Operations Group, and arrived at the works on 2nd February.

317654 was in storage at Harwich, delivered to the works, along with 317651, on 15th April. Two other Class 317s were in the sidings, but the Raxstar area appeared to be quiet on this day. 

19th - 24th April 2021

 

56096 passing Redbridge, 18th April. Image by Ian Knight.

66957 pauses at Redbridge with 7V09 13:41 Chichester - Merehead, 20th April. Image by Ian Knight. More pictures of this working.

Sunday 18th April: 56096 0Z97 12:35 Westbury - Redbridge - Eastleigh one two, 56096 + 66850 T+T 6C97 14:58 Eastleigh - Romsey - Lisvane & Thornhill one two three four five six seven eight
Monday 19th April:
Tuesday 20th April: 73964 + 73965 1Q65 20:42 Woking - London area - Eastleigh

Wednesday 21st April: 73964 + 73965 1Q66 13:39 Eastleigh - Kennington - Basingstoke - Ascot - Didcot - Petersfield - Woking - Eastleigh one two three four five six
Thursday 22nd April: 73964 + 73965 1Q67 1423 Eastleigh - Cannon Street; 73971 0Z73 19:23 Eastleigh - Winchester Baltic Siding - Eastleigh one two, 0D02 21:00 Eastleigh - Doncaster (and booked onward to Craigentinny on Saturday morning).

Friday 23rd April:
Saturday 24th  April:

Class 43 HST power cars now painted for Rail Adventure: one two three The 6 buffer fitted cars be operated as power twin locomotives for stock transfers in UK, in partnership with Hanson & Hall, although European numbers have been allocated. The two ex-LNER red power cars are for spares.

59003 remains at Doncaster.

484005 reported as delivered to Eastleigh on 19th.

Class 701 Arterio test workings are currently being operated by GBRf. It seems that ASLEF for SWR have some issues with the cab design and layout, which may delay eventual entry into service. A further discussion.

Romsey on Monday afternoon, 19th April 2021

 
'Royal Scotsman' liveried 66743 passed with 6V41 14:48 Eastleigh - Westbury, while working on the regular circuit. 59003 remains in Doncaster.

112156 is an OCA wagon, built at BREL Shildon in 1981-82.

 

The last wagon was another OCA, 112093, where the BREL Shildon worksplate is for 1981.

The next train was an STP working from Chichester, running as 7V09 13:41 Chichester - Merehead. Further pictures: one two

Dunbridge, 15th April 2021

 

59004 PAUL A HAMMOND returns with empties as 7V16 11:55 Fareham - Whatley.

VTG 3212 was the KEA second last in the formation, this wagon was among those stored briefly at Exeter in later 2020.

66953 similarly handling empties with 6V62 13:21 Up Yard - Whatley. The first KEA wagon was VTG 3175.

The second-last wagon was a KEA, VTG 3188. Both this and 3175 were also in the formerly stored group.

70004 The Coal Industry Society passed with 4M65 13:46 Maritime - Lawley Street. 70004 was taken out of the storage pool in January, and worked on some aggregates and bin trains, but it was 24th February before it resumed intermodal work.

12th - 17th April 2021

66719 passes Romsey with a single JNA wagon, as 6O41 10:14 Westbury - Eastleigh, 13th April.

Monday 12th April: 66748 + 701005 + 66788 5Q80 06:54 Eastleigh Works to Widnes Flickr for the day; 73961 + 73965 1Q51 11:15 Derby - Eastleigh - Weymouth - Eastleigh one two three four five six; 20118 + 20132 0Z60 18:21 Wembley - Eastleigh one two

Tuesday 13th April: 20118 + 20132 5X20 09:56 Eastleigh - Long Marston one two; 73961 + 73965 1Q52 10:37 Eastleigh - Portsmouth Harbour - Littlehampton - Portsmouth Harbour - Totton Yard - Havant - Guildford - Havant - Fareham - Eastleigh - Winchester - Woking - Lymington Pier -Eastleigh one two; 
Wednesday 14th April: 73961 + 73965 1Q53 11:48 Eastleigh - Up Yard - Wimbledon - Up Yard one two three, 1Q53 18:04 Up Yard - Wimbledon - Totton - Romsey - Eastleigh one
Thursday 15th April: 73961 + 73965 1Q54 12:46 Eastleigh - Tonbridge one two three; 37884 (+ 317654 + 317651 for disposal) 5Q42 09:33 Ely - Eastleigh one two three four five six seven eight nine ten, 37884 0L52 16:00 Eastleigh - Colchester one two
Friday 16th April: 66031 + 37407 6O33 01:03 Crewe - Eastleigh (with 2-axle PFA wagons) one two three four five six, 37407 + 66031 0L33 08:18 Eastleigh - Willesden Brent one two three four
Saturday 17th April:

Derailment in Western Docks: 66009 derailed on Thursday 15th upon arrival with 4O43 from Wakefield (seen earlier one two). Relatively minor, re railed by 23:00 and normal working by 01:00 Friday.

59003 is at Doncaster, and may be heading to Progress Rail (EMD) at Longport?

66798 noted outside at Eastleigh Works on 11th April.

"South Western Railway train guard dispute finally ends"

37146, which has been seen on these pages, has been broken up at Leicester.

20118 + 20132 with Chiltern Railways stock for Long Marston, Romsey, 13th April 2021

20118 Saltburn-by-the-Sea + 20132 Barrow Hill Depot 5X20 09:56 Eastleigh Trsmd - Long Marston, operated by DCR, with locomotives from HNRC, which departed Eastleigh station 95 minutes late, and lost further time through the journey. At Romsey, the train was held in the station for the preceding train to pass Dunbridge.

The formation observed was TSOs 12041 + 12115 + 12019 + 12027 + 12012 + 12026 + 12151, + FO 11094. The Mk 3A TSO coaches were built by BREL Derby to Lot 30877 between 1975-77. After initial service in LMR stock, the four coaches numbered up to 12030, later 12031, were in the ScR 47/7 push-pull trains (the 'disco' RCH jumper controls), and I noted these between 1979 and 1986, also 12151. The Mk3B FO was built to Lot 30982 in 1985.

These eight coaches arrived at Eastleigh from Norwich on 8th April 2020 for updates and fitting of AAR push-pull capability. The external changes have seen the changing of the door colour, and the application of "Chilternrailways by arriva" logos, however, there now seems to be the possibility that these slam-door coaches may not now re-enter passenger service. 

20118 was new from Robert Stephenson & Hawthorns Ltd., Darlington, on 8th March 1962 as D8118, allocated to 66A Polmadie. I first noted this locomotive on 4th October 1980, while on an RCTS visit to Eastfield shed. Withdrawn in March 2000, and preserved for a while on the South Devon Railway, but was sold to Harry Needle Railroad Co., and resumed service from October 2013.

20132 was delivered as D8132 from English Electric Vulcan Foundry on 5th March 1966, allocated to 41A Tinsley. I first noted it on 4th January 1988, while on a WCML journey in the Preston - Crewe area. Stored by 2000, then transferred ownership to DRS, moved to Longtown, then sold to HNRC. To Barrow Hill in January 2005, where it was repainted in green, and relisted on TOPS from August 2006.

TSO 12115.

TSO 12027, which at one time was in ScotRail push-pull service.

"Chilternrailways by arriva" logo on 12151.

FO 11094 on the rear - may also show extra AAR connectors.

Train for the day on Flickr.

Dunbridge for the Test Train, 8th April 2021

66719 METRO-LAND passing with MXA wagons on 6V41 14:48 Eastleigh - Westbury.

67023 Stella passes with the test train 1X23 15:13 Salisbury - Southampton UGL - Salisbury where the first coach was 975091 MENTOR. The full formation is believed to have been 975091 + 72631 + 9701 + 9523.

70001 PowerHaul with a rather lightly loaded 4O57 13:29 Wentloog - Maritime.

67027 Charlotte with the return of 1X23.

975091 MENTOR, originally BSK S34615 delivered by Gloucester RC&W in October 1955 to Lot 30142, then configured with vacuum brake and dual heat the electric heat being 750V UIC compliant.

Workings at Romsey, 6th April 2021 (part 2)

Three in a row, one through late working, the second being halted by a red signal at Romsey, and the third managing to wait in a slow crawl for the green after the second passed the next signal at Dunbridge.

Heavy metal on 6V41 14:48 Eastleigh - Westbury, with 66719 METRO-LAND leading dead-in-tow 66850 David Maidment OBE + 66054. This train ran via Redbridge.

The morning arrival to Southampton Up Yard was 2 hours late, and consequently the return working was 90 mins late, and was held to await the Romsey trains on the Chandler's Ford section. It then had to stop in Romsey to wait for 6V41 to pass Dunbridge.

VTG 3229 was one of two KEA wagons in the consist, the other being 3202.

The third train was the return of the Chi-stone, 7V09 13:41 Chichester - Merehead, creeping through behind 66601 The Hope Valley.

Dual-piped JNA wagon, VTG 3408 (Marcroft, Stoke, 1998), in the consist.

5th - 10th April 2021

Believed to be being prepated for the 2021 season of The Staycation Express, TF 41183 was originally TS 42274, built to lot 30939 at BREL Derby in 1979-80. Following storage at Long Marston, this coach was delivered to Booth's scrapyard at Rotherham on 23rd June 2020, subsequently moved to Eastleigh East Yard by road on 16th September as it was in better condition than some of LSL’s existing stock. It appears that Hornby have already created a model of the coach in Blue Pullman livery, which it may not now carry.

66747 Made in Sheffield approaches Western Docks through Millbrook, 9th April, with 4Y19 from Mountfield. Image by Roger Homan.

Monday 5th April: 20142 + 20007 5Q20 09:53 Eastleigh Works - West Ruislip one two, 0Z21 16:03 West Ruislip - Eastleigh one two three four five

Tuesday 6th April: 73971 0O66  02:52 Doncaster - Eastleigh one two three four

Wednesday 7th April:

Thursday 8th April: 67023 + 62027 1X23 15:13 Salisbury - Southampton UGL - Salisbury one two

Friday 9th April:

Saturday 10th April:

57302, which came to Eastleigh Works in December 2017, reportedly to yield parts for 57307, has been moved to DRS's XSDP pool for coming disposal. 37602, at Eastleigh since February 2019, was already in this pool. Noted, rather obscured, on 5th April.

Eastleigh Works: 08Mar - 11Mar - 15Mar - 16Mar - 18Mar - 22Mar - 23Mar - 25Mar - 26Mar

The buffer fitted HST power cars at Eastleigh Works appear to be associated with Rail Adventure, who already provide barriers which have been seen here on deliveries from Italy of Hitachi units for Hull Trains, and also on deliveries of Class 701 from Derby.

59003 has gone on another excursion to Kent 

"Rail companies add services so people can travel with confidence as Britain steps out of lockdown"

"DP World injects 40 million GBP in port of Southampton"

New footbridge in use at Millbrook, 9th April. Image by Roger Homan.

Workings at Romsey, 6th April 2021 (part 1)

DR 73931 on the return leg of 12:52 Salisbury - Romsey - Salisbury.

66780 The Cemex Express passing in light snow with 6V44 12:18 Marchwood Mod Gbrf - Bicester Mod Gbrf.

609002 was one of several FAA wagons in the consist.

66569 running north with 4M65 1346 Maritime - Lawley Street.

Two Class 08s at Eastleigh T&RSMD, 5th April 2021

 

08810 was built at BR Derbty as D3978, entering traffic in July 1960. Currently named RICHARD J WENHAM EASTLEIGH DEPOT December 1989 - July 1999, this name previously being borne by 08804 and 08442.

The latter, 08442, is still extant at the T&RSMD, but seems rather the worse for wear. Built as D3557 at BR Derby, and entered traffic in November 1958.

Class 317s for disposal, Eastleigh Works, 5th April 2021

From my previous visit, on 5th March, 317346 was now being scrapped, with 62706 in the scrapping area, and 77045 ready to follow in. Sorry, no reasonable picture to share.

 

DTS 77282 of 317671, which arrived on 25th March. This unit entered traffic as 317371 in March 1987, as the second last delivery.

DTC 77223 of 317652, which arrived on 4th March, and appears to be next to follow 317346. This unit entered traffic as 317352 in January 1986.

317659 also arrived on 25th March. This was new as 317359 in March 1986.

317659 and 317671.

A final view of 317671, with 313121 facing it.