Tuesday 31 May 2022

A morning at Aberdour, 13th May 2022

 


170403 departs with 2T57 06:58 Tweedbank - Glenrothes with Thornton. This was the last weekday with through services from Tweedbank to the Fife Circle, and of anything but a token service between Kirkcaldy and Glenrothes with Thornton.


43146 (+ 43152) 1A49 0831 Edinburgh - Aberdeen.


43133 (+ 43164) 1B14 04:56 Inverness - Edinburgh. Since this service runs via Aberdeen and Dundee, it continues to run through Fife in the new timetable.


66746 with the last leg of a Royal Scotsman 'Classic' Tour, 1H84 08:07 Dundee - Edinburgh.


Observation Car 99965, with occupants, likely preparing for crossing the Forth Bridge.


43136 (+ 43026) 1A55 09:28 Edinburgh - Aberdeen.


1997 built Plasser & Theurer 08-32U RT Plain Line Tamper DR73808 Alexander Graham Bell 6xxx 08:33 Dundee West T.C. - Slateford Depot.  Something of a survivor, as similar machines have been scrapped or exported.


As 158740 vanished with 1L37 09:36 Edinburgh - Perth, 800108 approaches with 1E11 07:52 Aberdeen - Kings Cross.


221131 passes through with 1V60 08:20 Aberdeen - Plymouth.


800101 with 1W02 07:08 Leeds - Aberdeen.


The last weekday of services through Fife to Inverness, where I remember the Class 25 hauled resumption in October 1975. 170407 1H11 10:37 Edinburgh - Inverness.

Sunday 29 May 2022

Miscellany at Eastleigh, 29th April 2022

 


08683 busy at the shunting.


DR75411, a Matisa B41UE Tamper ran as 6xxx 11:00 East Yard - Fareham - Southampton - East Yard. which appears to have been a turning move.


These Civil Engineers' KWA wagons are little seen these days, but while looking old, were built in the 2000 - 2004 period by WH Davis. Above, VTG 95636 of 2004.


Saturday 28 May 2022

23rd - 28th May 2022

 
37688 + 37521 pass Redbridge on the morning of 24th May. Image by Ian Knight.


68016 Fearless + 68018 Vigilant passing Redbridge, on the way to Winfrith, 26th May. Image by Ian Knight.


68016 leads the return past Fremantle. Image by Ian Knight.


68018 on the rear. Image by Ian Knight.

Monday 23rd May: 33012 0Z55 1134 Butterley - Swanage one two (encountered GSM-R problem, diverted to Nemesis Rail, Burton); 47749 (+ 360108) 5Q80 09:30 Cricklewood - Eastleigh one two three four
Tuesday 24th May: 47749 (+ 360113) 5Q81 06:30 Eastleigh - Cricklewood one two; 37688 + 37521 1Z68 0726 Weymouth - Crewe one Flickr for the day; 33012 0Z55 12:22 Burton - Swanage one Flickr for the day 
Wednesday 25th May: 47749 (+ 701038) 5Q10 08:59 Worksop - Eastleigh one two three
Thursday 26th May: 68016 + 68018 6Z62 01:03 Crewe - Winfrith one, 6Z95 16:04 Winfrith - Crewe one two Flickr for the day
Friday 27th May:
Saturday 28th May:

08752 arrived at Eastleigh, but problems led to its reported return to Wishaw.

47749 started from Worksop with a 701 as 5Q10 on 25th, but stopped at Kettering, with dragging brakes. It then made its way to Eastleigh, but was failed. A 0Z56 came from Leicester to Kettering on 27th, but no recorded subsequent movement onwards. TOPS suggests that 47749 may now have entered the Works.

Class 701 activity appears to have been stopped, and could be related to a Class 345 incident at Plumstead.

Class 313 may last until January?

Wednesday 25 May 2022

Swanage Railway Diesel Gala Focus, 6th May 2022: 50026

50026 Indomitable was new as D426 in June 1968 and withdrawn in December 1990, being sold to Booth at Rotherham, from where it was purchased for preservation in 1993, initially in storage on the Mid-Hants Railway.

It made its first appearance in preservation at the 2012 Swanage Diesel Gala.

I first marked it in my book in the 1983-86 period.

Approaching Corfe Castle with 1R02 09:39 Swanage - River Frome Viaduct.

A rather smoky moment at Corfe Common, it later appeared to have a cleaner exhaust. 2C05 11:39 Corfe Castle - Swanage.

Approaching Townsend Bridge with 2C10 13:15 Swanage - Corfe Castle.

Between Norden and Corfe Castle, leading 1R11 14:32 River Frome Viaduct - Swanage.

Sunday 22 May 2022

Swanage Railway Diesel Gala Focus, 6th May 2022: D182

D182 (46045) delivered from BR Derby on 27th September 1962, fitted with air brakes in August 1970 and withdrawn in November 1984, after which it spent some time as 97404 as spares for other research locomotives

I first noted this locomotive in 1978-79, when it was a long term Gateshead loco, and had previously travelled behind it in 2016.


Approaching Townsend Bridge with 1R04 10:39 Swanage- River Frome Viaduct


Returning across Corfe Common with 2C07 12:39 Corfe Castle- Swanage


Later, near Norden, on the rear of 1R12 14:39 Swanage - River Frome Viaduct.


Returning at Norden as 1R13 15:32 River Frome Viaduct - Swanage

Saturday 21 May 2022

16th - 21st May 2022

 
Sunday 15th May: 47749 0Z47 1500 Leicester - Eastleigh one two
Monday 16th May: 47830 0W45 0737 Maritime - Chichester - Clapham Junction (- Victoria) one two, 0W48 10:18½ Clapham Junction - Eastleigh one47749 (+ 701005) 5Q15 14:19 Eastleigh - Worksop (no record after Trent South Jn, may have gone to Derby? Loco later worked 0Z47 Derby - Leicester) one two three four; 67013 0O61 13:38 Wembley - Eastleigh one (67008 moved to Cardiff 0W77 on  12th)
Tuesday 17th May: 61306 + 47772 T+T 1Z24 08:50 West Brompton - Winchester - Eastleigh, 1Z25 11:48 Eastleigh - Havant - Victoria Flickr for the day
Wednesday 18th May:
Thursday 19th May: 47830 0Z47 21:45 Maritime - Bristol
Friday 20th May: 37612 3Q36 00:09 Westbury - Southampton - Bristol Kingsland Road; 47830 4Z47 00:15 Bristol - Maritime
Saturday 21st May:

Thursday 19 May 2022

Swanage Railway Diesel Gala Focus, 6th May 2022: D4

D4 GREAT GABLE was new from BR Derby to 1B Camden on 26th September 1959, and withdrawn as 44004 from Toton in November 1980. 

I didn't see this one in its BR career, the only example I saw then was 44008, when exhibited at Liverpool Road. Unless I saw 44004 in the later 1980s at a gala, my first recorded sighting was in 2016.

A history of Class 44.


At Corfe Castle, first thing in the morning.


Stopping at Corfe Castle with 1N01 09:48 Norden - Swanage


At Townsend Bridge with 1R06 11:39 Swanage - River Frome Viaduct.


Running across Corfe Common, with 2C09 13:39 Corfe Castle - Swanage


On the rear, at Norden, of 1R14 15:39 Swanage - River Frome Viaduct

From other photographers.

Tuesday 17 May 2022

Swanage Railway Diesel Gala Focus, 6th May 2022: 37703

37067 was delivered from English Electric Vulcan Foundry as D6767 on 21st November 1962, allocated to Thornaby. Dual braked in October 1971, then renumbered to 37067 in February 1974. Refurbished and renumbered to 37703 in January 1987. Withdrawn by EWS in June 2000, and sent to Spain as L25 in May 2001. Returned to the UK in August 2013. Prepared at Barrow Hill as a super shunter for Daventry, where it worked only briefly, and is understood to have been in an incident which led to some frame issue. Loaned to the SRPS at Bo'ness from July 2014, until early 2022, when it was sold by DRS to Harry Needle Railroad Company, and rumours suggest may soon become designated for spares.

I first marked this locomotive in my book in 1977.


Approaching Townsend Bridge with 2C04 10:15 Swanage - Corfe Castle.


Returning across Corfe Common with 1R05 11:32 River Frome Viaduct - Swanage


Later working 1R12 14:39 Swanage - River Frome Viaduct, near Norden. The first coach is Maunsell S1381S, of 1930.


On the rear as 1R13 15:32 River Frome Viaduct - Swanage, running across the crossing at Norden Gates.

Sunday 15 May 2022

Swanage Railway Diesel Gala Focus, 6th May 2022: 33111

This Class 33 was delivered as as D6528 in October 1960, converted to 33/1 specification in November 1967, and was withdrawn in June 1991. Now owned by the Class 33/1 Preservation Company Ltd., and resident at Swanage.

I first saw this locomotive in 1982.


Approaching Townsend Bridge with 1R03 10:32 River Frome Viaduct - Swanage.


Later, in multi with 73136 (E6043, September 1966). Also at Townsend Bridge, with 1R10 13:39 Swanage - River Frome Viaduct

Saturday 14 May 2022

9th - 14th May 2022

 
Monday 9th May: 69004 + 73136 0Y98 11:35 Swanage - Eastleigh Flickr for the day; 73962 + 73964 1Q51 11:15 Derby - Eastleigh - Weymouth - Eastleigh one
Tuesday 10th May: 33012 + 31128 + 37703 + 44004 + 46045 0Z33 06:10 Swanage - Kidderminster Flickr for the day; 69004 + 73136 0Y62 0942 Eastleigh - Tonbridge one Flickr for the day; 73962 + 73964 1Q52 10:51 Eastleigh - Portsmouth Harbour - Littlehampton Barnham- Portsmouth Harbour - Totton Yard - Havant - Guildford - Havant - Fareham - Eastleigh - Winchester - Woking - Lymington Pier - Eastleigh one two
Wednesday 11th May: 73962 + 73964 1Q53 11:35 Eastleigh - Up Yard - Wimbledon - Up Yard, 1Q53 18:04 Up Yard - Wimbledon - Totton - Romsey - Eastleigh; 47739 (+ 360120) 5Q80 10:54 Cricklewood - Eastleigh one47739 (+ 360116 )5Q81 15:58 Eastleigh - Cricklewood one two
Thursday 12th May: 59203 0Z59 07:00 Eastleigh - Merehead (following repair for a traction motor issue, now back in traffic); 67008 0W77 09:08 Eastleigh - Didcot - Cardiff Canton; 73962 + 73964 1Q54 12:49 Eastleigh - Tonbridge Flickr for the day
Friday13th May: Last GWR service to Brighton: 158767 + 158798 10:41 Great Malvern - Brighton one two three, 17:02 Brighton - Bristol Parkway
Saturday 14th May:

"RMT REVEALS RAIL INDUSTRY’S PLAN FOR A CULL OF TICKET OFFICES"

Hydrogen and battery developments in Canada: one two

Thursday 12 May 2022

Swanage Railway Diesel Gala Focus, 6th May 2022: D6515

A familiar locomotive in these parts, both for its Southern Region history, but also its main line workings in more recent times. D6515 was new to traffic on 8th July 1960, allocated to Hither Green, reallocation to Eastleigh came in October 1965, where it remained until withdrawn in 1997.

Now preserved by the 71A Locomotive Group, first arriving at Swanage in October 1999. Since 2014, named Lt Jenny Lewis RN. It was in Eastleigh Works for overhaul between January 2021 and April 2022.

I first noted this locomotive in 1982, by which time it was 33012.


Awaiting the off at Corfe with 2C01 09:39 Corfe Castle - Swanage.


Working under Townsend Bridge with 2C06 11:15 Swanage - Corfe Castle.


Again crossing Corfe Common with 1R07 1232 River Frome Viaduct - Swanage.


Later at Norden, 1R14 15:39 Swanage - River Frome Viaduct.

Tuesday 10 May 2022

Swanage Railway Diesel Gala Focus, 6th May 2022: 31128

31128 was delivered as D5546 in August 1959, and was re-engined with an English Electric 12SVT in August 1965. Later operated by Fragonset, named CHARYBDIS, when it worked for Wessex Trains, and now in the ownership of Nemesis Rail. It recently has been working on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway.

First noted in my book in the Fragonset period, it appears as late as May 2005.


Working south at Townsend Bridge, with 2C03 10:39 Corfe Castle - Swanage.


Returning later with 1R08 12:39 Swanage - River Frome Viaduct.

Sunday 8 May 2022

Swanage Railway Diesel Gala Focus, 6th May 2022: D7612

D7612 was delivered from BR Derby on 23rd April 1966, and was initially allocated to Eastfield, although from 1967 it became, and remained a London Midland Region allocated locomotive. It became 25262 in March 1964, then 25901 in December 1985. The twelfth last Class 25 in service, withdrawn in March 1987, after less than 21 years of working life. It never had a train heat boiler, and it became dual braked in May 1977.

It initially entered preservation at the East Lancashire Railway in 1989, and moved to the South Devon Railway in 1999, under the auspices of South Devon Diesel Traction Ltd.

First marked in my book in 1983.


Approaching Corfe Castle with 2C02 09:15 Swanage - Corfe Castle, passing 31128.


Passing under Townsend Bridge, with 2C08 12:15 Swanage - Corfe Castle.


Later returning, about to pass under Townsend Bridge, with 1R09 13:32 River Frome Viaduct - Swanage.

Saturday 7 May 2022

2nd - 7th May 2022





59204 was operating 6V07 13:41 Chichester - Merehead empties. The locomotive was gleaming, having been repainted in November 2021.


D4 (44004) GREAT GABLE at the start of the day, Corfe Castle, 6th May. More Swanage Railway Diesel Gala to come soon.

Monday 2nd May: 57306  (+ 12215 + 12324 + 12304 + 10305 + 12315 + 82220), the "TfW spares set") 5Q86 12:05 Wembley - Eastleigh,  0V74 16:47 Eastleigh - Reading one two
Tuesday 3rd May: 69005 0Y69 10:29 Eastleigh - Tonbridge (but for over 3 hours at Gatwick) one two three; 37688 (+ 13227 + 41182 + 43059) 5Z43 10:30 Crewe - Eastleigh one two three four; 31128 + 37703 + 44004 + 46045  0Z45 10:06 Butterley M.R.C. - Swanage
Wednesday 4th May: 37688 (+ 13227 + 41169)  5Z44 11:10 Eastleigh - Crewe one two; 37884 0O86 12:10 Westbury - Eastleigh,  (+ GC02 DVT 82200) 5Q42 15:12 Eastleigh - Crewe one two
Thursday 5th May: 69004 + 73136 0Y68 12:39 Tonbridge - Eastleigh, 0Y69 15:15 Eastleigh - Swanage; 43290 + 43299 1X23 15:13 Salisbury - Up Loop - Salisbury; 37884 (+ MkIV set GC03) 5Q86 15:17 Crewe - Eastleigh one two three four
Friday 6th May: 769939 + 769940 5Q11 09:33 Long Marston - Eastleigh
Saturday 7th May:

one two

Eastleigh Works: 29Mar - 30Mar - 31Mar - 05Apr

37703 at the Swanage Preview on Thursday

Friday 6 May 2022

NMT Test Train at Redbridge, 5th May 2022

43290 + 975984 + 977994 + 977993 + 975814 + 977995 + 43299 - the rather regular power cars since July 2021.
1X23 15:13 Salisbury - Up Loop - Salisbury.


43290 leads, having been held at the previous signal.


Detail of the overhead line inspection equipment on 977993, formerly TGS 44053.


43299 leading on the return to Salisbury.