Train trip on the Foxfield Railway, 1st September 2024

 

""Hawarden" passing the signal box at Caverswall Road. "The signal box at the Foxfield Railway’s Caverswall Road station is a preserved former North Staffordshire Railway Type 2 signal cabin which was originally at Hockley Crossing on the Stoke-on-Trent to Derby railway line west of Uttoxeter."

"Hawarden" was built by Bagnall in Stafford, 2623 of 1940, and worked in the steel industry at Shelton in Stoke, until preservation in 1972.


"Hawarden" running around at Dilhorne Park.

"Hawarden" prepares for its departure from Dilhorne Park.


"Hawarden" making the 12:30 departure from Caverswall Road.

The Afternoon Teas looked very attractive, being prepared in Mk 1 TSO 4762.

Foxfield Railway

Freight on Shap, 31st August 2024

 

66623 Lest We Forget running downhill with a typically early-running  6H51 11:31 Hardendale Qry Shap (Fhh) - Tunstead Sdgs.

The flow of limestone to the kilns at Shap appears to have stopped two weeks after this, as the quicklime product was sent to the Port Talbot blast furnace which is now being shut down. The kilns may in future start a flow to steel making in the Netherlands [but in October - November were seen to be inactive].

The consist was of empty MWA wagons, with 81.70.5891.533-8 as the last wagon, which was seen in Eastleigh on a rarer working on 22nd September 2023.


88010 Aurora leading 4S43 06:40 Daventry Drs (Tesco) - Mossend Euroterminal.

This is the Tesco working, here a container is seen on IDA wagon 39.70.4901.068-9.

23rd - 28th September 2024

 

66588 seen in shunt manoeuvres at the Redbridge end of Maritime, 24th September.

66799 Modern Railways Diamond Jubilee passing Eastleigh with  4Y19 12:22 Mountfield - Western Docks, 24th September. Image by Roger Homan.

Monday 23rd September: 57002 - now with LSL, for paintshop - (+ 6393 + 41059 + 6394) 5Z44 08:15 Crewe - Eastleigh one Flickr for the day; 37401 + 57003 (+ 6394 + 6393 +41183) + 43058 5Z45 15:00 Eastleigh - Crewe one two Flickr for the day (37401 failed at Bletchley with low oil pressure, rescued on 24th by 86101); 73962 + 73965 1Q51 11:15 Derby - Laverstock - Romsey - Eastleigh - Weymouth - Eastleigh one
Tuesday 24th September: 69009 (+ 458411) 5X64 12:18 Wembley - Southampton one two, 5Q64 16:03 Southampton - Bournemouth - returned to Eastleigh with 458502; 37057 3Q01 23:38 Woking - Eastleigh
Wednesday 25th September: 73962 + 73965 1Z53 12:00 Eastleigh - Salisbury, 1Q53 16:00 Salisbury - Eastleigh; 69009 (+ 458502) 5Q95 17:49 Eastleigh - Widnes; 37057 3Q02 21:40 Eastleigh - Weymouth - St Denys - Fratton - St Denys - Eastleigh

Thursday 26th September: 73962 + 73965 1Q54 12:55 Eastleigh - Reading; 37057 3Q04 21:37 Eastleigh - Southampton - Totton ? - Reading
Friday 27th September: 37057 3Q40 2353 Reading - Paddington - Northam - Woking
Saturday 28th September: 

Class 99 is launched by GBRf at Innotrans: pictures - video

Between the rains at Eastleigh, 26th September 2024

 

Driving Trailer 9701 (Mk2f BSO 9528 built June 1974 to Lot 30824, converted to DBSO May 1979 to Lot 30861).

Ultrasonic Test Coach 62287 built at York to Lot 30808 in June 1970 as a MBS in 4-CIG 7337 - the first unit in the 1970 build. Unit was renumbered 1237 in August 1987, then 1816 in May 1998, then 1303 in April 1990, running latterly was SWT until 28th January 2005. It was then stored at Shoeburynesss and later preserved on the Lincolnshire Wolds Railway.

37057 Barbara Arbon, lying partly hidden behind wagons.


66150, which has come off the Wakefield workings.


66750 Bristol Panel Signal Box 6V41 14:50 Eastleigh -Westbury.

66554 + 70016 DIT 4O49 09:32 Basford Hall - Maritime.

Old and New Wagon Notes, Westbury, 19th September 2024

 

On the way out: JFA wagon ARC 17901 in the formation of 6C31 10:10 Theale - Whatle. The 'LTF' JHA hopper wagon prototype, built by Standard Wagon in 1988, for Amey roadstone traffic. The LTF wagons, named for the Gloucester RC&W 'low track force' LTF-25 bogies, are now in course of fleet reduction. Previous coverage from February 2018.

Production JHA ARC 19895, built by Procor in 1990, in the same train.

ARC 17913, a JHA, built by Standard Wagon in 1990, seen in 6V60 14:18 Wembley - Whatley.

In with the new: 203 new HOA hoppers are coming on lease from VTG, with 34 delivered at the beginning of August. However, 30 of them were sent for storage in Exeter Riverside Yard on 27th August, for reasons unknown, leaving only 4 in traffic, of which I saw 2, coupled together. This is 81.70.6774.109-7 in the same train as 17913.

It was paired with 81.70.6774.099-0.

Soon to go: None of the regular fleet of former Yeoman JHA wagons have gone for disposal so far, but will also be replaced. 'Outer' wagon OK 19305, built by Orenstein & Koppel in 1989, was being moved in a 7Z40 from Westbury to Westbury Tarmac, after a wagon in the earlier 7A40 caused a problem, leading to splitting of the train. The O&K JHAs are limited to 45 mph.

OK 19344, 'inner' with knuckle couplers,in the same formation.

69009 delivers 458411 to Bournemouth, 24th September 2024

69009 WESTERN CONSORT + 64707 + 458411 + 64664

5X64 12:18 Wembley Yard to Southampton Central
5Q64 1603 Southampton Central to Bournemouth T&R.S.M.D

The 5X64 working approaching Eastleigh. Image by Roger Homan.

5Q64 approaching Redbridge.

Running through Redbridge.

A sight of 458411.

Heading towards the causeway.

NMT at Westbury, 19th September 2024

43357 + 977984 + 975814 + 977993 + 975984 + 977995 + 43251
1Q23 05:52 Reading - Salisbury, which then formed 1X23 to Southampton

Network Rail power cars 43013 + 43062 were prepared for the Bank Holiday ETCS trial on the East Coast Main Line, but were 'failed' at Derby in advance of the test, and did not attend.

Former Cross-Country 43357 approaching Westbury.


Rather worn 43251 on the rear, upon arrival to reverse.


43251 (43051, April 1977) in portrait.


977984 Staff Coach (HST catering vehicle 40501, as a TRUK once part of 253001 from November 1976).

43357 (43157, February 1981) in portrait.

'Mary Doll' at Eastleigh Works, 22nd September 2024

37401 Mary Queen of Scots.

57003 is coupled behind 37401.

Nameplate view.

43058, now with Loch Eil nameplates.

9 coaches of the 12 coach formation of 700106.

Looking around at Eastleigh, 16th September 2024

 

56049 Robin of Templecombe, during its pause while being moved from Westbury to Hoo.


56049, new in October 1978, returned to traffic in January 2019.


Harsco stoneblowers DR 80302 + DR 80301 Stephen Cornish arrived 6U40 10:22 Sittingbourne Down Sidings - Eastleigh East Yard

MXA wagon 951183 (underframe built 1955 by R Y Pickering).

66754 Northampton Saints came to drag 56049, but appeared to be unable to release the brakes at this time.

37901 dragging 700106, Eastleigh, 16th September

Europhoenix spot-hire 37901 Mirrlees Pioneer + Rail Adventure barriers + 700106
6Q70 13:21 Three Bridges Tl Up Depot - Eastleigh Arlington (Zg)

Approaching Eastleigh on the Down Slow.

37901 running through platform 3. 


Mirrlees Pioneer, reflecting the 6MB275T engine, now unique in rail traction in 6 cylinder form.


Onward to the Works.


IWS barrier wagon 87.80.2797.002-8, coupled to the leading end of 700106.


The trailing end of 700106, with barrier 87.80.2797.001-0.

Trailing end of 700106, showing the coupling adapter.