Wednesday, 31 December 2025

Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway Diesel Gala, 25th July 2025: Mk 1 coaches

There is an excellent blog covering C&W matters.


BSK 35308 (BR Wolverton 1963) was at Toddington, and is intended to be painted in blue/grey colours, the first of four, which will all be ETH fitted examples, for use in the quieter and colder seasons.


Interior of TSO 4790 (BR York 1957).


TK, later SK, 24006 (BR Derby 1951) is the oldest surviving Mk 1 coach, and is under restoration.


TSO 5023 (BR Wolverton 1961-62) was in the paintshop.


FK 13326 (BR Swindon 1962).


SK 24804 on a 10 year agreement from NYMR (BRCW 1955).


Compartment interior of SK 25488 (BR York 1958), also on a NYMR agreement.

Monday, 29 December 2025

Stockport, 3rd October 2025 Part 4: GBRf Miscellany

 


69006 Pathfinder Railtours was on a move from Doncaster to EMD at Longport.


    66728 Chartered Institution of Railway Operators passing 390011 while running through platform 3 with 6E10 10:45 Liverpool Biomass Terminal - Drax.


The final biomass wagon in this working was IIA 83.70.0698.042-4, built by WH Davis in 2013.

Saturday, 27 December 2025

22nd - 27th December 2025

 
Sunday 21st December: 47739 0E47 18:00 Eastleigh  - Peterborough
Monday 22nd December:
Tuesday 23rd December: 47727 0Z84 08:24 Eastleigh - Marchwood; 47727 (+ 701022 - the last from Marchwood) 5Q84 10:56 Marchwood - Wimbledon Park one two three four five six seven (then 47727 to Leicester)
Wednesday 24th December:
Thursday 25th December:
Friday 26th December:

Saturday 27th December:

Eastleigh Works:
02Dec - 03Dec - 04Dec - 09Dec - 10Dec - 16Dec - 17Dec - 18Dec

The former Mendip Rail Marcroft JNAs, stored at Gascoigne Wood for 2 years, are now being delivered to EMR Attercliffe for disposal. The first working was on 17th December one two, with a second on 23rd.


VTG 3467 (nearer) and VTG 3428, seen on 8th November 2022, were again (still?) coupled up together on the way to the scrapyard on 23rd.

Class 455 tours on 21st December: Train A one two three four five six seven : Train B one two three four five

Wednesday, 24 December 2025

SRPS Diesel Gala, 1st June 2025. Part 2: 66307

 


66307 IPSWICH TOWN in repose before the start of the day in Bo'ness.


66307 was delivered as 77502 (92.87.0077.502-8) to the Netherlands in September 2009, and arrived in the UK in January 2023. Repainted at Eastleigh, outshopped on 11th May 2023.


Awaiting a departure from Bo'ness.


A platform view. The majority of gala participants were at this point riding in the dmu.


Detail of nameplate.


Monday, 22 December 2025

Steam at the Great Central Railway, 7th June 2025

 


6990 Witherslack Hall arriving at Quorn & Woodhouse. 


BR 5MT 73156 had been in traffic earlier in the week.


78019, first allocated to Kirkby Stephen in March 1954, at rest at Loughborough.


Also new to Kirkby Stephen in March 1954, and the loco involved in Snowdrift at Bleath Gill, 78018 approaches Quorn with a dining train.


6990 approaches Loughborough with a train from Leicester North.


6990 running around at Loughborough.


At Quorn, a newly married couple have their picture taken close to 6990.

Saturday, 20 December 2025

15th - 20th December 2025


10 years ago, 70810 at Eastleigh Works, 19th December 2015.

Monday 15th December: 37501 0O86 06:50 Derby - Eastleigh one two three four, 37501 (+ 6393) 5M57 12:25 Eastleigh Arlington -Derby one two three four five (barrier coach later used for a Glasgow - Wolverton 334024 move one two three four); 47727 0O79 12:30 Leicester - Eastleigh; 73961 + 73962 1Q51 1150 Derby - Eastleigh - Weymouth - Eastleigh one two
Tuesday 16th December: 47739 0O69 08:00 Marchwood - Eastleigh; 47727 0Z84 08:25 Eastleigh - Marchwood, 47727 (+701032) 5Q84 11:01 Marchwood - Wimbledon Park, 47727 0Z85 15:17 Wimbledon Park - Eastleigh; 73961 + 73962 1Z52 1430 Eastleigh East Yard to Derby; 37421 3Q01 23:34 Woking -Eastleigh
Wednesday 17th December: 37421 3Q02 21:40 Eastleigh -  Weymouth - Fratton - St Denys - Eastleigh; 47727 & 47739 at Eastleigh one two three four five; 37421 at Eastleigh one two
Thursday 18th December: 47727 0Z84 08:25 Eastleigh - Marchwood; 47727 (+701029) 5Q84 11:01 Marchwood - Wimbledon Park one, 47727 0Z84 14:12 Wimbledon Park - Eastleigh; 73961 + 73962 1Q54 12:55 Eastleigh - Reading; 37421 3Q04 21:37 Eastleigh - Totton - Reading Triangle
Friday 19th December: 455727 + 455870 5Y51 14:32 Bournemouth - Wimbledon Park one two three (5727 for Farewell Runs this weekend); 37421 3Q40 23:58 Reading Triangle - Southampton -  Reading Triangle
Saturday 20th December: 455712 + 455717 5Y51 11:32 Bournemouth - Wimbledon Park one two three four (for tour)

Rail 200 exhibition train: one two three four

Thursday, 18 December 2025

SRPS Diesel Gala, 1st June 2025. Part 1: Class 20s

 


20132 + 20118 Saltburn-by-the-Sea emerge from the sheds and sidings.


Detail of 20132, part of the second series, delivered from Vulcan Foundry as D8132 in March 1966 to Tinsley.


Detail of 20118, part of the first series, delivered from Robert Stephenson & Hawthorn, Darlington, in March 1962 to Polmadie.


The pairs of 20s move on to couple up to 66307 on the train.


Having returned from Manuel, the pair prepare to return to the sidings to await a later turn in the day.

Tuesday, 16 December 2025

Outside at Barrow Hill, 7th June 2025

 


37419 was in a stored status, in the ownership of Swietelsky. It arrived at Barrow Hill on 28th May 2024. Now out and about in Swietelsky colours.


66798 Justine was coupled to a weedkiller train, with 66739 Bluebell Railway at the far end. 03066 lay alongside.


46010 + 45060 (D100) SHERWOOD FORESTER.


08956 in pool CDJD (Network Rail Class 08); 37402 Oor Wullie of Sheaf Engineering; and 50164 from the NYMR, who are understood to want their Class 101 twin to be serviceable again.


BR 62321 Class 423 4-VEP EMU Motor Brake Second Open Built 1969, being used as office space for Rampart.


20 or more of these new JNA-Z wagons, built by WH Davis at Mansfield in 2024, and intended for HS2 construction usage, were in storage. this is 81.70.5932.857.2.

Sunday, 14 December 2025

'The Bath Christmas Market Express', Eastleigh, 12th December 2025

61306 MAYFLOWER + 47593 Galloway Princess T+T 1Z71 08:00 Three Bridges - Bath Spa.


61306 approaching platform 2.


Running through the platform.


FO 3122 (BR Swindon, Lot 30697, 1962).


47593 on the rear.


47593, built as D1973, new from BR Crewe in November 1965, allocated to 64B Haymarket, later 47272.


Shortly later, at Romsey. Video clip by Ian Knight.

Saturday, 13 December 2025

8th - 13th December 2025

 

66536 prepares the stock for 4E65 13:13 Maritime - Doncaster Europort, 11th December.


66594 NYK Spirit of Kyoto 4O14 05:08 Garston - Maritime, arriving at Maritime, 11th December.


59202 Pride of Ferrybridge at Eastleigh with 6O68 09:11 Westbury Tarmac - Crawley, 12th December.


20205 + 395008 + 20007 passing St Denys, 12th December. Video clip by Ian Knight.

Monday 8th December: 47727 0O47 12:50 Leicester- Eastleigh one
Tuesday 9th December: 47739 (+ 701038) 5Q84 11:00 Marchwood - Wimbledon Park; 47739 0Z85 15:17 Wimbledon - Eastleigh; 71000 + 57311 + 1Z71 0729 London Victoria - Havant - Eastleigh - Salisbury - Bath Spa one two three four five six, 57311 + 47593 (one two)1Z72 17:56 Bath Spa - Salisbury - Eastleigh - Havant Victoria
Wednesday 10th December: 47727 0F94 09:47 Eastleigh - Leicester
Thursday 11th December: 20007 + 20205 T+T 5O27 06:20 Wembley - Eastern Docks one47739 0Z84 09:12 Eastleigh - Marchwood, 47739 (+ 701032) 5Q84 11:00 Marchwood - Wimbledon Park ("This service was cancelled due to a problem with the traction equipment (MC)."); 67027 + 66544 0Z27 09:05 Westbury - Didcot - Eastleigh Arlington one two
Friday 12th December: 20205  (+ 395008) + 20007 7Q28 10:30 Eastern Docks - Eastleigh Arlington one two three four, 20205 + 20007  5M29 14:00 Eastleigh - Wembley; 61306 + 47593 T+T 1Z71 08:00 Three Bridges - Bath Spa one two, 61306 + 71000 + 47593 1Z72 15:55 Bath Spa - Three Bridges one two three four five
Saturday 13th December: 34028 + 47802 1Z87 07:18 Three Bridges - Bristol one two three, 1Z88 17:17 Bristol - Three Bridges (34028 5Z89 19:28 Salisbury - Swanage)

Freightliner Agree Deal with Porterbrook for 150 Intermodal Wagons - "a new design based on 40ft platforms" - so not quite an extension of the FFA-G type.

Engine problems hit GWR IET fleet with root cause not yet identified - fuel pumps are failing.

70009 has been returned from Colas to Freightliner pool DFHH, currently at Midland Road, Leeds.

Friday, 12 December 2025

20007 + 20205 move 395008, Eastleigh, 12th December 2025

20205 + 96605 + 395008 (39082 + 39081) + 20007 7Q28 103:0 Southampton Eastern Docks - Eastleigh Arlington (Zg), a specialised move operated by Rail Adventure.


20205 bringing the train along the Up Fast.


20007 leads back to the station .


While timetable for platform 2, the train ran through platform 3, as typically used for Works approaches.


Damaged 39081 of 395008 Ben Ainslie.


Universal Barrier Vehicle 96605 Ernest.


The train entering the Works. The 20s and barriers later worked back to Wembley.

Saturday, 6 December 2025

1st - 6th December 2025

 

66620 6O68 09:11 Westbury Tarmac - Crawley, 3rd December.


66750 Bristol Panel Signal Box + 66710 Karen Harrison + 66130 0O41 10:14 Westbury - Eastleigh, passing Redbridge, 4th December.

Monday 1st December: 37401 (+ 3091) 5Z90 09:44 Eastleigh - Crewe (ran 4 hrs late) one two
Tuesday 2nd December:
Wednesday 3rd December:
47739 0O77 12:31 Leicester - Eastleigh
Thursday 4th December: 47739 0Z84 09:12 Eastleigh - Marchwood, 47739 (+701038) 5Q84 11:19 Marchwood - Wimbledon Park ("This service was cancelled due to a problem with the brakes", loco appears to have quickly sneaked back to Eastleigh quite soon after arrival at Marchwood.)
Friday 5th December:
Saturday 6th December:

313201 has been relocated to Llanelli, further info from the owning group.

In the forums: "DB Cargo has won a 5 year contract to move electric cars for Jaguar from Halewood to the port of Southampton."

395008 - the two coaches at Eastern Docks are expected to move to Eastleigh Works next week.

Eastleigh Works: 19Nov - 20Nov - 25Nov - 26Nov (departure of scrapped 57007) - 27Nov