Test Train to Marchwood, Redbridge, 6th August 2025

73964 + 9523 + 1256 + 999550 + 6263 + 73963
1Q14 10:59 Woking Up Yard Sidings - Woking Up Yard Sidings, via Laverstock, Eastleigh, Marchwood, Eastleigh, Salisbury, Andover and Ludgershall.

This test train runs 6 monthly, previously as 1Q99 on 19th February, and before that 1Q99 on 7th August 2024, which failed at Marchwood on that occasion. It runs in the week following a set of 1Q5x test trains based around Eastleigh. In years past the train used to run to Fawley.

The stock was the same as on 1Q53 on 9th April.

73964 (73205, 73124, E6031 new in May 1966) Jeanette leads into Redbridge, on the return from Marchwood.


Brake Force Runner / Support Coach 9523, built at BREL Derby as a BSO to Lot 30861.

Track Recording Coach 999550, built at BREL Derby for this purpose, as the last Mk 2 coach, to Wagon Lot 3830 in 1976.

73963 (73206, 73123, E6030 new in May 1966) Janice on the rear.

Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway Diesel Gala, 25th July 2025: Winchcombe

 

47376 Freightliner 1995 2B41 11:55 Cheltenham - Broadway.

D2182.

Southern Railway 'Queen Mary' S 56305 Goods Brake Van Built 1936.

45149 2C42 12:45 Broadway - Cheltenham.


D6700 2B12 12:40 Cheltenham - Broadway

D6948 2C13 12:30 Broadway - Cheltenham.

50021 Rodney 2B13 13:25 Cheltenham - Broadway.

45149 2B14 14:10 Cheltenham - Broadway.

20228 + 20137 2C14 14:15 Broadway - Cheltenham.

Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway

Freight at Eastleigh, 1st August 2025

 

69005 Eastleigh + 70817 + 70805 + 66792 Collaboration 6O41 10:14 Westbury - Eastleigh.

66509 4O14 05:08 Garston - Maritime arrives into platform 3.

Freightliner Retirement Association nameplates on 66509, unveiled at Kidderminster on 15th May.

66780 The Cemex Express 6Z47 12:18 Marchwood - Doncaster.

66206 4O39 09:43 Morris Cowley - Eastern Docks.

66538 4M61 12:56 Maritime - Trafford Park.

66562 4M65 13:13 Maritime - Lawley Street. [Update: This may have been the last run of 4M65.]

Observations at Eastleigh, 1st August 2025

 

DRP 81525, a Plasser & Theurer GPC72 Heavy Duty Diesel Hydraulic Crane, built 1981. Only Balfour Beatty still use these on Network Rail duties, although others are now on preserved lines.


66096 on driver trainer duties, reversing in platform 3 as 0Z02 10:45 Basingstoke - Laverstock - Redbridge - Eastleigh

66848 + 70817 worked 6V27 13:49 Eastleigh - Hinksey, which was a rake of 14 empty YKA 'Osprey' wagons. DB 996151 was the oldest, built by Head Wrightson to Lot  2363 in 1952.

A huddle of Colas locomotives, 70805, 66849 Wylam Dilly and 70813.

Recently arrived from Polmadie, Alstom 08764, at Eastleigh Works. Built at Horwich, as D3932, new in March 1961.

FO 3312 HELVELLYN and RMB 1863, both of Locomotive Services, at Eastleigh Works.

28th July - 2nd August 2025

 

08764 about to push 69015 (formerly 56009, May 1977) into the paintshop at Eastleigh Works, 30th July 2025. How will it emerge? LoadHaul (most unlikely), like a Hymek? Image by Ian Knight.

69005 Eastleigh passing Romsey, 28th July, with 6V41 14:48 Eastleigh - Westbury.

56051 Survival at Eastleigh, 1st August.

Sunday 27th July: 66305 + 66762 T+T (Britannic Explorer) 3Z10 11:06 Eastleigh - Victoria, delayed at Shawford with dragging brake one two three four five
Monday 28th July: 66305 + 66762 T+T (Britannic Explorer) 5Z27 10:22 Victoria - Eastleigh; 73962 + 73964 1Q51 11:15 Derby - Eastleigh - Weymouth - Eastleigh; 66748 + 69015 (on rear) 6O01 10:05 Doncaster - Eastleigh one two three four five six
Tuesday 29th July: 73962 + 73964 1Q52 10:47 Eastleigh - Portsmouth Harbour - Littlehampton - Barnham Chichester - Portsmouth Harbour - Totton Yard  - Havant - Guildford - Havant - Fareham - Eastleigh - Winchester - Basingstoke - Woking - Lymington Pier - Eastleigh
Wednesday 30th July: 66501 + 90018 + 70008 + 57604 + 59201 0M90 1141 Eastleigh - Derby one two three four five six; 73962 + 73964 1Q53 12:00 Eastleigh - Up Yard - Wimbledon - Up Yard one, 1Q53 18:05 Up Yard - Wimbledon - Totton - Romsey - Eastleigh; 66849 + 56051 DIT 0O24 09:25 Hinksey - Eastleigh; 57002 (+ 1863) 5Z20 08:49 Crewe - Eastleigh one two three
Thursday 31st July: 57002 0Z21 09:42 Eastleigh - Crewe one; 73962 + 73964 1Q54 12:55 Eastleigh - Reading; 47815 + 57313 1Z84 18:49 Littlehampton - Eastleigh - Victoria (earlier one two); 37116 3Q18 22:01 Reading Triangle -Eastleigh - Brighton - Eastleigh
Friday 1st August: 66748 + 66744 T+T 5Z65 08:09 Eastleigh - Stewarts Lane one two (delayed once again at Shawford then Wallers Ash loop with dragging brakes, tour started late from Victoria but terminated at Bedford St Johns with door interlock issue, then 5Z20 stock to Wellingborough Neilson Siding, returned to Eastleigh on Monday morning 4th August); 37116 3Z18 09:20 Eastleigh - Derby one two
Saturday 2nd August: (33029 + 33025) + 47812 3Z20 03:15 Southall - Eastleigh, 1Z20 05:23 Eastleigh - Barrow Hill one two three, 1Z22 16:01 Barrow Hill - Eastleigh one two, 5Z22 22:39 Eastleigh - Southall; 50008 (+ 10590) 5V50 08:07 Eastleigh - Reading one, 50008 (+ xxxxx) 5O50 11:29 Reading - Eastleigh one, 50008 0E50 15:50 Eastleigh - Knottingley

SWR reduced schedule for August - outer suburban.

Railway 200 Greatest Gathering locos gather at Eastleigh one two three

59003 came out of Eastleigh Works about Monday 28th. It may be in the East Yard, no recorded activity.

69015 awaiting entry to the paintshop, 30th July.

90018 came out of paintshop at Eastleigh on 30th.

150231 prepared for the Greatest Gathering, then to preservation on the Mid-Hants.

Class 769 clearance trial proposed for Marchwood.

Eastleigh Works: 27May - 28May - 29May - 03Jun - 04Jun - 05Jun - 10Jun - 11Jun - 17Jun - 26Jun - 27Jun - 30Jun - 01Jul - 02Jul - 08Jul - 09Jul - 10Jul

60163 Tornado no longer being operated by West Coast.

Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway Diesel Gala, 25th July 2025: Toddington

 

37215 ready for the departure of 1C08 08:45 Toddington - Cheltenham, the first train of the day.

Another view of this train, looking towards Winchcombe.


47376 Freightliner 1995, departing with 2C45 15:45 Broadway - Cheltenham.


45149 retires to the shed, its work done for the day.


20137 + 20228 arriving with 2B15 15:40 Cheltenham - Broadway.

D6700 departing with 2C16 16:30 Broadway - Cheltenham.


D6948 (37248) returning to the shed.

47105 + 50021 Rodney 2B16 16:25 Cheltenham - Broadway. 47105 has now spent more time in preservation than British Rail ownership.

Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway

Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway Diesel Gala, 25th July 2025: Broadway

 

Approaching Broadway from Toddington and Laverton, behind 37215, with GWR planted Scots Pine trees (also still prevalent at Cheltenham Racecourse and Gotherington, and at the location of Bishop's Cleeve). One story is that the GWR wanted distinctive trees to help travellers locate the station.

D6700 was ready for the departure of 2C11 11:15 Broadway - Cheltenham.

A thoroughly 'God's Wonderful Railway' scene in the recreated station.

The signal box, expected to be activated in the next year.

A view of the station, with construction under way on the Stratford direction platform. How it was until 1960.

20137 + 20228 arrive, passing the former goods yard, with 2B10 10:25 Cheltenham - Broadway.

50021 Rodney prepared to depart with 2C12 12:00 Broadway - Cheltenham.

Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway