Eastleigh Works, 23rd September 2025

 

37409 Loch Awe had arrived on the preceding day, and was coupled with barriers 6393 and 6394.


66701 + 66744 Heart of Wales had arrived overnight with the 'Britannic Explorer' stock as a VSTP (very short term planned train) 5Z66 21:11 Stewarts Lane T&R.S.M.D to Eastleigh Arlington (Zg).

66701 was last repainted in its original scheme, in late 2014, seen leaving the Works for the East Yard.

07007, and 08567 shunting 'Britannic Explorer' Observation Coach 99110.


Dining Car 99109 had been moved into the van shop for some kind of attention.

Refliecting other work by Arlington, Ermewa owned IHA Steel Carrier wagon 33 87 4915 006-0, which arrived on 23rd August.

The final coach for the 'Britannic Explorer', Romsey, 8th July 2025

66762 (+ 99105) 5X43 08:01 Salisbury - Eastleigh which was 5Z43 17:24 (Monday 7th) Hamilton - Salisbury.

66762 approaching Romsey.

Running into the platforms.

Coach 99105 was labelled "Leitrim 99105" in the first window, thus was Irish Rail Standard Open 7158, which was built at Inchicore. 

The train continued to Eastleigh Works via Chandlers Ford, where delivery of all 10 coaches was completed. The 'Britannic Explorer" rake was still 9 coaches at 17:00 that day. 99105 will not need turning.

'Britannic Explorer', Eastleigh, 4th July 2025

 

66744 Heart of Wales approaching with 5Z75 08:48 Euston - Eastleigh Works. There appears to have been a press event over Thursday evening to Friday morning, in platform 16 at Euston.

99101 (87104, IR 7601) is a Mk3 Generator Van, built at BREL Derby, specifically for Ireland.

99108 (87101, IR 7171), now a Dining Car, was originally assembled at Inchicore Works.

New nameplates on 66748 St Michael's Mount.


Still working as 5Z75, 66744 and 66748 later worked a turning move for coach 99104, using station platforms and depot loop.

New nameplate Heart of Wales on 66744.

Coach 99104, which carried a label 'Waterford 99104' in the nearest window. This identifies it as the former 87003, IR 7129, rather than as printed in the current Platform 5 book, which does contain a note to say that confirmation of previous identities was not completed.

Detail of Central Door Locking light, similar to those on the 'Royal Scotsman'.


66748 St Michael's Mount on the turning move.

66744 and 66748 returned to the yard after the completion of the turning move.

Belmond Britannic Explorer

This and That, Saturday 28th June 2025

 

66747 Made in Sheffield 5X43 07:55 Salisbury - Eastleigh (was 5Z43 17:24 Hamilton - Salisbury)

'Britannic Explorer' Sleeping Car 99104. This is believed to have been Irish Rail Standard Open 7158, which was built at Inchicore. I have seen the coach again, and it had a paper label 'Waterford' in the window which would actually correlate with Irish Rail 7129, which was built at Derby.

A going away view of 99104. This move leaves 99105 to be delivered from Hamilton.


57604 Pendennis Castle approaches Eastleigh as 0O57 10:01 Reading - Eastleigh T&RSMD, where it has now arrived for a repaint, following a lengthy repair from Autumn 2023 to Spring 2025.

This may have been the first visit of a GWR 57/6 to Eastleigh, worked by Hanson & Hall. In its earlier life, 57604 was 47209.


The return working for the Hanson & Hall crew was this short-notice rerouted 5X50 12:55 Eastleigh - Salisbury, seen approaching Romsey with 50049 Defiance in charge.

A closer view of the locomotive, which was to return to Kidderminster later in the day.

The repainted coach was 10534, which was worked to Eastleigh over this route on 14th June.