The locomotive was built at Brush, Loughborough, as D1778 and entered traffic on 23rd October 1964. Renumbered 47183 about February 1974, then converted with ETH to 47579 in March 1981, named James Nightall G.C. on 28th September 1981 at March, nameplates removed in November 1995. Converted to 47793 about December 1995, the last RCH jumpers conversions, named Saint Augustine on 24th June 1996, later named Christopher Wren in 2003. Stored by EWS in March 2004, and preserved in 2007 at Mangapps Farm.
Departing from Ropley.
A further shot of the departure.
The token is prepared for handing to the signalman, when arriving at Ropley from Alton.
Previously profiled at Butterley in July 2016, 8001 (20001) is now restored to operation. Just coming up to 61 years since it was released to traffic in July 1957, and just over 30 years since it was withdrawn in April 1988. It reached the Midland Railway Centre by 1989, and spent time on the construction of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link (HS1).
Arriving at Alresford at the start of the day.
Departing from Ropley.
Ariving at Ropley from Alton, the token about to be dropped off.
47579James Nightall GC departs from Ropley. New as D1778 on 23rd October 1964 to 41A Tinsley. Renumbered to 47183 in February 1974, ETH and renumbered to 47579 in March 1981, then to 47793 in December 1995. Withdrawn in March 2004, and preserved at Mangapps Farm from March 2007. Vacuum brake reinstated over the recent months.
55002 (D9002) had what I understand was an AWS related fault. The part was in delivery but went to Alresford, Essex by mistake, 55002 managed to play a part in the gala by borrowing the equivalent from D6700 later in the day. All is now reported sorted on both locomotives for Saturday 21st.
03197 at Alton with a Queen Mary brakevan shuttle. From late 1960s to mid 70s this was a SR loco, and was fitted with raised brake pipes for emu compatibility.
33053 at Ropley.
50027 Lion at Alton.
Repaired D9002 (55002) King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry preparing to join a train at Ropley.
The Watercress Line gala, when I visited, allowed the opportunity to see three Bulleids in steam, plus four more (or parts thereof) awaiting or under repair.
A full set of pictures, including colour, appears on OneDrive.
SDJR 7F53809 sat out the gala, but joined in the whistling at the passing 'Pines Exprress'.
LMS 5MT 45379 was losing steam around the piston valve.
BR 4MT 76017 + 9F 92203 pass Ropley with the 'Pines Express'.
An opportunity to compare the design commonalities of BR Standard Class 4 2-6-0 76017 (above) and LMS Ivatt Class 4MT 43106 (below), the BR Doncaster design having the same dimensions and many common details.
2H 1125 (60124 + 60824 to Lots 30540 and 30541) was originally delivered from Eastleigh as a 3H unit in December 1959, Renumbered 205025 in October 1986, this "Thumper" was reconfigured as a 2H in 1998, and eventually withdrawn in February 2004, after which it delivered itself into preservation in May that year,
I first noted 1125 on 3rd August 1982, a month before taking up employment in Hampshire.
50027 was delivered as D427 from English Electric Vulcan Foundry (EE3797/D1168) on 15th June 1968, and was allocated to DO5 (Stoke Division, generally meaning Crewe), and formally to CD (Crewe Diesel) from May 1974, before being sent to the Western Region in March 1974 with the pending introduction of "The Electric Scots" services north of Weaver Junction through to Glasgow.
Once on the Western Region, the locomotive was allocated to BR(Bristol Bath Road) and then LA (Plymouth Laira) in March 1974, to OC (Old Oak Common) in April 1982 and back to LA in January 1984. The locomotive was refurbished at Doncaster between February and July 1983, emerging in 'large logo' colours. The name Lion was applied on 17th April 1978. Laira completed an 'F' exam on the locomotive in December 1987, turning it out in a Network South East livery.
The locomotive was withdrawn on 23rd July 1991, with worn out wheelsets and pending engine repairs. Initially preserved on the Mid-Hants in May 1991, it has spent most time in preservation on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway from 1994, before making a return to the Mid-Hants in 2012. Amazingly, the main line career of 23 years has now been exceeded by 24 years in preservation.
My notes show that I first saw Lion on 22nd March 1986, I would appear to have been in Eastleigh / Southampton area.
At Ropley, but platform and angles remind me of the Waterloo - Exeter period.
Running around at Alton.
Preparing to return from Alton to Alresford.
Entering Medstead from Ropley.
Majestic in its break at Medstead.
Doing the Fifty rattly thing away from Ropley.
The end of my day at Alresford, drawing in from Alton.
37901 is understood to be sold for future main line use with Colas, and should be expected to leave the Mid-Hants Railway in the near future, once the Network Rail landslip problem at Wrecclesham is resolved. This performance at the Diesel Weekend may have been a final opportunity for pictures and haulage. On the haulage front, I felt that its performance on "the Alps" out of Alton was very confident - not spectacular, but delivering the goods. The locomotive's finish is best described as "weather worn"and the Mirrlees Pioneer nameplates were not being carried.
Originally delivered as D6850 in July 1963 from English Electric Vulcan Foundry to Cardiff Canton, later in September 1966 to Haymarket, and May 1970 to Eastfield. Renumbered 37150 in April 1974, further reallocations took place to Motherwell in November 1979, with a brief allocation to Eastfield in January 1984. In March 1985, the locomotive was reallocated to Stratford, and to Cardiff in February 1986 when the locomotive was sent to Crewe to be re-engineered, emerging as 37901 in October 1986.
Naming Mirrlees Pioneer took place in December 1986. The locomotive worked until 1998, when it was stored, and entered the world of preservation in 2003.
When re-engineered, the new power unit was a Mirlees MB275T of 1800 bhp, which was a 6 cylinder version of the 8 cylinder unit deployed in Class 60. This was mated with the same Brush BA1005A alternator type as on Class 37/5 and 37/7. Of its 35 year working life, 12 years were sent in refurbished condition, but now at 53 years old, 30 years have been spent refurbished.
This one evaded my attentions until the Merehead open day on 21st June 2008, where it appeared with 37906.
