Test Train at Romsey, 2nd April 2026

43277 (+ 6261 + 72612 (PLPR1) + 975091 MENTOR + 72612) + 43257
1Q23 15:28 Salisbury - Southampton - Salisbury

43277 Safety Task Force leads the train into Romsey.


43277 was built as 43077 at BREL Crewe in December 1977, assigned to 254011 on the ECML.


72631 Plain Line Pattern Recognition vehicle - PLPR1, originally TSO Mk2f W6096 built at BREL Derby to Lot 30860 in 1974.

975091 Overhead Line Inspection Coach - MENTOR, originally converted for departmental use in 1973 at Swindon, from BSK S34615, deilivered in October 1955 by Gloucester RC&W to Lot 30142.

43257 on the rear of the train.

Seen on the return to Salisbury, 43257 was built as 43057 at BREL Crewe in July 1977 - one of a pair allocated to 254001 on the ECML.

Test Train at Aberdour, 30th December 2025

43257 (+ 6261 + 72631 PLPR1 + 975091 MENTOR + 72612) + 43274
1Q26 13:45 Edinburgh - Aberdeen - Thornton - Perth - Dundee - Perth - Ladybank - Slateford Depot

Colas orange colours on 43257.


72631 and generator 6261.


975091.


72612 Radio Survey Coach / Brake Force Runner.

43274 on the rear.

A further view of 43274 as it heads away towards Burntisland.

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.

Test train at Eastleigh, 9th April 2025

73963 Janice (+ 9523 + 999550 + 1256 + 6263) + 73962 Dick Mabbutt
1Q53 12:00 Eastleigh East Yard - Southampton Up Yard (Fl)

73963 leads the train through platform 3.


73962 leads after the reversal, which appears to have taken place at Southampton Central, rather than Up Yard.


Generator van 6263, built as BG 81231 by Pressed Steel in 1957 to Lot 30163.


    1256 Plain Line Pattern Recognition vehicle - PLPR3, built as FO 3296 by BREL Derby in 1973 to Lot 3845.

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

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

73963 on the rear.

NMT at Romsey, 27th June 2024

43062 + 977984 + 975814 + 977993 + 975984 + 977995 + 43013
1X23 15:28 Salisbury - Southampton UGL - Salisbury

43062 John Armitt leads into Romsey.


977995 Generator Coach (HST catering vehicle 40719, previously 40619).


43013 Mark Carne CBE on the rear.

43013 leads on the return.

NMT at Romsey, 8th February 2024

This months NMT was only 4 coaches, and turned around at Redbridge. The first NMT here with two yellow power cars since 11th February 2021, both now being ETCS fitted.

43013 + 977995 + 975894 + 977993 + 975814 + 43062
1X23 15:28 Salisbury - Redbridge - Salisbury

977994 was not along for the ride on this occasion, it seems to have most recently worked in mid-January.
 

43013 Mark Carne CBE leading into Romsey.


Closer to the platform.

977993 with PLPR illumination behind the second wheel.

43062 John Armitt on the rear. This power car returned to traffic on 24th January, following overhaul and ETCS fitment.

A test train, and a train under test, Eastleigh, 18th January 2024

A test train: 73965 + 977997 + 977974 + 72639 + 9481 + 73964, the same coaches as on 15th February 2023, to work 1Q54 12:55 Eastleigh - Tonbridge

73965 Des O'Brien.


977997, Radio Survey Train Test coach.


977974.


72639, Plain Line Pattern Recognition vehicle "PLPR4".


9481, support coach.

73964 Jeanette.

A train under test: 458423 + 458528 5Q90 11:19 Bournemouth T&R.S.M.D - Basingstoke, then 5Q91 13:20 Basingstoke - Bournemouth T&R.S.M.D

458428 on the rear of 5Q90. This unit was moved north as 458528 on 27th September, and returned on 8th November.

485428 now leading on 5Q91. Current expectation seems to be that these units may work on Alton turns.

On the Fife Coast, October 2023

 

800104 1E11 07:52 Aberdeen - Kings Cross, passing through Burntisland, 26th October.


43126 (+ 43026) 1B74 09:04 Aberdeen - Edinburgh, passing Burntisland, 26th October.

Stoneblower DR 80215 6U35 09:14 Slateford Depot -- Dundee C.S., passing Aberdour, 30th October.

800109 working VVR scheduled 1W02 08:47 Newcastle - Aberdeen, at Aberdour, 30th October.

43132 (+ 43177) 1B74 09:04 Aberdeen - Edinburgh, passing under the Hawkcraig Road, Aberdour, 30th October.

Two "High Speed Trains" in semi-retirement, 10th October 2023

 

60103 Flying Scotsman, near Hillend, between Inverkeithing and Dalgety Bay, with 1Z23 09:41 Edinburgh - Aberdeen.


Rather closer to the camera. A1 and A3s were first seen in these parts in the 1920s.


Running through Dalgety Bay station.

Both former East Coast power-cars, 43274 (above) and 43277 Safety Task Force (below), ran through Aberdour with 1Q26 13:45 Edinburgh - Slateford Depot

Colourful NMT at Romsey, 21st September 2023

43274 +  975984 + 977994 + 977993 + 975814 + 977984 + 43277
1X23 15:25 Salisbury - Southampton Redbridge - Salisbury

EMR purple base colours on 43274, as it leads the train into Romsey.

A closer view of 43274.

The rear of 43277 shows its name Safety Task Force.

Heading towards Southampton, but on this occasion the train stopped over in the loop at Redbridge.

43277 leading on the return leg to Salisbury.


43274 on the rear of the train.