Class 70s 'grounded', 1st - 5th May 2012

"Grounded" 70019 surrounded by Class 66s, Southampton Maritime, 5th May

After the events of the last month, it apppears that the Freightliner Intermodal Class 70s are effectively "grounded" from 2nd May,given recent reliability incidents, in particular those which have impacted the South Western Lines between Basingstoke area and Southampton. The problems are understood to be with the crankcase and injectors of the GE Powerhaul P616 engine (derived from Jenbacher J616).

Some 70s have been seen in use in the Midlands, but in general usage appears much reduced.

Notable events from a Southampton perspective:

3rd April: 70019 failed with train across all roads between Maritime and Millbrook (rescued by Cl 08)

5th April: 70018 fire at Wallers Ash

24th April: 70007 fire between Bramley and Basingstoke

30th April: 70001 failed near Battledown (rescued by 70019 from Maritime)

- all three of these workings were southbound, and on or soon after the Reading to Basingstoke section.

5th May:  70019 failed on 4O49 09:23 Basford Hall - Maritime on 2nd May, being brought south by 66543

70009 is in Eastleigh T&RSMD for engine repairs (A/100) - was worked south behind 70008 on 14th April.

70008 (powered working- assigned for Special Tests) + 70001 + 66534 were worked 0Y69 from Maritime to Eastleigh T&RSMD for attention on 5th May one two - the 66 was back on Maritime later in the day.

This leaves 70019 at Maritime, where it spent time on Saturday under the bridge, but was later moved as shown above. It appears to be waiting for an N/100 (engine repair).

35028 "Clan Line" on the "Royal Wessex", 27th April 2012

1Z97 08:45 Victoria - Swanage, 1Z98 17:15 Swanage - Southampton UGL - Redbridge - Laverstock - Waterloo.

35028 approaching Redbridge just before noon.

Redbridge. The locomotive was built at Eastleigh in 1948, and was the last of class to be rebuilt, in 1959.

In the evening on the return journey, again at Redbridge. Image by Ian Knight.

Approaching Romsey a few minutes later. The two chapels in the graveyard are in the background, that on the right is listed.

Romsey. The first BFK is support coach 17096 Mercator built in Derby in 1968.

Detail of the locomotive at Romsey. The disc code is for "Waterloo or Nine Elms and Brockenhurst and Bournemouth West, via Sway"

23rd - 28th April 2012

97301 at Eastleigh, 27th April. Image by Ian Knight.

67028 with 1Z98 at Redbridge, 27th April. Image by Ian Knight.

Sunday 22nd April: 47841 + 47818 T+T 5Z73 10:40 Eastleigh - Crewe one two
Monday 23rd April:  

Tuesday 24th April: 70007 4O49 09.23 Basford Hall - Maritime - caught fire between Bramley and Basingstoke, rescued by 66533 1Z99 Maritime - Bramley one two three four

Wednesday 25th April:

Thursday 26th April:  37601 + 37409 + 47818 & 47841 (on rear) 05:51 1Z74 Edinburgh - Western Docks (see below) one two three four five six seven eight nine ten eleven twelve thirteen fourteen fifteen sixteen seventeen eighteen nineteen twenty twenty-one, 97301 3Z14 13:03 Bristol - Eastleigh (via Warminster), 97302 6P25 10:15 Bescot - Eastleigh one two three, 0M28 Eastleigh - Hinksey one two three four

Friday 27th April: 67028 5Z97 05:00 Eastleigh - Victoria, 35028 + 67028 T+T 1Z97 08:45 Victoria - Swanage one two three four five, 1Z98 17:15 Swanage - Southampton UGL - Redbridge - Laverstock - Waterloo one two three four five six seven, 67028 5Z98 22:10 Waterloo - Eastleigh, 37409 + 37601 + 47841 (DIT) & 47818 (on rear) 5Z74 Eastleigh - Crewe (actually from Millbrook) one two three four five six seven eight nine, 97301 3Z08 20:02 Eastleigh - Redbridge - Bath - Andover- Oxford - Derby, 70008 + 70007 DIT 4M98 18:00 Maritime - Garston

Saturday 28th April: 66124 + 66013 + 66141 + 66160 + 66101 + 66145 + 66151 + 66060 + 66105 + 66198 0X12 Margam - Eastleigh

Thursday's 'Cruise Saver' started from Edinburgh with 47841 + 47818 in T+T. However it ran into trouble only a few miles into its journey at Monktonhall where 47818 shunted 47841 to the rear and then continued, but to expire with low oil at Aldwarke Jct. (Rotherham). After an initial rescue by Freightliner 66520 to Barrow Hill, the train was taken to Southampton by adding 37601 + 37409, arriving about 2½ hours late at 18:42, after the departure of 'Oriana' reportedly leaving 65 passengers behind. See cruise discussions at pocruises & cruiseforums. Passengers given options including flying to join the cruise on Sunday.
"There are no restrictions on baggage, and with almost 250 fellow guests on board no risk that the ship will leave without you"

Other passengers were fortunate to catch the 'Ventura' which was delayed for some repairs, not to await the Cruise Saver.

The ECS was only worked as far as the car loading terminal adjacent to Millbrook one two three.

On Friday the ECS was worked by 37401 + 37601 + 47841 (DIT) & 47818 (idling) on rear.

Swanage Gala Diesel Gala extra locomotive now reported to be a Network Rail 57/3 operated by GBRf - also expected to bring 50026 from Eastleigh on Friday 4th May (tentative 10:30 from Eastleigh)

So farewell then 47501, stored XHHP

47501 has been stored into pool XHHP, the DRS holding pool, and is believed to have a main generator failure. There is a report that it may be coming to Eastleigh for stripping, to support overhaul of 47839.

New as D1944 from Brush, Loughborough in June 1966. Renumbered to 47501 from February 1974. Stored by EWS in April 1999, withdrawn in April 2001. In October 2002 acquired by DRS and passed through Glasgow Works returning to traffic in September 2003 after overhaul and twin-tank modification.

It is said that 47802 may now be on hit-list at DRS as it is at same design level as 47501.

Eastleigh, 1st April 1984

UPDATE: David Mant sent me this picture of 47501 at Salisbury on what appears to be a West of England service in 1988. My notes show that the locomotive had an overhaul at Crewe completed in June 1986.

 Eastleigh, 22nd May 2011

Cruise Saver Express ECS, Eastleigh - 21st April 2012

 47818 approaches Eastleigh with 5Z73 ECS from Western Docks, running much earlier than scheduled.

 47818 clags as the signal clears. New as D1917 in December 1965 from Brush, later 47240 and 47663.

47841 works the ECS into the carriage sidings, via the depot loop. There should be a northbound ECS shortly as the next working is a repeat itinerary on Thursday 26th, and baggage car will be at the rear of the southbound train if the ECS goes by the West Coast.

50026 Indomitable under test at Eastleigh Works - 21st April 2012

 50026 Indomitable seen moving under test at Eastleigh Works.

 The loco is scheduled to appear at the Swanage Railway Diesel Gala in three weeks.

The locomotive was left running here for some time. New as D426 in June 1968 from EE Vulcan Foundry and withdrawn in December 1990.

Eastleigh Works 57s - 21st April 2012

Network Rail 57312 and 57306 may be in 'storage' at Eastleigh following the snow season. 57312 formerly The Hood  was new in February 1965 from Brush as D1811 later 47330 Amlwych Freighter/Trên Nwyddau Amlwych

57302 formerly Virgil Tracy awaits transformation into a DRS loco. Originally D1928 completed by Brush in January 1966 then 47251, 47589 and 47827.