May 7th - 13th 2012

D6515 (33012) passes St Denys as 0Z40 on Wednesday 9th. Image by Ian Knight.

57009 at Eastleigh Works following repair to side swipe to the cab (nearest to camera). 13th May.

Monday 7th May:
Tuesday 8th May:
Wednesday 9th May: 33012 0Z40 07:00 Swanage - Barrow Hill - Kidderminster (terminated at Nemesis Rail, Burton-on-Trent, appears to be related to hot axlebox) one two three four five
Thursday 10th May: 67006 5Z41 00:15 Eastleigh - Southall
Friday 11th May: 67006(?) 5Z43 04:20 Southall - Eastleigh, 73136 0Z73 St Leonards - Swanage
Saturday 12th May: 67006(??) 5Z30 03:36  Eastleigh - Southall, 37602 + 37259 + 47810 5Z77 09:55 Crewe - Eastleigh one two three four five
Sunday 13th May: 37602 + 37259 + 47810 T+T 1Z77 10:43 Eastleigh - Fareham - Havant - Edinburgh one two three

Recent updates of Eastleigh Works coverage by Carl Watson

34053 Sir Keith Park was moved from Swanage to Kidderminster over Wednesday and Thursday. one two

English Electric DRS Fest, 5th May 2012

37608 + 37601 Class 37 'Fifty' power 'Cruise Saver Express' 1Z76 10:35 Eastern Docks - Edinburgh past Shawford in the morning, with 47810 idling on the rear. Both leading 37s have seen their 50th burthdays. 37608 was new in July 1961 as D6722 later 37022 and refurbished to 37512 in 1987. Refurbished to 37608 in July 1995, and to DRS in July 1997. 37601 was new in January 1961 as D6705 later 37005 and refurbished to 37501 in 1986, named Teesside Steelmaster in 1987. Refurbished to 37601 in 1995, and to DRS in 2007. This locomotive was also involved in the Cruise Saver rescue on 26th April, with 37409 also again in Southampton area on 5th May.

20312 + 20308 lead the Pathfinder Tours 'Hampshire Hotchpotch' 1Z61 06:23 Crewe - Eastleigh into Romsey. 20312 was new as D8042 in November 1959, later 20042. Preserved  at the East Lancashire Railway after withdrawal in June 1991, but returned to traffic usage in 1998 by DRS. More recently spent time in storage, including time at Eastleigh and Carnforth from 2008 to 2012, being returned to traffic in March this year.

Passing Redbridge a few minutes later. Image by Ian Knight. The second loco 20308 was new as D8187 in January 1967, later 20187 which for a while was in British Rail Telecommunications colours. It became 20308 in 1998 through overhaul at RFS(E) in Doncaster and it also spent time in 2009-10 in storage at  Eastleigh and Carnforth.

Not really DRS, as now hired from Porterbrook to Freightliner pool DFIN, 66418 passes St Denys with 4O29 08:14 Basford Hall - Maritime

Delayed after having not been routed through the platform road at Eastleigh, and setting back, 37409 Lord Hinton is now leading 1Z62 14:08 Eastleigh Works - Eastern Docks - Western Docks through St Denys. 37409 was new as D6970 in March 1965 and was later 37270. In 1985 it was converted with ETH to 37409 at Crewe, and sent to Scotland where it operated on the West Highland lines. Eventually EWS stored it serviceable in March 2003, and it was sold to EMR in January 2008. Shortly after it was bought by BRE for preservation and moved by road from Motherwell to SRPS Bo'ness in March 2008. Following BRE's failure, the SRPS attempted to preserve it, but it was sold to DRS and removed to Barrow Hill in September that year, returning to traffic in June 2010 and named Lord Hinton later that year.

After visiting Eastern Docks 37409 is on the approach to Western Docks passing Millbrook. This loco was the other 37 involved in the recent rescue of the Cruise Saver.

20312 + 20308 lead 1Z63 16:20 Western Docks - Crewe out of the Docks past Millbrook.

A few minutes later passing St Denys heading for Fareham. Image by Ian Knight.

More pictures from the tour (includes 57009 receiving its numbers after repair).

30th April - 5th May 2012

Prelude to the DRS Fest. 37423 with 1Q14 05:14 Derby - Eastleigh passing Redbridge, 1st May. Image by Ian Knight.

37608 + 37601 with 47810 on the rear, passing St Denys with 1Z75 05:51 Edinburgh - Eastern Docks, 2nd May. Image by Ian Knight.

67029 + 67005 T+T VSOE 5Z93 12:57 Southampton Airport Parkway - Southampton Up Yard, 2nd May. Image by Ian Knight.

Monday 30th April: 31106 3Q01 3Q14 Hither Green - Eastleigh - Fareham - Eastleigh
Tuesday 1st May: 37423 1Q14 05:41 Derby - Westbury - Redbridge - Eastleigh, 66723 + 317723 5O17 19:18 Ilford - Eastleigh, 31106 3Q01 04:41 Eastleigh - Bournemouth - Eastleigh, 3Q02 20:45 Eastleigh - Weymouth - Hither Green
Wednesday 2nd May: 67029 + 67005 T+T 1Z93 09:44 Victoria - Southampton Airport Parkway, 5Z93 12:57 Southampton Airport Parkway - Southampton Up Yard - Eastleigh (depot loop), 5Z94 15:55 Eastleigh - Eastern Docks, 1Z94 17:25 Eastern Docks - Victoria,  37608 + 37601 + 47810 T+T 1Z75 05:51 Edinburgh - Eastern Docks one two three, 5Z75 16:24 Eastern Docks - Eastleigh, 66723 + 317709 5O17 19:18 Ilford - Eastleigh, 37087 + 47501 (withdrawn) + 47839 0Z30 05:53 Crewe - Eastleigh one two three four five six seven, 37087 0Z31 14:45 Eastleigh - Willesden one two, 37423 1Q14 08:15 Eastleigh - Romsey - Yeovil Jct - Romsey - Eastleigh - Woking  Kensington Olympia - Guildford - Havant - Eastleigh one two three four
Thursday 3rd May: 37423 1Q14 09:10 Eastleigh - Havant - Guildford - Kensington Olympia - Salisbury - Westbury one
Friday 4th May: 57012 + 50026 0Z26 10:30 Eastleigh - Swanage one two three four five, 31106 3Z31 14:02 Tyseley - Eastleigh, 3Q06 22:00 Eastleigh - Redbridge - Yeovil - Redbridge - Eastleigh - Derby, 66147 + 60096 6O26 Hinksey - Eastleigh one two, 66061 + 60096 6V41 Eastleigh - Westbury one two three (60096 to St Blazey)
Saturday 5th May: 37608 + 37601 + 47810 T+T 5Z76 07:40 Eastleigh - Eastern Docks one two three four five, 1Z76 10:35 Eastern Docks - Edinburgh (arrived there on time!) one two three, 20312 + 20308 + 37409 T+T 1Z61 06:23 Crewe - Salisbury - Romsey - Redbridge - Eastleigh one two three four five six seven, 1Z62 14:08 Eastleigh - Eastern Docks - Northam - Western Docks one two three four five six seven eight, 1Z63 16:20 Western Docks - Fareham - Crewe one two, 57009 repaired panel with new cabside numbers,  one two three

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