'Log' action at the Watercress Line Autumn Steam Spectacular, 9th September 2012

50027 Lion tailed the 17:30 Alresford - Ropley, today hauled by LMS Class 5MT number45379, then returned the ECS to Alresford for stabling.

50027 comes onto the stock of the 17:30 Alresford - Ropley

A cab end study

Returning from Ropley with the ECS. 50027 then ran around the train.

Reversing the train away into the carriage sidings.

Swanage Railway Grand Steam Gala, 8th September 2012

Swanage Railway introduction to the event 

6695 between turns at Swanage, its next train was the delayed 13:28 departure.

34070 Manston on the delayed 13:45, between Herston and Harmans Cross

Visitor 78019 at Harman's Cross

M7 53 awaits departure from Corfe Castle with delayed 14:05 from Norden

6695 arrives at Corfe Castle with delayed 14:30 from Norden

78019 leads the delayed 15:15 from Swanage towards Corfe Common, with 34028 on the rear.

80104 + 34028 with the 16:00 from Norden, having crossed Corfe Common

& finally a little bit of video

3rd - 8th September 2012

67016 Eastleigh heading for Eastern Docks, 5th September. Image by Ian Knight.

67026 Diamond Jubilee returning to Chichester at Eastleigh, 6th September. Image by Chris Finch.

Monday 3rd September: 67022 + 70000 5Z70 10:54 Didcot - Eastleigh one two , 47802 + 47841 1Z83 10:59 Glasgow Central - Eastern Docks one two three four five, 5Z83 21:05 Eastern Docks - Eastleigh

Tuesday 4th September: 47802 + 47841 5Z83 12:45 Eastleigh - Crewe one two three four

Wednesday 5th September: 31465 3Q01 00:45 Woking - Eastleigh, 04:01 Eastleigh - Hither Green, 70000 5Z86 04:00 Eastleigh - Poole, 1Z87 08:05 Poole - Bristol one two three four five six, 1Z88 15:35 Bristol - Poole one two three, 5Z89 21:10 Poole - Eastleigh, 67016 + 67026 1Y93 09:40 Victoria - Eastern Docks, 1Y94 17:25 Eastern Docks - Victoria

Thursday 6th September: 67016 + 67026 1Z85 11:00 Chichester - Westbury, 1Z86 13:43 Westbury - Chichester, 31465 3Q40 19:55 Hither Green - Eastleigh

Friday 7th September: 31465 3Q02 20:45 Eastleigh - Weymouth - Derby

Saturday 8th September:

50 years of Class 47, 6th September 2012

50 years ago today D1500 made its first mainline movement, from Loughborough to Crewe. To mark this anniversary, here are my first two Class 47 photos.

I believe that this was a 47/3, at Aberdour in August 1974, heading 7Axx, a ScR class 7 freight train to Aberdeen area. I believe that this is likely one of 47317 or 47318, then allocated to ED and 9 years old at that time.

47313 (then 10 years old and allocated to Tinsley) at a foggy Berwick-upon-Tweed in July 1975, with 1L61 an Eastern Region train preparing to return back to Leeds.

The Bath Spa Express, 5th September 2012

1Z87 08:05 Poole - Bristol, 1Z88 15:35 Bristol - Poole

Swaythling, image by Ian Knight

Crampmoor

More detail at Crampmoor

27th August - 1st September 2012

67016 passes St Denys with the Bournemouth - Bournemouth VSOE, 30th August. Image by Ian Knight.

67029 passes St Denys with the Bournemouth - Eastleigh VSOE ECS, 30th August. Image by Ian Knight.

08696 (Longsight TMD) sits outside Eastleigh Works following repair on 23rd August, removed by road later that day. Image by Ian Knight.

Saturday 25th August: 67022 + 67026 5Z61 23:30 Reading - Eastleigh
Sunday 26th August: 67029 23:30 Hornsey - Laverstock - Eastleigh
Monday 27th August: 31465 3Q01 23:09 Hither Green - Eastleigh (- Fareham - Eastleigh not run), 04:01 Eastleigh - Bournemouth - Eastleigh
Tuesday 28th August: 31465 3Q02 Eastleigh (- Weymouth - Hither Green not run) - Woking, 34051 at Rownhams M27 (for Great Dorset Steam Fair one two), 60045 6B45 Eastleigh - Marchwood, 6V38 Marchwood - Eastleigh
Wednesday 29th August: 
Thursday 30th August: 67016 + 67029 5Z92 07:10 Stewarts Lane - Bournemouth, 1Z92 11:39 Bournemouth - Basingstoke, 1Z93 13:13 Basingstoke - Laverstock - Eastleigh - Bournemouth, 5Z94 15:38 Bournemouth - Eastleigh, 1Z94 18:42 Eastleigh - Victoria
Friday 31st August: 67029 1Y91 11:42 Victoria - Eastleigh - Hove
Saturday 1st September:

There appear to be some disputes between ASLEF and DB Schenker which have affected some special train operations, and there is a threat of a strike next weekend.

An hour at Scout Green, 11th August 2012

Recent build  Pendolino 390156 - with Alstom logo badge on front. We now know that the Virgin logo will be off these trains next year.

Heavy Haul 66547 on coal empties heading north

185150 heads a southbound train. These should vanish from Shap after a new build of Siemens Class 350 EMU's takes over these Manchester - Scotland duties.