Watercress Line Diesel Gala, 27th April 2013

The Watercress Line Diesel Gala had plenty of interesting guest locomotives.

20087, new in September 1961 to Eastfield, from Robert Stephenson & Hawthorn, Darlington. Preserved on the East Lancashire Railway. 45132 on the left.

37905 newly repainted in green by Nemesis Rail at Burton, and returned to the Mid-Hants on Thursday 25th. New 50 years ago in April 1963 fromVulcan Foundry, allocated to Cardiff. Re-engined in 1986 with a Ruston RK270T of 1800 hp.

55009 (D9009) Alycidon leaves Ropley with the 2A04 09:45 from Alresford. New in July 1961 to Finsbury Park, withdrawn on 2nd January 1982.

Doubled Headed Slugs 37901 + 37905 approaching Ropley with 2A12 12:25 from Alresford. 37901 Mirlees Pioneer was new as D6850 to Cardiff in June 1963.

47402 was the second class 47 built, delivered as D1501 in November 1962 to Finsbury Park. Running with 2A20 15:05 from Alresford, paused at Medstead.

37901 arrives at Alresford with late running 2L25 17:30 from Alton. 33109 had failed in the platform, and was being removed by 50027. 37901 was rebuilt in 1985 with a Mirless MB275T, with increased height roof-line.

A full set of pictures is located here on SkyDrive.

Further coverage 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Watercress Line Diesel Gala, 26th April 2013

47402 prepares to leave Alresford on Friday with 2A20 15:05 to Alton. Image by Chris Finch.

15th - 20th April 2013

Sunday 14th April: 31465 0Z31 10:20 Eastleigh - Derby
Monday 15th April:
Tuesday 16th April: 73107 + 73201 1Q07 05:56 Hither Green - Fawley - Eastleigh, 31233 3Z02 10:10 Didcot - Eastleigh one two, 3Q02 23:00 Eastleigh - Southampton - Hither Green
Wednesday 17th April: 73107 + 73201 1Q08 05:15 Eastleigh - Fareham - Eastleigh - Weymouth - Portsmouth Harbour - Southampton - Eastleigh, 73141+ 73206 + 975875 + 64649 + 64712 + 977087 + 975974 + 975978 + 66742 5Y08 16:01 Eastleigh - Westerrn Docks - Merseytravel 508 stock for return to Birkenhead area by road one two, 73141+ 73206 5Y81 19:55 Western Docks - Tonbridge (without the 508s)
Thursday 18th April: 73107 + 73201 1Q11 04:50 Eastleigh - Lymington Pier - Hither Green
Friday 19th April:
Saturday 20th April:

Eastleigh Works Blog Updates: 17th April, 19th April

47712 - a further retrospective

Three images from David Mant.

47712 Lady Diana Spencer at Salisbury with a West of England NSE train, 8th December 1991.

Manchester Piccadilly, 26th July 1999.

Bristol Temple Meads, 15th April 2000.

8th - 13th April 2013

 45379 demonstrating the new vantage point at Ropley, 10th March. Image by Ian Knight.

70016 hauls 70020 DIT at St Denys, 12th April. Image by Ian Knight.

66957 + 66526 + 66419 running as a Stoke Gifford - Eastleigh convoy, at Salisbury, 13th April.

Former DRS 66419.

Monday 8th April: 56303 6Z56 10:10 Chaddesden - Eastleigh one two three four five, 0Z56 18:00 Eastleigh - Washwood Heath, 47727 0Z47 18:50 Eastleigh - Washwood Heath one two
Tuesday 9th April:
Wednesday 10th April:
Thursday 11th April:  57311 + 47832 0Z30 07:15 Crewe - Eastleigh (57311 for painting) one two three four
Friday 12th April: 70016 (first visit) + 70020 DIT 4O22 Trafford park - Southampton, 47790 0Z30 11:23 Eastleigh - Crewe one two three (new cooler group fitted)
Saturday 13th April: 5043 1Z76 07:05 Solihull - Salisbury, 1Z77 16:05 Salisbury - Solihull, 47826 + 47854  1Z71 16:07 Cardiff - Salisbury - Basingstoke - Norwich (related one two three four)

47727 19:00 Taunton - Westbury - Redbridge - Eastleigh Friday 5th April
37425 did run to Exeter on Friday 5th, returning 6th as 3Q04 23:03 Eastleigh  - Eastleigh - Redbridge - Salisbury - Exeter - Salisbury - Romsey - Eastleigh.

The Moonraker, Salisbury, 13th April 2013

"The Moonraker" 1Z76 07:05 Solihull - Salisbury, 1Z77 16:05 Salisbury - Solihull, promoted by Vintage Trains, and hauled by 5043 Earl of Mount Edgecumbe, built at Swindon in 1936.

Arriving at Salisbury 8 minutes early.

Pushing the stock back to the East Yard.

Returning to the stock having been turned and watered.

Departing with the return journey, which arrived only 2 minutes late at 20:20 at Solihull.

Some b+w  nostalgia

Further pictures 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

More of my pictures.

The Moonraker, 3rd April 2010

47712 is now a preserved locomotive!

The DRS disposals continue. Recently 47712 was moved from pool XHSS DRS STORED LOCOS/LHCS to MBDL, which is the pool PRIVATE OWNER - DIESEL LOCOS and this did cause me to raise an eyebrow. All has been explained on 6th April, with the debut of 47712 in preservation at Crewe Heritage Centre, in the hands of newly formed Crewe Diesel Preservation Group.

Announcement
Further coverage at wnxx.com

A history of 47712

In Fragonset ownership, 47712 ARTEMIS at St Pancras, 8th August 2002 (1F48 17:25 St Pancras - Sheffield).

Earlier, in the longer evenings, it was possible to photograph this evening Virgin Cross Country working at Southampton, with ECS return to Old Oak Common. 26th May 2002 after working 1O19 17:06 from Birmingham New Street.

At Salisbury, 14th February 2006 in Blue Pullman colours.

In DRS ownership by 12th February 2008, and pulling the short lived 'Stobart Pullman' at Havant. The Pride of Carlisle nameplate had been unveiled the previous day.

In 2009, 47712 spent a long time in and around Eastleigh Works, here seen at the open day on 24th May 2009.

On the rear of a charter formed from Cargo-D stock, 47712 is passing Crampmoor, 14th August 2010.

On 13th August 2011, 47712 is seen easing the Cruise Saver stock out of the carriage sidings. This was the locomotive's last visit to this area, as it was stored in the following days - amongst other things, it had low tyres. It worked north from Southampton on the 14th with this train, then a Chester - York - Crewe 'Northern Belle' charter on 17th, after which it was stored.