Swanage Diesel Gala Focus: 56096

56096 was a visitor from the main line working fleet of Colas Rail.

The locomotive was built at BREL Doncaster, and entered service on 13th September 1981.Withdrawn by EWS from Immingham in January 2004 as surplus to requirements. Sent to France in April 2005, and returned in October 2006.

Sold and moved from Crewe to EMR, Kingsbury on 1st March 2012. Sold to Europhoenix in July 2012 and moved to Washwood Heath. Painted in Europhoenix colours, prepared for Colas in January - March 2014 then repainted to Colas scheme in May that year.

For me, this was a first time spotting of this locomotive - this was my missing Colas 56.

Lying over at Norden with 26043.

Departing Swanage with 33012 as brake translator, with 13:00 to Norden.

Arriving at Norden with 16:45 from Swanage.

Departing Harman's Cross with 14:30 from Norden.

"New Stuff" at Eastleigh, 21st May 2017

68027 (left, with stored 57011) was unloaded at Workington on the 30th March. While anticipated to be for use on Trans Pennine Express, the simple DRS logo was applied in mid-April, before entering traffic on 3rd May.

68027 is the newest member of its class on UK soil on 21st, although 68028 - 68031 were on a ship passing through the Irish Sea that same evening.

68027 departed from Eastleigh as 0Z41 14:35 to Crewe.

70817 is the highest numbered member of its class, and arrived at Liverpool on a ro-ro vessel on 18th April. Sent to Cardiff for some signal related modifications, it was released to traffic on 19th May, its first working from Westbury preceded this weekend parked at Eastleigh.

15th - 20th May 2017

37409 Lord Hinton + 975025 Caroline at Redbridge on 16th May. 37409 is due for an F exam at the end of this month, and this may not be authorised. Images by Ian Knight.

70817 at Nursling on Friday 19th May - first working, first visit. Image by Ian Knight.

Monday 15th May: 66124 5O61 09:53 Wembley - Eastleigh one
Tuesday 16th May: 37409 2Z02 07:27 Salisbury - Andover - Ludgershall - Andover - Laverstock - Romsey - Eastleigh - Fawley - Havant - Guildford - Alton -Woking one two three four
Wednesday 17th May: 73962 + 73963 1Q66 09:10 Woking - Laverstock - Romsey - Eastleigh - Fawley - Eastleigh - Romsey - Laverstock - Andover - Ludgershall - Andover - Woking; 57002 0Z68 10:19 Eastleigh - Willesden Brent; 37611 3Q02 21:36 Eastleigh - Dorchester - Eastleigh one
Thursday 18th May: 73962 + 73963 1Z66 12:02 Woking - Eastleigh - Woking one two three four five six seven; 37611 3Q04 Eastleigh - Totton - Reading one two
Friday 19th May: 68027 0Z38 07:54 Crewe - Eastleigh one two; 70817 6O31 17:30 Westbury - Eastleigh one two three four;
Saturday 20th May: 68027 5Z38 05:08 Eastleigh - Didcot one two three four five, (the train was later in the hands of 88002 + 68025, which passed me while I was driving on the M6 just north of Plumpton one two three four five), 68027 5Z41 23:45 Didcot - Eastleigh
Sunday 21st May: 68027 0Z41 15:35 Eastleigh - Crewe

Eastleigh Works: 02May - 03May

At Eastleigh Works, 08879 is now understood to be "for sale" following repairs to the governor by Raxstar.

Focus on Flying Scotsman in Fife, 14th May 2017

60103 Flying Scotsman amongst the girders of the Forth Bridge, with the evening circular tour from Edinburgh.

A retro look for this pass of the lunchtime train through Inverkeithing, at that time running 21 minutes early.

60103 on the approach viaduct over North Queensferry.

Earlier in the day 37518 passes through Inverkeithing with 5Z90 09:14 Thornton Yard - Bo'ness.

Two hours at Scout Green, 13th May 2017

46115 Scots Guardsman 1Z86 0710 London Euston to Carlisle 'Cumbrian Mountain Express' (steam from Carnforth)

66430 + 66423 4S43 0640 Daventry Drs (Tesco) to Mossend Euroterminal

68023 Resolution + 68001 Evolution 6K74 0909 Sellafield B.N.F. to Crewe Coal Sidings (Drs)

New Trans Pennine colours on 350403 1S46 1000 Manchester Airport to Edinburgh

390151 1S44 08:14 Birmingham - Edinburgh

Swanage Diesel Gala Focus: 47192

47192 has spent more time in preservation than in BR ownership. New as D1842 from BR Crewe in May 1965, it was allocated in Crewe for most of its working career, becoming 47192 in April 1974.

Withdrawn in May 1988 and the first of its class to be preserved, in 1990 at Crewe Heritage Centre.

I appear to have first seen this locomotive in 1977-78, but my detail notes seem devoid of the number.

D1842 Group on Facebook.

At Norden, at the start of the day.

At Swanage, upon arrival of the 10:00 from Norden.

Departure of the 12:15 Swanage to Norden.

Between Corfe and Norden with 16:00 from Swanage.

Between duties at Norden.

Eastleigh Works, 11th May 2017

57002 arrived on Wednesday, bringing 66428 for a repaint. Previously 47322, new as D1803 on 21st January 1965.

66752 appeared prepared to work away with the Arlington barrier coaches.

47818 in a shunt position. The first coach is TSO 4946 (Lot 30690 Wolverton 1961) 

TSO 4927 (Lot 30690 Wolverton 1962)