70809 with 6O31 at Eastleigh, 8th June 2017

On the General Election Day, 70809 has arrived at Eastleigh, and is awaiting a signal to proceed to platform 2 and into the yard. 6O31 runs most weekdays, and departs from Westbury at 17:30. On this occasion the consist is a long welded rail train.

70809 had just arrived at this point.

Overlooking towards Southampton Road.

This view shows the approach roads for the T&RSMD and the carriage sidings, which have recently been de-electrified, possibly related to the equipment observed on 4th May. These rails may have been de-engergised for about a decade. Interestingly here is a 1966 picture.

DB 979514 is a 'Porpoise' YEA 51 tonne Plasser & Theurer LWRT chute wagon, built by BREL at Crewe in 1985, and seen here thirty years ago at Woking.

DR 89008 is a YXA built by Cowans Boyd in 1985. This Flat Power Wagon provides an onboard generator facility.

More about these wagons - one two

5th - 10th June 2017

Sunday 4th June: 66771 5Z97 08:59 Ferme Park - Eastleigh one
Monday 5th June: 73961 + 73965 1Q51 11:15 Derby - Eastleigh - Weymouth - Eastleigh (73961 failed Cricklewood - dragging brakes) one two
Tuesday 6th June: 73963 + 73965 1Q52 10:37 Eastleigh - Portsmouth Harbour - Littlehampton - Portsmouth Harbour - Totton Yard - Havant - Guildford - Havant - Fareham - Eastleigh - Woking - Lymington Pier - Eastleigh 1Z73 22:00 Cricklewood - Eastleigh
Wednesday 7th June: 66428 0Z68 10:19 Eastleigh - Willesden Brent one; 73963 + 73965 1Q53 11:38 Eastleigh - Southampton Up Yard - Wimbledon Park - Eastleigh - Southampton Down Loop - Wimbledon Park - Totton Yard - Romsey - Eastleigh (fault at Woking) one two three four five
Thursday 8th June: 73963 + 73965 1Q54 12:27 Eastleigh - Hither Green one two three
Friday 9th June: 
Saturday 10th June:

Freightliner 66597 has returned to service with Freightliner following brief storage at Wentloog - returning to to Southampton on 6th before returning to service on 7th one two

DRS 37409 now appears to have entered storage at Longtown

HNRC 37607 and 37612 are now at Barrow Hill and are expected to be hired to Colas. This seems to mean that 37146 and 37188 will not be returned to service.

The 'Slinger' train, observed on 24th February, was moved into Eastleigh Works for storage in early May.

Netherlands Railways "all electric trains powered by wind" - and debunked as an acccountants' fantasy.

June Friday Evening Freight at Eastleigh, 2nd June 2017 - 1: Mendip Rail / DB Cargo Aggregates Return Working to Merehead

An advantage of the longer June evenings is the opportunity to photograph some evening workings.

When it operates:
7O40 13:35 Merehead - Eastleigh (loaded)      passes Romsey 16:32½, arrives Eastleigh 17:00
7V33 20:00 Eastleigh - Merehead (empties)    passes Romsey 20:33½

59202 Alan Meddows Taylor MD Mendip Rail Limited runs around the train, which it had already pushed back from the aggregates unloading area.

Ready to depart.

JHA OK19374,built by Orenstein & Koppel in Germany in 1989.

JHA OK19374 is a similar vehicle, configured as an outer vehicle in the rake (away from the camera).

Swanage Diesel Gala Focus: 20059 + 20188

D8059 was new on 12th May 1961 from  Robert Stephenson & Hawthorn Ltd,, Darlington, and was allocated to Sheffield Darnall, later to Tinsley. Renumbered to 20059 in January 1973, and later 20302 in 1986-87, withdrawn in May 1993. Preserved by the Somerset & Dorset Locomotive Company, initially located at Yeovil, later at Tyseley, to the Severn Valley Railway in 2009.


D8188 was new on 21st January 1967 from English Electric Vulcan Foundry, Newton-le-Willows, allocated to Nottingham Division (Toton). Renumbered to 20188 in January 1973, and withdrawn in January 1990, similarly now preserved by the Somerset & Dorset Locomotive Company. In the mid 2000's the locomotive was at the Swanage Railway, but departed to the Severn Valley to support the embankment repair activities following storm damage. Like 26043, I first saw this locomotive at Glasgow Works on 4th October 1980, in which month it completed a classified repair, followed by one further in March 1985 at the same location.

The rumour network suggests that this pair may shortly be moving from the SVR base to a new location or locations.

D8188 leads from Swanage with 10:45 to Norden.

(Above and below) D8059 returning into Swanage with 11:50 from Norden.

Approaching Harman's Cross with 14:16 from Swanage.

Flying Scotsman, 31st May 2017

60103 Flying Scotsman + 47746 Chris Fudge 29.7.70 -22.6.10
1Z80 08:55 Salisbury - Romsey - Redbridge - Southampton - Eastleigh - Romsey - Salisbury

Dunbridge

 Dunbridge

 Lockerley

 Lockerley

Lockerley

47746 provides a helping hand on the rear of the train.

29th May - 3rd June 2017

70816 arriving at Eastleigh on the evening of 2nd June, believed to be its first visit.

Monday 29th May: 66162 5Z76 17:05 Bescot - Eastleigh one two three
Tuesday 30th May: 57308 0Z68 10:19 Eastleigh - Willesden Brent one two
Wednesday 31st May: 60103 + 47746 T+T 1Z80 08:55 Salisbury - Romsey -Redbridge - Eastleigh - Romsey - Salisbury one two three four five six seven eight nine ten eleven twelve thirteen fourteen, and then to London one two three
Thursday 1st June:
Friday 2nd June: 70816 (first visit?) 6O3117:30 Westbury - Eastleigh
Saturday 3rd June: 60103 + 37706 T+T 1Z85 19:38 Overton - Laverstock - Romsey - Redbridge - Eastleigh - Basingstoke - Reading - Paddington one two three four five

Flying Scotsman in the Daily Echo (updates for Wednesday + 2016 content)

Swanage Diesel Gala Focus: 45041 'Royal Tank Regiment'

New from BR Crewe as D53 on 25th June 1962 to 17A Derby. Fitted with train air brakes in August 1968, and renumbered to 45041 in May 1975. Last overhaul in August 1985 at Derby. Allocated to TO Toton, but withdrawn June 1988 at TE Thornaby following a traction motor problem.

Purchased in January 1994 by Pete Waterman, and then by The Peak Locomotive Company in February 1996. Eventually relocated to the Midland Railway Centre, where a restoration was completed in 2002.

Currently based at the Great Central Railway.

I did not see this locomotive in BR days, my first encounter was in 2012.

Leaving Swanage with 11:30 to Norden.

Returning into Swanage with 13:00 from Norden.

Between Corfe and Norden with 15:46 from Swanage.

Preparing to depart with 16:45 from Norden.