15th - 20th January 2018

Monday 15th January: 67023 + 67027 1Q51 11:30 Derby - Eastleigh - Weymouth - Eastleigh one two
Tuesday 16th January: 67023 + 67027 1Q52 10:37 Eastleigh Arlington (Zg) - Fratton - Littlehampton - Fratton - Totton Yard - Havant - Guildford - Havant - Fareham - Eastleigh - Woking - Lymington Pier - Eastleigh Arlington (Zg) one two three four five six
Wednesday 17th January: 67023 + 67027 1Q53 11:48 Eastleigh - Southampton Up Yard - Wimbledon Park - Southampton Up Yard - Wimbledon Park - Totton Yard - Eastleigh - Romsey - Eastleigh one two three four five six seven; 73961 + 73965 0Z73 10:10 Crewe - Eastleigh one two
Thursday 18th January: 67023 + 67027 0Z73 10:51 Eastleigh - Derby one two three; 73961 + 73965 1Q54 17:00 Eastleigh - Hither Green
Friday 19th January:
Saturday 20th January:

66782 (formerly 66046) has briefly appeared outside at Eastleigh.

66954 has been stored DHLT (Freightliner Locomotives Stored) at Leeds. It worked from Hinksey - Maritime last Saturday, and was on Maritime on Sunday, but was at Leeds by Tuesday. It is in the JP Morgan / Beacon leased group, which Freightliner chose to similarly store examples from in summer 2017, including this locomotive.The word by later in the week is that it may be about to be prepared for transfer to Freightliner Poland.

08585 is seen back at Maritime.

37884 and 47815 have been involved in a collision at Barrington. The damage to the 37 has resulted in a drooped nose - one two - which does not look very good for the Europhoenix owned locomotive, which was once stored at Eastleigh, and which had been having a good week. By Friday 19th the locomotives had been moved to the Foxton Exchange Sidings, with 37884's nose under a tarpaulin - one two three four five.                                                                    Discussion: one two.

97304 (previously 37217) has been involved in collision with a shed (agricultural and garden variety) near Newtown in Wales, in Storm Fionn.

Newton Abbot update: Network Rail have granted a lease for the Heathfield line - discussion.The Aldi plan proceeds, with demolition anticipated for the one time railway sheds.

Test train, Havant, 16th January 2018

1Q52 10:37 Eastleigh Arlington (Zg) - Fratton - Littlehampton - Fratton - Totton Yard - Havant - Guildford - Havant - Fareham - Eastleigh - Woking - Lymington Pier - Eastleigh Arlington (Zg)

Passing Havant almost one hour late, the test train is led by 67023 Charlotte. 

977983 is a Electrification Measurement Vehicle, capable of making inspection assessments of both overhead and 3rd rail. Previously Gatwick Express 75203 and originally Mk IIF FO 3407, built at BR Derby in August 1974 to Lot 30859.

72639 is a Plain Line Pattern Recognition coach, also once on the Gatwick Express, and built at Derby as MkIIF TSO 6070 in August 1973 to Lot 30860.

977974 is Track Inspection Coach 2. Originally MkIIE TSO 5854 completed at Derby in December 1972 to Lot 30844.

977868 is a Radio Survey Train Test coach. Originally MkIIE TSO 5846 completed at Derby in December 1972 to Lot 30844.

67027 Stella on the rear.

Diverted GBRf Gypsum Train, Romsey, 13th January 2018

66752 The Hoosier State leads 4Y19 12:02 Mountfield - Western Docks. This picture was at 16:13 and nominal sunset was at 16:25.

This loco was assembled by Progress Rail at Muncie, Indiana.

66723 Chinook on the rear. The train was top and tailed since it reversed in Southampton Down Loop before entering Western Docks.

Freightliner Diverts at Romsey, 13th January 2018

66954 0O26 09:20 Hinksey - Maritime.

66507 4O14 07:33 Lawley St - Maritime (new brighter lights fitted in October - these pictures are mostly taken on manual settings given generally poor lighting)

70020 4O27 05:21 Garston - Maritime.

70014 seems prone to clagging in my recent pictures of it, 4O90 05:27 Leeds - Maritime.

66524 + 66510 DIT 4O29 08:20 Basford Hall - Maritime.

8th - 13th January 2018

Monday 8th January:
Tuesday 9th January:
Wednesday 10th January: 37884 6O86 04:30 Wembley - Eastern Docks (but actually went into Eastleigh Works) one two three four five six, 0Z72 13:35 Eastleigh - Wembley; 08585 delivered to Maritime one, with 08624 removed
Thursday 11th January: 57303 5Z70 01:27 Crewe- Eastleigh, 0Z68 10:19 Eastleigh - Willesden Brent; 43013 + 43062 (NMT) 1X23 (?) 15:13 Salisbury - Redbridge - Southampton UGL - Redbridge - Salisbury (on same day one two three four)
Friday 12th January:
Saturday 13th January:

70011, seen last weekend being worked DIT to Maritime, was forwarded DIT to Leeds on Mon 8th, it appears to be a roundabout set of workings to get from Ipswich to Leeds.

Eastleigh Works (including 66046): 02Jan - 03Jan - 08Jan - 09Jan - 10Jan - 47812 is now receiving replacement wheels.

Change in landlord ownership of Eastleigh Works

• St Modwen factsheet
• Website for the location

Great Western Rail Franchise Public Consultation

GWR DMU changes in 2018

We should start to expect to see the end of the 158/9 operations on the Cardiff - Portsmouth cross country corridor, as these units are reassigned to services in Devon and Cornwall, allocated to EX (Exeter). They will be replaced by Class 166 units which are being reallocated from RG (Reading) to PM (Bristol St Philip's Marsh).

166202/3/5/6/8/10/14/16/19 are currently understood to be allocated to PM, and are working on Bristol Parkway to Weston-super-Mare and Severn Beach services. For working on the longer distance services, 2+2 seating is to be fitted, and ride height is to modified to improve clearances.

166202 ran to Southampton on 18th December for gauging purposes.

158950 (above) passes Dunbridge, on 6th January, the location of all of these pictures. This unit has been refurbished into the current GWR scheme.

158954 still carries the "dynamic lines" colours.

Both Class 150/0 prototype units were also on these services on 6th January, reflecting their reallocation from RG to PM which took place during 2017. 

Diverts at Dunbridge, 6th January 2018

A father and son, who had just disembarked from a local train, admire 66524, complete with job opportunities advert, as it trundles over the crossing as 0O26 (?) 09:20 Hinksey - Maritime - all eastbound trains appeared subject to a slack. 66524 was the second of two trains at this time, but the the level crossing barriers did not go up for some 5 minutes after it had passed, assumed to be an intervention from the Salisbury signalman. 66524 has been on Eastleigh - Hinksey duties in the past week, and features revised headlights, fitted after a visit to Brush Loughborough in October - November 2014..

66415 with 4O14 07:30 Lawley St - Maritime, one of three Freightliner locomotives still in the remnants of the DRS Compass colours - the others are 66413 and 66419. Also seen here at Nursling.

70017 leads 4O27 05:21 Garston - Maritime. A few minutes later at Nursling.

70004 with 4O90 05:27 Leeds - Maritime, still height restricted, and with many pocket and small wheel wagons. Also seen at Romsey.

66536 + 70011 (DIT) 4O29 08:20 Basford Hall - Maritime. Seen earlier at Reading West: one two.

70011 appears to be for repair at Maritime. On Thursday 4th, this loco and 70020 were noted being dragged from Ipswich to Crewe, and noted as for repair: one two.