47s and other Classic Power

Saturday, 17 February 2018

12th - 17th February 2018

Monday 12th February:
Tuesday 13th February:
Wednesday 14th February: 57307 + 37069 + 37609 0Z68 10:19 Eastleigh - Willesden Brent one (later to Crewe one two) ; 37219 + 37254 1Z52 (ghoster ?) Woking - Eastleigh; 1Q53 11:48 Eastleigh - Southampton Up Yard - Wimbledon Park - Southampton Up Yard - Wimbledon Park - Totton Yard - Eastleigh - Romsey - Eastleigh one two three
Thursday 15th February: 37219 + 37254 1Q54 12:27 Eastleigh Arlington (Zg) to Hither Green one two
Friday 16th February: 37069 + 37259 0Z97 03:45 Crewe - Eastleigh one
Saturday 17th February: 37069 + 37259 5Z97 03:30 Eastleigh - Gloucester (and to tour one two three)

As can be seen, DRS may have had another plan, or changed their plan, so 37069 + 37609 were hauled back to Crewe Gresty Lane by the returning 57307 on Wednesday. Then on Friday 37069 + 37259 returned south for the next tour duties, the latter being seen on flask duties on the preceding day (one two three)

66081 has arrived at Eastleigh Works for transformation into 66784. It appears to have arrived via a Bicester MOD working on the 14th.

Eastleigh Works: 11Jan - 17Jan - 18Jan - 19Jan - 29Jan
- of particular note is the thorough work going into Mk1 FO 3146 - see 17th Jan

Hamworthy Stone: may finish in March - April: "It is believed locally that the owner of the site at Dawkins Road has served notice to the Tenants as they want to redevelop the land for housing" - but I am confused by this as the Dawkins Road site is a group of industrial units near Hamworthy Junction, whereas this is the Cemex facility at the quay. Apparently stone was transshipped for supply to the Channel Islands.The location could be highly valued for marina style flats.

Thursday, 15 February 2018

Watercress Line Pre-Spring Gala, 10th February 2018

Images by Ian Knight.

LMS Black 5 pair 45379 + 45231 at Medstead (2 pictures).

GWR 1501 at Ropley.

SR 925 Cheltenham at Alton.

Monday, 12 February 2018

2040: The End of Diesel Trains

Speech: Let’s raise our ambitions for a cleaner, greener railway

Reuters: UK to phase out diesel-only trains in UK by 2040 - FT

"I would like to see us take all diesel-only trains off the track by 2040"

Telegraph: Minister reveals plan to shunt every diesel train from the tracks by 2040

"MPs and trade bodies last night warned that the costs of the overhaul must be shouldered by customers through higher ticket prices."

Mail: Ministers give green light to banish every last diesel-only train from our railways…but not until 2040 Illustrated with 26038 on the NYMR

"Alternative-fuel trains powered entirely by hydrogen are a prize on the horizon and I’d like to see hydrogen train trials on the UK railway as soon as possible because hydrogen offers an affordable – and potentially much cleaner – alternative to diesel."

Neat line - but where does hydrogen come from .............

Discussion: WNXX forum

Eastleigh Works 11th February 2018

A 1960s style panoramic lineup.

47739 was new as D1615 from BR Crewe on 29th August 1964. Renumbered 47035 in February 1974, 47594 in September 1983, after fitting of ETH, then 47739 in August 1994. In July 2007 this was sent to the EMR scrapyard at Kingsbury, but was removed that October, firstly to Marchwood, and then to Eastleigh. After overhaul it worked for Colas, and was named Robin of Templecombe 1938-2013, the latter dates added posthumously. The loco has now been sold to GBRf, and is at Eastleigh for repainting into GBRf colours.

47848 was new as D1652 from BR Crewe on 16th January 1965. Renumbered 47068 in March 1974, 47632 in December 1985 after ETH conversion, then 47848 in December 1989. This locomotive saw usage with Virgin until 2002, then with Freightliner, Riviera and now Rail Operations Group.

73133 was new as E6040 from English Electric Vulcan Foundry on 7th August 1966. In recent years it has seen shunt duties at Taunton, Bournemouth and now Eastleigh, in the ownership of Transmart Trains.

57003 was new as D1798 from Brush, Loughborough on 29th January 1965, later renumbered 47317 in March 1974. Converted to Class 57 for Freightliner in October 1998, and later moved to DRS. Now stored at Eastleigh.

37884 appears to have been taken indoors for attention to commence.

The purpose of the visit was the anticipated return to Crewe of this pair, but they now seem to be staying at Eastleigh for a week, and then will work a further tour on Saturday 17th.

37069 was new as D6769 on 17th July 1962 from English Electric Robert Stephenson & Hawthorns at Darlington. Renumbered to 37069 in February 1974. Spent time in France in 1999 - 2000, but then to DRS in 2002, although stored between May 2012 and October 2015.

37609 was new from English Electric Vulcan Foundry on 22nd February 1963 as D6815 allocated to Sheffield Darnall. Renumbered 37115 in May 1974, when allocated to Tinsley. Refurbished to 37514 in March 1987. Renumbered 37609 in April 1995 and transferred to European Passenger Services, then transferred to DRS in July 1997.

Class 47 front ends - 47739 and 47848.

66058 waits in the queue for a transformation into GBRf colours.

Saturday, 10 February 2018

5th - 10th February 2018

66547 4O49 09:22 Basford Hall - Maritime passing Southampton, 7th February.

Monday 5th February:
Tuesday 6th February:
Wednesday 7th February: 47812 (reinstated following repair) 0T00 12:05 Eastleigh - Willesden one (into Barrington traffic on 8th: one); 57307 at Eastleigh one
Thursday 8th February:
Friday 9th February: 37069 + 37609 0Z05 09:20 Crewe - Eastleigh one two three four five; 66782 5S66 18:47 Eastleigh - Bo'ness (seen light engine in Scotland after the move one)
Saturday 10th February: 37069 + 37609 1Z05 05:27 Eastleigh - Preston Docks one two three, 1Z06 16:30 Preston Docks - Eastleigh one two three; 35028 1Z82 10:43 Victoria - Eastleigh - Haslemere one two three

70801 is out of traffic at Cardiff one two three

37069 + 37609 are now expected to be at Eastleigh Works for a week following return from the railtour, not using the return path to Crewe on Sunday 11th. They may be diagrammed for the next tour from Gloucester on 17th, with path already in the system.

BBC at Eastleigh Works

A new station between Eastleigh and Fareham?

Friday, 9 February 2018

"WAG Express", Newport, 26th January 2018

Arriva Trains Wales runs the "WAG Express" daily M-F from Holyhead - Cardiff and back, using the Welsh Marches line, which runs through England. It runs to Cardiff in the morning, lays over, then returns in the evening.

"WAG" = Welsh Assembly Government, and the train is more formally the "One Wales Express" / "Y Gerallt Gymro" ('Gerald of Wales').

It features the only first class coach on the Arriva Trains Wales network, and this further features at seat dining service - all very questionable given the subsidy and the standards of service which are provided for the rest of us on other train services.

The morning train is seen arriving at Newport.

82306 is one of three Mk 3B DVTs assigned to the service, modified for AAR control operation with Class 67 locomotives. Originally 82144 built by BREL Derby to Lot 31042 in 1988.

10249 is a Mk 3A Kitchen Buffet First, originally RUB (Restaurant Buffet with Kitchen) 10012 built to Lot 30890 at Derby in 1979. The unclassified first class style seats were later changed to being for first class, becoming RFB then RFM (Restaurant First Modular), converted in the 1984-87 period with renumbering.