NMT Test train at Dunbridge, 11th March 2021

43299 + 977995 + 977984 + 975814 + 977993 + 977994 + 975984 + 43062, a full six coach NMT, specifically introducing 43299, which has worked for the East Coast companies through to LNER one two, and then EMR in 2020.

 

43062 John Armitt (BREL Crewe, September 1977) leading the train.

977984 Staff Coach (HST catering vehicle 40501, as a TRUK once part of 253001 from November 1976).

New dark Network Rail logo on 43299 (BREL Crewe, August 1978) leading the return.

Further coverage.

GWR station at Salisbury, 7th March 2021, and Exhibition Coaches, 18th September 1982

I had a valid reason to be in Salisbury, so took the daily exercise there. The first stop was the former GWR station at Salisbury, designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel, and opened in 1856.Closure to passengers took place in 1932, although the facilities were used for goods thereafter. 

• Description of the listed building
• Unveiling of plaque in 2006
• How it looked when there was a train shed, which was demolished in 1970. The image also appears to pre-date the addition of the water tower.

The facing elevation.

Remnants of a platform, covered by an awning of uncertain vintage.

A further view of the platform area, used for parking by SWR.

The Fisherton Yard beyond the station was once the home of BR Exhibition Trains, and I had a wander into there on 18th September 1982. 

"The Rail Ambassador" logos on this BR Mk 1 exhibition coach.

I don't have a firm record of what I saw that day, although I know that of the BR stock I have seen S99601 / 07 / 23 / 24 / 25 / 30 / 33 / 34 / 35 / 36 / 41 and some of these would have been on that day.

There was at least one LMS coach present, and my notes show that I have seen S38741M and S38744M, the latter with a note "at Salisbury, on decision 21/8/83, COND 11/84, for sale 1/86 and sold to Vic Berry".

• Related thread on RMWeb.
• Views of Salisbury station, including this one showing the exhibition coach area.
• Be Stiff 1978 tour at York, showing some of the LMS stock, in colours that I saw them in.

The yard is now of course, the Salisbury dmu maintenance depot.

Saturday stone working, Crampmoor, 6th March 2021

The Chichester stone train  ran again in the Saturday path, and it returned as '7V07' on a 13:41 departure back to Merehead.

The train engine was 66957 Stephenson Locomotive Society 1909-2009.

There were three single-piped KEA wagons, a type which it is understood Mendip Rail wish to reduce in their fleet. The first was VTG 3178.


The second was VTG 3238.

The third was VTG 3167 one of the earliest group of 10 wagons of the type. If one looks carefully the 'YEOMAN' letters can still be seen.

A snapshot at Eastleigh, 5th March 2021

 
66013 working two ex-works car carriers as 6xxx 08:25 Eastleigh Arlington - Eastern Docks, following a run-round.

701013 in the Airport Sidings, this unit arrived in November.

66598 approaches for a crew change with 4M55 09:00 Maritime - Lawley Street.

1st - 6th March 2021

66789 British Rail 1948 - 1997 + 66716 Locomotive and Carriage Institution Centenary 1911-2011 runs through Redbridge with 6O41 from Westbury, 1st November. Image by Ian Knight.

On the same day, 66623 passes Crampmoor with 7V16 11:55 Fareham - Whatley. The leading KEA was VTG 3172.

59101 Village of Whatley leading 7V09 13:41 Chichester - Merehead, at Romsey, 2nd March with  VTG 3430 as the leading JNA.

Late running 37611 with 442404, passing Redbridge, 5th March. Image by Ian Knight.

Monday 1st March: 20007 + 484003 + 20142 5Q20 15:00 Eastleigh East Yard - Eastleigh Trsmd one

Tuesday 2nd March:

Wednesday 3rd March: 60046 6Q42 08:36 Ely - Eastleigh (see below); 20007 + 484004 + 20142 5Q20 15:00 Eastleigh East Yard - Eastleigh Trsmd one two; 60028 6Q43 11:51 Ely - Eastleigh (see below); 60028 0Z61 21:53 Eastleigh - Willesden

Thursday 4th March: 57312 (+ 317346 + 317652 for scrap) 5Q86 12:03 Ilford to Eastleigh one two three four five six seven eight, 57312 1548 0Zxx Eastleigh - Wembley

Friday 5th March: 60046 0Z43 09:36 Eastleigh - Willesden (see below); 37611 (+ 442404, which delayed the working with a brake fault) 5Q86 09:42 Wolverton - Bournemouth one two three four, 37611 (+  442423) 5Q71 18:00 Bournemouth - Wolverton one two three; 08511 left Eastleigh by road, was moved to Wishaw.

Saturday 6th March:

HST power car moves

Wednesday

 

60046 + 43423 + 43468 + 43308 + 43467 6Q42 08:36 Ely - Eastleigh one two three four five - Flickr for the day

60028 + 43465 + 43296 + 43484 + 43480 6Q43 11:51 Ely - Eastleigh one two three four five six - Flickr for the day

Hanson & Hall coverage on Facebook: one two three four

Friday

 

60046 + 43467 + 43308 + 43296 + 43423 0Z43 09:36 Eastleigh - Willesden one two - Flickr for the day - and from Hanson & Hall

Reportedly this working was in the plan, since there was not enough room for them at Eastleigh, so are being stored further at Willesden, leaving 43465, 43468 , 43480 and 43484, all buffered examples, for attention at the works.

Eastleigh Works: 03Feb - 04Feb - 08Feb - 09Feb - 16Feb - 19Feb

Eastleigh derailment, 28th January 2020, RAIB report now published: press release - report

HST power cars move to Willesden, Eastleigh, 5th March 2021

 60046 William Wilberforce + 43467 Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service / British Transport Police + 43308 + 43296 + 43423 VALENTA 1972-2010 0Z43 09:36 Eastleigh - Willesden, for short-term storage.

The working departed 34 minutes early, and the Campbell Road location was a quickly chosen plan B, having seen the formation move through the works yard. I was pretty much there on my own.

60046 leads away with 43467 following.

43308 (Highland Chieftain when in LNER service).

43296 (formerly Stirling Castle as a painted name in GNER days). This was the lead power car on my last LNER HST ride in 2019.

43423 on the rear.


VALENTA nameplate, seen before departure.

Onwards to the station, and eventually Willesden.

Eastleigh Works, 5th March 2021

 

Former East Midlands Railway 43468 (BREL Crewe, November 1977) had arrived on 3rd March, and appears to be for reconfiguration for a future unidentified operator. 317652 arrived on 4th March and is for scrapping. It was delivered new from BREL York (with trailer vehicle from BREL Derby) in January 1986, as 317352, later renumbered to 317652 in August 1998

The power cars seen here, from front, are 43480 + 43484 & 43468 + 43465. All arrived on 3rd March.

A more visible view of 43480 West Hampstead PSB + 43484. All are buffer fitted, and have MTU engines for power.

• 43480 new as 43080 in January 1978
• 43484 new as 43084 in February 1978
• 43468 new as 43068 in November 1977
• 43465 new as 43065 in October 1977

47501 (D1944) Craftsman arrived at the works, for repairs, on 9th February.

317657 arrived at the works from Ely on 15th February, this unit being completed  at BREL York in February 1986 as 317357, and renumbered in September1998. DTCO 77228 and TSO 71742 were seen coupled together.

It is likely that these are MSO 62854 and DTSO 77208 from the same unit, and now in the scrap line.
 

317346 arrived at the works on 4th March. This unit was delivered from BREL York in August 1982.