9th - 14th October 2023

50049 Defiance brings the 458 drag into the Down Loop at Southampton, 11th October. Image by Ian Knight.

50007 Hercules on the rear. Image by Ian Knight.

Monday 9th October: 59003 0Z21 10:00 Eastleigh -Salisbury, 0Z22 11:10 Salisbury - Eastleigh; Class 458/4 Bournemouth - Basingstoke test runs started with 458407 + 458417, and continued on further days one two Flickr for the week; 4 Class 313 coaches remaining at Eastleigh Works
Tuesday 10th October:
Wednesday 11th October: 59003 0Z23 1408 Eastleigh - Salisbury, 0Z24 1505 Salisbury to Eastleigh; 50049 (+ 458425) + 50007 5X72 10:44 Wembley - Bournemouth Flickr for the day; 47727 (+ 701516) 5Q20 09:12 Derby - Eastleigh one two three
Thursday 12th October: 47727 (+701056) 5Q64 07:03 Eastleigh - Willesden (onward to Bicester) Flickr for the day; 68019 0Z62 09:14 Crewe - Eastleigh one two three; 50007 (+ 458516) 5Q73 16:10 Bournemouth - Widnes Flickr for the day
Friday 13th October: 68019 (+ DRSL 92760 + DRSL 92777 + DRSL 92784) 6Z63 07:57 Eastleigh - Crewe Flickr for the day; 43046 + 43047 5Z52 07:18 Crewe - Eastleigh one two Flickr for the day; 47727 (+ 701517) 5Q20 09:13 Derby - Eastleigh, 47727 0M10 17:45 Eastleigh - Leicester  Flickr for the day
Saturday 14th October: 43046 + 43047 1Z53 05:55 Eastleigh - Carlisle, 1Z54 16:26 Carlisle - Eastleigh Flickr fot the day

Sunday 15th October: 43046 + 43047 5Z56 12:53 Eastleigh - Romsey - Westbury - Crewe Flickr for the day

Caledonian Railway Diesel Gala, 4th August 2023 Part 4: 20166

20166 is but a mere child, introduced new to traffic as D8166 in November 1966, allocated to D16 Nottingham Division of the LMR. Renumbered to 20166 in April 1974. Withdrawn in 1991, the locomotive originally went to the Bodmin & Wenford Railway, arriving there in 1993, and then hired by RFS for Channel Tunnel construction, as '2015', returning to the Bodmin line. Sold to HNRC in 2008, this locomotive only worked on the Wensleydale Railway, where it was repainted in orange, until bought by a Caledonian Railway member in February 2023.

Ready to come onto a train at Bridge of Dun.


Backed onto the train and ready to lead to Brechin.


Running around at Brechin.

Making another arrival at Brechin.

Followed by a run around.

Running through Bridge of Dun to join the back of the last train of the day.

Caledonian Railway

Caledonian Railway Diesel Group

Caledonian Railway Diesel Gala, 4th August 2023 Part 3: 27024

27024 was new as D5370 in January 1962, allocated to 51L Thornaby, one of a batch of no-boiler locomotives. After a move to the LMR in December 1965, it came to the ScR in November 1969. Withdrawn in July 1987, as part of the mass cull of Class 27. BR then continued to use the locomotive for apprentice training as ADB968028. It was with this number that it entered preservation at Northampton, later purchased to come to Brechin in April 1992, where it was restored, using parts recovered from MC Metals. In its preservation career, it has also worked on the Lakesde & Haverthwaite Railway on loan.

Running onto the train at Bridge of Dun.


Running around at Brechin.


Removed from the train, after arrival at Bridge of Dun.

Departure from Brechin.

Preparing to come on a train at Bridge of Dun.


Now on the train and preparing for another departure to Brechin.

Caledonian Railway

Caledonian Railway Diesel Group

The Weardale Railway, 3rd September 2023

The Weardale Railway resumed services to Bishop Auckland in 2023; these are only planned to run on certain days in the season, otherwise services are focused between Stanhope and Wolsingham.

 

Stanhope in the morning, with Sentinel 0-6-0 10187/1964 and GRC&W 55012.


A view of 1958 built 55012 from the café.

142078, new in February 1987, was acquired by the Weardale Railway Trust in 2022, to address the non-availability of the Class 108 dmu, which was damaged in a shunt in March 2022. Seen arriving at the platform at Stanhope to form the service to Bishop Auckland.

142078 awaiting departure from Stanhope.


The stunning view looking east down the River Wear from Witton Viaduct.

The former Wolsingham Ironworks location is used as the traction maintenance facility for the Weardale Railway and RMS Locotec. Class 108 DTCL 56274 has been the partner of donor coach 51572, being used to repair 52054.

• DX 68090 (DB965993) Wickham Trolley, built 1975
• Fireless Bagnall 2898/1948
• 31465 (similar yellow 31285 is also somewhere at Wolsingham)
• 9538 BSO
• 80855 BG 
• 31459
• 50980

142078 preparing to depart from Wolsingham for Stanhope.

Section of NER Tile Map showing the Weardale route, then a branch through to Wearhead, latterly only serving Eastgate Cement Works, until 1993, often with Class 37 hauled rakes of PCA wagons.

Weardale Railway
The Auckland Project

2nd - 7th October 2023

47749 at Eastleigh, 21st October 2022.

Monday 2nd October: 59003 0Z21 10:00 Eastleigh - Salisbury, 0Z22 11:10 Salisbury - Eastleigh; 47749 0Z47 09:20 Leicester - Eastleigh
Tuesday 3rd October: 47749 (+ 701020) 5Q64 07:01 Eastleigh - Willesden (& onward to Bicester)  59003 0Z21 10:00 Eastleigh - Salisbury, 0Z22 11:10 Salisbury - Eastleigh 
Wednesday 4th October: 59003 0Z20 1400 Eastleigh - Salisbury, 0Z21 1510 Salisbury - Eastleigh; 47749 (+701515) 5Q10 10:19 Derby - Eastleigh one two, 47749 0Z47 16:00 Eastleigh - Coventry
Thursday 5th October: 
Friday 6th October: 37116 3Q40 0015 Westbury - Southampton - Bristol
Saturday 7th October:

313212 has been prepared for disposal in the coming week, the last onsite apart from 313201.

Freightliner launches major rail freight expansion in Britain - I am puzzled as to how Southampton - Wentloog is a "new route".

Caledonian Railway Diesel Gala, 4th August 2023 Part 2: 26014

26014 was new as D5314 on 30th January 1959 to 34B Hornsey, followed by 34G in April 1960. It arrived in Scotland via a transfer to 64B Haymarket in June 1960. Withdrawal came in October 1992, as engine repairs were required. After a while stored at Perth, it subsequently entered preservation at Brechin.

Running around at Brechin after the first arrival of the day.

On shed between turns, at Bridge of Dun.

Double heading into Brechin, along with D5370 (27024).

The same train as portrayed in classic railway poster style.

Only one locomotive can run around after arrival at Brechin, D5314 doing so for return to Bridge of Dun.


The next return to Bridge of Dun was with 08046 in the lead, here seen returning to the shed area after the next train had departed.


Back into the station at Bridge of Dun, prior to leading the last train of the day to Brechin,

Caledonian Railway

Caledonian Railway Diesel Group

Return working from Winfrith, Eastleigh, 28th September 2023

 

68033 The Poppy leading 6Z95 15:51 Winfrith Sdgs - Crewe Coal Sidings (Drs).


A closer view of 68033, which arrived in the UK in July 2017.


The low level radioactive load is carried in 4-wheeled PFA wagons, which are overhauled at Eastleigh Works. This is DRSL 92740.

68018 Vigilant on the rear.