802114 shunt move at Eastleigh, 9th January 2026

GWR 802114 5X88 13:01 Eastleigh Works Gbrf - Eastleigh Works Gbrf. From the appearance of the unit, it had just completed the weld work for the full repair of cracks, for which it entered the works on 7th November, and was next heading into the paint shop for finishing.

Interestingly, 802114 had been in the Works in 2024, from 18th November to 23rd December, when it appears to have been inspected and repainted, being noted on a similar shunt on 28th November that year.

Proceeding very slowly from the Works into platform 2.

Running into platform 2, led by PDTRBF 839114.

PDTS 831114.

Shunt signal and 'W' indicator for return into the Works.

Noted at Eastleigh, 9th January 2026

 

08511 drew back a GBRf multimodal rake, which was in the yard. Another locomotive, believed to be 66714, coupled up and pulled northward, and appears to have run as 4M46 14:56 Eastleigh - Trafford Park, continuing a service which was brought into the yard one day previously, likely because of forecast snow in the Manchester area.

66734 PLATINUM JUBILEE + 66551 (on hire to Colas) 6O41 10:14 Westbury - Eastleigh.

66551 was shunted into the Colas sidings.

FAA wagon 609007, 35t Bogie Well Container Wagon, built 1999, is running with some Network Rail Cowans Sheldon cable handling equipment, in pool 6725 "SOUTH.3RD.RAIL", noted between Eastleigh and Westbury in 2025.

66066 Geoff Spencer, which was named in 2016 after the then CEO of DB Cargo UK.

5th - 10th January 2026

 

66601 at Maritime, 4th January. Shortly to be a Heavy Haul asset. Image by Ian Knight.

66734 PLATINUM JUBILEE + 66192 6O41 10:14 Westbury - Eastleigh, passing Romsey, 7th January.

56051 Survival parked at Eastleigh, 9th January, kept unavailable for traffic. 56049 received an exam, and has been at Doncaster since 1st January, as part of the Colas Thunderbird transition one two. Otherwise the Colas 56s are dormant.

Monday 5th January:
Tuesday 6th January: 800207 5X82 08:49 Eastleigh - Reading (and onward one)
Wednesday 7th January: 66850 + 67027 0Z72 11:35 Eastleigh - Westbury one two three four five
Thursday 8th January:
Friday 9th January:
Saturday 10th January:

LT 4-TC: Currently reported as at Ripple Lane since autumn. The trailers are expected to be moved by rail to Southall on Monday 12th by West Coast, which moved 47802 & 47812 to Ripple Lane on Friday 9th, with barriers, and the driving trailers by road from the Freightliner facility, after a move on skates, also going to Southall. Later, the 4-TC is expected to be moved to Eastleigh Works.

37508 (until recently 37606) was expected to bring barrier 6393 from Derby to Eastleigh Work on Friday, to be reunited with its Locomotive Services twin. The working was cancelled, I have heard that the loco was failed on Thursday, but snow may also have been a factor.

The SITT is out and about given the period of lower temperatures one two.

67027 in ECML Thunderbird scheme, Romsey, 7th January 2026

66850 David Maidment OBE + 67027 0Z72 11:35 Eastleigh Arlington (Zg) - Westbury Down T.C.

A pause was made at Romsey, while awaiting a green signal. The driver stopped off for a coffee, allowing these pictures while static.

67027 is nameless, and finished in Colas colours.

The new feature is this ECML Thunderbird artwork.

Proceeding to Westbury.

Eastleigh Works, 6th January 2026

On a frosty morning, 20096 (nearer) + 20107 (farther) were both running.

41162 has been at the works since 10th November. The labelling reads 'BAXT PAINT THIS SIDE'.

08454 has emerged from the Works after air tank re-certification, and is now shunting.

08454 then shunted this Pullman, believed to be former 'Brighton Belle' car 99537 280 AUDREY which has spent some months in the Works.

Dirty 66850 DAVID MAIDMENT OBE had just arrived on Works, and had been forecast to drag 67027 to Westbury. Now apparently rescheduled for Wednesday.

20107 was on its own when I returned from the shops, with no external sign of 20096.

SRPS Winter Diesel Gala, 29th December 2025 Part 1: 56090 and 56105

A final fling? The stars of the show, and we don't know what happens with them next, as RHTT season is over, the locomotives are in 'N660' status preventing allocation to traffic, and Colas are expecting Class 66s when GBRf returns them to lessor Eversholt. 56090 and 56105 are leased to Colas by Beacon.

56090 (DR Doncaster, March 1981) comes off a train at Bo'ness, having arrived from Manuel.


In the yard, 56090 + 56105 (BR Doncaster, March 1982) were coupled together.

56090 + 56105 are backed onto the stock to form 13:00 to Manuel.

56090 is seen in closer views.

56090 was the Colas 56 I had seen least of, until this event. I even managed a ride behind it.

56090 head away from Bo'ness with the 13:00 depaerture.

After return to Bo'ness 56090 came off the train.

56105 then worked the 14:00 to Manuel.

29th December 2025 - 3rd January 2026

 

67023 Stella reversing at Redbridge, 30th December. Image by Ian Knight.

69003 The Railway Observer arriving at Eastleigh with 6O41 from Westbury, 29th December. Image by Roger Homan.


68020 running through Eastleigh with 5Q69 10:46 Eastleigh - Banbury. Image by Roger Homan.

68032 on the rear of the train.  Image by Roger Homan.

Monday 29th December: 67023 0Z67 09:10 Westbury - Redbridge - Swanage (for ETH testing) one two
Tuesday 30th December: 67023 0Z67 14:30 Swanage - Redbridge - Westbury one
Wednesday 31st December:
Thursday 1st January:
Friday 2nd January: 67024 (+ 99534 / 245 IBIS [the car seen at ZG does not correspond] + 99543 / 284 VERA) 5Z25 14:18 Stewarts Lane - Eastleigh one, 67024 0Z25 17:47 Eastleigh - Stewarts Lane 
Saturday 3rd January:

20096 + 20107 have completed their repaint at Eastleigh Works one

56051 is at Eastleigh, but is in 'N 660' status to prevent its allocation to trains, along with most of the rest of the Colas 56 fleet. one two

East Grimstead Quarry, last noted for holding stored REP / TC stock c. 1988 - 1990, is reportedly being considered for a rail served hydrogen facility.