GBRf Staff Day Out, Ipswich to Bournemouth, 26th July 2014

66743 leads. passing Millbrook.

A closer view of 66743, which passed through Romsey yesterday, going to pick up the ECS.

66713 was "the required haulage" for the tour, and appears to have been added at Eastleigh.

Onwards to Bournemouth!

Shortly later, passing Redbridge. Image by Ian Knight.

The ECS returned to Eastleigh, seen here passing Redbridge at 14:01.

"Tornado" move from Swanage to Bluebell, 26th July 2014

5Z63 10:00 Swanage - East Grinstead

Passing Redbridge. Image by Ian Knight.

A few moments later, at Millbrook.

31601 was new as D5609 in April 1960, to 34B Hornsey, the last delivered before the allocation was moved to Finsbury Park. Renumbered to 31168, and later to 31601 when a through cable for ETH was fitted.

60163 Tornado

The support coach is BCK E21249, built at Swindon in 1961 to Lot 30669.

21st - 26th July 2014

66743 (formerly 66407, 66842) leads 73136 and 73119 through Romsey with 0Y66 13:49 Tonbridge - Eastleigh, 25th July, which then ran via Chandlers Ford rather than through Redbridge. 66743 was heading to Eastleigh to pick up empty stock for working to Ipswich for the following day's GBrf staff tour. This was the booked route, but the train was delayed, caused by signalling issues from a lightning strike closer to London.

73119 Borough of Eastleigh which was once 'preserved' at the Keith and Dufftown Railway.

Monday, 21st July: 56301 + 56303 6Z42 21:44 Totton - Ascot
Tuesday 22nd July: 56301 + 56303 6Z41 04:53 Virginia Water - Eastleigh, 6Z42 21:26 Eastleigh - Laverstock - Ascot
Wednesday 23rd July: 56301 + 56303 6Z41 04:53 Virginia Water - Totton, 6Z42 21:44 Totton - Laverstock - Ascot, 44932 + 37706 T+T 1Z67 08:44 Victoria - Weymouth one two three four, 1Z69 16:35 Weymouth - Southampton - Laverstock - Waterloo
Thursday 24th July: 56301 + 56303 6Z41 04:53 Virginia Water - Totton, 6Z42 21:37 Totton - Laverstock  - Bracknell, 31601 0Z31 09:05 Washwood Heath - Eastleigh one  two three four
Friday 25th July: 56301 + 56303 6Z41 04:53 Virginia Water - Totton, 6Z56 09:15 Totton - Chaddesden one two three four, 66743 5Z21 23:07 Eastleigh - Ipswich
Saturday 26th July: 66743 (+ 66713 from Eastleigh) 1Z21 07:19 Ipswich - Bournemouth one two three, 5Z21 13:30 Bournemouth - Eastleigh one, 5Z22 16:02 Eastleigh - Bournemouth, 66713 1Z22 17:34 Bournemouth - Ipswich one two, 66743 0Z22 17:36 Bournemouth - Eastleigh, 31601 0Z63 07:45 Eastleigh - Swanage, 31601 + 60163 5Z63 10:00 Swanage - East Grinstead one two three four five
Sunday 27th July: 66719 1Z50 12:05 Ipswich - Basingstoke, 5Z50 16:41 Basingstoke - Eastleigh one two

The Dorset Coast Express, 23rd July 2014

1Z67 08:44 Victoria - Weymouth, 1Z69 16:35Weymouth - Southampton - Laverstock - Waterloo

The down working at Southampton. Image by Ian Knight.

The return working into Southampton, at Redbridge. Image by Ian Knight.

44932 passes Redbridge before taking the right turn to follow the Test towards Romsey. Image by Ian Knight.

44932 approaches Romsey.

37706 was giving assistance on the rear of the train.

DRS Open Day, Gresty Lane, Crewe, 19th July 2014

A full set of pictures from Gresty Lane is here on OneDrive.

47810 in the latest DRS colours. New as D1924 in December 1965 to 86A Cardiff Canton. Loaned to Eastleigh and handled the last down Bournemouth Belle.

20309 was new as D8075 in July 1961 to 65A Eastfield. 37606 was new as D6790 in January 1963 allocated to 52A Gateshead.

37419 was new as D6991 in July 1965 to 86A Cardiff Canton.

 37682 was new as D6936 in April 1964 to 87E Landore

47818 was new as D1917 in December 1965 allocated to 86A Cardiff Canton. 57010 was new as D1907 in September 1965 with the same allocation.

68002 Intrepid was delivered through Southampton in January 2014, the first toarrive.

68008 Avenger is reported to be AAR fitted, as a backup for Chiltern services, but I see no relevant connectors. Delivered through Liverpool in early June. UPDATE: Being fitted week of 21st July.

"The Caterpillar Cat", 19th July 2014

 

57009 arriving at Romsey with 57008 behind. 57009 was once 47079 George Jackson Churchward which I first saw on 8th April 1977 in Fife on a cement train, well away from its Cardiff base.

70801 at Westbury (rain on window)

70809 at Westbury

66194 waiting to depart rom Basford Hall

09204 of LNWR

08507 of Riviera Trains

The tour has arrived at Crewe .....

..... and is much admired

57308 County of Staffordshire is on Thunderbird duties when the tour returns to depart from platform 12

57009 and 57008 ready to return

57316 with Old Oak Common - Kilmarnock stock move

1Z86 07:07 Eastleigh - Bristol - Worcester - Kidderminster - Bescot - Crewe - Chester - Crewe,
1Z87 16:40 Crewe - Chester - Shrewbury - Hereford - Newport - Bristol - Eastleigh

Consist: 57009 + 57008 + 6137 6183 5965 5921 5964 1200 3426 3397 1683 3348 35469

Avoided the floods! Away and to the north before Westbury - Bath closed at 10:00 for flooding near Trowbridge, reopened about 11:23.

Photo coverage on Flickr.

Highlights noted from the train window:

• Westbury: 70801 + 70809 parked
• Filton Abbey Wood: a Cross-Country HST
• Gloucester: 66849 with bulk coal wagons
• Kidderminster: 55019, 50049 and 50026
• Stourbridge Junction: 67014 with set including DVT 82304
• Bescot: EWS Mk 2 set - 5959 + 6152 + 9529 + 5929 + 6036 + 9531 + 5922
• Bescot: 60099 (silver)
• Crewe: 57316 (T+T 47580) on a GW HST stock working to Kilmarnock (5Z00 12:30 Old Oak Common - Kilmarnock)
• Crewe Heritage Centre: 47712, 03073, 5553, 5224(?), 80136, 47192
• Crewe Electric: 90023, 90038, 90032, 90040 and others
• Sutton Bridge Junction: 97302 and 97304
• Magor area: 60020 on Murco tanks (6B47 18:10 Westerleigh - Margam)
• Westbury: 60087

14th - 19th July 2014

57009 + 57008 lead "The Caterpillar Cat" into Romsey, 19th July. More tour and DRS coverage in due course.

Monday 14th July: 56303 + 56311 6Y75 10:18 Eastleigh - Totton one two three four five, 56301 + 56311 Totton - Eastleigh
Tuesday 15th July: 37423 0Z70 08:51 Willesden Brent - Eastleigh, 5Z68 12:38 Eastleigh - Willesden Brent, 60087 + 70809 6Y42 13:57  Hoo Jct - Eastleigh one two ,  7080x + 7080x 0Z30 17:26 Westbury - Eastleigh (97 mins lost because of TPWS/AWS issue between Wishford and Wilton)
Wednesday 16th July: 56311 5Z56 11:56 Eastleigh - Wolverton one two three, 66004 + 60087 6V41 14:47 Eastleigh - Westbury
Thursday 17th July:
Friday 18th July: 57008 + 57009 5Z85 08:45 Crewe - Hereford - Newport - Romsey - Salisbury - Eastleigh one two three four five six seven eight, 56301 Eastleigh - Weymouth - Totton
Saturday 19th July: 57008 + 57009 1Z86 07:07 Eastleigh -Salisbury - Cheltenham - Kidderminster - Crewe - Chester - Crewe, 1Z88 16:40 Crewe - Chester - Hereford - Newport - Salisbury - Eastleigh, 56301 + 56303 6Z42 21:37½ Totton - Bracknell,
Sunday 20th July: 56301 + 56303 6Z41 07:25 Virginia Water - Totton one two, 57008 + 57009 5Z90 12:32 Eastleigh - Crewe one two three