7th - 12th September 2020

66549 shunting wagons at Up Yard, 10th September.

Monday 7th September: 60055 0Z60 06:34 Eastleigh - Willesden one two; 08624 heading north from Maritime by road on a low-loader

Tuesday 8th September: 

Wednesday 9th September: 60055 6Z92 05:39 Willesden - Eastleigh one, 6Z91 13:56 Eastleigh - Up Yard

Thursday 10th September: 60055 6Z90 07:27 Up Yard - Eastleigh, 6Z91 13:56 Eastleigh - Up Yard

Friday 11th September: 60055 6Z90 07:27 Up Yard - Eastleigh (but also another two wagon 6Z91 working), 6Z94 13:28 Eastleigh - Willesden

Saturday 12th September: 

Flickr for 60055 for Wed - Fri.

A Lesser Spotted Class 313, St Denys, 10th September 2020

313216 3Z13 1030 Lovers Walk - Eastleigh - Southampton - Eastleigh - Lovers Walk T&R.S.M.D

313216, originally 313016 delivered from BR York in June 1976, passes on the down road from Eastleigh.

Approaching Horseshoe Bridge, note the many cameras in the front window, it seems that this was a driver training turn.

Returning after turnaround at Southampton Central.

60055 on 6Z91, 10th September 2020

60055 Thomas Barnardo 6Z91 1356 Eastleigh - UpYard (ran around at Up Loop since consist too long for Totton Yard)

Running early, as is typical, 60055 passes St Denys.

Proceeding through the station, the 24 wagon length train is longer than the previous 18 wagon set.

A closer view of the locomotive, as the train proceed to Millbrook to run around, not Totton as in the timetable.

Returning from Millbrook, and in the loop at Up Yard.

Coming to a stand just short of Horseshoe Bridge.

The train has been split, and the shunt commences into the yard.

A final view of the shunt.

Kirkby Stephen West, 6th September 2020

45562 Alberta approaches Kirkby Stephen with 1Z44 09:46 York to Carlisle. The train was late following a difficult climb of The Long Drag on a wet rail.

Of course, this is 45699 masquerading as long gone 45562.

A closer up view. Flickr for the day.

The NMT followed 12 minutes later, led by 43014 The Railway Observer working 1Q43 10.00 Derby - Heaton, via Carlisle.

The closer-up view of 43014.

43062 John Armitt on the rear.

An hour at Aberdour, 4th September 2020

 
Overall the attractions of Scotland from mid-August to early-September were limited by comparison with preceding years. The Class 68 hauled Fife Circle concluded at the end of May, so one can no longer can hear the distinctive Cat power charging up the bank in the earlier hours. The accident at Carmont, near Stonehaven, appears to mean no LNER or Colas Cement workings to / from Aberdeen.

Also, a digital catastrophe cost me coverage of 57601 + 57316 on the Northern Belle, and of the first outward run of 'The Royal Scotsman'. So one final weekday hour of HST & Azuma.

43143 + 43136 pass with 1B31 12:49 Inverness - Edinburgh.

43136 on the rear.

800111 1W96 1200 Kings Cross - Inverness, again using the VAR timetabled route via Ladybank and Hilton Junction.

The return of The Royal Scotsman, Aberdour, 23rd August 2020

After a hiatus for Covid-19, The Royal Scotsman made its first tour of the season into the Highlands, northbound on Friday 21st for an overnight at Boat of Garten, and the second night being spent at Dundee. On Sunday morning, breakfast was served on the run between Dundee and Edinburgh, crossing Tay and Forth Bridges. 

Mk3A 'Service Car' 99969 was not turned out for this working, the other Mk3A 99968 being the first coach as seen here approaching  Aberdour from Burntisland.

66746 leads the train.

A slightly closer view.

66743 on the rear.

31st August - 5th September 2020

Monday 31st August: 37610 + 37612 1Q51 11:15 Derby - Eastleigh - Weymouth - Eastleigh one two three four 
Tuesday 1st September: 37610 + 37612 1Q52 10:37 Eastleigh - Portsmouth Harbour - Littlehampton - Portsmouth Harbour - Totton Yard - Fareham - Eastleigh - Woking Winchester Baltic Siding - Lymington Pier -Eastleigh one two three four five six; 66710 +  66750 (701008) 6X24 08:40 Derby - Eastleigh one two three four five six 
Wednesday 2nd September: 37610 + 37612 1Q53 1Q53 11:48 Eastleigh - Up Yard - Wimbledon - Up Yard one two three four five six , 1Q53 18:04 Up Yard - Wimbledon - Totton - Romsey - Eastleigh
Thursday 3rd September: 37610 + 37612 0Z37 10:01 Eastleigh - Derby one two; 73961 + 73963 1Q54 12:45 Eastleigh - Tonbridge one; 60046 6Z94 10:55 Willesden - Eastleigh one two 
Friday 4th September: 60046 6Z93 13:58 Eastleigh - Willesden one 
Saturday 5th September: 60055 0Z60 17:00 Bristol  Eastleigh one two three