45596 with the up 'Dorset Coast Express', 5th August 2021

45596 + 47245 T+T 1Z52 16:35 Weymouth - Southampton - Laverstock - London Victoria

47245 V.E. Day 75th Anniversary clatters over the crossing at Redbridge with the diesel leg.

45596 Bahamas blowing off while slowly approaching Redbridge.

Another view of the train at much the same spot. Image by Ian Knight.

The subject of some youthful attention ...

... and some more veteran.

Onwards to Romsey and the Test Valley.

45596 with the down 'Dorset Coast Express', 5th August 2021

45596 + 47245 T+T               14060 + 99723 (35459)  + 5035 + 1860 + 99125 (3113) + 99347 DIAMOND +  99352 AMETHYST + 99712 (18893) + 99351 SAPPHIRE + 3058 
1Z50 08:45 London Victoria - Weymouth

45596 Bahamas passing Totton Yard. Image by Ian Knight.

47245 V.E. Day 75th Anniversary on the rear of the train - assisting with power, noting open Serck shutters. Image by Ian Knight.

Two pictures of 45596 passing Ashurst a few minutes later.

Heading onwards to Beaulieu Road.

The Serck shutters are now closed on 47245.

Test Train at Totton, 3rd August 2021

The working to Totton did not go to Littlehampton, and entered the loop at Totton Yard some two hours early, although it departed to time at 15:30. A report on the radio mentioned a broken down train causing issues to the east of Havant. Traction was 67023 Stella and 67027 Charlotte. The coaches were the currently regular formation, as covered in detail for 12th July.

67023 leads 1Q52 10:37 Eastleigh - Eastleigh from Totton Yard into the station.

67023 at the west end of the station.

999550 High Speed Track Recording Train coach

67027 on the rear, passing through the station.

"The Northern Belle" to Winchester, Eastleigh, 31st July 2021

57601 Windsor Castle + 47854 Diamond Jubilee                        E326E + E325E + 3174 + 3273 + 1566 + 3267 + 3247 + 325 + 17167 + 10729 + 10734
1Z49 07:55 Derby - Winchester, 5Z50 13:44 Winchester - Eastleigh, 5Z51 16:48  Eastleigh - Winchester, 1Z51 17:10 Winchester - Derby

57601 enters platform 2 at Eastleigh with 5Z50. 

Mk 1 Pullman Parlour First E325E AMBER (Metro-Cammel, Lot 3281, 1960). This ran as AMETHYST in BR service. Forty years ago it was on the Strathspey Railway, and I remember that BR wanted their Commonwealth bogies back.

Mk1 RKB 1566 CAERDYDD (Cravens, Sheffield. Lot 30624, 1961).

Mk 2E CHATSWORTH 3247 (BREL Derby, Lot 30843, December 1972).

The second '325' in the train, this time in the BR series. BR Mk 1 RF DUART 325 (BR Swindon, Lot 30633,1961). This coach spent much time in Royal Train service, as 2907.

47854 on the rear of the train.

The ecs continues to Winchester.

Pictures from other photgraphers.

Freight workings at Romsey, 29th July 2021

 
59003 YEOMAN HIGHLANDER worked 0V41 14:48 Eastleigh - Westbury.


59206 John F Yeoman Rail Pioneer returning to Somerset with 7V09 13:41 Chichester - Merehead.


66598 slowed for the line to Redbridge with 4O57 13:14 Wentloog - Maritime.

The last of the 22 KTA wagons was GERS 97720.

"The Dorset Coast Statesman", 31st July 2021

47614 (47853) + 47828 in multi                          17056 + 3229 + 3188 + 80043 (1680) + 3438 + 3312 + 1211 + 3348 + 3426 + 3384 + 5912
1Z45 06:00 Chester - Weymouth, 1Z47 16:37 Weymouth - Chester

47614 led the outward train through Redbridge.

A closer view.


Inter City Swallow liveried 47828 brought the return working into Eastleigh.

47828 running into Eastleigh for a crew change. This locomotive led the last Virgin Cross Country loco-hauled train from the South, 1E38 16:20 Bournemouth-York on 18th August 2002, with 47854 on the tail, also seen again at Eastleigh on the 31st.

Mk 2F TSO 5912 (BREL Derby, Lot 30846, 1973) was the leading coach.

RK 80043 has been converted by LSL from RBR 1680 "By 05/12 stored OOU at Eastleigh TMD. 12/14: seen at back of Eastleigh TMD, heavily stripped for spares. To Crewe LNWR Heritage Company 08/15" (Pressed Steel, Lot 30628, 1961).

Departure.

Further pictures from other photographers.

37425 and a HOBC formation for Long Marston, Eastleigh, 31st July 2021

37425 Sir Robert McAlpine / Concrete Bob arrived on Friday to collect a HOBCS (High Output Ballast Cleaning System) rake, which will go to Long Marston departing at 06:46 on Monday 2nd August. I am not sure where the set arrived in Eastleigh from, or when - it was mostly recently reported at Taunton Fairwater Yard. Rumours suggest that this 15 year old equipment may be for preparation for export (end of lease?).

The first two pictures are from platform 1 at Eastleigh station. There are 10 hopper  / conveyor wagons in the formation, which is HOBCS2, or the key parts thereof.

37425 was delivered as D6992 from English Electric Vulcan Foundry on 5th July 1965. Renumbered as 37292 in February 1994. Transferred to the ScR in May 1981, and spent an experimental period set to 2000 hp by Doncaster Works. Entered Crewe Works for conversion to Class 37/4 in August 1985, and was on test in March - April 1986 after which it worked from Eastfield. I believe that I first saw it on 10th August 1987, at Fort William. EWS sold the locomotive on to DRS in 2011, when it received attention at Barrow Hill and it re-entered traffic in June 2012. Outshopped in January 2020 in the Regional Railways scheme after attention at Derby, but only returned to traffic in September 2020.

From platform 2/3.


From Campbell Road, the first vehicle is DR 92286, the power wagon for HOBCS2.

Consist:

DR 92286 YOA
DR 92289 YDA
DR 92295 YDA
DR 92300 YDA
DR 92301 YDA
DR 92296 YDA
DR 92299 YDA
DR 92298 YDA
DR 92302 YDA
DR 92287 YDA
DR 92288 YDA
DR 92285 YOA

Flickr coverage set to include Monday.