Swanage Railway Diesel Gala, 12th May 2023 Part 1: 50021 'Rodney'

50021 Rodney, the locomotive which made it to the ball - after much work by a small team at Eastleigh, who also brought 50026 Indomitable to the event.

50021 coming off the stabling sidings at Swanage for the first time, to couple up to 1R08 12:39 Swanage - River Frome Viaduct.

For this first passenger working under the current ownership, 50026 was also coupled to the train, seen on departure from Swanage.

Ahead of its solo working, 50021 was then worked to the River Frome Viaduct on the rear of 1R14 15:39 Swanage - River Frome Viaduct, seen between Corfe Castle and Norden.

The first solo run, 1R15 16:32 River Frome Viaduct - Swanage, approaching Norden from the north.

50021 was new as D421 from English Electric Vulcan Foundry in May 1968, worked its last train in December 1989, and was withdrawn in April 1990. In preservation, after some moves, the present owner acquired it in 2014, and moved it to Eastleigh on 30th June 2015.

Admiral Rodney.
The most recent HMS Rodney.

Peak Rail Diesel Gala, 16th April 2023 Part 1: D8 PENYGHENT

'Peak'' D8 PENYGHENT was built at BR Derby, entering traffic on 18th December 1959, as part of the pilot scheme Type 4 requirement, later uprated and extended into Class 45 and 46. As a Class 44, it was renumbered to 44008 in March 1974, and withdrawn in November 1980, following display at the Liverpool & Manchester 150 event. It then entered preservation at the Strathspey Railway, via Glasgow Works, although it saw no use, and was moved to Peak Rail in 1987 into the care of the North Notts Locomotive Group.

Preparing for a departure from Matlock.

PENYGHENT nameplate.

Another pre-departure view.

Awaiting departure from Darley Dale.

Making an approach to Rowsley South.

A short pose at Rowsley South.

Peak Rail

8th - 13th May 2023

 

33012 and the 4-TC head for Swanage, at the Redbridge Causeway, 11th May. Image by Ian Knight.

66706 leading 6V41 to Westbury, at Romsey on Tuesday 9th. 


The load was MPV DR98917 (closer) + DR98967.

Clayton Type 1 D8568 at Swanage, 12th May. More coverage to come in due course.

Monday 8th May: 73964 + 73965 1Q51 11:15 Derby - Eastleigh - Weymouth - Eastleigh one two
Tuesday 9th May: 73964 + 73965 1Q52 10:47 Eastleigh - Portsmouth Harbour - Littlehampton - Barnham- Portsmouth Harbour - Totton Yard - Havant - Guildford - Havant - Fareham - Eastleigh - Winchester - Basingstoke - Woking - Lymington Pier - Eastleigh one two three four five six seven; 47727 0O47 14:27 Kettering - Eastleigh one
Wednesday 10th May:  47727  0Z47 08:14 Eastleigh - Bournemouth one, 47727 (+701041) 5Q47 12.40 Bournemouth - Eastleigh one two three; 73964 + 73965 Q53 12:00 Eastleigh - Up Yard - Wimbledon - Up Yard one two three four, 1Q53 18:05 Up Yard - Farnborough Wimbledon - Totton - Romsey - Eastleigh;  313201 + 313208 5Z01 09:42 Lovers Walk - Eastleigh Flickr for the day; 73107 + 73201 0Y68 13:49 Eastleigh - Swanage Flickr for the day; 40145 + 45108 0Z41 08:27 Castleton Hopwood Gf - Eastleigh one two, 40145 + 50021 + 50026 + 45108 0Z42 18:48 Eastleigh - Swanage Flickr for the day; 47830 4Z47 14:54 Southall - Laverstock - Maritime one Flickr for the day
Thursday 11th May: 47727 (+701010) 5Q12 07:33 Eastleigh - Worksop one; 33012 (+ LU 4TC) 5Z34 11:12 Eastleigh - Havant - Guildford - Swanage one Flickr for the day; 73964 + 73965 1Q54 12:55 Eastleigh - Tonbridge one two; 47830 0Z47 16:35 Maritime - Swanage one
Friday 12th May: ASLEF Strike Day- no GWR services, nor SWR Romsey trains
Saturday 13th May: RMT Strike Day, Eastleigh and Southampton stations closed

73202 has entered traffic for GBRf.

66307 and 66308 repainted, and noted outside at Eastleigh Works, 11th May.

Network Rail are reported to now plan to retain 150 COALFISH wagons after the current ongoing round of scrapping. Currently there are about 500 of these wagons, still regularly seen at Eastleigh.

Space is understood to be being cleared at Eastleigh Works for more incoming Class 313s for storage / disposal, with one week to go to the timetable change.

Landslip at Wallers Ash, Tuesday 9th, affecting down line, then re-opened Wednesday afternoon.

Nuneham Viaduct updates one two and from Network Rail three

Let's all head to the seaside, 10th May 2023

 Swanage Gala related incoming workings.

47830 BEECHING'S LEGACY passing Romsey with 4Z47 14:54 Southall - Maritime.

The load was two empty FLA pairs.

40145 waits at Eastleigh Works during the shunt to add the class 50s.

45108 leads the shunt out of the Works into platform 3, for .0Z42 18:48 Eastleigh - Swanage.

45108 in the platform.

50026 Indomitable.

50021 Rodney, which made it with reportedly seconds to spare.

40145 was the leading locomotive.

33012 Lt Jenny Lewis RN arrives as 0Z12 17:50 Norden - Eastleigh Arlington.

At this point, the loco was prepared to head into the Works, but it then actually proceeded into the East Yard.

Back to the Coastway, 9th May 2023

These will probably have been my last glimpses of the Class 313's in traffic. The location again was Mill Lane, Bedhampton.

313205 2S18 11:55 Littlehampton - Portsmouth & Southsea.


73965 Des O'Brien 1Q52 10:47 Eastleigh East Yard -Eastleigh East Yard.

73964 Jeanette on the rear.


313209 2S20 12:55 Littlehampton - Portsmouth & Southsea.

313210 1S23 13:29 Portsmouth Harbour - Brighton.

66597 7V07 13:41 Chichester Recp. (Flhh) - Merehead Quarry (Fhh).

313215 1S22 13:00 Brighton - Portsmouth Harbour.

313209 returns with 2S17 1357 Portsmouth & Southsea - Littlehampton ...

... and slows to stop at Bedhampton station.

Peak Rail Diesel Gala, 16th April 2023: Video

 

Peak Rail

More to come.

Westbury, 2nd May 2023

Images from Roger Homan, who reported that it was relatively quiet, with several aggregates freights passing on the avoiding line, and IEPs terminating because of the Castle Cary line closure.

60029 Ben Nevis arrives with 6Z50 0954 Willesden Dc Rail Sidings - Westbury Down T.C., where shunting then commenced.

66605 on a rake of Mendip boxes, 6C48 12:26 Appleford Fhh - Whatley Quarry F Liner Hh.

66558 + 59201 6L21 1321 Whatley Quarry F Liner Hh - Dagenham Dock A.R.C., timed for 4400 tonnes.