13th - 18th January 2025

 

43161 seen at Westbury on 16th February 2018, was broken up in early January at the Plym Valley Railway.

43029, seen at Newton Abbot on 17th October 2017, later Caldicot Castle, was moved by road from Great Yarmouth to the Mid Norfolk Railway on 13th January for further spares recovery.

43206, seen on it's last passenger working, as 43006, on 28th December 2019, at Aberdour, was similarly moved to the Mid Norfolk on 14th January. 

Sunday 12th January: 56094 6C01 07:20 Ashford International - Havant - Southampton UGL - Eastleigh Flickr for the day

Monday 13th January: 47727 0O69 11:32 Leicester - Eastleigh; 56094 at Eastleigh
Tuesday 14th January: 47727 (+ 701050) 5Q87 09:20 Eastleigh - Long Marston one two Flickr for the day; 37175 3Q01 23:34 Woking - Eastleigh;
Wednesday 15th January: 50008 0O50 07:45 Knottingley - Eastleigh Flickr for the day; 47727 (+ 701057) 5Q87 12:34 Long Marston - Eastleigh, 5Q88 18:33 Eastleigh - Wimbledon Park Flickr for the day; 37175 3Q02 21:40 Eastleigh - Weymouth - St Denys - Fratton - St Denys - Eastleigh
Thursday 16th January: 70814 + 56105 6O24 09:25 Hinksey - Eastleigh one two; 37175 3Q04 21:37 Eastleigh - Southampton - Totton - Reading; 59003 came out of Eastleigh works
Friday 17th January: 56105 0Z56 11:50 Eastleigh - Basingstoke - Eastleigh one two three four;37175 3Q40 23:53 Reading - Paddington - Southampton - Woking
Saturday 18th January: 1001 / 1013 (4 power cars, 4 trailers) 1Z17 08:02 Hastings - Basingstoke -Eastleigh one two three, 1Z18 14:54 Eastleigh - Basingstoke - Hastings; 47593 at Eastleigh

The 1Q51 series test trains were cancelled for this week.

Mendip O&K JHAs did not yet move to a scrapyard, but the set was split and some moved across yards at Crewe on 13th.

Bo'ness Diesel Gala, 28th December 2024 3: 47712

47712 was posing as 47709 The Lord Provost on one side, and 47711 Greyfriars Bobby on the other.

Ready in the platform at 08:16 at Bo'ness, attached to the push-pull set.


Another angle at the same time.


The 08:45 to Manuel was worked as a push-pull, controlled from the DBSO. Seen after arrival at Manuel, and awaiting coupling up to guest loco 70806.

Arriving at Bo'ness with 2M50 10:35 Manuel - Bo'ness

Once again waiting in the platform.

In the sidings after relief as train heating loco by 37403.

Season end for the 'Royal Scotsman', October - November 2024

All workings were operated by 66746.

1H79 13:45 Edinburgh - Keith, at Standing Stone Bridge, Dalgety, 23rd October.

1H89 1345 Edinburgh - Boat Of Garten, at Aberdour, 31st October, the start of the last tour of the year.

The last day's movement was an unusual 1Z45 08:30 Perth - Edinburgh, on 2nd November, via Stirling, Winchburgh, Dalmeny, to the Fife Circle, Dunfermline, then Kirkcaldy. and onward to Edinburgh. Seen here at Dunfermline City (Dunfermline Lower).

Later, approaching Dalgety Bay station.

After arrival at Edinburgh, the empty stock was first worked to Craigentinny, and then to EG Steele at Wishaw, with 66746 proceeding to Mossend, and eventually Doncaster Roberts Road.

Bo'ness Diesel Gala, 28th December 2024 2: 70806

70806, now 10 years old, is seen on the link to Network Rail at Manuel.


About to couple up to 47712 for a double-header back to Bo'ness.


Stabled at Bo'ness between trains.

A 'GM Grangemouth' sticker has been applied, showing its current time in Scotland. Unfortunately the oil industry turns are being lost as the refinery closure is pending. The Dalston distribution terminal near Carlisle has now closed, and the last working appears to have been on 19th -20th December.

70806 runs forward past the DBSO.

Then backs onto the train ...

... which will form 1M53 12:15 Bo'ness - Manuel. The 70 can couple to the DBSO, as there is no gangway.

This train is seen running close to the foreshore at Bo'ness.

6th - 11th January 2025

Monday 6th January: 50007 (+ 12161) 5V50 10:07 Eastleigh - Reading one two; 56051 + 70813 + 66846 0V27 13:49 Eastleigh - Hinksey; 47727 0O89 11:50 Leicester - Eastleigh Flickr for the day
Tuesday 7th January: 47727 (+ 701030) 5Q87 09:20 Eastleigh - Long Marston one two Flickr for the day
Wednesday 8th January:
Thursday 9th January: 47593 (+ 3344 + 3348 + 3100 + 3426 + 40804 + 3122) 5Z47 08:34 Crewe - Eastleigh one Flickr for the day; 43303 (+ PLPR-2 6264 +5981 + 977983 + 5971) + 43274 1Q23 14:16 Salisbury - Redbridge, 1Q23 16:20 Redbridge - Laverstock - Reading Triangle Flickr for the day
Friday 10th January:
Saturday 11th January: 50007 (+ 10616) 5O50 13:58 Reading - Eastleigh one Flickr for the day

The 34 Mendip Rail O&K JHA hoppers were moved onward from Exeter to Crewe on 9th January, and may be going to EMR at Kingsbury on Monday 13th. Flickr for the day

At Eastleigh Works, the recently arrived Belmond / VSOE Pullman coaches may now be receiving a Central Door Locking update.

ScotRail Inter7City HSTs, October - November 2024

On the cusp of change, expected within the next two years or so, where the EMR Meridian sets seem to be prime candidates to make an early replacement of  the ScotRail Inter7city HSTs. An analysis in the last week of October showed that only 9 or 10 sets were out daily, out of 25. It may be that ScotRail prefers to use lower running cost Class 170 sets on days of lower passenger demand.

43181 (+ 43125) at Aberdour, 1B82 13:09 Aberdeen - Edinburgh, 22nd October.


Followed later by 43163 (+ 43144) with 1B84 13:59 Aberdeen - Edinburgh.


At Dalgety, on 30th October, 43132 (+ 43036) with 1A77 08:31 Edinburgh - Aberdeen.

In the other direction 43128 (+ 43179) are passing the site of Donibristle Halt with 1B70 04:54 Inverness - Aberdeen - Edinburgh

43128 was a 'hangar queen' and only entered traffic with ScotRail for the first time on 14th September 2024, following a visit to UKRL at Loughborough.

43036 (+ 43132) with 1B80 12:07 Aberdeen - Edinburgh, at Aberdour, 31st October.

43124 (+ 43127) leading 1B82 13:09 Aberdeen - Edinburgh, at Aberdour, 31st October.

43139 (+ 43169) 1B78 11:01 Aberdeen - Edinburgh, approaching Dalgety Bay, 2nd November.


Autumn continues at Aberdour, 43182 (+ 43183) 1B80 12:07 Aberdeen - Edinburgh, 5th November.

Around and About at the Foxfield Railway, 1st September 2024

 

North Staffordshire Railway No 2, built in Stoke in 1923, a National Collection locomotive.


WD820 was built by English Electric as their 1188, under arrangement from the Drewry Car Co. 2157/1941, and crossed the Channel after D-Day in 1944.

Midland Railway Picnic Saloon 348 of 1885.

"Moss Bay" built by Kerr Stuart in Stoke in 1920, started its working days at Workington.

"Ludstone" is a Yorkshire Engine Co. Janus locomotive, 2868 of 1962, which worked at BSC Shelton.in Stoke.

"Florence No 2" Bagnall 3059/1953.

Thomas Hill 111C / 1961 built upon re-used Sentinel frames and running gear.