Class 67 to the Swanage Railway

Colas Rail Class 67 No. 67027, recently outshopped from Eastleigh with East Coast Thunderbird decals, arrived at Corfe Castle for ETH testing on the morning of 3rd February 2026. Working as 0Z67 0705 Westbury Down T.C. to Swanage, the locomotive only travelled as far as Corfe Castle because of embankment stabilisation work further down the line at Harman’s Cross.

The Skip departed the heritage railway as 0Z67 1002 Swanage to Westbury Down T.C. the following day.

SWR Class 159’s and the New Measurement Train at Sherborne

The 5th February 2026 produced another wet Thursday lunchtime. I stopped off at Sherborne on the way home from visiting my mum. The New Measurement Train (NMT) was scheduled to pass through the station just after two service trains operated by South Western Railway (SWR) Class 159 diesel multiple units;

159020 + 159108 1L25 1020 London Waterloo to Exeter St Davids 159018 + 159015 1L44 1125 Exeter St Davids to London Waterloo

Sherborne station was opened by the Salisbury and Yeovil Railway (S&YR) on 7th May 1860, when the company extended its line from Gillingham. A level crossing is situated at the eastern end of the platforms. The station features two platforms connected by a footbridge, added in 1886, with the main building constructed in rusticated Sherborne stone under a slate roof, including mullioned windows and a distinctive ledged canopy supported by iron brackets. The London & South Western Railway took over the line in 1878 having provided the trains from the outset. Following the Railways Act of 1921, the LSWR was amalgamated into the Southern Railway in 1923, under which the station continued to operate until nationalisation in 1948, when it became part of the Southern Region of British Railways.

In 1963, amid broader organisational changes, control of the line and station transferred to the Western Region of British Railways.

Today, the station is owned by Network Rail and operated by South Western Railway (SWR), which took over the South Western franchise in 2017. The station is currently promoted as part of the Blackmore Vale Line Community Partnership.

The NMT duly arrived a minute early being top and tailed by Class 43 power cars No.’s 43013 ‘Mark Carne CBE’ + 43062 ‘John Armitt’ forming 1Q23 05:53 Reading to Salisbury via Exeter. The train had to pause in the station to allow the crossing gates – controlled from the Basingstoke Rail Operating Centre – to be lowered

Wiltshire Wanders – time spent watching trains – 12/02/2026

A trip across the county border to Wiltshire for a day watching trains in the company of Jamie Smith. The highlight for me being the DCR Class 60 No. 60028.

This video features the following locations and workings: Hawkeridge Junction:

66704 + 66754 – 6G99 0428 Hanwell to Westbury Down T.C.

Westbury:

59005 – 6A12 0918 Whatley Quarry F Liner HH to Appleford FHH

Fairwood Junction:

60028 – 6M51 0942 Merehead Quarry (FHH) to Quainton Railhead

Bratton:

802101 – 1C76 1003 London Paddington to Penzance 802018 + 802017 – 1A78 0710 Penzance to London Paddington 60028 – 6M51 0942 Merehead Quarry (FHH) to Quainton Railhead

North Bradley:

166207 – 1F14 Portsmouth Harbour to Cardiff Central 67021 – 1V80 0947 London Victoria to Bath Spa 59202 – 6B12 1143 Merehead Quarry (FHH) to Wootton Bassett F.Y. (FLHH)

Wylye:

158890 – 1O52 1338 Yeovil Junction to London Waterloo

59203 – 6V22 1334 Woking D. Agg. Yard (FLHH) to Merehead Quarry (FHH)

Railway 200 Inspiration exhibition train visits the Swanage Railway

The Railway 200 Inspiration exhibition train arrived on the Swanage Railway early morning on 16th February 2026, reporting as 3Z21 0537 Eastleigh East Yard to Corfe Castle (Swanage R). GBRf Class 66 No.’s 66710 ‘Karen Harrison’ + 66719 ‘Michael Portillo’ top and tailed the train.

No. 66710 remained at Corfe Castle acting as a “brake” for the carriages, while No. 66719 departed light engine as 0Z21 0740 Corfe Castle (Swanage R) to Eastleigh East Yard.

Two days later No. 66719 returned to rejoin the train as it worked 0Z22 1543 Eastleigh East Yard to Corfe Castle (Swanage R), this time carrying the Rail 200 Inspiration headboard.

No. 66719 departed Corfe with the Inspiration train in the company of No. 66710 bound for the Watercress Line working as 3Z22 1930 Corfe Castle (Swanage R) to Alton.

Curated in partnership with the National Railway Museum, Inspiration’s exhibition carriages are:

* Railway Firsts: Showcasing groundbreaking innovations in railway history

* Wonderlab on Wheels: Offering engaging hands-on activities to explore the science and engineering behind railways

* Your Railway Future: Uncovering some of the more hidden roles in rail and encouraging people to consider a career in rail to shape the next 200 years

Test Trains and Engineering Trains in Dorset – Mid-February 2026

A selection of test trains and engineering trains which visited Dorset in mid-February 2026.

This video includes;

09/02/2026 Poole 73962 + 73964 – 1Q51 1150 Derby R.T.C.(Network Rail) to Eastleigh East Yard

11/02/2026 Bournemouth 66182 + 66107 – 6N60 0525 New Milton to Eastleigh East Yard, 444023 + 444020 – 5Z24 0520 Southampton Central to Poole, 444025 + 444036 – 1B90 0540 Poole to London Waterloo

12/02/2026 Bournemouth 66182 + 66107 – 6N70 0525 New Milton to Eastleigh East Yard, 444001 + 444009 – 1B14 0500 Poole to London Waterloo

18/02/2026 Dorchester West 43303 + 43301 – 1Q22 0743 Derby R.T.C.(Network Rail) to Bristol Kingsland Road, 166202 – 2V72 1528 Weymouth to Gloucester (This sequence courtesy of Gerry Barrett)

A video compilation of the Snow & Ice Treatment Train in Dorset during January and February 2026

This video includes:

01/01/2026 66734+66751 at Baiter, Poole and Hamworthy 3Y88 1011 Eastleigh East Yard to Eastleigh East Yard

04/01/2026 66740 + 66750 at Wareham and Dorchester South 3Y88 1000 Eastleigh East Yard to Eastleigh East Yard

05/01/2026 66740 + 66750 at Poole 3Y88 1120 Eastleigh East Yard to Eastleigh East Yard

06/01/2026 66751 + 66750 3Y88 1120 Eastleigh East Yard to Eastleigh East Yard

08/01/2026 66736 + 66750 at Poole 3Y88 1120 Eastleigh East Yard to Eastleigh East Yard

09/01/2026 66750 + 66736 at Turlin Moor 3Y88 1120 Eastleigh East Yard to Eastleigh East Yard

13/02/2026 66730 + 66734 at Sterte, Poole, Dorchester South and Hamworthy 3Y88 1120 Eastleigh East Yard to Eastleigh East Yard

17/02/2026 66725 + 66704 at Hamworthy 3Y89 2253 Eastleigh East Yard to Eastleigh East Yard

17/02/2026 day 66725 + 66704 at Weymouth 3Y88 1120 Eastleigh East Yard to Eastleigh East Yard

18/02/2026 66792 + 66704 at Poole 3Y88 1120 Eastleigh East Yard to Eastleigh East Yard

New GBRf Class 99 No.’s 99005 + 99006 on tow at Bristol and other trains

GBRf Class 99 No.’s 99005 & 99006 were collected from Portbury Docks and hauled to Leicester LIP on Wednesday 25th February 2026. Stablemate Class 57 No. 57305 was the hauling locomotive provided for the transfer, running in light during the morning as 0Z33 from Leicester L.I.P. to the automotive terminal at Portbury Docks, then returning to Leicester with 99006 & 99005 in tow as 0Q33 from the automotive terminal at Portbury Docks to Leicester L.I.P.

This video features other passenger, freight and departmental trains at Bristol Parson Street and Bristol Parkway.

Eastleigh Visit

As Caroline had a lunch planned with a friend in Southampton, I chivalrously volunteered to drive her over the county border and back home after her catch-up. No, no… of course I didn’t mind waiting!

So that’s how I found myself at Eastleigh railway station on the afternoon of Friday February 27th 2026 witnessing the chaos caused by Colas Class 56 No. 56051 ‘Survival’ which had been booked to operate OZ56 1150 Eastleigh Yard to Eastleigh Yard via Basingstoke in the company of on hire Class 66 No. 66544. The Grid made it as far as the approaches to Eastleigh where it suffered an internal combustion incident with flames reportedly coming out of the locomotive. All lines between Eastleigh and Winchester were immediately put on a stop situation, with trains being unable to run past the stricken loco. Eventually the Shed dragged ‘Survival’ back to Eastleigh East Yard where a fire engine was waiting its arrival.

Trains were subject to delay for several hours afterwards, and this made for a busy couple of hours while things slowly got back to normal.

That’s it for another month – thanks for reading. Be seeing you!

2026 marks sixty years since the closure of the Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway, a line that, for many people, was far more than just a railway.

We went along to Shillingstone Railway Station where a group of dedicated volunteers have been hard at work to keep the S&DJR alive, alongside a group of preservationists whose aim is to restore two Yugoslavian steam locos. You watch the trailer on YouTube or Spotify here:

To find out more about the North Dorset Railway and Project 62, visit their respective websites:

https://www.northdorsetrailway.co.uk

https://www.project62.co.uk

The full episode is available on YouTube, Spotify and wherever you get your podcasts!

Available Now! Yoshi met up with YouTuber and videographer The Southerner for a chat about railways and filming trains over a mug of tea and a long chew:

YouTube:

Spotify:

For the next episode of The Railway Dogcast, Yoshi met up with YouTuber and videographer The Southerner for a chat about railways and filming trains over a mug of tea and a long chew – coming soon! 

Spotify Trailer: 

YouTube Trailer:

Island Line Interlude: SWR Class 484’s in action

A quick visit to the Isle of Wight and I was in pleased to find my accommodation was near the Island Line at Brading. I took the opportunity of catching some video of South Western Railway Class 484 Electric Multiple Units which work between Ryde Pier Head and Shanklin. No.’s 484002 & 484005 were in action during my visit.

In keeping with Island Line’s traditions, the Class 484 trains were former London Underground stock, extensively refurbished by Vivarail in Long Marston – 02/12/2025

Clan Line at Yeovil Junction

An afternoon visit to Yeovil Junction to see rebuilt SR Merchant Navy Class No. 35028 ‘Clan Line’ arrive with the ECS from “The Sherborne Christmas Carol” rail tour organised by The Railway Touring Company. The locomotive was turned and serviced by the Yeovil Railway Centre.

‘Clan Line’ was built at Eastleigh Works and entered service on 23rd December 1948 at Bournemouth depot.

The reporting detail for today’s tour was 1Z93 0844 London Victoria to Yeovil Jn Heritage Platform. West Coast Class 47 No. 47802 provided support – 03/12/2025

Trains @Eastleigh, including Class 20s with a Javelin and steam loco ‘Mayflower’

A visit to Eastleigh on 12th December 2025 produced the usual assortment of freight trains, South Western Railway passenger trains plus vintage Class 20 diesel locomotives hauling a damaged Javelin, LNER Thompson Class B1 4-6-0 No. 61306 ‘Mayflower’ with Class 47 No. 47593 ‘Galloway Princess’ and a Chiltern Class 68 – 12/12/2025

GWR Castle HST Farewell

Saturday 13th December 2025 marked the end of regular High Speed Train (HST) passenger services running in England as the Great Western Railway Castle sets bowed out in Devon and Cornwall. We went along to see these iconic trains on their final day in service as another era in the history of the railways in the UK came to an end – 13/12/2025

GWR Sleepers passing Castle Cary

Working 5Z45 1419 Reading Traincare Depot to Fairwater Yard, Class 57 No.’s 57312 and 57604 ‘Pendennis Castle’ pass Castle Cary with a rake of GWR sleeper carriages – 20/12/2025

The first Dorset Snow & Ice Treatment Train of the 2025/26 season

The first Dorset Snow & Ice Treatment Train of the 2025/26 season ran on Christmas Eve with GBRf Class 66 No.’s 66798 ‘Justine’ + 66750 ‘Bristol Panel Signal Box’ working 3Y88 0920 Eastleigh East Yard to Eastleigh East Yard. The train is seen at Moreton on the outward leg to Weymouth and Wareham on the return – 24/11/2025

Early Doors for the Snow & Ice Treatment Train at Poole. With bonus urban fox!

GBRf Class 66 No.’s 66734 ‘Platinum Jubilee’ + 66750 ‘Bristol Panel Signal Box’ passing through Poole 63 minutes ahead of schedule with the early doors 3Y89 2300 Eastleigh East Yard to Eastleigh East Yard Snow & Ice Treatment Train on 29/12/2025

Dorset Trains, including Snow & Ice Treatment Trains + a Class 67 visits the Swanage Railway

A selection of special railway workings in Dorset, including Snow & Ice Treatment Trains and a Class 67 visits the Swanage Railway for ETH testing. Filmed over 29th and 30th December 2025

More Dorset Snow & Ice Treatment Train Action!

Further outings for the Snow & Ice Treatment Train in Dorset with GBRf Class 66 No.’s 66734 ‘Platinum Jubilee’ + 66751 ‘Inspiration Delivered Hitachi Rail Europe’.

Filmed on 31st December 2025 & 1st January 2026, this video includes the following SITT workings:

3Y88 0911 Eastleigh East Yard to Eastleigh East Yard – 31/12/2025

3Y88 1011 Eastleigh East Yard to Eastleigh East Yard – 01/01/2026

Watching Trains At Eastleigh

A bonus afternoon watching trains at Eastleigh on 7th November 2025

Classic Traction in Action at the South Devon Railway Diesel Gala 2025

A snapshot of some of the classic diesel traction in action at the South Devon Railway Diesel Gala 2025 which took place over the weekend of 8th/9th November. Guest locomotives featured were DC Rail Class 56 No.’s 56045 & 56103 and Rail Engineering Solutions liveried Class 47 No. 47715 – 08 & 09/11/2025

Convoy! DC Rail Class 56’s top and tail RES’s Class 47 through Castle Cary

We saw the South Devon Railway Diesel Gala 2025 guest locomotives; DC Rail Class 56 No.’s 56045 & 56103 and Rail Engineering Solutions liveried Class 47 No. 47715, passing through Castle Cary on their return journey (0M49 1050 Buckfastleigh to Willesden Dc Rail Sidings). This was followed by lunch at The Creamery adjacent to the railway station (not included in the video before anyone complains!) – 10/11/2025

Hamworthy Railway Embankment Works – November 2025

Saturday 15th November to Friday 21st November 2025 the railway line was closed between Poole and Dorchester South to allow for essential engineering works, primarily the shoring up of an embankment just west of Hamworthy station. The work which involved piling was carried out around the clock leading to sleepless nights for local residents.

The following locomotive hauled engineers trains were booked;

DB Class 66 No.’s 66140 + 66067 6N01 2353 Eastleigh East Yard to Hamworthy Departing on 14th November 2025

DB Class 66 No. 66185 ‘DP World London Gateway’ 6N02 2253 Eastleigh East Yard to Poole Departing on 17th November 2025

DB Class No. 66067 6N01 0600 Poole to Eastleigh East Yard Departing on 18th November 2025

DB Class 66 No.’s 66140 + 66185 6N02 2300 Poole to Eastleigh East Yard Departing on 21st November 2025

Many shenanigans with the scheduled departure of 6N02 2300 Poole to Eastleigh East Yard on 21st November 2025 which was conveying spoil from the embankment works at Hamworthy. For some unknown reason, the train was cancelled in RTT between Poole and Branksome, but the train physically had to travel this section.

The initial attempt, however, hauled by No. 66140, stalled on Parkstone bank at around 2310 on the Friday evening. The train was returned to Poole, wrong line, by classmate No. 66185 in the early hours of Saturday 22nd. The locomotive then ran around the train meaning the second attempt departed Poole double-headed with 66185 & 66140.

This combo also ground to a halt on Parkstone Bank at @0250 on 22nd November. After causing chaos to South Western Railway passenger services, No. 66185 managed to haul the train into Bournemouth to meet “Thunderbird” Class 66 No. 66124 which had been dispatched to rescue 6N02. The train, this time triple-headed, finally left Bournemouth at 0905.

Triple-Headed DB Cargo Class 66 hauled engineers train departing Bournemouth

DB Cargo Class 66 No.’s 66124 + 66185 + 66140 depart Bournemouth with the heavily laden and delayed 6N02 2300 Poole to Eastleigh East Yard – 22/11/2025

71000 ‘Duke of Gloucester’ returns to the main line – October 2025

The unique BR Standard Class 8 4-6-2 No. 71000 ‘Duke of Gloucester’ returns to the main line after a thirteen year long major overhaul. Resplendent in the BR Green early crest livery she first carried in 1954, this iconic locomotive departed Crewe on a test run bound for Shrewsbury on Tuesday 7th October 2025.

The following day, Wednesday 8th October 2025, ‘Duke of Gloucester’ worked 1Z45 1029 Crewe to Shrewsbury “The Impossible Dream” charter, for trust supporters which we saw passing Beeston Castle running 147 minutes late. The delay was caused by cows on the line on the scheduled route past Chester.

Shed, Grid & Fugly Action! Dorset Engineering Trains – October 2025

October 2025 saw a couple of engineering trains visit Dorset.

We saw DB Cargo’s ‘Railway 200’ liveried Class 66 No. 66200 passing Christchurch on 18/10/2025 working a short engineers train.

The following week it was a surprise visit to the county by Colas Grid Class 56 No. 56051 with Class 70 No. 70813 working a rail delivery train from Eastleigh to Dorchester and return. We saw the outward and return trips passing Poole on 23 & 24/10/2025

Swanage Railway Ghost Train

LSWR T3 No. 563 runs as the Swanage Railway Ghost Train – 28/10/2025

Trains at Eastleigh – Flashback to 2020

Having got wind that Locomotive Services Limited’s new Blue Pullman liveried High Speed Train was departing Eastleigh Works for the first time on a Friday afternoon at the end of October 2020, Yoshi and I set off in a bid to photograph this iconic train.

Unfortunately the departure of the HST was delayed several hours and it eventually left under cover of darkness. Yoshi and I also found ourselves on the wrong platform with our view of the oncoming blue High Speed Train set blocked by a DB Cargo container train. We hurried over the footbridge, just in time to see the back end of the LSL racing past platform two. In the rush, I knocked the video setting on my phone to slow-mo, but I’ve added the clip to the end of this featurette – 30/10/2020

SR West Country 4-6-2 No. 34028 ‘Eddystone’ returns to the main line

Southern Locomotives Limited’s SR West Country 4-6-2 No. 34028 ‘Eddystone’ returns to the main line. This was the first time the locomotive has travelled on the National Network under her own power since 1964. We saw the Bulleid Pacific passing Hamworthy in the company of Class 33 No. D6515 / 33012 ‘Lt. Jenny Lewis RN’ working 0Z28 1026 Swanage to Southall WCR – 03/09/2025

The Great Central Railway Diesel Gala featuring Deltic No. 55019

A look in at The Great Central Railway diesel gala from the afternoon of 6th September 2025 featuring Deltic action – 06/09/2025

SR West Country Class 4-6-2 No. 34028 ‘Eddystone’ returns to the Swanage Railway & other trains!

Locomotive workings in Dorset are a rarity at present. Here are some from w/c 08/09/2025:

Monday 8th September saw Class 33 No. 33012 / D6515 ‘Lt. Jenny Lewis’ return to the Swanage Railway as 0Z33 1013 Southall Wcr to Swanage. We saw the light engine movement crossing Holes Bay.

Wednesday 10th September found us in Sherborne to see one of GBRf’s light engine movement with Class 66 No. 66702 ‘Blue Lightning’ passing through the station working 0Z84 0820 Eastleigh East Yard to Honiton. This was one of a number of GBRf engineers trains and light engine movements between Eastleigh and Honiton in September.

The rain continued as SR West Country 4-6-2 No. 34028 ‘Eddystone’ made a quick return visit to the Swanage Railway working the Railway Touring Company “Swanage Belle” railtour 1Z11 0845 London Victoria to Swanage. WCRC Class 47 No. 47812 provided support at the rear and hauled the return working 1Z12 1635 Swanage to London Victoria away from Swanage with ‘Eddystone’ on the back of the train.

Swanage Railway 2025 Autumn Steam Gala Action!

Video from the 2025 Swanage Autumn Steam Gala filmed on Saturday 13th September. Guest locomotives were Southern Railway Schools Class 4-4-0 No. 926 ‘Repton’ and London & South Western Railway Urie S15 Class No. 30506 alongside the home fleet of LSWR Adams T3 No. 563, SR 2-6-0 U Class No. 31806, SR Battle of Britain Class 4-6-2 No. 34070 ‘Manston’ and SR Battle of Britain Class 4-6-2 No. 34072 ‘257 Squadron’ – the day was often wet and windy, but enjoyable all the same!

Locomotive Services Ltd locomotives in Dorset and bonus Class 73/9 test train – September 2025

The regular Colas operated Plain Line Pattern Recognition test train was in the hands of GBRf Class 73/9 No.’s 73963 and 73964 on Monday 22nd September 2025 reporting as 1Q51 1115 Derby R.T.C. (Network Rail) to Eastleigh East Yard via Weymouth

Saphos Trains “The Golden Arrow” which started and finished in Poole on Tuesday 24rd September 2025 with LSL Class 57 No. 57311 ‘The Institution of Mechanical Engineers’ and Class 47 No. 47593 ‘Galloway Princess’

LSL Class 47 No.’s 47805 (D1935) ‘Roger Hosking MA 1925-2013’ and 47810 (D1924) ’Crewe Diesel Depot’ top and tailed Statesman Rail’s “Dorset Coast Statesman” on Wednesday 25th September 2025 which originated in Nottingham and travelled to Weymouth for a few hours at the seaside before returning

WARNING: Video may also include SWR Class 444 Desiro EMU’s on regular workings!

DCR Grids – Double headed Class 56 locomotives at Darlington

Class 56 No. 56103 leads classmate No. 56045 and a single JNA wagon working Willesden DC Rail Sidings to Darlington North Road through Darlington railway station – 26/09/2025

LMS Black 5 No 44871 working “The Rail 200 Special” over the historic Skerne Bridge

LMS Black 5 4-6-0 No. 44871 + Class 47 No. 47746 working The Railway Touring Company “Rail 200 Special” passing over the historic Skerne Bridge reporting as 1Z16 0622 Carnforth to Stanhope.

The return train; 1Z19 1732 Newcastle to Carnforth, is seen in fading light at Bridge LEN3/145 Stockton-On-Tees near Eaglescliffe followed by DB Cargo Class 66 No. 66129 at the head of 6E26 1151 Knowsley Freight Terminal to Wilton Efw Terminal – 27/09/2025

The restored replica of Locomotion No 1 on the main line celebrating 200 years of the railways!

To celebrate the 200th anniversary of the first passenger railway journey, a newly renovated replica of Locomotion No. 1 and the passenger carriage ‘Experiment’ travelled along sections of the original S&DR line, cheered on by spectators along the route – Friday 26 September 2025 to Sunday 28 September 2025

On a bright, but cold November morning, Yoshi set out for Margate to meet up with Simon Kohler – formerly Hornby’s Marketing & Product Development Director – for the latest episode of The Railway Dogcast. 

Affectionately known as Mr Hornby, Simon chatted freely to @HentisRail and I about his introduction to railways and his extensive career in the world of miniature trains.

On a bright, but cold November morning, Yoshi set out for Margate to meet up with Simon Kohler – formerly Hornby’s Marketing & Product Development Director – for the latest episode of The Railway Dogcast. 

Affectionately known as Mr Hornby, Simon chatted freely to @HentisRail and I about his introduction to railways and his extensive career in the world of miniature trains. Coming soon!