The regular Plain Line Pattern Recognition (PLPR) test train along the South West Main Line to Weymouth ran on Monday 2nd June giving a rare opportunity of catching it in the last throes of daylight through Poole. Reporting as 1Q51 1115 Derby R.T.C.(Network Rail) to Eastleigh East Yard the PLPR was in the charge of GBRf Class 73/9 electro-diesel locomotives No.’s 73961 ‘Alison’ & 73963 ‘Janice’. We also saw the return leg passing Hamworthy – 02/06/2025
A Monday trip to Bridgwater to see Direct Rail Services Class 68 locomotives No’s 68005 ‘Defiant’ + 68009 ‘Titan’ on nuclear flask working 6M63 1200 Bridgwater F.D to Crewe Coal Sidings (DRS). This was followed shortly after by Rail Adventure Class 43 power cars No.’s 43465 + 43484 hauling the West Somerset Railway guest locomotives; Class 50 No. 50015 ‘Valiant’, Class 45 No. 45108 and Class 52 No. D1015 ‘Western Champion’ in convoy reporting as 0Q84 1242 Bishops Lydeard to Kidderminster S.V.R. This video also contains a few CrossCountry and Great Western Railway service trains at Bridgwater to add a little flavour to proceedings – 09/06/2025
**Grateful thanks to @smithy37688 for allowing me to use his video in this compilation
Colas Railfreight Class 43 power cars No.’s 43251 + 43257 work the Heart of Wessex Plain Line Pattern Recognition train through Maiden Newton & Dorchester West, reporting as 1Q22 0747 Derby R.T.C.(Network Rail) to Bristol Kingsland Road – 11/06/2025
*with thanks to Gerry Barrett for additional video
We took a trip to Canada and Alaska in late June. I was able to see some freight trains and the Rocky Mountaineer at Banff:
A snapshot of train movements in Skagway on The White Pass & Yukon Route – a U.S. and Canadian Class III 3ft narrow-gauge railway which links Skagway, Alaska with Whitehorse, the capital of Yukon. The railway is an isolated system and has no direct connection to any other rail network. The railroad began construction in 1898 as a means of reaching gold fields during the Klondike Gold Rush and was completed in 1900. Services continued until October 1982 when financial difficulties forced its closure. However, in 1988 the line partially reopened as a tourist route as far as White Pass following the growth of visitors to Skagway arriving on cruise ships. By 2007 the line had been extended to Carcross and is co-owned by cruise ship operator Carnival:
https://youtu.be/7Tdyq4hbzX4
The monthly PLPR test train was set to run to Weymouth on 30/06/2025 as 1Q51 1115 Derby R.T.C.(Network Rail) to Eastleigh East Yard in the hands of class 73/9 locomotives No.’s 73963 & 73964. The service was however cancelled and reversed at Totton sidings due to equipment failure.
Thanks for reading – the best way to keep up to date with our latest videos is via the Railway Dog YouTube Channel – why not subscribe today! Or you can catch random witterings and photos via the Railway Dog Facebook group.
And don’t forget the first episode of The Railway Dogcast is still available:
Our second episode dropped on 14th June. Watch the trailer here:
In this, the second episode of The Railway Dogcast, our guest is Jamie Smith from You Tube’s “Jamie Smith Going Loco”. Jamie shares how he became interested in trains, how he almost joined the railways and his interest in video & photography.
The episode is available on Spotify and / or YouTube. Links are below:
Colas Railfreight Class 43 power cars No.’s 43357 + 43274 work the Heart of Wessex Plain Line Pattern Recognition train through Dorchester West, reporting as 1Q22 0747 Derby R.T.C.(Network Rail) to Bristol Kingsland Road – 14/05/2025
Swanage Railway resident diesel locomotive Class 33 No. D6515 (33012) went on hire to Hanson & Hall in May 2025 to cover GWR sleeper coach moves because of the unavailability of H+H’s Class 50 No. 50008 ‘Thunderer’ which was engaged on railtour duties elsewhere. This afforded the opportunity to see a Crompton back on LSWR mainline metals – 16 & 17/05/2025
The Heart of Wessex weedkiller train ran in the early hours of Monday 19th May 2025 working as 3Q98 Exeter Riverside N.Y. to Exeter Riverside N.Y. The train was top and tailed by GBRf Class 66 No.’s 66704 ‘Colchester Power Signalbox’ + 66747 ‘Made In Sheffield’. Yoshi and I saw the ensemble pass through Maiden Newton – where the driver needed to collect the token to operate forward – heading to and from Dorchester Junction where it reversed – 19/95/2025
History is made as Class 701 No. 701046 departs Bournemouth depot carrying GBR branding working . This video also features the final up service through Poole run by First MTR South Western Railway as well as shots of other Desiro EMU’s at Branksome. On May 25th 2025, SWR transferred to public ownership under DfTO, the Government’s rail Owning Group – 24/05/2025
On a windy Sunday May 25th 2025, Yoshi and I went along to the The Pontypool and Blaenavon Railway to see how the area helped fuel the Industrial Revolution during day one of the heritage railways’ two day ‘Pit to Port’ Coal Train Event. South Wales was once one of the largest coalfields in the world, and in 1913 produced 36 million tonnes of coal. The railways which run along the valley floors provided the main routes for transporting the coal from the pits to be exported. Wagons would trundle south to ports and docks at Newport, Cardiff and Barry. We were able to see how the coal was transported from the pits as we watched an intense timetable featuring both passenger and demonstration coal trains.
Rostered locomotives on the day were: – Hunslet No. 1873 “Jessie” – Hudswell Clarke No. 1208 “Harold”- Andrew Barclay No. 1219 “Caledonia Works”- plus the rostered debut at Blaenavon of Class 37 No. D6729 (37029)
With grateful thanks to Blaenavon’s Heritage Railway, especially Nathan and Jamie and @jamiesmithgoingloco
Locomotive Services Limited’s Class 45 No. 45118 ‘The Royal Artilleryman” passing Romsey – twice! – following a re-dedication ceremony at Salisbury working 1Z45 1126 Salisbury to Southampton Central / 1Z46 1202 Southampton Central to Salisbury. This video also features Class 158 and Class 166 DMU’s on stopping passenger services at Romsey – 30/05/2025
A rare formation of a 12 car Class 455 empty coaching stock move seen reversing at Branksome and running into Bournemouth depot running as 5Z50 0922 Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs to Bournemouth T&R.S.M.D – 31/05/2025
Thanks for reading – the best way to keep up to date with our latest videos is via the Railway Dog YouTube Channel – why not subscribe today! Or you can catch random witterings and photos via the Railway Dog Facebook group.
And don’t forget the first episode of The Railway Dogcast is still available:
The locomotives arriving for the 2025 Swanage Diesel Gala continued to arrive with GBRf sending Class 73 No. 73128 ‘Kent & East Sussex Railway’ and Class 69 No. 69007 ‘Richard Trevithick’. These locomotives arrived on May 7th and we saw them on the Swanage Branch at Creech.
Having missed its original diagrammed move to Dorset on May 6th because of urgent repairs to a fuel leak, RES Class 47 No. 47715 ‘Rail Engineering Solutions – Quality Assured’ was collected from the Chinnor & Princess Risborough Railway on the following day by H+H Class 50 No. 50008 ‘Thunderer’ and towed to the Swanage Railway as 0W50 1905 Princes R’boro Ace to Swanage.
The final piece of the jigsaw saw Colas Railfreight Class 56 No. 56090 working 0Z56 1200 Eastleigh East Yard to Swanage on 8th May which completed the line-up for the 2025 Diesel Gala.
Also on Thursday 8th May, a Swanage Diesel Gala Preview Day took place featuring a “Network SouthEast” theme, with Class 47 No. 47715 ‘Rail Engineering Solutions – Quality Assured’ , Class 73 No. 73128 ‘Kent & East Sussex Railway’, and Class 423 4VEP No. 3417 ‘Gordon Pettit’ in action alongside resident steam locomotive SR 4-6-2 “Battle Of Britain” Class No. 34072 ‘257 Squadron’
Unusually for me, I spent the next three days on the Swanage Railway and enjoyed haulage behind the Colas Grid and the NSE Duff.
And then it’s all over for another year. The visiting locomotives all departing over the course of the following two days, with the exception of Class 20 No. 20066 which is having an extended stay on the Swanage Railway to help out with locomotive rostering duties.
Thanks for reading – the best way to keep up to date with our latest videos is via the Railway Dog YouTube Channel – why not subscribe today! Or you can catch random witterings and photos via the Railway Dog Facebook group.
And don’t forget the first episode of The Railway Dogcast is still available:
A shameless plug for “The Railway Dogcast”, Yoshi’s brand new podcast where we talk to fellow railway enthusiasts. The first episode, in which HentisRail and I welcome Colin Stone, dropped today at midday – 26/05/2025
DCRail Class 56’s No.’s 56301 + 56103 pass Pot Lane working 6Z60 1034 Willesden DC Rail Sidings to Merehead Quarry – 02/05/2025
We kicked off May with a day out around Westbury and the nearby quarries watching freight and passenger trains. As a bonus we also saw classic traction in action when DCRail Class 56’s No.’s 56301 + 56103 double-headed to Merehead working 6Z60 1034 Willesden DC Rail Sidings to Merehead Quarry. Thanks to Jamie for driving (don’t forget to check out Jamie’s YouTube page) – 02/05/2025
DCRail Class 56’s No.’s 56301 + 56103 arrive at their final destination working 6Z60 1034 Willesden DC Rail Sidings to Merehead Quarry – 02/05/2025DCRail Class 56’s No.’s 56301 + 56103 come off of their train at Merehead Quarry – 02/05/2025Jamie chats with Francis Bourgeois about Class 56 locomotives at Merehead – 02/05/2025
Early doors at Poole on the morning of 3rd May 2035 as Locomotive Services Limited Class 57 No. 57311 ‘The Institution of Mechanical Engineers’ arrived with empty coaching stock movement 3Z82 0435 Eastleigh Arlington (ZG) to Poole in readiness for Saphos Trains “English Riviera Express” charter. Taking up the rear was Class 47 No. D1924 (47810) ‘Crewe Diesel Depot’. The Brush Type 4 hauled the train away from Poole after the consist reversed in the storage sidings. We saw the rail tour passing through Parkstone with the working reporting as 1Z82 0634 Poole to Kingswear (For Dartmouth). Later that day, the train returned its passengers to their starting point as 1Z84 1635 Kingswear (For Dartmouth) to Poole before departing ECS back to Eastleigh with 5Z84 2315 Poole to Eastleigh Arlington (ZG) – 03/05/2025
Class 57 No. 57311 ‘The Institution of Mechanical Engineers’ arrives at Poole with empty coaching stock movement 3Z82 0435 Eastleigh Arlington (ZG) to Poole – 03/05/2025Class 47 No. D1924 (47810) ‘Crewe Diesel Depot’ climbs Parkstone Bank working Saphos Trains “English Riviera Express” 1Z82 0634 Poole to Kingswear (For Dartmouth). The train had an unplanned stop at Poole High Street Level Crossing – 03/05/2025Class 57 No. 57311 ‘The Institution of Mechanical Engineers’ arrives back at Poole working 1Z84 1635 Kingswear (For Dartmouth) – 03/05/2025Nameplate from Class 57 No. 57311 ‘The Institution of Mechanical Engineers’ – 03/05/2025Class 47 No. D1924 (47810) ‘Crewe Diesel Depot’ passes Poole with ECS working 5Z84 2315 Poole to Eastleigh Arlington (ZG) – 03/05/2025
The first of the Swanage Diesel Gala convoys arrived on the 6th May 2025 when Hanson & Hall Rail Class 50 No. 50008 ‘Thunderer’ hauled The Southern Electric Traction Group 4VEP No. 3417 ‘Gordon Pettitt’ as 5W50 1410 Strawberry Hill C.S.D. to Swanage in readiness for the 2025 Swanage Railway Diesel Gala. Rail Engineering Solutions Class 47 No. 47715 should have been part of the consist, but was not able to travel as part of this train because it was undergoing repairs for a fuel leak. The Class 50 was despatched to the Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway the following day in order to collect the Brush Type 4 – 06/05/2025
Hanson & Hall Rail Class 50 No. 50008 ‘Thunderer’ hauls The Southern Electric Traction Group 4VEP No. 3417 ‘Gordon Pettitt’ into Wareham as 5W50 1410 Strawberry Hill C.S.D. to Swanage – 06/05/2025Hanson & Hall Rail Class 50 No. 50008 ‘Thunderer’ pauses at Wareham to collect the token to proceed onto the Swanage Branch with The Southern Electric Traction Group 4VEP No. 3417 ‘Gordon Pettitt’ reporting as 5W50 1410 Strawberry Hill C.S.D. to Swanage – 06/05/2025Hanson & Hall Rail Class 50 No. 50008 ‘Thunderer’ hauling The Southern Electric Traction Group 4VEP No. 3417 ‘Gordon Pettitt’ on the approach to Afflington bridge – 06/05/2025
The second convoy arriving into Dorset was hauled by West Coast Railways Class 37 No. 37706 with Shaun Wright ‘s Class 20 No. 20066 and the Peak Locomotive Company Limited Class 45 No. 45108 in tow reporting as 0Z20 1449 Barrow Hill North Jn to Swanage – 06/05/2025
West Coast Railways Class 37 No. 37706 hauling Shaun Wright ‘s Class 20 No. 20066 and the Peak Locomotive Company Limited Class 45 No. 45108 into Wareham as 0Z20 1449 Barrow Hill North Jn to Swanage – 06/05/2025Very blurred images of West Coast Railways Class 37 No. 37706 leading Class 20 No. 20066 and Class 45 No. 45108 as they hurry out of Wareham and head to the Swanage Railway – 06/05/2025West Coast Railways Class 37 No. 37706 hauling Shaun Wright ‘s Class 20 No. 20066 and the Peak Locomotive Company Limited Class 45 No. 45108 pauses at Corfe Castle railway station – 06/05/2025
Thanks for reading – the best way to keep up to date with our latest videos is via the Railway Dog YouTube Channel – why not subscribe today! Or you can catch random witterings and photos via the Railway Dog Facebook group. Be Seeing You!
Yoshi had a walk along a section of the “Strawberry Line” which was a rural railway linking Yatton to Cheddar and Wells, opening in 1869. The last passenger train ran along the route in September 1963 with freight services continuing for a few more years before the final axe fell – 01/04/2025
We kicked off April with a trip to Somerset to see the nuclear flask train and met up with friend of this blog @smithy.377 (don’t forget to check out his Instagram page!). On the way, Yoshi and I saw GBRf Class 60 No. 60096 ‘Skiddaw’ thundering through Trowbridge at the head of 6Z52 0704 Tytherington to Quainton Railhead – 01/04/2025
This was followed by a visit to Yatton to capture the Bridgwater flasks operated by Direct Rail Services (DRS0 Class 68 No. 68007 ‘Valiant’ and Class 88 No. 88008 ‘Ariadne’ top and tailing 6M63 1200 Bridgwater F.D to Crewe Coal Sidings (DRS) – 01/04/2025
GBRf Class 69 No. 69008 ‘Richard Howe’ snuck into the far end of Bournemouth platform 3 working 0Z69 1255 Eastleigh East Yard to Eastleigh East Yard. This mirrored a similar working which took place the previous week – 03/04/2025
GBRf Class 73/9 No.’s 73963 ‘Janice’ and 73962 ‘Dick Mabbutt’ passing Poole with the monthly Plain Line Pattern Recognition (PLPR) Test Train 1Q51 1115 Derby R.T.C.(Network Rail) to Eastleigh East Yard via Weymouth – 07/04/2025
Yoshi took time out for a trip to North Dorset on 8th April to see Loram Class 37 No. 37418 ‘An Comunn Gaidhealach’ leading inspection saloon No. 975025 ‘Caroline’ into Gillingham working 2Z32 1035 Exeter St Davids to Guildford U.C.H.S. – 08/04/2025
Yoshi poses with Loram Class 37 No. 37418 ‘An Comunn Gaidhealach’ at the head of inspection saloon No. 975025 ‘Caroline’ at Gillingham reporting as 2Z32 1035 Exeter St Davids to Guildford U.C.H.S. – 08/04/2025Yoshi with inspection saloon No. 975025 ‘Caroline’ at Gillingham – 08/04/2025
Class 66 shenanigans around the witching hour at Dorchester West as Freightliner operated No.’s 66565 and 66563 passed through twice having reversed at Dorchester Junction with their train consisting of five HQA ballast hoppers reporting as 6Y91 2202 Westbury Down T.C. to Dorchester West – 9th/19th April 2025
Colas Rail Class 43 power cars No.’s 43272 & 43251 were in action once again on the Heart of Wessex line working the Plain Line Pattern Recognition (PLPR) test train to Weymouth, reporting as 1Q22 0710 Derby R.T.C.(Network Rail) to Bristol Kingsland Road. We saw the train at Maiden Newton and Bincombe – 23/04/2025
For The Record: A late test train addition to the schedules saw Colas Class 37 No. 37175 heading through North Dorset overnight 22nd/23rd April 2025 with the Ultrasonic Test Unit.
Over the final weekend of April, Key Model World Live took place at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) in Birmingham. Of particular interest to me was the display model of EFE’s forthcoming Class 74 OO scale model locomotive.
The Class 74 Electro-Diesel Locomotive is the next new tooling model to be developed for the EFE Range and a subject that has never before been produced as a mainstream ready to run model in OO Scale. This class of ten locomotives was creating by rebuilding redundant Class 71 Electrics and whilst they operated for little more than a decade at most, their work was varied and spanned the early years of the popular BR Blue era making this new model a must for any Southern Region modeller depicting the period from the end of steam to the late-1970s – 26/04/2025A Lego replica of the Forth Bridge, made from around 100,000 bricks, was on display at Model World Live. The 26ft (8m) long display features two working replica train tracks and was created by a team of four dedicated builders from the Lego UK railways group – 26/04/205While I was passing through Birmingham New Street, I saw Class 20 No.’s 20007 + 20205 working “The Really Good Positiong Move” charter train 1Z38 Kings Norton Signal Sy522 to Stratford. Class 37 No. 37403 was at the other end – 26/04/2025
After a weekend spent in the West Midlands, we stopped off at Penkridge as I hoped to see a steam hauled train heading North. Unfortunately the assigned locomotive, LMS Stanier Class 5 4-6-0 No. 45212 had failed at Bristol St Philip’s Marsh depot with a suspected hot axle box on the tender and “The Great Briton XVII: Day 3” was instead in the charge of West Coast Railways Class 57 No. 57314. However to sweeten the disappointment, we also saw Class 37 No. 37403 ‘Isle of Mull’ an hour after the Class 57, as it worked to Crewe.
WCRC Class 57 No. 57314 hauls “The Great Briton XVII: Day 3” 1Z20 0946 Cardiff Central to Carnforth on the approach to Penkridge – 28/04/2025Class 37 No. 37403 ‘Isle of Mull’ at Penkridge working positioning move 1Z92 1007 Stratford (London) to Crewe. The locomotive is owned by the Scottish Railway Preservation Society (SRPS) – 28/04/2025 Usual traction for stopping trains at Penkridge are Class 350 Desiro electric multiple units operated by West Midlands Trains No. 350130 1G57 1433 Liverpool Lime Street to Birmingham New Street. Class 350 trains are nearly identical to those of South Western Railways’s Class 450. The latter class is only fitted with traction equipment for Southern Region 750 V DC third rail, whilst the Class 350/1 units can operate from either 25 kV 50 Hz AC OLE, as is done in regular service, or alternatively third rail – 28/04/2025
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In March, Yoshi underwent a surgical procedure to improve his quality of life. This meant he had to endure a cone of shame for a few weeks. Our boy was not happy, but we’re pleased to report he has recovered well! His cuddly squirrel has not fared so well however……
The Snow & Ice Train (SITT) continued running in March featuring GBRf Class 66 No.’s 66720 ‘Wascosa’ & 66776 ‘Joanne’ as visits to Dorset took place on 3rd and 5th with the final run taking place overnight on 29th/30th March 2025.
Screengrabs of GBRf Class 66 No.’s 66720 ‘Wascosa’ & 66776 ‘Joanne’ working the SITT through Hamworthy – 03/03/2025
On 6th March we popped over to Wool to see Network Rail’s Linsinger Rail Milling Train MG31/ SF06-UK No.’s DR79105/79104 & DR79103/79102 at rest in the sidings.
The track machines had been working around the Dorchester area having arrived from Crewe on Sunday 2nd March 2025 working as 6Q01 0940 Gresty Lane Down Sidings to Wool.
Railway tracks are subjected to constant wear. In order to extend rail service life and to extend traffic safety, rail profiles have to be regularly maintained. Linsinger develop mobile rail milling machines that enable fast rail head reprofiling and minimise traffic disruption.
GBRf Class 73/9 Electo-Diesels No.’s 73961 ‘Alison’ & 73963 ‘Janice’ working the monthly PLPR test train 1Q51 1115 Derby R.T.C.(Network Rail) to Eastleigh East Yard. The train is seen passing Holton Heath and Dorchester South – 10/03/2025
GBRf Class 66 No.’s 66734 ‘Platinum Jubilee’ and 66797 passing through Christchurch with a rail delivery train reporting as 6G24 2223 Eastleigh East Yard to Brockenhurst. The train ran to Bournemouth where it reversed and headed back to Brockenhurst – 11th/12th March 2025
The annual Poole Harbour Commissioners (PHC) Stakeholders Open Evening took place on 12th March 2025.
Rail related highlights were:
It was revealed Capital Expenditure for 2025/26 includes £1m for reinstatement of the port rail link.
The previous government had ambitious targets to grow rail freight. Waiting to see what the current government’s targets for rail freight will be.
Talking to Brittany Ferries with a view to bringing container traffic through the port and out via rail.
The only question from the floor during the Q&A was rail related: “How long before the rail link is actually going to appear?”
PHC CEO Captain Brian Murphy: “That’s a great question and the rail link is there now, it just needs upgrading and reinstating. So the first train, the first cargo out of Poole is likely to be towards the end of the year. We’re planning January next year – hopeful late in the year this year.
Q: “So it actually goes from the port to Hamworthy.. Junction is it?”
Captain Murphy: “Correct. And then onwards to West London”
There was a supplemental question which I think was going to ask how the train would turn round, but this was lost as the session was wrapped up.
Poole Harbour Commissioners (PHC) CEO Captain Brian Murphy gives his annual presentation at the PHC Stakeholders Open Evening took place – 12/03/2025.
Colas RailFreight Class 43 HST power cars No.’s 43257 and 43357 working the monthly “Heart of Wessex” Plain Line Pattern Recognition (PLPR) train, reporting as 1Q22 0745 Derby R.T.C.(Network Rail) to Bristol Kingsland Road, in and around Dorchester. As the train was running almost half an hour late on reaching Dorchester West the decision was made to reverse at Dorchester Junction, foregoing Weymouth – 19/03/2025
GBRf Class 69 No. 69014 in its striking unique Electro Motive Division (EMD) demonstrator livery of yellow and black with EMD branding is seen at Eastleigh having departed the works working 0M45 1020 Eastleigh Works Gbrf to Longport F.D. The nameplates were covered over, but are believed to read “Longport EMD”. The video also features selected trains running through Eastleigh around the time No. 69014 ran through the station – 20/03/2025
GWR 4900 Class 4-6-0 No. 4953 ‘Pitchford Hall’ arrives on Swanage Railway metals in advance of the 2025 Spring Steam Gala Built at by the Great Western Railway at Swindon Works at a cost of £4375, No. 4953 entered traffic in August 1929. The locomotive worked from a wide variety of sheds all over the GWR network, until withdrawal by British Railways in May 1963. Acquired for scrap by Woodham Brothers in Barry, South Wales during October 1963, she was purchased for preservation by Dr John Kennedy in 1984. ‘Pitchford Hall’ is owned by and based on the Epping Ongar Railway and currently carries British Railways lined black livery. – 24/03/2025
As the clocks were getting ready to move forward, I was at Brockenhurst waiting for a DB Cargo engineering train reporting as 6N01 2348 Eastleigh East Yard to Bournemouth. Surprisingly both Class 66 locomotives – No.’s 66013 & 66089 – retained the diminishing EWS livery, a sight set to disappear from the railway scene. The train is also seen racing through Christchurch – 30/03/2025
Bark Along to the Swanage Railway Spring Steam Gala 2025 as we join Yoshi in the Purbeck Hills. The gala took place over the final weekend of March 2025. As well as home fleet locomotives in action, we also saw visiting guest locos; GWR 4900 Class 4-6-0 No. 4953 ‘Pitchford Hall’ and BR built LMS Ivatt Class 2MT 2-6-2T No. 41313
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Yoshi caught up with the Snow & Ice Train in Weymouth during February. GBRf Class 66 No. 66768 ‘Yvonne Bradley’ provides the backdrop – 10/02/2025
The Wessex Snow & Ice Train continued to make regular appearances into Dorset during February 2025. The motive power for the workings in the early part of the month were in the care of GBRf Class 66 No.’s 66714 ‘Cromer Lifeboat’ & 66768 ‘Yvonne Bradley’. We captured several of the runs at various locations including Poole and Weymouth as seen in the video below:
Compilation of Snow & Ice Trains in Dorset during early February 2025
10/02/2025 –
The regular plain line pattern recognition (PLPR) train ran to Weymouth via the South West Main Line on Monday 10th February 2025 reporting as 1Q51 1115 Derby R.T.C.(Network Rail) to Eastleigh East Yard top and tailed by GBRf Class 73/9 No.’s 73961 ‘Alison’ & 73962 ‘Dick Mabbutt’. We saw the late running train passing through Poole. PLPR uses a series of lasers and cameras to detect faulty track components as the train passes over them
GBRf Class 73/9 locos work the plain line pattern recognition (PLPR) train through Poole – 10/02/25
11/02/2025 –
We visited Eastleigh briefly during the morning of Tuesday 11th for an hour or so of watching trains – this has been distilled into twenty minutes for your delectation:
Watching trains in Eastleigh – 11/02/2025
In the afternoon, I was in Poole where GBRf Class 66 No. 66710 ‘Phil Packer’ reversed working 0Y70 1432 Eastleigh East Yard to Eastleigh East Yard.
GBRf Class 66 No. 66710 reversing at Poole – 11/02/2025
12/02/2025
The following day it was the turn of GBRf Class 66 No. 66720 ‘Wascosa’ to make it as far as Poole working 0Y70 1432 Eastleigh East Yard to Eastleigh East Yard. This, and the previous days trip, was to provide a driver transferring from passenger to freight to get hours under his belt on a locomotive
GBRf Class 66 No. 66720 ‘Wascosa’ reversing at Poole – 12/02/2025
Earlier on in the day, I spent some time filming trains around the Westbury area, including freight hauled by Class 59 / Class 70 and Class 60 locomotives
Rails Around Westbury – a day out watching trains in Wiltshire – 12/02/2025
14/02/2025 –
The Snow & Ice Train (SITT) made a return to Dorset on 14th February 2025 with an after dark run this time featuring GBRf Class 66 No.’s 66720 ‘Wascosa’ & 66776 ‘Joanne’ reversing at Poole instead of the scheduled Dorchester South following an incident at Woodsford level crossing between Wool and Dorchester. Reporting as 3Y89 2215 Totton Yard to Totton Yard
The Wessex Snow & Ice Train reversing at Poole with GBRf Class 66’s – 14/02/2025
15/02/2025 –
DB Cargo Class 66 No. 66124 arrived at Bournemouth in the early hours with engineers train 6N02 0032 Eastleigh East Yard to Christchurch before running around its wagons and departing back east for the work site
Late night engineering train at Bournemouth station with DB Class 66 – 15/02/2025
February 2025 boasted two test trains featuring Class 37 locomotives running to Weymouth via the “Heart of Wessex Line” on two consecutive days. First up were No.’s 37402 & 37610 with the Plain Line Pattern Recognition (PLPR) train reporting as 1Q22 0745 Derby R.T.C.(Network Rail) to Bristol Kingsland Road on Wednesday 19th February, while the following day – Thursday 20th February- produced No. 37219 with DBSO No. 9702 working the Ultrasonic Test Unit 3Q14 1113 Westbury Down T.C. to Westbury Down T.C.
Stand By For Class 37 Action with “Heart Of Wessex Line” hauled test trains – February 2025
28/02/2025 –
On the last day of February 2025, I popped over the county border to Somerset to catch up with friend of this blog @smithy.377 and see 30 seconds worth of two Class 37’s with barrier coaches returning to Derby after they had delivered a Class 175 Diesel Multiple Unit to Plymouth Laira earlier in the day. The video shows No’s 37423 and 37901 ‘Mirrlees Pioneer’ storming through Highbridge & Burnham working 5M57 0954 Laira T.& R.S.M.D. to Derby R.T.C.(Network Rail)
Class 37’s with barrier coaches storming through Highbridge & Burnham – 28/02/2025
Later, the final Wessex Snow & Ice Treatment Train of February 2025 passed Poole top and tailed by GBRf Class 66 No.’s 66776 ‘Joanne’ and 66720 ‘Wascosa’ just before midnight
GBRf Class 66’s passing Poole railway station with the Wessex Snow & Ice Treatment Train – 28/02/25
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Yoshi takes a visit to the Swanage Railway for their annual “Winter Warm-Up” – 04/01/2025
02/01/2025 –
We spent New Year in London and I couldn’t resist going to the top floor of our hotel to capture images overlooking Charing Cross and Waterloo East
Charing Cross – 02/01/2025Waterloo East – 02/01/2025
04/01/2025 –
Bark along with us as we visit the Swanage Railway for their first event of 2025, the “Winter Warm Up” which took place on January 4th & 5th. We visited on the Saturday to watch a combination of steam and diesel locomotives hauling both passenger and freight trains through the Purbecks. Remember to dress up warm as it’s mighty cold!
A day out on the Swanage Railway watching trains as part of the “Winter Warm Up” event – 04/01/2024
The first week of 2025 saw a number of runs for the Snow & Ice Treatment Train (SITT) in Dorset utilising GBRf Class 66 No.’s 66768 ‘Yvonne Bradley’ + 66714 ‘Cromer Lifeboat’. This video includes clips of every daylight movement from 01/01/2025 to 07/01/2025 (the early morning outing on 04/01/2025 is omitted as even I was tucked up in my bed!) Passenger trains along the route from London Waterloo to Weymouth draw their power from a conductor rail, commonly known as the Third Rail as it is positioned alongside the standard railway track. If ice forms on the surface of the conductor rail, the flow of electricity is interrupted and trains are unable to draw power to move. To combat this, Network Rail has a fleet of treatment trains which scrape the ice off the conductor rail using metal brushes and spraying thousands of litres of anti-icing fluid to prevent the formation of ice.
Snow & Ice Treatment Train workings in Dorset during the first week of January 2025
For a few days in January, we swapped Dorset for Suffolk as we visited friends in Ipswich. I took the opportunity to point my phone camera at various passenger and freight workings in and around the county town
Trains at Ipswich – January 2025
12/01/2025 –
A call from @jamiesmithgoingloco inviting me along to the Southampton area to see Colas Railfreight Class 56 No. 56094 with an empty Long Welded Rail set working 6C01 0720 Ashford International to Eastleigh East Yard was too good to resist. We saw the Class 56 and other trains passing Horseshoe Bridge, St Denys after an initial visit to Eastleigh to catch sight of DB Cargo Class 66 No. 66088 at the head of 6N66 0700 Herne Hill to Eastleigh East Yard. A fine way to spend a Sunday morning
Trains passing St Denys & Eastleigh including Colas Class 56 No. 56094 – 12/01/2025
16/01/2025 –
Colas Rail Freight Class 37 No. 37175 with DBSO No. 9708 passing through Poole on a foggy night with the Structure Gauging Train reporting as 3Q02 2140 Eastleigh East Yard to Eastleigh East Yard. The loco sounded in fine fettle on the way to Weymouth, but all expectations for a similar performance on the return working were dashed as the train passed at a sedate pace!
Class 37 No. 37175 with the Structure Gauging Train at Poole – 16/01/2025
A second selection of January 2025 Snow & Ice Treatment Train (SITT) workings in Dorset utilising GBRf Class 66 No.’s 66 66768 ‘Yvonne Bradley’ + 66714 ‘Cromer Lifeboat’. This video includes clips filmed between 08/01/2025 and 13/01/2025
Class 66 locomotives working Snow & Ice Treatment Trains in Dorset – January 2025
19/01/2025 –
Europhoenix/Rail Operations Group (ROG) in de-branded DRS livery Class 37 No. 37423 powers through Castle Cary hauling Eastern Rail Services’ MK2 lounge car No. 6703, buffet first No. 1220, seated brake No. 9805 and accessible sleeper No. 10699 from the West Somerset Railway, where the stock has been engaged in filming work carrying a fictional Highland Sleeper livery, to Great Yarmouth working as 5Z03 1002 Bishops Lydeard to Yarmouth C.H.S.
Trains at Castle Cary with ROG Class 37 No. 37423 – 19/01/2025
22/01/2025 –
Colas Class 43 HST power cars No.’s 43274/43272 test train working a test train to Weymouth via the Heart of Wessex line running as 1Q18 0751 Derby R.T.C.(Network Rail) to Bristol Kingsland Road. This video also features South Western Railway Class 444’s and a Great Western Class 166 at Upwey
Colas Class 43 HST power cars No.’s 43274/43272 test train – 22/01/2025
23/01/2025 –
The Wessex Snow & Ice Treatment Train operated in the early hours of 23/01/2025 reporting as 3Y89 0100 Totton Yard to Totton Yard. The usual suspects; GBRf Class 66 No.’s 66 66768 ‘Yvonne Bradley’ + 66714 ‘Cromer Lifeboat’ were once again in charge as the service ran from Totton Yard to Dorchester South and back
GBRf Class 66 No. 66714 ‘Cromer Lifeboat’ passes Poole with 0Y89 0200 Totton Yard to Totton Yard which ran to Dorchester and back potentially checking for storm damage on the track
GBRf Class 66 No. 66714 passes Poole with 0Y89 0200 Totton Yard to Totton Yard – 24/01/2025
Soon after filming No. 66714 running solo through Poole, I was in a car heading to Gatwick Airport where I boarded a plane for Sydney, Australia. One of the reasons for my visit “down under” was to fulfil a long held ambition to see XPT’s .
During the 1970’s, the British Railways Board possessed an export division known as “Transmark”, which decided the InterCity 125 High Speed Train (HST) would make an attractive proposition to foreign operators and pitched the product to potential buyers. After a period of assessment, the Australian government duly placed an order for six power cars and 20 carriages in 1980. The trains were built under licence in Australia by Commonwealth Engineering and differed slightly from their British cousins by having a taller body to accommodate larger radiators and other heat and dust-combating equipment. There were also frontal air intakes and larger side windows.
The trains were introduced in 1982 and were an immediate success on long-distance routes – so much so that additional power cars and coaches were ordered. A total of 19 XPT power cars were built. During October 1990, the government announced that eight sleeper carriages would be ordered for use on overnight services to Brisbane, Murwillumbah and Melbourne. The XPT’s are presently operated under NSW TrainLink, running on long-distance regional and interstate North Coast, Main Western and Main Southern line services throughout New South Wales and interstate into Victoria and Queensland. The trains have been subject to refurbishments and overhauls to permit their use into the twenty-first century.
During October 2016, the NSW government announced the XPT fleet would be entirely replaced as part of the Regional Train Project. The replacement fleet, originally set to enter service in 2023, has encountered delays and is now scheduled for introduction around 2025–2027, resulting in the XPT operating longer than originally anticipated and will now be retained even after the new trains enter service. The XPT’s currently work daily services including Sydney to Grafton, Casino, Dubbo, Melbourne and Brisbane.
For the record; GBRf Class 66 No.’s 66750 & 66709 reversed at Poole Station on 29th January 2025 with a rail delivery train working as 2253 6G24 Eastleigh East Yard to Branksome. The train had been scheduled to run out to the storage sidings, but work being conducted on the longterm out of service track work prevented this.
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An early morning start for Yoshi and I to see a piece of history as Class 45 No. 45118 ‘The Royal Artilleryman’ is the first member of its class to haul a mainline passenger train in 17 years as she prepares to depart Bristol Temple Meads with “The Diamond Jubilee Express” 1Z45 0703 Bristol Temple Meads to York – 27/07/2024
Backtracking….
On Saturday 27th July 2024 I had the mad notion of leaving home in the early hours in order to arrive at Bristol Temple Meads in time to see Locomotive Services Limited’s (LSL) newly restored Sulzer Type 4 Class 45 diesel locomotive No. 45118 ‘The Royal Artilleryman’ passing through the station with the empty coaching stock (ecs) ahead of her departure proper working inaugural railtour “The Diamond Jubilee Express” 1Z45 0703 Bristol Temple Meads to York. I should have had an extra hour in bed, as the day before the “Peak”, while on her way South, had to be rescued by stablemate Class 47 No. D1924 (47810) ‘Crewe Diesel Depot’. As insurance it was decided that the Class 47 would remain on the train for the Saturday in case of further trouble with the Class 45. This of course meant that the ecs move through Temple Meads was no longer required in advance of 1Z45’s departure as the Class 47 was able to pull the train into the station with no requirement for the Class 45 to run around the carriages for her to be at the correct end ready for setting off on the journey to York. This hadn’t crossed my mind until I was well on my way to Bristol – d’oh!
A last minute platform change meant a mad dash over to platform 15 – possibly the least desirable location for the train to depart in the morning light. By the time Yoshi and I had made our way over from platform 7, the “Peak” and carriages had already arrived.
I was pleased to discover this image posted by Jack William on Facebook which shows me attempting to get Yoshi to pose for a photograph with Class 45 No. 45118 ‘The Royal Artilleryman’ at Bristol Temple Meads. Many thanks to @smithy.377 and the member of station staff who assisted in persuading the boy to deign to look in my direction – 27/07/2024 (With kind permission of Jack William)
No. 45118 was built in 1962 and allocated to Derby shed numbered D67. She was fitted with electric train heating (ETH) in December 1973 and renumbered under the TOPS system. Withdrawn in May 1987 she was put in storage at March Whitemoor Yard from where she was purchased by David Young who moved her to the Northampton Steam Railway in September 1990. Unfortunately the locomotive suffered from vandalism by metal thieves and she subsequently found a new home at Rail Vehicle Engineering Limited based at the Derby Railway Technical Centre (RTC) in August 2009. LSL purchased the “Peak” in 2018 and contracted Harry Needle Railroad Company (HNRC) for her restoration at Barrow Hill. No. 45118 is currently the only main line-certified Class 45 on the UK network and follows in the steps of previous “Peak” locomotives; Pete Waterman’s No. D172 (46035) ‘Ixion’ and No. 45112.
The 27th July charter was originally scheduled to run as far as Chesterfield but was extended to York, where the train arrived two minutes early despite leaving Bristol Temple Meads nine minutes late.
Class 45 No. 45118 ‘The Royal Artilleryman’ made a fine sight as she leaves Bristol Temple Meads bound for York – 27/07/2024
No. 45118 ‘The Royal Artilleryman’ at the head of “The Diamond Jubilee Express” 1Z45 0703 Bristol Temple Meads to York departing Bristol – 27/07/2024 (Additional video by kind permission of @smithy.377)
After seeing No. 45118 off, it was time for Yoshi and I to enjoy breakfast. As luck would have it, on our way to chosen fast food eatery, I passed Bristol St. Phillips Marsh and was able to take a quick photo of Colas Rail Freight Class 56 No. 56049 ‘Robin of Templecombe’ which had arrived earlier the same morning having worked in on 0Z60 0635 Westbury Down TC to St Phillips Marsh HSTD.
Breakfast bonus of Colas Rail Freight Class 56 No. 56049 ‘Robin of Templecombe 1938-2013’ stabled on St Phillips Marsh. The locomotive had arrived earlier that morning having worked in on 0Z60 0635 Westbury Down TC to St Phillips Marsh HSTD. No. 56049 is unique in having alternate cabs following damage sustained to the number two end – 27/07/2024If you’re wanting to compare the two ends, here’s Yoshi train spotting on the end of Westbury station with Colas Class 56 No. 56049 ‘Robin of Templecombe 1938 – 2013’ in the background showing the number one end cab design with the larger front horn grille cover – 03/09/2022
Instead of heading home after breakfast, I turned the car around and drove off to Kemble in the company of @smithy.377 as another example of Sulzer heritage traction; Swanage Railway resident Class 33 No. D6515 (33012) ‘Lt. Jenny Lewis RN’ – one of my favourite locomotives back in the day – was scheduled to pass through with the London Underground 4-TC set on their way to the Forest of Dean Railway with a UK Railtours special working.
Preserved Class 33 No. D6515 (33012) ‘Lt. Jenny Lewis RN’ approaching Kemble railway station with the London Transport 4-TC set forming a UK Raitours’ special train to the Dean Forest Railway. The outward leg ran as 1Z65 0744 Basingstoke to Lydney Junction and was routed via Woking, Herne Hill, Virginia Water to Reading through to Swindon and the Golden Valley – 27/07/2024Another shot of Swanage Railway resident Class 33 No. D6515 (33012) ‘Lt. Jenny Lewis RN’ at Kemble, but this time closer to the camera – 27/07/2024
Class 33 No. D6515 (33012) ‘Lt. Jenny Lewis RN’ passes Kemble bound for the Dean Forest Railway – 27/07/2024
From The Archive:
Let’s take a breather and look back at some shots of No. 33012 when she was in British Rail service and sported a rather unique livery for a Class 33!
An unsuccessful attempt at night photography in a bid to capture Class 33 No. 33012’s unique livery with full yellow ends carried by large BR logo locomotives of the period. The locomotive is at Dorchester West with a Weymouth to Bristol Temple Meads service – 09/02/1981New Years Day 1982 and the alert went out that unique liveried Class 33 No.33012 was in Weymouth. I don’t recall if I got the train from Dorchester or managed to get a lift, but I was pleased to see the loco in daylight, even if my photos were left wanting – 01/01/1982Another view of unique liveried Class 33 No.33012 standing in the once extensive Jubilee sidings at Weymouth – 01/01/1982
Class 45 No. 45112 ‘The Royal Army Ordnance Corps’ has the distinction of making it into preservation and operated on the mainline on heritage railtours. Long before those days, here a couple of photos I took on my Kodak 110 film camera in 1977:
Class 45 No.’s 45104 ‘The Royal Warwickshire Fusiliers’ and 45112 ‘The Royal Army Ordnance Corps’ at St Pancras railway station, London. No. 45112 was delivered to Derby in March 1962 spending most of its working life attached to London Midland Region (LMR) depots. No. 45112 was named at Derby Works on September 14th 1965. She received a general/refurbish at Derby Works during May 1980, transfer to Tinsley came in November 1986 and remained in service until May 7th 1987. She was rescued for preservation and had a period of mainline use. She is currently in store at Nemesis Rail, Burton-on-Trent. No. 45104 would not be so lucky. Introduced into service in February 1962, her working days ended on April 13th 1988, condemned with collision damage. She would linger for four more years until broken up at MC Metals, Glasgow in February 1992 – July 1977Class 45 No. 45112 ‘The Royal Army Ordnance Corps’ is seen at St Pancras in the company of an unidentified stablemate (possibly No. 45040 ‘King’s Shropshire Light Infantry’). On the 8th April 2004, No. 45112 had the honour of hauling the last loco-hauled train from St. Pancras before the station was closed prior to being rebuilt as the London Eurostar terminal – July 1977
Bristol Temple Meads was a regular haunt for “Peaks” hauling passenger trains when I visited in early 1980’s, as can be seen in the three images below:
Class 45 No. 45134 departs Bristol Temple Meads. Originally numbered as D126 she was built at Crewe works and entered traffic in November 1961, allocated to Derby MPD. In 1973 the Midland Main Line services started to migrate from steam heating to electric heating of the coaching stock and No. D126 was one of fifty class 45 locomotives selected to have its Stone Vapour steam heating boiler replaced with ETH equipment and emerged from Derby works in the Autumn of 1974 as No. 45134. She would survive in service until withdrawal in September 1987. Eventually towed to MC Metals in Glasgow in 1991 where she was broken up in November of that year. – 12/06/1983Class 45 No. 45023 ‘The Royal Pioneer Corps’ approaches Bristol Temple Meads. No. 45023 was delivered to Derby during September 1962 and would spend most of her time allocated to LMR depots. She was named at St Pancras on November 14th 1963. No. 45023 was loaned to the Central Electricity Generating Board (CEGB) at Willington Power Station during October 1968 to substitute for an exciter under repair, running for 340 hours non-stop. Her only time away from LMR depots was when on allocation to Tinsley from February 1979 to January 1982. In June 1980 the locomotive survived a visit to Swindon Works for electrical repairs, but succumbed at Derby Works in September 1984 with worn tyres, after twenty two years in service and languished at Derby Works before being dragged to Vic Berry’s in Leicester for breaking up during December 1986. A crest carried by this locomotive sold for £1,500 at auction in January 2002 – 06/06/1981Class 45 No. 45121 at Bristol Temple Meads. No. 45121 (formerly No. D18 having entered traffic in December 1960) was one of two Class 45/1s (the other being No. 45110) that received white body side stripes and red buffer beams at Toton Depot in 1980. The loco carried these in service until a Heavy General Overhaul at Derby Works in 1981. She made a final visit to the works for generator repairs in June 1986, being one of the last Class 45’s to receive repairs there. The loco was scheduled to be withdrawn in May 1987, but received a reprieve due to other locos being in worse condition. The reprieve was cut short when the loco derailed at Healey Mills in October 1987 and was deemed beyond economical repair, being withdrawn on 19/11/1987. No. 45121 was then sent to Derby Etches Park for Carriage Heating duties a task the locomotive never actually performed. In 1993, No. 45121 by now unoffically named ‘Pegasus’ suffered the ignominy of being rammed by a Class 158 DMU as part of a crashworthiness test for the then new units. The Peak was sold for scrap soon afterwards to Thomas Hill scrap merchants and cut up on site at Crewe Works in March 1993 – 06/06/1981
And finally a video from the archives featuring the third main line “Peak” in preservation, No. D172 (46035) ‘Ixion’:
Class 46 No. D172 (46035) ‘Ixion’ rounds the curve at Penrith railway station on 16th December 1995 with Pathfinder Tours 1Z27 0500 Cardiff Central to Carlisle “Festive Cumbrian Mountain Express” railtour. The return working utilised the unique British Railways Standard 8P 4-6-2 No. 71000 ‘Duke of Gloucester’ which hauled the train over the Settle & Carlisle line. We see the train at Culgaith, Aisgill and Garsdale – 16/12/1995
Dorset Special Workings; 01/08/2024 to 14/08/2024
5th August – 0Z12 1443 Eastleigh Arlington (ZG) to Swanage LMD (GBRf)
August kicked off with the return of Class 33 No. D6515 (33012) ‘Lt. Jenny Lewis RN’ to the Swanage Railway following on from her recent rail tour duties the Forest of Dean.
Class 33 No. D6515 (33012) ‘Lt. Jenny Lewis RN’ crosses Upton Viaduct on the Holes Bay Causeway as she heads home following a prolonged stay in Hampshire post railtour duties working 0Z12 1443 Eastleigh Arlington (ZG) to Swanage LMD (GBRf) – 05/08/2024
7th August – Statesman Rail “Dorset Coast Statesman”
LSL Class 47 No. 47593 ‘Galloway Princess’ opens up as she powers into Hamworthy railway station at the head of Statesman Rail “Dorset Coast Statesman” 1Z21 0604 Peterborough to Weymouth – 07/08/2024Video screenshot of LSL Class 47 No. D1924 (47810) ‘Crewe Diesel Depot’ climbs the incline through Parkstone with the return “Dorset Coast Statesman” 1Z24 1638 Weymouth to Peterborough – 07/08/2024
13th August – Class 458 EMU drag to & from Bournemouth T&RSMD
Another Class 458 unit drag into and out of Bournemouth Traction & Rolling Stock Maintenance Depot took place, again with maroon liveried GB Railfreight Class 69 No. 69009 ‘Western Consort’. The locomotive arrived hauling refurbished Class 458 Electric Multiple Unit (EMU) No. 458409 which had worked its way down from Widnes Transport Tech.
The balancing working back up to Widnes saw No. 69009 taking Class 458 EMU No. 458506 away for conversion. As usual, the train departed Bournemouth Traincare Depot and headed for Poole Storage Sidings where the locomotive ran around its train before heading back east as 5Z66 2018 Bournemouth T&RSMD to Eastleigh East Yard. Transit to Cheshire continued the following day.
Screenshot GBRf Class 69 No. 69009 ‘Western Consort’ hauls Class 458 EMU No. 458506 through Poole forming 5Z66 2018 Bournemouth T&RSMD to Eastleigh East Yard – 13/08/2024Screenshot GBRf Class 69 No. 69009 ‘Western Consort’ running light engine into platform 2 at Poole – 13/08/2024Screenshot GBRf Class 69 No. 69009 ‘Western Consort’ having reattached to its train heads east back through Poole working 5Z66 2018 Bournemouth T&RSMD to Eastleigh East Yard – 13/08/2024
Special workings in Dorset August 1st to August 13th 2024 (Additional video content courtesy of Gerry Barrett)
Western Memory
Much disappointment when Pathfinder Railtours announced their planned 14th August 2024 excursion to Weymouth employing Class 52 Western Diesel-Hydraulic locomotive No. D1015 ‘Western Champion’ was unable to run because of pathing issues.
Statement from Pathfinder Railtours – August 2024
No. D1015 did however work at the helm of a UK Railtours special to the East Somerset Railway in July, the first charter from the mainline to arrive at Cranmore since 2019. I had originally planned to see the “Westbury Wizzo” at Westbury, but plans changed and I found myself in the Midlands for the weekend of 6th/7th July 2024. With No. D1015 starting and finishing her tour at East Midlands Parkway I took the opportunity to see the train arrive here on its return leg.
Screenshot Class 52 No. D1015 ‘Western Champion’ arrives at East Midlands Parkway after a late platform change working the return “Westbury Wizzo” 1Z79 1515 Cranmore to East Midlands Parkway – 06/07/2024Class 52 No. D1015 ‘Western Champion’ preparing to depart East Midlands Parkway with the tour ecs forming 5Z80 East Midlands Parkway to Burton On Trent Wetmore Sidings – 06/07/2024
The stock then ran empty to Nemesis Rail at Burton On Trent, where I was able to catch ‘Champion’ the following day as she returned to her home base on the Severn Valley Railway.
Class 52 No. D1015 ‘Western Champion’ at Nemesis Rail having just started up prior to working light engine back home to the Severn Valley Railway – 07/07/2024Class 52 No. D1015 ‘Western Champion’ in the sidings at Nemesis Rail, Burton On Trent – 07/07/2024Class 52 No. D1015 ‘Western Champion’ slowly moves out towards the mainline having stabled overnight at Nemesis Rail – 07/07/2024Class 52 No. D1015 ‘Western Champion’ opens up running as 0Z52 1400 Burton Wetmore Sidings to Kidderminster SVR – 07/07/2024
D1015 ‘Western Champion’ arrives at East Midlands Parkway and runs light engine from Burton-On-Trent – July 2024
Having been left to my own devices for most of the weekend, as well as seeing No. D1015 strut its stuff, I fulfilled a long held ambition of re-visiting Doncaster, with the objective of getting a photograph of Class 47 No. 47714 which has been stabled alongside the mainline for a number of years.
Class 47 No. 47714 hopefully has a new lease of life following the announcement from the Wensleydale Railway saying she has been purchased from The Harry Needle Railroad Company. She has been at Doncaster for the last three years. Tim Williamson, director and member of the General Management Group at Wensleydale Railway PLC, said: “The purchase of this locomotive improves our operational capabilities. It has electric train-heating capacity which will allow us to heat our carriages during the cold winter months, and particularly when operating our Polar Express Christmas train services.” Originally withdrawn by English Welsh & Scottish Railways in 1996, No. 47714 was subsequently sold to Cotswold Rail, which revived her with a return to main line duties. A subsequent hire to Anglia Railways between 2002 and 2007 saw her as the only Class 47 to be painted in the distinctive turquoise and white colours of the now-defunct train operating company – 06/07/2024Class 47 No.’s 47714 in Anglia livery and 47703 in faded Fragonset livery stabled within Doncaster Wabtec, taken from Frenchgate car park. The pair have been used as train supply locomotives for carriage testing – 06/07/2024
As mentioned above, rail enthusiasts often have favourite locomotives and this particular Brush Type 4 was another one of mine in an earlier guise as No. 47511 ‘Thames’
In a previous life, No. 47714 was BR Class 47 No. 47511 ‘Thames’ seen here at Swindon – 13/05/1979LNER Class 91 No. 91101 ‘Flying Scotsman’ winds her way into Doncaster hauling 1D18 1435 London Kings Cross to Leeds – 06/07/2024Another view of LNER Class 91 No. 91101 ‘Flying Scotsman’ arriving at Doncaster working 1D18 1435 London Kings Cross to Leeds – 06/07/2024
After spending 15 minutes or so at the top of Frenchgate shopping centre car park one looking Doncaster railway station and a great vantage point to see No.’s 47714 and 47703, Yoshi and I took a stroll through the bus station and onto the railway station where we we able to get photographs of stabled freight locomotives and bark at the occasional Northern Rail Class 150 arriving or departing.
Also at Doncaster the first of three Class 56 locomotives I spied was Colas Rail Freight No. 56302 ‘PECO 70 Years’ styled adjacent to the former Doncaster Works buildings – 06/07/2024The second Class 56 of the day; Colas Rail Freight Class 56 No. 56090 passes Doncaster working 0Z51 1705 Doncaster Colas Sidings to Bescot Up Engineers Sidings – 06/07/2024And the third Grid is… you can just about make out the roof No. 56051 tucked behind Colas Rail Freight Class 70 No. 70807 which rests alongside Freightliner class mate No. 70009 at Doncaster – 06/07/2024TransPennine Class 185 No. 185114 leaves Doncaster forming 1B85 1524 Cleethorpes to Liverpool Lime Street – 06/07/2024Northern Rail Class 150 DMU No. 150270 on the approach to Doncaster working 2R44 1605 Sheffield to Adwick – 06/07/2024
After my couple of hours visiting Doncaster, of which I have very fond memories of seeing Class 55 “Deltic” locomotives in the early 1980’s, I had time to make a detour to see a steam hauled special working which was returning to Birmingham after spending the day in Scarborough before Yoshi and I checked into our hotel and headed out to see the “Westbury Wizzo” arrive at East Midlands Parkway.
Great Western Railway (GWR) Castle 4-6-0 No. 7029 ‘Clun Castle’ makes attracted much attention as she stormed through Sherburn-in-Elmet railway station working Vintage Trains “White Rose” tour 1Z57 1647 Scarborough to Birmingham New Street – 06/07/2024The Tyseley collection’s main line diesel locomotive No. D1755 (47773) was built at the Brush Falcon Works, Loughborough, entering into service in August 1964 at Swansea. In November 1974 she was renumbered into TOPS as No. 47541. On 20th October 1982, she was named ‘The Queen Mother’ by HRH The Queen Mother at Aberdeen, named ‘Reservist’ and renumbered 47773 in August 1994 at Preston Royal Mail terminal and then renamed with her original title, in August 2002; possibly the only locomotive to have been given the same name twice! Withdrawn from service in March 2004, she was then purchased for preservation at Tyseley in March 2007. No. D1755 was at the rear of Vintage Trains “White Rose” tour 1Z57 1647 Scarborough to Birmingham New Street and is seen here having passed through Sherburn-in-Elmet – 06/07/2024Because of a water stop to replenish GWR Castle 4-6-0 No. 7029 ‘Clun Castle’, I was able to see her working Vintage Trains “White Rose” tour 1Z57 1647 Scarborough to Birmingham New Street for a second shot, this time at Moorthorpe – 06/07/2024
Video snippets of Class 56 No. 56090 at Doncaster and Vintage Trains “White Rose” charter train – 06/07/2024
That’s it for this time. I must admit I’ve been sitting on this blog entry for over a week now, trying to find an hour or so to tidy it up and finish it off. But here we are! If you’d like to keep up to date with our latest videos capturing special workings in Dorset, and sometimes beyond, our You Tube channel with new items added is now accessible here. Thanks as always to my reader for corrections to text, grammar and information – it is much appreciated. Until next time – be seeing you!
Postscript
One last photo for this instalment. A Class 55 Deltic at Doncaster in times past. Twenty-two production “Deltics” were built for British Rail in the 1960’s and they ran up and down the East Coast Main Line until the early 1980’s. They are my favourite class of diesel locomotive and I wish I’d been able to see more of them back in the day!
Class 55 No. 55011 ‘The Royal Northumberland Fusiliers’ departs Doncaster – 12/08/1981
