The Railway Dog

Category: Direct Rail Services

  • Pokesdown

    Yoshi vista Pokesdown railway station – 28/01/2023

    Wednesday January 25th to Tuesday January 31st 2023

    Dorset railway station Pokesdown (or to quote current station signage; “Pokesdown for Boscombe”) has been in the news recently and on Wednesday January 11th 2023 was subject to an Adjournment debate at the House of Commons as Tobias Ellwood,  Conservative MP for Bournemouth East, raised the question of when customer lifts would be installed at the location. Describing the station as “pretty grim” Mr. Ellwood, who has been campaigning for improvements to the station since 2016, pressed Minister of State, Department of Transport, Huw Merriman for an update on promised improvements. At the weekend, Yoshi and I decided to go along and take a look at the station ourselves. 

    The ground level exterior entrance to Pokesdown railway station – 28/01/2023

    Pokesdown railway station serves the Pokesdown, Boscombe and Southbourne areas of Bournemouth and is on the South West Main Line, situated 106 miles 24 chains (171.1 km)  from London Waterloo (Railways in the UK historically are measured in miles and chains, there being 80 chains to one mile). The station is served by South Western Railway (SWR), who operate semi-fast services from London Waterloo to Weymouth and stopping services from London to Poole. The station was originally opened on 1st July 1886 by the London and South Western Railway (LSWR) at an estimated cost of £2,000. It was originally named Boscombe, but was changed to Pokesdown (Boscombe) on 1st October 1891 as it is situated noticeably closer to Pokesdown than Boscombe. On 1st May 1897, when (the now closed) Boscombe station was opened, the station was renamed to just Pokesdown. In 1930, the station was again renamed, becoming Pokesdown for Eastern Bournemouth, but was once more changed to Pokesdown following the formation of British Railways in 1948. At one time there were two centre roads allowing non-stopping services to pass through the station without being encumbered by stopping trains at the platforms. These up and down fast lines were removed in the 1970’s.

    The booking hall at Pokesdown – 28/01/2023

    The station entrance at Pokesdown is at ground level with the platforms 20 meters below, access can only be currently gained by two 42-step flights of stairs, one to catch trains in the Weymouth direction and the other for stations to London.  The goods lifts at Pokesdown are 90 years old and have not functioned for over 35 years. In 2021, the BBC reported that at least two passengers had suffered broken bones after falling on the steep steps. One, Jacky Dempsey, broke both arms.  There is no alternative access for passengers with restricted mobility and wheelchair users are advised to use the main Bournemouth station instead. 

    The up platform steps – 28/01/2023
    The bridge across the platforms – 28/01/2023

    Installation of lifts for passenger use was an obligation in SWR’s 2017 franchise agreement and although the franchise has since been replaced by a new National Rail Contract in the wake of the pandemic, SWR has reconfirmed its £1.6m contribution, subject to third-party funding to meet any shortfall.  In January 2022, Bournemouth Christchurch Poole Council (BCP) pledged £2.6m from its Future Fund, with Network Rail (NR) providing the balance of the overall project cost of £5.7m which in addition to new lifts include refurbishment works on the bridge across the railway line to connect both lifts and other much needed modernisation of the Station facilities. The steelwork on the bridge is of around the same age as the redundant goods lifts and requires assessment prior to the construction of new lifts.

    The main road in the area is the A35 which crosses the main line east of Pokesdown station on this bridge. As originally built there was a single island platform – this was removed and two platform faces created allowing space for four running lines through the station. SWR Class 444 EMU No. 444036 leading No. 444017 with the 1W61 0950 London Waterloo to Weymouth and Poole stopping service approaches. One of the goods lift shafts can be seen behind the station bridge – 28/01/2023

    SWR and NR are hoping to be in a position to put the job out to tender later this year which will give all parties a final construction cost for the lift project. In the meantime work to upgrade the platform canopies is expected to be completed by mid-2023. Local Premiership football club, AFC Bournemouth, whose ground is only a stone’s throw from the station, has offered to help to give the station some local personality by donating large football montages to brighten the platform spaces. Other opinions on this addition may vary! I would much prefer the mural by Krishna Malla, aka Tech Moon a Bournemouth based artist specialising in photorealism, which currently adorns the down platform walls remain in situ. The mural, entitled “Hope”, was created at the request of Network Rail and SWR in 2020 to create a positive image and help uplift an area which has been beset with hard times over the past few years for depressing circumstances surrounding mental health. Doves were chosen as the subject matter because “The dove represents peace of the deepest kind”.

    “Hope” dove detail by Krishna Malla, aka Tech Moon – 28/01/2023
    “Hope” plaque – 28/01/2023
    Hands detail from “Hope” by Krishna Malla, aka Tech Moon – 28/01/2023
    The final section of the “Hope” is designed to move from the view on the train. The shadows offer a metaphor that every shadow has a light on the other side – 28/01/2023

    Regular stopping services are operated using SWR Class 444 or Class 450 electric multiple units with a weekday and Saturday service of two trains an hour. Sunday’s see one stopping train an hour.  CrossCountry Voyagers are regular visitors as they pass non-stop through the station. 

    Class 450 No. 450066 working 2B21 1056 Southampton Central to Bournemouth stops at Pokesdown – 28/01/2023
    Class 444 No. 444017 at the rear of the 1W61 0950 London Waterloo to Weymouth and Poole stopping service – 28/01/2023
    Looking west towards Bournemouth from the footbridge, XC Voyager Class 221 No. 221127 passes Pokesdown on 1M46 1145 Bournemouth to Manchester Piccadilly. The space once occupied by two through tracks can clearly be identified – 28/01/2023

    So, is the station “pretty grim”, as opined by Tobias Ellwood? I liked the mural, but I think I’d describe Pokesdown station as unloved and in urgent need of TLC. We look forward to making a return visit to Pokesdown in the future to see the results of the £5.7m upgrades.

    Dorchester South is also seeing some ‘Railway Improvement Work’ as Network Rail undertake the demolition of the station canopy and removal of the former postal office at the end of platform 1. The major part of the work is planned to take place over the weekend of 4th / 5th February 2023 with follow up work expected to be completed by Friday 10th February 2023. 

    With the Brewery Square development rising up above it the Dorchester South postal office and canopy awaits demolition – 28/01/2023
    Another view of the postal office / canopy at Dorchester South SWR Class 444 No. 444016 waits in the down platform working 1W21 1020 London Waterloo to Weymouth – 28/01/2023
    SWR Class 444 No. 444016 departs with the 1W21 1020 London Waterloo to Weymouth – 28/01/2023
    The dilapidated condition of the Dorchester South parcels office / canopy can clearly be seen in this view – 28/01/2023
    Time travelling back to the 1980’s, the parcels ramp at Dorchester South was a favourite spot for rail enthusiasts and train spotters on a summer Saturday afternoon.
    Class 31 No.’s 31152 and 31154 make a rare visit to Dorchester South. The original station building still stands in the right of the image although the addition of an up platform meant trains no longer had to reverse into the original platform – October 1983
    Class 33 No. 33106 working a “Channel Islands Boat Train” through Dorchester South. On arrival at Weymouth, the train famously traversed the streets before arriving at the Quay station. The Dorchester South parcels area and canopy is seen on the left – 28/08/1982
    London Midland Scottish Stanier Class 5MT 4-6-0 No. 44932, the sole survivor of this type of locomotive constructed in 1945 at Horwich Works, brings Railway Touring Company “The Dorset Coast Express” 1Z96 0845 London Victoria to Weymouth railtour past the parcels office and station canopy into Dorchester South – 01/09/2010
    Direct Rail Services (DRS) Class 66 No. 66415 arrives at Dorchester South with a train of empty wagons destined for Wool sidings where they would be loaded with sand. The locomotive would run around the train at Dorchester before returning to Wool for reversal into the sidings situated on the Up side of the station – 10/04/2012
    Our final modern day glimpse of the parcels office and station canopy as SWR Class 444 No. 4440135 awaits departure from Dorchester South working 1W20 1303 Weymouth to London Waterloo – 28/01/2023

    Our regular reader may remember a couple of weeks ago when one of the monthly test trains scheduled to visit Weymouth via Bournemouth and Poole did not materialise because of the landslip at Hook. A cause of much disappointment as the train was being hauled by Class 37 locomotives instead of the usual Class 73 electro-diesels. We had a sense of déjà vu this week when a Class 37 hauled test train to Weymouth via Yeovil also terminated early without visiting the Dorset seaside as 1Z22 0752 Derby RTC to Bristol Kingsland Road with No.’s 37610 and 37612 went off route at Wootton Bassett Junction and instead of heading south carried on a westerly trajectory and arrived at its final destination 481 minutes early because of lack of train crew to take over for the afternoon / evening shift.

    Thursday 26th January saw SWR Class 458 EMU No. 458503 working 5B39 1001 Wimbledon Park Depot Sidings to Bournemouth T&R.S.M.D. To my knowledge, I have not previously seen a Class 458 in Dorset, so armed with a long lens for the camera, Yoshi and I stopped off at Bournemouth Traincare depot on our way to Pokesdown and from the safety of the car park took the following photos. 

    SWR Class 458 No. 458503 at Bournemouth T&R.S.M.D. – 28/01/2023
    Class 701 No. 701043 at Bournemouth T&R.S.M.D. – 28/01/2023
    A line up of SWR EMU’s at Bournemouth T&R.S.M.D. including No.’s 444005, 701041, 701042 and 444003 – 28/01/2023

    Two other Class 458’s could be seen stabled on the depot amidst the Class 444’s, Class 701’s and Class 455 EMU’s. 

    SWR Class 458 No.’s 458530 and 458519 stand adjacent the train wash with an unidentified Class 455 behind, Bournemouth T&R.S.M.D. – 28/01/2023

    Our final port of call on Saturday was a brief visit to the Swanage Railway and Corfe Castle station. As track work has been ongoing at Swanage this week, resident Class 33 diesel locomotives No. D6515 ‘Lt Jenny Lewis RN’ and No. 33111 have taken it in turns to be stabled adjacent to the signal box in Corfe. On our visit it was the turn of BR Blue liveried No. 33111 which made an interesting composition with a brake van and carriage.

    Class 33 No. 33111 rests at Corfe Castle railway station – 28/01/2023

    From The Archive

    The only 8mm video footage I recorded at Pokesdown station is of SR Merchant Navy Class 4-6-2 No. 35028 ‘Clan Line’ working the return LSW Railtours “The Strong Counrtyman” on 11th June 1995. My intention was to clip this shot and include it with this weeks blog section on Pokesdown. However, I enjoyed the complete 38 minute sequence and I thought you might be interested in seeing the whole thing as well. Starting at Eastleigh with views which could not be replicated today because of new building developments (Lidl, I’m looking at you) and including Class 47’s, a Class 58, a Class 07, Class 442 Wessex Electrics and Slam Door EMU’s the video also includes shots of ‘Clan Line’ at Bournemouth Traincare Depot before they erected an annoyingly huge fence. The appearance of No. 35028 at the Bournemouth depot was the first visit of a ‘Merchant Navy’ Pacific locomotive to the approaches of the former Bournemouth West station, on which the depot now resides, in almost 30 years. Has there been one since I wonder?

    Video of SR Merchant Navy Class 4-6-2 No. 35028 ‘Clan Line’ working LSW Railtours “The Strong Countryman’ – 11/06/1995

    This was LSW Railtours, run by Paul Blowfield formerly of the British Rail Special Trains Unit, first ever steam hauled tour. Looking back at the pages of the August 1995 edition of “The Railway Magazine” we discovered most of the seats on the tour had been sold in advance, with well over 300 passengers travelling on the train. It appeared to be a difficult time for rail tour operators with a whole page in the magazine devoted to readers letters discussing the topic dramatically entitled “Main Line Steam In Crisis”. From the small section of letters included from amongst the many apparently received on the subject by the editor it is apparent that tour organisers were generally failing to market and promote trains aggressively to a wide audience. In addition, poor time-keeping and the lack of photo opportunities for these onboard coupled with the uncertainty as to if the tour would run or not did little for the future confidence of main line steam. Mr Blowfield admitted that it was difficult to promote trains in a climate when more and more tour operators were competing for the same market, often with several trains running on the same date.

    Many thanks for your corrections, comments, contributions and observations – they are all most welcome. This weeks blog was brought to you courtesy of caramel latte and Twirl bars.

    If you, or someone you know, have been affected by mental health here are a few links below that may help. Two specific to Dorset and an NHS index of further support: 

    http://www.dorsetmentalhealthforum.org.uk

    Home

    https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/mental-health-services/

  • Cold Cats

    Wednesday January 18th to Tuesday January 24th 2023

    “It was very cold. To keep themselves warm they sang Pooh’s song right through six times, Piglet doing the tidily-poms and Pooh doing the rest of it, and both of them thumping on the top of the gate with pieces of stick at the proper places.” ~ A.A.Milne

    It has been much colder here this last week, as you might expect in January, and Yoshi has enjoyed sniffing the hardened frosty ground as we venture out on our walks. On Wednesday January 18th, ice was preventing trains picking up electricity from the third rail between Poole and Weymouth. Train services were cancelled or delayed for up to 60 minutes. In an attempt to rectify the situation, the Totton Yard based Snow & Ice Treatment Train (SITT) made an additional afternoon day time run presenting a rare opportunity this year to see the SITT in daylight hours. We missed the ensemble heading to Weymouth, but we were able to get to Hamworthy railway station in time to see GBRf Class 66 No.’s 66722 ‘Sir Edward Watkin’ and 66745 as they hurried on their way back to Totton working as 3Y88 1245 Totton Yard to Totton Yard.

    GBRf Class 66 No.’s 66722 ‘Sir Edward Watkin’ and 66745 power through Hamworthy with 3Y88 1245 Totton Yard to Totton Yard Snow & Ice Treatment Train – 18/01/2023

    Earlier the same day, we were treated to the 5th Direct Rai Services (DRS) train to Winfrith for the collection of low level nuclear waste as 6Z62 0100 Crewe Coal Sidings (DRS) to Wool. Time constraints and with my car still out of use, I hurried to Hamworthy station to see the early running working, which because of the ongoing situation with the landslip at Hook ( see last weeks blog, and below, for more information), was re-routed via Reading. Running very close behind a South Western Railway (SWR) Weymouth bound service, the Class 68 hauled DRS train was signal checked at Hamworthy and the driver brought it to a stop in the station. This gave ample time for photographic opportunities as well as for the driver to briefly get out of the lead locomotive and distribute badges to grateful onlookers. I certainly wasn’t going to refuse this kind gesture.

    DRS Class 68 No.’s 68018 ‘Vigilant’ and 68016 ‘Fearless’ working 6Z62 0100 Crewe Coal Sidings (DRS) to Wool at Hamworthy – 18/01/2023
    DRS Class 68 No.’s 68018 ‘Vigilant’ and 68016 ‘Fearless’ working 6Z62 0100 Crewe Coal Sidings (DRS) to Wool at Hamworthy – 18/01/2023
    DRS Class 68 No.’s 68018 ‘Vigilant’ and 68016 ‘Fearless’ working 6Z62 0100 Crewe Coal Sidings (DRS) to Wool rest at Hamworthy during a signal check – 18/01/2023
    DRS Class 68 No. 68018 ‘Vigilant’ at Hamworthy – 18/01/2023
    Class 68 No. 68016 ‘Fearless’ nameplate detail – 24/03/2022
    DRS Class 68 No.’s 68016 ‘Fearless’ and 68018 ‘Vigilant’ departing Hamworthy working 6Z62 0100 Crewe Coal Sidings (DRS) to Wool – 18/01/2023

    We also popped out to see the return working (6Z95 1603 Winfrith Sdgs to Crewe Coal Sidings (DRS)) in fading light, which this time had no issues with red signals as it passed through Hamworthy.

    In fading daylight, hence the motion blur, DRS Class 68 No.’s 68016 ‘Fearless’ and 68018 ‘Vigilant’ storm through Hamworthy working 6Z95 1603 Winfrith Sdgs to Crewe Coal Sidings (DRS) – 18/01/2023

    For more information, photos and video regarding these Winfrith workings, check out these previous blog entries:

    Holiday Time!
    Winfrith Cats 3
    Winfrith Cats 2
    Winfrith Waste

    For the final special working of the day, the SITT returned under cover of darkness working as 3Y89 2200 Totton Yard to Totton Yard with the same pair of locomotives as earlier in the day. Two days later, on Friday 20th January, the SITT ran in the same path, again with No.’s 66722 ‘Sir Edward Watkin’ and 66745. Yoshi and I elected to remain in the warm at home!

    Wednesday 18th January 2023 – a busy day on the rails in our neck of the woods. Additional videography of the Class 68’s at Wool kindly provided by “North Dorset Correspondent”; Scott Lewis

    On Sunday, Yoshi and I took the train to Weymouth and Dorchester. Yoshi enjoyed all the attention he received and was a very good boy travelling on the train.

    Hook Update

    Over the weekend Network Rail engineers working to repair the railway line at Hook, Hampshire, temporarily remodelled the two undamaged tracks to enable a better train service between Basingstoke and Woking and allowing, once again, through services to run from Weymouth to London Waterloo.

    Up Trains cross to the Up Slow at Basingstoke East and run to Farnborough where normal working resumes and they can use either Up Fast or Up Slow towards London.

    Down Trains can use either Down Slow or Down Fast as far as Winchfield, where all trains use the Down Fast. Down Trains then use the temporary slewed tracks which take trains across to the Up Fast formation either side of the slip prior to returning to the Down Fast before Hook Station. Trains then continue to Basingstoke where they can use either line.

    Engineers plan to construct a 60 metre retaining wall made up of @100 12 metre long sheet piles which are driven into the ground in order to stabilise the embankment and protect the railway from future landslips at the site. The steepness of the embankment slope will also be reduced at the same time to minimise the risk of material falling away.

    From The Archive

    In other news involving a locomotive named ‘Fearless’ (don’t you just love a tenuous link?), if you fancy owning a Class 50 diesel locomotive, it was recently announced by Boden Rail Engineering that No. 50050 ‘Fearless’ is being sold to help fund the growth of the depot at Nottingham Eastcroft. The locomotive is to be sold for mainline use only, but Boden Rail say that it is dual braked and has been a very reliable runner.

    No. D400 was delivered to British Rail in October 1967, the first of fifty Class 50 locomotives. It was renumbered No. 50050 in February 1974, named after the warship ‘Fearless’ in August 1978. It was refurbished in 1983 at Doncaster, withdrawn in March 1994 and taken into preservation.

    Just prior to being bought by engineer Neil Boden in January 2015, No. 50050 was stored at the Yeovil Railway Centre, adjacent to Yeovil Junction railway station. The loco was on display during the Yeovil Railway Centre’s 20th Anniversary open weekend of 31st May and 1st June 2014

    Class 50 No. 50050 (D400) was owned by the D400 Fund in 2014 when this photo was taken and the Yeovil Railway Centre was her home for a number of years while its overhaul was ongoing before being sold to Boden Engineering Ltd. in February 2015 and returned to mainline running – 01/06/2014
    Visitors to the Yeovil Railway Centre’s 20th Anniversary weekend were able to visit the cab of Class 50 No. 50050 – 01/06/2014
    Devon & Cornwall Railways Limited (DCR) Class 56 No. 56303 working a shuttle along the Clifton Maybank branch. Originally closed in June 1937, volunteers undertook a significant task in relaying trackwork so that the Yeovil Railway Centre could run trains a short distance from Yeovil Junction – 01/06/2014
    Class 56 No. 56303 on land from DCR heads up the incline on the Clifton Maybank branch – 01/06/2014
    DCR Class 56 No. 56303 passing Andrew Barclay 0-4-0 ‘Lord Fisher’ at Yeovil Railway Centre – 01/06/2014
    Andrew Barclay 0-4-0 ‘Lord Fisher’ adjacent to Yeovil Junction working the “Clifton Maybank Rambler” shuttles – 01/06/2014
    Fowler diesel ‘Cockney Rebel’ top and tailed shuttles with Andrew Barclay 0-4-0 ‘Lord Fisher’ – 01/06/2014
    R W Darch & Sons Sentinal Steam Lorry owned by Jerry Darch and Aberdeen Coal & Shipping Company Sentinal Steam Lorry ‘Tiger’ belonging to Bob Garnett were loaned for the event – 01/06/2014
    Steam Dreams operated “The Cathedrals Express” from London Victoria to Yeovil Junction via Winchester, Southampton and Salisbury. Originally intended to be hauled by SR West Country 4-6-2 No. 34046 ‘Braunton’ the train was actually in charge of LMS Stanier Black 5 4-6-0 No. 44932 with Hastings Gauge Slim Class 33 No. 33207 ‘Jim Martin’ providing support at the rear – 01/06/2014
    LMS Stanier Black 5 4-6-0 No. 44932 approaches Yeovil Junction as Andrew Barclay 0-4-0 ‘Lord Fisher’ on a Clifton Maybank shuttle – 01/06/2014
    LMS Stanier Black 5 4-6-0 No. 44932 being coaled at Yeovil Junction – 01/06/2014
    LMS Stanier Black 5 4-6-0 No. 44932 being turned on the Yeovil Railway Centre 70ft turntable, built by Cowans and Sheldon of Glasgow in 1947. The turntable had been left in situ following the end of steam on the Waterloo – Exeter route and was the genesis of the South West Main Line Steam Company, the group behind the Yeovil Railway Centre – 01/06/2014
    Having just been turned on the turntable LMS Stanier Black 5 4-6-0 No. 44932 passes Class 33 No. 33207 ‘Jim Martin’ which had been shunting stock ready for the return working – 01/06/2014
    LMS Stanier Black 5 No. 44932 works the return “Cathedrals Express” past Bradford Abbas – 01/06/2014
    South West Trains Class 444 EMU No. 444018 meets Class 50 No’s 50007 ‘Hercules’ and 50050 ‘Fearless’ working 1Z50 0448 Derby – Swanage crossing Holes Bay, Poole – 11/06/2016
    Bearing her original number D400 on one cab end, Class 50 No. 50050 ‘Fearless’ stands head to head with classmate No. 50007 ‘Hercules’ at Swanage – 11/06/2016
    Nameplate detail of Class 50 No. 50050 ‘Fearless’
    Class 50 No.’s 50050 ‘Fearless’ and 50007 ‘Hercules’ passing the out of use sidings at Furzebrook working the return Pathfinders Tours “The Purbeck & Boom Explorer” 1Z52 1605 Swanage – Derby excursion – 11/06/2016

    For more Class 50 action, check out our previous post on the locomotive class:

    A 50/50 Week

    That’s it for another week, as always thank you for visiting dear reader! All things being equal, we’ll be back next week for more cockapoo / railway fun. Take care and may your dog go with you.

    Post Script

    A final look at DRS Class 68 No. 68018 ‘Vigilant’ at the head of 6Z62 0100 Crewe Coal Sidings (DRS) to Wool pausing at Hamworthy during a signal check with the Direct Rail Services badge embedded in the image (not to scale!) – 18/01/2023

  • Holiday Time!

    Wednesday September 7th to Tuesday September 20th

    Felucca’s, a traditional Egyptian wooden sailing boat, at sunset on the River Nile at Aswan, Egypt – 16/09/2022

    Dorset

    After last weeks ‘filler’ blog entry on the XP64 livery, we’re back! I’ve been on my hols, as has Yoshi who has been staying with his cousins. I’m sure it was a very happy doggo madhouse for a couple of weeks! Have to admit I missed our boy and it was so very good to see his excited face again when we were all reunited together ready to catch up on Yoshi’s favourite TV programme; “Married At First Sight UK”.

    Yoshi takes a break during his walkies

    Before we went off on my travels, I was up early on Wednesday September 7th 2022 in order to see the departure of the “Welsh Marshes Express” rail tour from Poole on its way to Shrewsbury. The Dorset part of the tour saw top and tailed Locomotive Services Limited Class 47’s in charge, the working being taken over by steam in the form of BR Standard Class 7 No. 70000 ‘Britannia’ at Bristol where the train was taken forward to Shrewsbury and its return back to Temple Meads before the Class 47’s returned the train back to Poole.

    LSL Class 47 No. 47593 ‘Galloway Princess’ having arrived at Poole with the empty coaching stock movement (5z64 0400 Eastleigh Arlington (ZG) to Poole) for Saphos Trains “Welsh Marches Express” – 07/09/2022
    Class 47 No/ 47614 awaits the green with 1Z65 0508 Poole to Shrewsbury “Welsh Marshes Express” excursion at Poole – 07/09/2022
    Early morning video of Class 47 No.’s 47593 and 47614 at Poole. I may have messed up the departure shot! – 07/09/2022

    Also the same day was an additional Winfrith working; 6Z62 0103 Crewe Coal Sidings (DRS) to Winfrith Sidings with Class 68’s once again taking a train of empty PFA wagons to collect low level nuclear waste from the Magnox site.

    DRS Class 68 No. 68002 ‘Intrepid’ with sister locomotive 68016 at the rear powers through Holton Heath with a train consisting of ten empty PFA wagons bound for Magnox Winfrith – 07/09/2022
    68016 ‘Fearless’ at the tail end of 6Z62 0103 Crewe Coal Sidings (DRS) to Winfrith Sidings having passed through Holton Heath – 07/09/2022
    DRS Class 68 No.’s 68002 ‘Intrepid’ and 68016 ‘Fearless’ pass through Holton Heath – 07/09/2022

    I was enjoying the hospitality of Heathrow T5 when 2 x Colas Class 37’s were in Weymouth working the New Measurement Train which is normally in the control of former HST power cars, but by kind permission, we can share the video below of the train reversing at Weymouth:

    Class 37 No.’s 37219 and 37421 work 1Z22 0729 Derby RTC to Bristol Kingsland Road via Weymouth – 07/09/2022 with many thanks to @da_buckley967

    The return working of the Winfrith low level nuclear waste train was occupying Dorchester South at around the same time the Class 37’s were passing through Dorchester West with the return NMT working. I at least didn’t have to make a choice as to which train I would have photographed as at that moment I was boarding my BA flight to Egypt. However, with kind permission, we can share the following images of the loaded DRS train at Dorchester South:

    DRS Class 68 No. 68002 ‘Intrepid’ with the return working of the loaded low level nuclear waste train working as 6Z95 Winfrith Sidings to Crewe at Dorchester South where the train reversed – 07/09/2022 with many thanks to Scott Lewis
    DRS Class 68 No. 68016 ‘Fearless’ prepares to depart Dorchester South with the return Winfrith – 07/09/2022 with many thanks to Scott Lewis

    Thursday 8th September and Thursday 15th September were scheduled dates for steam hauled excursions into Dorset run by The Railway Touring Company. Unfortunately a passenger falling ill and then sadly passing away at London Victoria on “The Swanage Belle” on the 8th meant the train was cancelled prior to departure. Our condolences to family and friends concerned. “The Dorset Coast Express” due to run on the 15th fell foul of the scheduled rail strike which in the event was itself cancelled following the death of Queen Elizabeth II. Both trains were to have been worked on the outward leg by LMS Jubilee Class 4-6-0 No. 45596 ‘Bahamas’. “The Swanage Belle” was rescheduled for 22nd September 2022.

    Egypt

    In 1851 Abbas I, Khedive of Egypt, began negotiations with British engineer Robert Stephenson for the construction of a railway from Alexandria to Cairo. This was only the second railway built in the world and the first on the African continent. The 120 mile line to Cairo was completed by 1856 and work began on a southern extension with a 230 mile section to Assiut finished in 1874.

    in September 2022, the majority of Egyptian National Railway services we saw during our stay were hauled by the impressive ES30ACi Light Evolution diesel locomotives built by the American GE Transportation Systems (now owned by Wabtec) and are are equipped with a 12-cylinder, 3200 HP GE Evolution Series engine. The locomotives are capable of passenger and freight train duties and 110 were ordered in 2017, the final units being delivered in March 2021.

    I was a little concerned about railway photography in Egypt as UK Foreign Office advice noted that British nationals have been arrested for photographing amongst other things, train stations and bridges. So, during my stay I ensured that permission was asked and if possible I was with my guide or a local travel company agent. I’m pleased to report I wasn’t arrested, and was in all instances greeted by friendly waves, enthusiasm and chat.

    We spent a few days in Cairo before flying to Luxor to board the M/S Royal Esadora which would take us along the River Nile to Aswan and back.

    M/S Royal Esadora at Edfu – 14/09/2022

    The Alexandria Tramway Network – Alexandria is located on the Nile delta in the north of Egypt. We travelled by car from Cairo for the day and as we drove around, our guide enthused over the wooden trams which still survive. The license to build a tramway system in Alexandria was issued on 16 August 1860, and the first line of the network began operating in on 8 January 1863. The system was electrified in 1902. There is an extensive network of 20 tram lines operating on 32 kilometers of track, serving 140 stops, running in the streets of central and western Alexandria as well as the coastal Al Raml line.

    Former Copenhagen DUEWAG GT6 – the vehicles are almost 60 years old – Alexandria 11/09/2022
    Former Copenhagen DUEWAG GT6 unit which were introduced to Egypt between 1969 and 1972 – Alexandria 11/09/2022
    Tatra-Yug K-1E6 in service on lines 5/6 on the Ramleh tram – the vehicles are fitted with both standard pantographs and trolley poles in order to be operated on both networks – Alexandria 11/09/2022
    The Japanese Kinki Sharyo units were built between 1975 to 1995. One of the six double-deck iterations on the Ramleh tram – Alexandria 11/09/2022 
    A restored single Maschinenfabrik Oerlikon car dating from 1925 – Alexandria 11/09/2022
    A glimpse of Alexandria Railway Station – 11/09/2022

    Cairo – Ramsis Railway Station is the main railway station in Cairo and our first glimpse of the lengthy imposing structure was out of the windows of the transfer car taking us from the airport to our hotel on our first night in Egypt. The station is named after Pharaoh Ramses II. We saw a lot about him during our stay in the country!

    An older railway station was opened at the site in 1854. Later in 1890 the Egyptian government, driven by a desire to give Cairo a grand entrance way began work on the current, much larger railway station. For most visitors before the advent of air travel, Ramsis station was the entry point into Cairo after arriving in Alexandria by ship. The station is part terminus with some through platforms.

    An upgrade to the structure was carried out in 1955 and from January 2001 to early 2011 the station underwent major modernisation being fully upgraded and air conditioned with new marble flooring and the addition of escalators. The railway station has also a connection to the Cairo Metro (which I was unable to photograph), buses, and taxis (although no idea where these were!)

    Ramsis railway station exterior, Cairo – 20/09/2022
    An Egyptian National Railway ES30ACi Light Evolution diesel locomotive having backed onto a rake of coaches at Cairo railway station – 20/09/2022
    An EMD G16 built by General Motors at Cairo railway station having brought in empty coaching stock. Egyptian National Railway received a total of 111 G16’s in 1960–61 (ER numbers 3301–61) and seventeen G16Ws in 1964–65 (ER numbers 3362–411) – 20/09/2022
    Cairo Railway Station train shed – 20/09/2022
    A view from the twenty fifth floor of Fairmont Nile City of an Egyptian National Railways service about to cross the River Nile via the Imbaba Bridge. Just don’t ask what the bar bill was! – 09/09/2022

    Luxor – Luxor is a modern city in Upper Egypt which includes the site of the Ancient City of Thebes. The temples of Karnak and Luxor are situated within the city with the Valley of the Kings (which includes the Tomb of Tutankhamun, discovered by Howard Carter almost 100 years ago) and Valley of the Queens located on the opposite west bank of the Nile.

    Luxor railway station is located near the centre of the city, the original station having opened in 1898 to accommodate standard gauge trains. The railway between Luxor and Aswan was built to a 3 ft 6 in gauge eventually being converted to standard gauge in 1926. The exterior of the current station is built to reflect the local temples.

    Luxor Railway Station exterior – 18/09/2022
    Luxor Railway Station booking hall – 18/09/2022
    Luxor Railway Station booking hall – 18/09/2022
    A Cairo bound train arrives at Luxor – 18/09/2022
    An EMD G16 in the yard at Luxor – 18/09/2022

    Aswan – Aswan is a busy market and tourist centre located just north of the Aswan Dam on the east bank of the River Nile at the first cataract (shallow lengths of the Nile where the surface of the water is broken by small rocks and boulders jutting out of the river bed). I was taunted by the sound of passing trains out of my view as I spent time in my cabin or on the sun deck whilst catching up on my reading time.

    Aswan Railway Station exterior – 15/09/2022
    Aswan Railway Station booking hall – 15/09/2022
    Aswan Railway Station booking hall – 15/09/2022
    ES30ACi Light Evolution No. 2564 in the bay platform at Aswan – 15/09/2022
    A line up of ES30ACi Light Evolution locomotives at Aswan – 15/09/2022
    Video of our railway sightings while in Egypt, September 2022

    Egyptian Railway Museum, Cairo – On our last morning in Cairo, Caroline very thoughtfully surprised me by hiring an Uber which took us into the centre of Cairo and the Egyptian Railway Museum which is located in the eastern wing of Ramsis railway station. I’d been whinging on about trying to fit in a visit throughout our stay. Trying to find a taxi to take us back to our hotel in time for our flight home was a bit of an adventure in itself, but Caroline relished the challenge!

    The museum first opened in January 1933 and contains over 300 models and exhibits, a collection of documents, maps and statistical data.

    No. 986, fabricated by Robert Stephenson in 1865, on display outside Ramsis Railway Station Cairo – 20/09/2022
    Saied Pasha locomotive – 1862
    Saied Pasha locomotive works plate – 1862
    Sectioned 4-4-2 No. 194 manufactured in 1906 by The North British Locomotive Co. Ltd.
    Model of the first steam locomotive imported into Egypt – one of six built by Stephenson & Co.
    Model of a 1957 1700 HP Hanshel diesel electric locomotive
    Model of a 1948 1600 HP English Electric Co. diesel electric locomotive
    Model of German Hanshel diesel electric locomotive from 1983

    Earlier in the week, we enjoyed another mode of transport in the form of a hot air balloon which gave us an exceptional view of the Mortuary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut in Deir el Bahri near Luxor:

    Hot air balloons over the Mortuary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut in Deir el Bahri near Luxor – 13/09/2022
    SS Sudan, built for the Egyptian Royal Family in 1885 was converted into a cruise liner in 1921 and took Agatha Christie and her husband, archaeologist Max Mallowan, on a trip along the Nile in 1933 and is believed to be the inspiration for her most famous work “Death On The Nile” published in 1937. SS Sudan fell into a state of disrepair following World War II but was restored in 1991 and again in 2000
    I couldn’t resist reading Christie’s novel onboard our ship on the Nile!
    While in Aswan, we visited “The Old Cataract Hotel” where Agatha Christie stayed and part of her novel “Death On The Nile” is set

    We had a wonderful time visiting ancient Egyptian archaeological sites as well as modern railway stations! Huge thanks to our guides while we were in Egypt; Reda and Ahmed who shared their knowledge and facilitated some of the railway station visits.

    This weeks blog was created while listening to Alphaville with Deutsches Filmerchester Babelsberg, Alison Moyet, and Handel’s Passacaglia, Suite no. 7 in G Minor, HWV 432/6 ( Modern Piano Solo Version performed by Johan Halvorsen on repeat). All being well, we’ll be back next week!

  • Winfrith Cats 3

    Wednesday 10th August to Tuesday 16th August 2022

    Yoshi in front of stationary Class 33/0 No. D6515 (33012) ‘Lt Jenny Lewis RN’ which was working Swanage Railway Friday Night Bistro train duties. The train stops here for around thirty minutes and we had permission from the driver and guard to take this photo. Please ensure you and your pets stay safe in and around railway property – 12/08/2022

    This was looking like a quiet week on the local railway scene, but Yoshi and I had some lovely family events to fill the days. It’s not all about the trains, apparently. Despite the lack of main line entertainment, we were surprised to find another Direct Rail Services (DRS) Winfrith train was running on Thursday 11th August. These workings are in connection with the removal of low level nuclear waste from Magnox Winfrith. This weeks run only appeared on the schedules a couple of days previously (Tuesday 9th August 2022) and, according to folk at Magnox Winfrith I chatted to, may well be the last such working of 2022. The next is provisionally slated for around March 2023. Let’s see.

    I chose to see the down working pass through Hamworthy on its way to Winfrith. The locomotives top and tailing the train were DRS Class 68 No.’s 68002 ‘Intrepid’ and 68007 ‘Valiant’. No. 68005 ‘Defiant’ had originally been allocated to the working but developed a fault on its way from Sellafield to Crewe with the empty PFA wagons which would be used for onward transit to Dorset. The Class 68’s were built by Vossloh at Albuixech, Valencia for use by Direct Rail Services. 

    DRS Class 68 locomotives No.’s 68002 ‘Intrepid’ and 68007 ‘Valiant’ top and tail a set of empty PFA wagons bound for Magnox Winfrith powering through Hamworthy with 6Z62 0103 Crewe Coal Siding (DRS) to Winfrith Sidings – 11/08/2022

    For the return run, I wanted to catch the loaded train leaving Winfrith sidings as there will be only a limited number of these workings, so I thought I would take the opportunity on a beautiful sunny day. The security guys at Winfrith were pleasant and relaxed about my taking photos from a public footpath. After departure from Winfrith Sidings, the train goes on to Dorchester South where it reverses to embark on its trip back to Crewe. While it was doing this, I headed off to Poole in order to catch the consist passing over Holes Bay.

    DRS Class 68 No. 68002 ‘Intrepid’ stands in Winfrith Sidings awaiting departure with the loaded train of low level nuclear waste – 11/08/2022
    DRS Class 68 No. 68002 ‘Intrepid’ edges out of Winfrith Sidings towards the main line – 11/08/2022
    At the rear of the loaded train DRS Class 68 No. 68007 ‘Valiant’ formerly in ScotRail livery – 11/08/2022
    DRS Class 68 locomotives No.’s 68007 ‘Valiant’ and 68002 ‘Intrepid’ crossing Holes Bay with the loaded 6Z95 1600 Winfrith Sidings to Crewe Coal Sidings (DRS) – 11/08/2022

    And here’s our video of the August 2022 Winfrith Cats:

    DRS Class 68 locomotives No. 68002 ‘Intrepid’ and 68007 ‘Valiant’ with the third Winfrith train of 2022 seen at Hamworthy, Winfrith and Holes Bay – 11/08/2022

    Digital photography has given us the ability to snap away more or less at our hearts content. Back in my misspent youth armed at first with my 126 Kodak camera, then my 110 Kodak and finally my trusty Russian made 35mm Zenit SLR I was very conscious of both the cost of the film and of the developing and printing. This meant that, often, I had one chance to take a photograph of a particular train. I wasn’t always too mindful however of where the sun was in relation to my subject and the effect this would have on the resulting image. It would take a week or so for the prints to be returned in the post from Truprint or other postal D&P service which might have a money saving promotion on the go. In my mind I had always taken a masterpiece of railway photography, but invariably what was returned never lived up to my expectations. But what did it matter? There would be another Class 33/0 on the Weymouth Boat Train or Inter-Regional Class 47 hauled holiday special excursion to get into the camera viewfinder another day. Until when there wasn’t, of course. Railway’s have always encompassed change and development. If they didn’t, we’d still all be being hauled by variations of Stephenson’s ‘Rocket’ and getting smut in our faces sitting in open topped wagons. I sometimes wish I’d taken more photos of everyday scenes back in the 70’s and 80’s. But I didn’t and I don’t have a time machine to take me back there. Which is where, to some extent, our heritage railways step in. I have spent many a happy hour at a steam or diesel gala on a preserved railway. Some people like to travel behind their favourite class of locomotive, whereas I like to photograph or video the trains, as I know a lot of other enthusiasts do. I politely suggest photographers – and I am sure there are many who already do – who don’t travel on the trains make a donation to the railway they are using as their canvas. Or use the catering facilities, or buy merchandise. Anything to give something back.

    Friday evening (August 12th), as the heat of the day had subsided, Yoshi and I ventured out to our local heritage line, The Swanage Railway, to see their resident Class 33/0 No. D6515 (33012) * ‘Lt Jenny Lewis RN’ hauling the custard and cream dining set on the Friday Bistro train. Although replicating an era prior to my interest in railways, the ensemble looked magnificent catching the last rays of the sun at the end of the day.

    D6515 (33012) ‘Lt Jenny Lewis RN’ working Swanage Railways Friday Night Bistro Train 1N08 1930 Swanage to Norden having just departed Corfe Castle station – 12/08/2022
    D6515 (33012) ‘Lt Jenny Lewis RN’ working Swanage Railways Friday Night Bistro Train 1N09 2010 Norden to Swanage having just departed Norden – 12/08/2022
    Class 33 No. D6515 (33012) ‘Lt Jenny Lewis RN’ with Swanage Railways Friday Bistro Train – 12/08/2022

    Sister locomotive Class 33/1 No. 33111 experienced difficulties earlier on Friday and has had to be withdrawn from service pending repairs. Hopefully she won’t be out of action for too long. In the meantime, during the steam ban which resulted from the recent spell of dry weather, Swanage are employing their Diesel Multiple Unit set to run services in conjunction with No. D6515 with steam expected to return on Wednesday 17th August 2022.

    *A note about British Rail diesel & electric locomotive numbering.  Upon introduction as part of the 1950’s “Modernisation Plan”, diesel locomotives carried one to four-digit numbers prefixed with a letter ‘D’, and electric locomotives with a letter ‘E’. With a move to computerisation all locomotives were renumbered so they could be logged on the Total Operating Processing System (TOPS) which recorded the maintenance history of locomotives and rolling stock, along with its allocation to division and depot and duty, its current status, its location etc. Locomotives were numbered in a consecutive series in terms of classification with the first two or three digits used to denote the class of locomotive or multiple unit. Sub-classifications were indicated in the TOPS system with a slash and a subclass number. For example Birmingham R.C.&W. Co Type 3 Bo-Bo No. D6515 became Class 33/0 No. 33012.

    Ian Allan were well known for publishing books of locomotive numbers for train spotters who could tick off or underline the examples they had seen. Here is the B.R.C&W Type 3 fleet list as at August 22nd 1966 published in “British Rail Locomotives And Other Motive Power”. As you can see D6502 is missing from this list, having already been withdrawn following an accident in 1964
    The Class 33’s divided into sub classes as seen from the 1980 edition of Ian Allan’s “British Rail Motive Power Combined Volume”
    Class 33/0 No. 33016 with a Bristol to Weymouth service at Dorchester West – 25/06/1981
    Class 33/1’s were modified for push pull operations on the un-electrified Bournemouth to Weymouth line and can be easily identified by their high-level brake pipes and jumper cables. They were originally going to be classified Class 34 under TOPS, but instead sensibly became a Class 33 sub-class. No. 33108 is seen at Norden on the Swanage Railway taking part in the 2013 diesel gala backing onto 4VEP EMU No. 3417 ‘Gordon Pettitt’. Class 31 No. 31466 can be seen in the background. No. 33108 is currently undergoing repairs to bodywork and traction motors at the Severn Valley Railway – 12/05/2013
    A batch of twelve locomotives were built with narrow bodies to enable working through narrow tunnels between Tunbridge Wells in Kent and Hastings in Sussex. These became Class 33/2 under TOPS and were nicknamed “Slim Jims” by enthusiasts. West Coast Railway Co. No. 33207 ‘Jim Martin’ is photographed in the sidings at Poole – 11/06/2011

    I made a quick visit to Top o’ Town car park in Dorchester for The West Country Historic Omnibus & Transport Trust Dorchester Running Day on Sunday 14th August 2022. Although a smaller concern than in pre-covid times, it was still great to see these old vehicles making trips around town or on static display. It was far too hot to take Yoshi with me and he remained at home where it was much cooler for him.

    Perhaps my favourite bus / coach is OTT 98 a Bristol/ECW LS6G integral coach. She was delivered to Southern National in 1953 and given the fleet number 1299 for working as part of the Royal Blue fleet from Bournemouth in 1969. I remember her from her Dorset Transport Circle days and associated trips out – 14/08/2022
    EFJ 92 a Bedford WTB with Heaver C25F body – delivered new to Taylors Central Garage (Exeter) Ltd in June 1938. Sold to Vic’s Tours of St. Mary’s on the Scilly Isles and operated until 1971 when she entered preservation – 14/08/2022
    WS 4522, a 1935 Scottish Motor Traction Co. (SMT) H110 Cowieson bodied Leyland Tiger TS7 – 14/08/2022
    FEL 218; Bournemouth Corporation Bedford WTB Duple B25F – 14/08/2022
    Preserved former Yellow Buses N465 TPR Dennis Dart with East Lancs body and H262 MFX Dennis Dominator with East Lancs body – 14/08/2022
    “Sea Dog” MSJ 499 a Leyland Atlantean PDR1 with open top Metro-Cammell body was delivered new in 1961 to Devon General and named ‘Admiral Blake’. She reminds me of my time working in Torquay in the mid-1980’s, not that I had much time to enjoy the local area! After she finished carrying passengers around the Devon coast she was sold to Yellow Buses in Bournemouth and used as a tree lopper before entering preservation in 2006 – 14/08/2022
    X688 XJT an Optare Solo M850 from 2000 in original Wilts & Dorset livery spent some years as a Tesco free bus – 14/08/2022

    From The Archive

    This week in….

    2019: Saturday 10th August 2019, 8 month old Yoshi and I took a trip out to see SR Merchant Navy No. 35028 ‘Clan Line’ working UK Railtours “The Atlantic Coast Express” which originated from London Waterloo and took in Salisbury, Exeter, Bristol and Bath. It was around this time when I really renewed my latent enthusiasm in railways after several years of having only a passing interest.

    Clan Line on “The Atlantic Coast Express” 1Z82 0752 London Waterloo to Exeter St Davids and 1Z84 1550 Exeter St Davids to London Waterloo – 10/08/2019

    The following day, Sunday 11th August 2019, saw two special excursion trains visit Dorset. We saw “The Northern Belle” top and tailed by WCRC Class 57 No.’s 57601 ‘Windsor Castle’ and 57314 at Dorchester followed by a trip to Holton Heath to see the return working along with a glimpse of Class 73 No.’s 73107 ‘Tracy’ and 73201 ‘Broadlands’ working “The Swanage Sunday Special No.3”.

    Thursday 15th August 2019 saw LNER Thompson Class B1 No. 61306 ‘Mayflower’ and WCRC Class 47 No. 47802 working a Steam Dream Rail Company “Cathedrals Express” excursion from West Brompton to Weymouth and return. In between arrival and departure of the special train, Colas Rail Class 37 No. D6757 (37057) also visited the seaside terminal with a Network Rail test train.

    2010: The Railway Touring Company ran “The Dorset Coast Express” on Wednesday 11th August 2010. The train departed London Victoria at 0845 and was hauled down to Weymouth by LNER A4 4-6-2 No. 60019 ‘Bittern’ which I saw pass through Bournemouth. The return working to London Waterloo was headed by SR N15 King Arthur Class 4-6-0 No. 30777 ‘Sir Lamiel’ with the A4 providing banking assistance at the rear until Wareham which is where I filmed the ensemble. The A4 was detached and then ran with her support coach to Yeovil Railway Centre at Yeovil Junction.

    That brings us to the end of another entry, this week the Railway Dog blog was mostly put together to the sounds of The Who, Lily Williams and Yoshi barking at anyone moving outside. We really appreciate you stopping by and reading the blog and watching the video clips. As always, comments, suggestions and corrections are welcomed and thank you to everyone who has helped out in some way. We look forward to seeing you again next week.

  • Northward Bound

    Tuesday 12th July to Tuesday 19th July

    DB Cargo Class 67 No. 67025 in operation with Transport for Wales waits departure at Crewe with 5K67 0951 Holyhead Car. M.D. Empty Coaching Stock working to Crewe C.S. – 16/07/2022

    Fleetwood

    The North Euston Hotel, Fleetwood

    Yoshi and I spent much of last week in the North West of England as we made The North Euston Hotel in Fleetwood our base. The hotel was commissioned by Sir Peter Hesketh Fleetwood, designed in the Greek classical style by architect Decimus Burton and built between 1839 and 1841 to serve overnight passengers making the journey by rail from London Euston who were destined for steam ships which would provide onward travel to Scotland where after disembarking at Ardrossan they would take the train on to Glasgow. Fleetwood was the northern most station at the time, hence the name “North Euston” for the hotel, and the railway was yet to run over the Shap hills. Queen Victoria made the journey in 1847 and stayed at the hotel, although I’m sure she didn’t stay in our room. The first manager of the hotel, Corsican born Xenon Vantini, had been a courier for Napoleon Bonaparte and was also the first person to open a refreshment room at Wolverhampton railway station. In 1859 following a decline in fortunes, the hotel was sold to the government and was converted into a school of musketry and later, in 1867, an officer’s quarters. The building existed in this form until the 1890’s when it was purchased by a group of London businessmen who converted it back into a hotel. The North Euston is currently owned by local business families. Yoshi very much enjoyed his morning sausage for breakfast and we celebrated our dubious achievement of coming last in the Sunday evening pub quiz which was a lot of fun.

    The railway to Fleetwood was opened on 15th July 1840 as the Preston & Wyre railway and was also the vision of Sir Peter Hesketh Fleetwood it being designed to connect the then new port of Fleetwood on the Fylde coast to Preston. The railway was constructed by George and Robert Stephenson with contribution from Joseph Locke. Its glory days lasted only six years until a direct route over Shap was finally achieved. The railway was absorbed into the Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway ( later the London Midland Scottish Railway as part of the Big Four groupings in 1923) and extensions were built to Blackpool and Lytham to cater for the growing number of passengers traveling to the seaside. Fleetwood would become, for a time, one of the largest and most successful fishing ports in the UK but by 1970 the railway from Poulton-le-Fylde to Fleetwood was closed to passenger traffic and later, in 1999, to freight workings.

    Thornton Station is located in the heart of Thornton town centre – July 2022
    Until the late 1980’s a signal box operated the crossing over Station Road, Thornton – July 2022
    The current station buildings were the first built by the then newly formed London Midland Scottish Railway (LMS) in 1927 – July 2022

    In 2006, the Poulton & Wyre Railway Society was formed with the aim of reopening the railway. Since then, much work has been carried out in clearing sections of the line from the ingress of nature and a Class 108 Diesel Multiple Unit was purchased for restoration and use on the line. More recently, the Poulton-Le-Fylde to Fleetwood line was subject to a study as part of the UK Government’s Restoring Your Railway programme. In June 2022 it was announced that the scheme should progress further and Network Rail will receive funding to produce a detailed plan for the revival of services. The Poulton-Le-Fylde & Wyre Railway Society have now turned their attention to developing a heritage railway centre which will eventually house a collection of railway artefacts and memorabilia for public viewing.

    Churnet Valley Railway

    Having heard that Class 33/1 No. 33102 was hauling trains, Yoshi and I spent Tuesday morning ( 12th July 2022 ) visiting Cheddleton on the Churnet Valley Railway, a preserved heritage line in Staffordshire. I grew up with 33/1’s providing the daily motive power on local passenger services between Bournemouth and Weymouth, and even though No. 33111 lives on at Swanage, our local heritage railway, it was fantastic to hear the Crompton’s Sulzer engine at work hauling a passenger train.

    The Churnet Valley railway dates back to 1849 following the formation of The North Staffordshire Railway Company (NSR) in 1845. Falling passenger numbers saw the Beeching Report include the Churnet Valley line and its associated branches which became earmarked for closure with the final section from Leek Brook Junction to Oakamoor quarry lasting out until the late 1980’s as it was used for freight traffic. In 1992 the newly formed Churnet Valley railway (1992) PLC began talks with the Department of Transport with a view to operate the line. Trains currently run between Froghall and Ipstones, but the ambition is to run services into the Staffordshire market town of Leek for the first time since 1965. And they have an eye on the clock to achieve this as the railway needs to run its first passenger train into Leek by 1st December 2022 or lose a £1.4m EU grant. This means all track must be laid on the 0.5 mile extension, with additional resources being provided for a triangle at Leek Brook Junction, and a platform constructed at Leek. It really is a very picturesque railway with extremely friendly volunteers, Yoshi and I were escorted around the workshops to get a closer view of locomotives stabled there, and I wish them every success with their endeavours and look forward to a return visit in the future.

    Cheddleton Station which was to be demolished in April 1974 but saved by the actions of local businessman and parish councillor Norman Hancock who parked his car on the level crossing preventing access to bulldozers giving sufficient time for the building to be Grade II listed – July 2022
    Cheddleton Station – July 2022
    Time for a cuppa! Yoshi waits for the kettle to boil in the booking hall of Cheddleton Station – July 2022
    Class 33/1 No. 33102 ‘Sophie’ awaits departure from Cheddleton – 12/07/2022
    Class 20 No. D8057 (20057) sits outside the repair shed at Cheddleton – 12/07/2022
    S160 Class 2-8-0 No. 5197 was built by the Lima Locomotive Company in Ohio, USA and exported to China in 1946. The United States Army Transportation Corps Class S160 were designed for heavy freight work across Europe during World War 2 with a total of 2,120 being built they eventually worked all over the world – 12/07/2022
    Class 25 No. 25322 ‘Tamworth Castle’ was the final Class 25 locomotive to see mainline service with British Rail. She is currently in store at Cheddleton Yard awaiting restoration – 12/07/2022
    Yoshi inspects Class 33 No. 33021 ‘Eastleigh’ in Post Office Red style livery. This locomotive was amongst the first privately owned diesel locomotives to be used on the mainline – 12/07/2022
    The Churnet Valley Railway has acquired Class 47 No. 47292 for an initial loan period of five years supplementing Class 33 No.’s 33021 and 33102 for use on passenger trains – 12/07/2022

    On our way back to Fleetwood, we stopped off at Acton Bridge for an hour or so, primarily to capture Class 37 No. 37884 which was diagrammed to pass through with 0M58 Kilmarnock Long Lyes T.C. to Derby R.T.C. – which can be seen in the video below:

    Southport

    On the Wednesday, Yoshi and I took a trip on a heritage Blackpool Tram – more about that adventure next week – but first that we made a brief visit to Southport and Formby. Southport railway station is the terminal of the Southport branch of the Northern Line of the third-rail electric Merseyrail network, and the diesel-operated Manchester to Southport line. The station and services to Liverpool and Hunts Cross are operated by Merseyrail, with Manchester services operated by Northern Trains. The current station opened as Southport Chapel Street on 22 August 1851 and once boasted eleven regular platforms and two excursion platforms. Six truncated platforms are now in use (platforms 1-3 for Liverpool trains and 4-6 for Manchester services), the remainder having been demolished to make way for car parking. In 1970 the former terminal building was replaced with a shopping centre.

    New Stadler Class 777 trains are currently being tested, and one was scheduled to visit Southport that morning on test run. Despite the best attempts at numerous roadworks and traffic queues, we made it just in time to see Class 777 No. 777015 arriving. Members of The National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers ( RMT – what these initials mean was one of the pub quiz questions I actually answered correctly! But I digress…. ) Anyway to continue; RMT members recently voted in favour of the proposed crewing plans for the new fleet which brings a five-year dispute to its conclusion. Merseyrail still has to reach agreement with the drivers union, the Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen (ASLEF), but intends to introduce the new Class 777’s into service later this year. Currently, 17 out of the 53 units purchased have been delivered to the UK. The arrival of the Class 777 fleet will see the demise of both the Class 507 and 508 electric-multiple units (EMU’s).

    The Class 507’s were built to work on Merseyside, replacing the London Midland Scottish Railway (LMS) built Class 502 units on Northern line services from Liverpool to Southport, Ormskirk and Kirkby. 33 sets were built by British Rail Engineering Limited (BREL) in York from 1978 to 1980 followed by 43 Class 508s constructed between 1979 and 1980. They were the second and fourth variety of BR’s then standard 1972 design for suburban EMU’s, which were derived from the prototype 2PEP and 4PEP EMU’s introduced in 1971 and eventually amassed 755 vehicles across five Classes (313/314/315/507/508). Originally, the Class 508’s were built as 4-car units for the Southern Region of British Rail working out of Waterloo on former London South Western Railway (LSWR) routes. From 1982 to 1984 they were reduced to 3 car units (one of the trailer cars was removed to be incorporated into the Class 455/7 EMU’s) and transferred to Merseyside to replace the former LMS Class 503 units that operated Wirral line services to New Brighton, Rock Ferry and West Kirby. Following rail privatisation the two fleets became interchangeable and work both sides of the Mersey. They are the oldest EMU’s still working in the UK after the Class 313’s.

    Yoshi with Merseyrail Class 507 No. 507020, Southport – 13/07/2022
    Yoshi compares the differences between EMU’s with a study of Merseyrail Class 508 No. 508140, Southport – 13/07/2022
    Merseyrail Class 777 No. 777015 having arrived with 5T02 0917 Sandhills Reversing Sdg to SouthportSouthport – 13/07/2022
    Northern Trains Class 769 No.’s 769424 & 769456 Southport – 13/07/2022
    Northern Trains Class 150 No. 150128 and 150134 Southport – 13/07/2022
    Merseyrail Class 507 No. 507020 Southport – 13/07/2022
    Merseyrail Class 507 No. 507020 and Class 508 No. 508131 stand side by side at Southport – 13/07/2022
    Merseyrail Class 508 No. 508126 at the buffer stops, Southport – 13/07/2022
    Merseyrail Class 777 No. 777015 awaits departure of 5T03 1008 Southport to Kirkdale C.S. Southport – 13/07/2022

    Crewe

    After breakfast on Thursday where we spent a few enjoyable hours watching freight movements around Crewe Basford Hall. You can relive this by playing the video below:

    We returned to Dorset on Friday, eschewing the opportunity of capturing two Colas Class 37’s at rest in Blackpool North Railway Station which had worked a test train from Carlisle in the early hours. However, the next day; Saturday 16th July, I was back in Crewe, this time without Yoshi, so I could attend the Direct Rail Services (DRS) Open Day at their depot at Gresty Road. Understandably, dogs were not allowed on site, so Yoshi spent the day with his mum, while I endured the heat of the day without my fluffy sidekick. Many thanks to Scott for driving and for his company.

    The Open Day coincided with LMS Coronation 4-6-2 No. 6233 ‘Duchess Of Sutherland’ passing through Crewe railway station with the Railway Touring Company’s “Cheshireman” rail tour from London Euston to Chester. (1Z86 0639 London Euston to Chester with Class 47 No. 47813 providing support at the rear). The station was extremely busy with the influx of enthusiasts in the town to visit the DRS site, but I managed to catch a short video clip of this magnificent locomotive departing Crewe. Later that day, SR Merchant Navy 4-6-2 No. 35018 ‘British India Line’ worked into Crewe light engine and support coach as 5Z46 Carnforth Steamtown to Crewe Heritage Centre for servicing ahead of rail tour duties scheduled for the following day:

    Crewe 16th July 2022

    3,500 people attended Nuclear Transport Solutions’ (NTS) rail division DRS’s open day, the first one to be held for a number of years because of the Covid pandemic. There were two locomotive naming’s at the event – the first saw Class 66 No. 66422 being unveiled as ‘Max Joule’ in tribute to one of DRS’s founders and former Managing Director who died in 1999. The second naming was for Class 66 No. 66424 which was named ‘Driver Paul Scrivens’ who had been a driver with DRS for more than 20 years. An emotional tribute was delivered by colleague Tim Howlett before the new plate was unveiled by Paul’s sister Emma.

    The open day raised over £39,000 from sponsorship and donations which is an amazing figure that will go to deserving causes across the UK. It was a fantastic event, and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Because of the hot weather, DRS made bottles of water available at points across the site, which was very welcome.

    Locomotives on display were:

    Class 37 No. 37218 in retro DRS livery – 16/07/2022
    Class 37 No. 37401 ‘Mary Queen Of Scots’ – 16/07/2022
    Class 37 no. 37419 ‘Carl Haviland’ – 16/07/2022
    Class 37 No. 37425 ‘Concrete Bob’ – 16/07/2022
    Class 68 No. 68025 ‘Superb’ – 16/07/2022
    Class 57 No. 57312 – 16/07/2022
    Class 88 No. 88002 ‘Prometheus’ – 16/07/2022
    Class 68 No. 68006 ‘Pride of the North’ in special green livery showcasing the environmental benefits of rail freight and how a diesel locomotive can reduce emissions by using Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) fuel – 16/07/2022
    Class 66 no. 66303 ‘Rail Riders 2020’ – 16/07/2022
    Class 68 no. 68009 ‘Titan’ – 16/07/2022
    Class 66 No. 66422 ‘Max Joule 1958-1999’ – 16/07/2022
    Class 66 No. 66424 awaits its naming ceremony – 16/07/2022
    Class 57 No. 57304 – 16/07/2022
    Class 88 No. 88009 ‘Diana’ – 16/07/2022
    Class 66 No. 66429 – 16/07/2022
    Class 37 No. 37424/37558 ‘Avro Vulcan XH558’ – 16/07/2022
    Class 88 No. 88001 ‘Revolution’ – 16/07/2022

    On our way to the DRS Open Day, we stopped off at Longport to peer through the fence at Electro-Motive Diesel Limited’s (EMD) site and witnessed some shunting around of locomotives, mainly Class 56 / Class 69 conversions which are ongoing.

    With 69006 stencilled on the bodyside, the conversion of 56128 is almost complete. Longport – 16/07/2022
    The empty shell of Class 56 No. 56032 awaiting a second move to Marcroft Engineering with 69007 ( ex-56037 ) in the background – 16/07/2022
    56038 is being converted into 69008 and is still on accommodation bogies but some of its new innards are in place. An extra hole has been cut in the cab front ends to accommodate an additional connection with this locomotive likely being the first for use by the GBRf Rail Services sector which handles stock movements – 16/07/2022
    Class 56 No. 56009 sits in the yard at Longport. The locomotive was unofficially renumbered No. 56201 when it was converted for use as an engineering test bed by Brush Traction in order to assess refurbished Paxman engines of sister class members – 16/07/2022
    Former DB Cargo UK Class 66 No. 66048 rests on accommodation bogies at Longport. The locomotive was damaged when it derailed at Carrbridge in January 2010 and it ended up down an embankment. It was sold to EMD in March 2016 after being initially disposed of for scrap. It’s unclear what the future holds for this Class 66 locomotive – 16/07/2022

    On our way home we diverted to Keynsham to refuel the car and restock with drinking water. Fortuitously, Class 37 No.’s 37901 and 37800 were scheduled to pass through top and tailing an Eastleigh Works to Swansea Landore stock move consisting of a Great Central-liveried Mk4 set and an LNER-liveried Mk4 set (5Q79 1826 Eastleigh Arlington to Landore). This made a fantastic epilogue to the day!

    Class 37 No. 37901 heads an Eastleigh Works to Swansea Landore stock move consisting of a Great Central-liveried Mk4 set and an LNER-liveried Mk4 set with 37800 on the rear approaches Keynsham station – 16/07/2022.

    Dorset NMT

    While we were away it was a quiet week on the Bournemouth to Weymouth line, with only the New Measurement Train of particular interest on the main line as far as I’m aware. HST Class 43 power car No.’s 43272 and 43257 were in charge of 1Q18 0719 Derby RTC to Bristol Kingsland Road on Wednesday 13th July 2022.

    Class 43 No. 43257 sits in Weymouth station – 13/07/2022. Photograph courtesy of @da_buckley967
    Class 43 No. 43272 preparing to depart from Weymouth – 13/07/2022. Photograph courtesy of @da_buckley967

    My brother popped out to see the NMT return through Dorchester West on its way to Bristol and his video which he captured especially for Yoshi can be seen here:

    In other news, Swanage resident Class 33/1 No. 33111 headed off by road to the Mid Hants Railway (MHR) to participate in their 2022 diesel gala. I had considered visiting the MHR on Sunday, but felt it was far too hot for Yoshi to be out and about, so we decided to stay home and catch up on some gardening.

    The recent heat wave also resulted in speed restrictions being imposed on main line services by South Western Railways (SWR), including those on the Bournemouth to Weymouth line, with the increased risk of tracks buckling. Reduced services were introduced on Monday 18th and Tuesday 19th July 2022 in a bid to give passengers certainty over which trains would run. There was also a steam ban imposed by many heritage railways and on the main line. This includes the Railway Touring Company’s “Dorset Coast Express” excursion to Weymouth on Thursday 21st July which will now be diesel hauled throughout.

    Great Western Railways were under fire in the local press this week, when the Dorset Echo reported chaotic scenes at Weymouth station where passengers were turned away from trains as they tried to return home. The 1728 departure to Bristol Temple Meads from the Dorset seaside town was formed of just two carriages meaning station staff and police had to request some travellers to wait for the next service which was due to leave an hour later. Not so long ago a High Speed Train was regularly employed to run a relief service to Weymouth via the West route on Summer Saturdays in order to cater for anticipated increased passenger numbers.

    That’s all for this week – join us next time when we recount our trip on a heritage Blackpool Tram. Many thanks for reading, and for continued contributions, comment and corrections which are very much appreciated!