GBRf Class 57 No. 57310 at GBRf’s Peterborough depot during the Key Publishing Gala weekend – 08/09/2024
A special gala weekend of activities, based around Peterborough and the Nene Valley Railway organised by “Modern Railways” magazine with support from their sister publication “Hornby Magazine”, took place over the weekend of September 7th/8th 2024.
The event was supported by GB Railfreight who provided a range of visiting locomotives hauling trains at the Nene Valley Railway on both days of the gala. The freight operator also offered the opportunity to look behind the scenes at its Peterborough headquarters in a series of pre-booked tours.
Because of family plans organised for the Saturday of the event, I booked to attend on the Sunday and drove over to Peterborough arriving in good time to join the designated shuttle bus which was running between the railway station and the GBRf facility.
GBRf House, Peterborough – 08/09/2024
On arrival at the GBRf depot the bus divested of its passengers and we all stood around on the lawned area in front of GBRf House before being split into two groups of around twelve people each. One group headed off to the Maintenance Hub and depot area while the other, which I was part of, were taken off to see the train driving simulators.
GB Railfreight (GBRf) invested in two state of the art simulators, which form part of their training school at Peterborough. At a total cost of £850,000, they are the UK’s first and only full cab freight European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) capable simulators. They are used by new and existing drivers for basic training, advanced training as part of the Driver rules exam, Mentor and Instructor training and post incident reconstruction – 08/09/2024 From the outset, the simulators covered the journey from London Kings Cross to Peterborough, and are designed with a route building tool which will enable the addition of all other GBRf routes going forward. The simulators were built with the recycled remains of Class 66 locomotive No. 66734, which was involved in a landslip derailment at Loch Treig in 2012 – 08/09/2024 Photographs on display at the GBRf Training facility showing Class 66 No. 66734, which was involved in a landslip derailment at Loch Treig in 2012 – 08/09/2024
Once everyone in my group had a chance to experience the simulator, we swapped over with the other crowd and were led off to the depot area. First up was a visit inside the new Peterborough Maintenance Hub.
The Peterborough Maintenance Hub, which is larger than six-Olympic swimming pools was completed in just 10 months and brings back into use a derelict plot of land. The facility is key to unlocking GBRf’s ambitious growth plans as it aims to run c.80 intermodal services a day by 2025. The building has strong sustainability credentials – it is fully powered by electricity and has been designed to support electric shunt engines and forklifts to reduce carbon emissions. By analysing four wagons per shift, the Hub is a strategic enabler that creates a step-change in maintenance for the rail freight industry. It delivers significant safety and reliability improvements that will allow current and future customers to move an even wider range of goods by rail. As new smart-technologies emerge, the Hub will be a testbed that will allow GBRf to identify innovative solutions that will drive continual improvement – 08/09/2024GBRf is in the process of converting a pair of redundant “Polybulk” hoppers to barrier vehicles at its new Peterborough wagon facility having won the contract to move brand new Piccadilly line trains from Siemens new £200 million factory in Goole, East Yorkshire to London. One end of each barrier wagon retains conventional buffering and drawer. The other end has this removed and replaced with couplers for the new Tube stock, and high-level brake pipes. When being transported, the Underground train will run between the two wagons – 08/09/2024
We were free to take photographs in the Hub facility and of the stabled locomotives as we walked back to join the bus which would this time take us to the Nene Valley Railway.
GBRf Class 66 No. 66768 on shed at Peterborough in the company of No. 66762, 57310, 66760 ‘David Gordon Harris’, 66741 ‘Swanage Railway and 66711 ‘Sence’ – 08/09/2024GBRf Class 66 No. 66768 at Peterborough – 08/09/2024GBRf Class 66 No. 66760 ‘David Gordon Harris’, Peterborough – 08/09/2024GBRf Class 66 No. 66741 ‘Swanage Railway’ at Peterborough – 08/09/2024GBRf Class 69 No. 69003 ‘The Railway Observer’ at Peterborough. The locomotive was in operation on the Saturday of the gala – 08/09/2024
On arrival at the Nene Valley, there was a bit of a wait in the rain before enjoying a journey from Peterborough to Wansford hauled by GB Railfreight Class 66 No. 66312. A volunteer at Peterborough Nene Valley very kindly gave me some treats to take home for Yoshi, which he enjoyed very much!
Our train to Wansford at the other end of the line was hauled by Class 66 No. 66312.
GBRf Class 66 No. 66312 was in operation on the Nene Valley during the Sunday – 08/09/2024GBRf Class 47 No. 47727 ‘Edinburgh Castle’ arrives at Peterborough Nene Valley – 08/09/2024GBRf Class 66 No. 66312 rests at Wansford – 08/09/2024GBRf Class 66 No. 66312 at Wansford – 08/09/2024Another view of GBRf Class 66 No. 66312 at Wansford – 08/09/2024Surely not GBRf Class 66 No. 66312 at Wansford – 08/09/2024GBRf Class 69 69009 ‘Western Consort’ at platform of Wansford station – 08/09/2024GBRf Class 47 No. 47727 ‘Edinburgh Castle’ with 45041 ‘Royal Tank Regiment’ operating as a translator between the Brush Type 4 and the coaching stock on the approach to Wansford – 08/09/2024GBRf Class 66 No. 66312 departs Wansford – 08/09/2024GBRf Class 47 No. 47727 ‘Edinburgh Castle’ double heads with Class 69 69009 ‘Western Consort’ at Wansford – 08/09/2024GBRf Class 08 No. 08632 runs into the bay platform at Wansford – 08/09/2024Nene Valley resident Class 14 No. D9529 is an 0-6-0 Diesel Hydraulic loco built at Swindon Works in 1964, weighing in at 48.5 tonnes. Originally intended for hauling working movements between local yards and short-distance freight trains on the western region, No. D9529 was sold to The British Steel Company and worked at Buckminster from 1968-1972. It was later moved to Corby Steelworks and worked there until 1981 when it was moved to Bardon Hill Quarry until 2010 when it was rescued by the Iron Steel & Traction Group and moved to the Nene Valley Railway – 08/09/2024“Peak” Class 45 No. 45041 ‘Royal Tank Regiment’ is a 1-Co Co-1 wheel arrangement Diesel Electric loco built at Crewe Works in 1962, weighing 133 tonnes. The loco was originally based at Derby hauling passenger services on The Midland Mainline as No. D53. The loco was named in 1964 and was re-numbered in 1975. No. 45041 was used predominantly on freight trains during the 1980’s as it was not one of the Class 45’s that was selected to be converted to supply electric train heat (ETH) for passenger carriages. Unfortunately, the loco suffered a traction motor problem in 1988 and was condemned, but she was bought by the Peak Locomotive Society in 1996 and has been based at the NVR since then – 08/09/2024GBRf Class 57 No. 57303 with Class 66 No. 66312 getting ready to depart Peterborough Nene Valley with the final service of the gala weekend – 08/09/2024
Funds raised from the gala were donated to charity, supporting the work of the MS Society, which provides support to those suffering with Multiple Sclerosis. GB Railfreight donated funds raised from the site tours to its charity partner Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity.
Video from Day Two of the 2024 GBRf Gala at the Nene Valley Railway – 08/09/2024
For The Record
Screenshot of LSL Class 47 No. 47805 ‘Roger Hosking MA 1925-2013’ passing Poole at the head of empty coaching stock move 5Z50 0714 Crewe H.S. to Norden (Swanage Railway) – 03/09/2024
On 4th September 2024, Saphos Trains ran a “Welsh Marches Express” from Bournemouth to Shrewsbury. The empty coaching stock was scheduled to be stabled at Norden on the Swanage Railway the night before the railtour. However, a bridge strike at Grange Road (Bridge 9) near Creech on the Swanage Branch causing noticeable movement in the structure and likely requiring substantial and costly repair works meant the train was unable to travel to Norden and was stabled at Holme Lane (Bridge 7) instead. We saw the ECS passing Poole on 3rd September running almost three hours late after being diverted due to congestion at Reading West following the failure of an earlier freight train.
LSL Class 57 No. 57311 at the rear of empty coaching stock move 5Z50 0714 Crewe H.S. to Norden (Swanage Railway) – 03/09/2024
Locomotive Services Limited Class 47 No. 47805 ‘Roger Hosking MA 1925-2013’ and Class 57 No. 57311 were utilised in top and tail formation for the stock movements, with the pair taking the carriages to Bournemouth in the early hours to pick up passengers.
We were at Hamworthy the following morning as they passed through on the way to pick up passengers running thirty minutes late working 5Z50 0430 Norden (Swanage R) to Bournemouth. The Saphos Tour was scheduled for steam haulage from Bristol, but due to a fatality in the Taunton area necessitating the closure of the railway line, the allocated locomotive; LNER Thompson Class B1 No. 61306 ‘Mayflower’ was unable to get to Temple Meads in time. Instead the train continued with No.’s 57311 and 47805 in charge. ‘Mayflower’ eventually caught up with her train and while No. 57311 was sent home to Crewe, the B1 and No. 47805 returned South, the steam locomotive taking the train as far as Bristol and the Brush Type 4 then working solo back to Bournemouth where we were on hand to see the train arrive. On arrival at Bournemouth, the Class 47 then ran around the carriages to enable the empty stock to be hauled to Southall.
Having arrived around an hour early, LSL Class 47 No. 47805 ‘Roger Hosking MA 1925-2013’ being detached from the coaching stock of 1Z52 1550 Shrewsbury to Bournemouth prior to running round – 04/09/2024LSL Class 47 No. 47805 ‘Roger Hosking MA 1925-2013’ ready to depart with 5Z54 2354 Bournemouth to Southall Locomotive Services Limited – 04/09/2024
Video from 3rd/4th September 2024 with movements in association Saphos “Welsh Marches Express”
Wednesday 4th September 2024 was the turn of the New Measurement Train (NMT) to visit the “Heart of Wessex” line with Class 43 ex-HST power cars No.’s 43274 and 43277 ‘Safety Task Force’ working 1Q22 0757 Derby R.T.C.(Network Rail) to Bristol Kingsland Road via Weymouth. My brother was on hand to catch it passing through Dorchester West on the outward leg.
Screenshot of Class 43 ex-HST power cars No. 43274 arriving at Dorchester West 1Q22 0757 Derby R.T.C.(Network Rail) to Bristol Kingsland Road via Weymouth – 04/09/2024 ( G E Barrett)Screenshot of Class 43 ex-HST power cars No.’s 43277 ‘Safety Task Force’ passing through Dorchester West with 1Q22 0757 Derby R.T.C.(Network Rail) to Bristol Kingsland Road via Weymouth – 04/09/2024 ( G E Barrett)Colas Rail Freight Class 37 No. 37175 at Weymouth having worked in with 3Q14 1112 Westbury Down TC to Westbury Down TC – 05/09/2024Colas Class 37 No. 37254 ‘Cardiff Canton’ at Weymouth 3Q14 1112 Westbury Down T.C. to Westbury Down T.C.
Thursday 5th September 2024 and the booked “Heart of Wessex” test train produced Colas Rail Freight Class 37 No.’s 37175 and 37254 ‘Cardiff Canton’ at Weymouth top and tailing Network Rail’s Structure Gauging Train, reporting as 3Q14 1112 Westbury Down T.C. to Westbury Down T.C.
Screenshot of GBRf Class 66 No. 66798 ‘Justine’ passing Poole at the head of 6G15 2305 Eastleigh East Yard to Wool Signal PW5255 – 08/09/2024Screenshot of GBRf Class 66 No. 66303 at the rear of 6G15 2305 Eastleigh East Yard to Wool Signal PW5255 – 08/09/2024
A couple of engineering trains passing Poole just after midnight on 08/09/2024 in preparation for work in the Wool area. GBRf Class 66 No.’s 66798 ‘Justine’ and 66303 were first up forming a short ballast train 6G15 2305 Eastleigh East Yard to Wool Signal PW5255 followed quickly after by Colas Rail owned Plasser & Theurer 08-16/4x4C100-RT Tamper No. DR73931 ‘Brian Hill’ working 6J86 2338½ Brockenhurst Down Siding to Wareham.
North Dorset Route Learning runs: 10/09/2024: GBRf Class 66 No. 66731 ‘Capt. Tom Moore, A True British Inspiration’ ran light engine through Sherborne and Gillingham working 0Z47 1145 Eastleigh East Yard to Honiton and the corresponding return 0Z48 1521 Honiton to Eastleigh East Yard. The following week Monday to Friday saw the following schedules diagrammed: 0Z47 1145 Eastleigh East Yard to Honiton and 0Z48 1517 Honiton to Eastleigh East Yard. with the following running; 16/09/2024: operated by 66727 ‘Maritime One’. 17/09/2024: 66770, 18/09/2024: 69006. The Thursday and Friday moves were cancelled.
Colas operated rail delivery train ran 12/13th September 2024 with Class 66 No. 66791, on hire from GBRf and 66849 ‘Wylam Dilly’. The outward run reported as 6C19 2251 Eastleigh East Yard to Dorchester South, while the return was 6C19 0525 Dorchester South to Eastleigh East Yard
On hire from GBRf Class 66 No. 66791 with Colas decals applied stands at Dorchester South having arrived working 6C19 2251 Eastleigh East Yard to Dorchester South – 13/09/2024 (Image courtesy of Scott Lewis)Class 66 No. 66791 at Dorchester South working 6C19 2251 Eastleigh East Yard to Dorchester South – 13/09/2024 (Image courtesy of Scott Lewis)Colas Class 66 No. 66849 ‘Wylam Dilly’ passing Poole at the rear of 6C19 2251 Eastleigh East Yard to Dorchester South – 13/09/2024 (Image courtesy of Tony Henley)
What we like to call the North Dorset New Measurement Train ran on 19/09/2024 with Colas Class 43 HST power cars No.’s 43251 and 43357 working 1Q23 0552 Reading to Salisbury via Exeter.
The October 2024 edition of “Railway Modeller” features a very well illustrated article on the impressive “Bournemouth West” model layout>
October 2024 edition of “Railway Modeller”Yoshi gets some ideas from the “Railway Modeller”
Hamworthy Branch
I followed up my email to Network Rail of twelve months ago to ask if there was any more information regarding the 2025 date previously given for rail traffic to commence on the Hamworthy Branch – I received the following response today (18/09/2024):
“Subject
Information Request – Hamworthy Branch, Dorset
Response By E-mail (Simon) (18/09/2024 04.34 PM)
Hi Andrew,
Thanks for getting in touch – I have reached out to the team concerned and although there’s not specifically anything more to add to the previous reply, I can let you know that we’re still on course for reactivating the terminal and running trains in 2025. You’d be surprised I’m sure if I didn’t add the proviso that this is always subject to change, but certainly 2025 is still looking good as of now.
I hope that helps for now,
Kind Regards
Simon
Community Relations – Network Rail”
That’s it for another blog entry – thank you for reading! We’ll be back soon with a look at the remainder of Dorset special railway workings and our trip North of the Border to photograph Scottish High Speed Trains. Grateful thanks to all corrections, submissions and suggestions. Be seeing you!
Yoshi pauses during a walk along the River Stour in Blandford. The two arches behind our boy are all that remain of the original structure that took the Somerset and Dorset Railway across Langton Meadows. The railway closed in 1966 and the Blandford Railway Arches Trust Limited, in partnership with Blandford Town Council are working to conserve the arches – 08/04/2024
April 1st 2024 to April 13th 2024
Yoshi visits the Dolphin Centre in Poole – 02/04/2024
Yoshi was recently quite perturbed on finding out Barclays Bank have been closing branches across Dorset, with both Weymouth and Poole getting the axe. To replace their High Street presence in Poole, the bank have opened a pod within the town’s Dolphin Shopping Centre. The decline of bank branches in the UK has been attributed to banking consumers’ changing habits and technological changes. Yoshi waited patiently in the ever growing queue at the pod when he wanted to transact business ensuring he had enough pocket money in his account to keep him in Beef & Poultry flavour Mini Tasty treats.
Our first railway themed adventure in April 2024 took place during an overnight trip to the Greater Manchester area. The purpose of our trip was to visit friends, but me being me, I was unable to resist the lure of checking out Real Time Trains and seeing what might be seen on the local tracks. I immediately noticed that regular Class 60 hauled freight trains were scheduled to pass through Rochdale, Lancashire where we were staying the night.
As we drove along the A664, Edinburgh Way, on the outskirts of Rochdale towards our hotel, we passed under a blue railway bridge with a sign welcoming us to “Rochdale – birthplace of co-operation”. The metropolitan borough in north-west England has long boasted of its association with the 28 mill workers, known as the “Rochdale Pioneers”, who opened their Co-Operative shop in the town on Toad Lane in 1844, devising the “principles” which became the model for cooperatives worldwide.
It conveniently transpired that our hotel was located a few minutes walk from the railway line running through Rochdale and while out walking Yoshi prior to our heading to bed, we took a stroll just in time to see a Class 60 pass over the A664 blue railway bridge with a Drax Power Station to Liverpool Biomass Terminal train of empty wagons.
The trains supplying Drax use distinctive state of the art biomass wagons – the largest on UK railways – designed specifically to transport and unload wood pellets.
The UK Central Electricity Generating Board began building Drax in 1967 to utilise coal from the Selby coalfield, and in 1974 it begins generating electricity for the first time. The power station is officially opened in 1975, with three generators and a total electrical capacity of just under 2 gigawatts (GW). It had the capability to power around two million homes but by 1986, Drax had doubled in size and capacity to just under 4 GW, becoming the largest power station in the UK.
In 1990, Drax Power Station comes under the ownership of National Power, one of three power generation companies created as part of the privatisation of the electricity industry in England and Wales. Nine years later, the power station is acquired by the US-based AES corporation for £1.87 billion but part ways in 2003 after one of the power station’s major customers goes into administration. As creditors, various financial institutions take control of Drax Power Station. 2005 saw the power station undergoing refinancing and Drax Group plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange.
In 2012, Drax committed to transforming the business into a mainly biomass-fuelled generator using compressed wood pellets in place of coal by upgrading the three generating units that came online in the early 1970’s to run on 100% sustainable biomass, with no use of coal. The first upgraded generating unit came online in 2013 and ten years later in April 2023 Drax announced the official end of coal-fired generation at Drax Power Station.
As I previously noted above, there are numerous daily paths to and from Drax which pass through Rochdale. So, in order to catch a view of these workings, I elected to get up early on the Thursday morning and drove the five minute journey to Castleton railway station. On arrival at 0530, in good time to witness 6E36 0205 Liverpool Biomass Tml to Drax AES (GBRf) pass through, the station was in darkness. Luckily for me, the lights flickered into life prior to Class 60 No. 60076 ‘Dunbar’ rumbling through the unstaffed station.
Screenshot of GBRf Class 60 No. 60076 ‘Dunbar’ running through Castleton working 6E36 0205 Liverpool Biomass Tml to Drax AES (GBRf) – 04/04/2024Northern Trains Class 150 No.’s 150120 and 150110 stop at Castleton railway station working 2B89 0551 Rochdale to Blackburn – 04/04/2024
Stopping train services at Castleton are currently provided by Northern Trains utilising Class 195 and Class 150 diesel multiple units. TransPennine Express train services also pass through the station.
GBRf Class 60 No. 60096 ‘Impetus’ on the approach to Castleton working 6M34 0545 Drax AES (GBRf) to Tuebrook Sidings (GBRf) – 04/04/2024
The first station to be opened in Castleton was in 1839, situated on the western side of the Rochdale to Manchester Road bridge and was originally called “Blue Pits for Heywood”. The existing station opened on 1st November 1875, on the eastern side of the road bridge. The Liverpool and Bury Railway from Bolton once joined the main line at a triangular junction just south of the station. This was previously a busy passenger and freight route utilised by trains avoiding Manchester, but was closed to passengers on 5th October 1970. Castleton station was formerly part of the Oldham Loop Line which provided through services to Oldham via Rochdale. This route was closed in 2009 and converted for light rail use by Manchester Metrolink.
The western portion of this line was retained for freight traffic after passenger trains ceased serving the coal depot at Rawtenstall until 1980, and subsequently to the Powell Duffryn wagon works. It now forms the link with the East Lancashire Railway (ELR) at Heywood. Subject to permission being granted by Network Rail (NR, in the future, the heritage line plans to extend its services along and towards a possible new bay platform – given the proposed name “Castleton Village” – which would be adjacent to the main Castleton station. Passengers could then alight from their ELR train and change station sides directly to Northern Rail services on the national network.
Video from Castleton – April 2024
We arrived back in Dorset on Thursday evening in time to see Colas operated Ultrasonic Test Unit (UTU) head towards Weymouth propelled by Class 37 No. 37254 ‘Cardiff Canton’ with DBSO No. 9714 leading on the outward leg of 3Q45 2103 Woking Up Yard Reception to Reading Triangle Sidings.
Screenshot of Class 37 No. 37254 ‘Cardiff Canton at the rear of Ultrasonic Test Unit (UTU) passing Hamworthy reporting as 3Q45 2103 Woking Up Yard Reception to Reading Triangle Sidings – 05/04/2024
Video of UTU 3Q45 2103 Woking Up Yard Reception to Reading Triangle Sidings – 05/04/2024
The following day, Friday 5th April 2024, and we were back at Hamworthy station as Swanage resident Class 33 No. 33012 (D6515) ‘Lt Jenny Lewis RN’ escaped the heritage railway and ventured out onto the mainline as she headed off to Eastleigh to collect preserved Class 50 No. 50026 ‘Indomitable’. The two locomotives returned later in the day. The Class 50 is visiting the Swanage Railway to undertake power testing to ensure it is fit and ready to earn a mainline running certificate. More news on this is expected from the locomotives owners in the next few weeks.
Class 33 No. 33012 (D6515) ‘Lt Jenny Lewis RN’ runs light engine into Hamworthy as 0Z33 1130 Swanage to Eastleigh Arlington (Zg) – 05/04/2024Class 33 No. 33012 (D6515) ‘Lt Jenny Lewis RN’ running light engine passing Hamworthy as 0Z33 1130 Swanage to Eastleigh Arlington (Zg) – 05/04/2024Class 33 No. 33012 (D6515) ‘Lt Jenny Lewis RN’ hauling Class 50 No. 50026 ‘Indomitable’ approaching Hamworthy reporting as 0Z50 1430 Eastleigh Arlington (Zg) to Swanage – 05/04/2024 – 05/04/2024Class 50 No. 50026 ‘Indomitable’ being hauled by Swanage resident Class 33 No. 33012 (D6515) ‘Lt Jenny Lewis RN’ at Hamworthy – 05/04/2024
Video of D6515 & 50026 passing Hamworthy – 05/04/2024Yoshi after his date with the groomer. We celebrated by popping into the boys’ favourite pub – 05/04/2024
Hamworthy Branch update
The new electrical cabinet at Hamworthy Park crossing on Ashmore Avenue has been installed and the old one removed.
New cabinet at Hamworthy Park level crossing – 05/04/2024
For The Record
The New Measurement Train (NMT) visited North Dorset on Thursday April 4th top and tailed by former High Speed Train (HST) Class 43 power cars No.’s 43274 and 43257 which formed 1Q23 0555 Reading to Salisbury via Exeter.
Saturday 6th April 2024 and North Dorset witnessed the sight of preserved Hasting’s Unit operating “The Cogload Climber” rail tour run by Hastings Diesels Limited. The train passed through Sherborne and Gillingham on its return leg working as 1Z15 1440 Exeter Central to Hastings. Unfortunately, although I had planned to photograph and video the train as it made its way to and from Devon, this just wasn’t meant to be.
However, good friend of this blog, @smithy.377 has very kindly allowed us to share the following images and video of the tour in Exeter.
Diesel-Electric Multiple Unit (DEMU) No. 1001 led by Class 202/6L Power Car 60118 ‘Tunbridge Wells’ at Exeter St Davids prior to departure up to Exeter Central working the “Cogload Climber” railtour reporting as 1Z14 0630 Hastings to Exeter Central – 06/04/2024 (Ashley Smith, @smithy.377)
No. 1001 is a Diesel-Electric Multiple Unit (DEMU) which once worked on the London Charing Cross to Hastings route in British Rail days between 1957 and 1986. Following withdrawal, the train was subsequently preserved by Hastings Diesels Limited (HDL), restored to its former glory and returned to main-line operation ten years later, in 1996.
Unit No. 1001 at Exeter Central having arrived with “The Cogload Climber” 1Z14 0630 Hastings to Exeter Central – 06/04/2024 (Ashley Smith/ @smithy.377)Unit No. 1001 at Exeter Central having arrived with “The Cogload Climber” 1Z14 0630 Hastings to Exeter Central – 06/04/2024 (Ashley Smith/ @smithy.377)Unit No. 1001 Class 202/6L Power Car No. 60116 ‘Mountfield’ in the bay platform at Exeter Central having arrived with “The Cogload Climber” 1Z14 0630 Hastings to Exeter Central – 06/04/2024 (Ashley Smith/ @smithy.377)Unit No. 1001 at Exeter Central working “The Cogload Climber” 1Z14 0630 Hastings to Exeter Central – 06/04/2024 (Ashley Smith/ @smithy.377)Unit No. 1001 at Exeter Central forming “The Cogload Climber” railtour. The train departed reporting as 1Z15 1440 Exeter Central to Hastings – 06/04/2024 (Ashley Smith/ @smithy.377)
“The Cogload Climber” railtour at Exeter – 06/04/2024. Video courtesy of Ashley Smith / @smithy.377
In other news, Network Rail (NR), who are responsible for UK railway infrastructure, is to spend approximately £2.8billion on protecting railways from extreme weather events over the next 5 years. The government owned organisation will fund measures such as making embankments more resilient, recruiting almost 400 extra drainage engineers, training operational staff to better interpret weather forecasts and installing CCTV at sites with known flood risks.
Collapsing embankments are causing major disruption to train services, including those which serve Dorset, and measures to prevent these occurring are required in the face of higher than average rainfall. The spending is part of NR’s £45.4billion investment plan for the next five years.
Weymouth railway station on 8th April when ASLEF industrial action meant no SWR trains were running. Class 444 EMU’s No.’s 444003 and 444005 stand at platform out of use while GWR Class 165 Turbo DMU No. 165101 forms the 2V60 0930 Weymouth to Gloucester service – 08/04/2024
The train drivers union, ASLEF, launched a new round of industrial action on Friday 5th April 2024 with the commencement of rolling one day strikes across 14 rail companies. In addition, five days of overtime bans caused further cancellations. The dispute has now entered its 22nd month.
SWR Class 444 No.’s 444036 and 444045 at Weymouth on the ASLEF strike which meant very few SWR services ran – 08/04/2024
Yoshi and I visited Blandford on the morning of 8th April and took a walk along the River Stour so we could view the “Blandford Railway Arches”, the only physical remaining evidence the Somerset and Dorset Railway once traversed over the river. You can read more about the rise and demise of Blandford’s railway history here.
A bridge to nowhere… the decision to close the Somerset and Dorset Railway connecting Bath and Bournemouth is one of the great tragedies of the Beeching Era. Yoshi pauses on a walk along the River Stour – 08/04/2024 For over 100 years the flood arches on Langton Meadows carried the Somerset and Dorset railway over the biodiversity rich Stour flood plain. When the railway closed, most of the infrastructure was demolished, but the arches were left standing, an unlisted but much-loved asset and memorial to the town’s Victorian industrial heritage. When North Dorset District Council considered demolishing them, public opinion in opposition resulted in Blandford Forum Town Council (BFTC) seeking a long-term lease for the structure so that it could be preserved – 08/04/2024
That brings us to the end of another blog entry. Thank you for reading, your comments and corrections, which are always welcome. Be seeing you!
End Piece:
The British Rail Class 165 Networker Turbo is a fleet of suburban Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) passenger trains, originally specified by and built for the British Rail Thames and Chiltern Division of Network South East (NSE). They were built by British Rail Engineering Limited (BREL) York Works between 1990 and 1992. GWR Class 165 No. 165101 forming 2V60 0930 Weymouth to Gloucester – 08/04/2024The British Rail Class 166 Networker Turbo Express is a fleet of DMU passenger trains, built by ABB Transportation in York between 1992 and 1993. The trains were designed as a faster, air-conditioned variant of the Class 165 Turbo, intended for longer-distance services, and, like the 165’s, belong to the Networker family. GWR Class 166 No.166216 at Weymouth forming 2V72 1528 Weymouth to Gloucester – 11/04/2024
Freightliner Class 66 locomotives No.’s 66520 and 66512 at Bincombe during engineering work reporting as 6Y85 2348 Eastleigh East Yard to Dorchester South – 18/03/2024
March 16th 2024 to March 22nd 2024
Maintenance work between Dorchester and Weymouth closed the railway line from Monday 18th to Wednesday 20th March 2024 affecting both South Western Railway (SWR) and Great Western Railway (GWR) services along this route. In association with the work, an engineers train, in the hands of Freightliner, worked from Eastleigh East Yard to Dorchester South overnight of 16/17th March, arriving in the County Town at 0156 on the Monday morning, approximately 46 minutes behind schedule. We saw the train pass through Hamworthy, top and tailed by Class 66 locomotives No.’s 66520 and 66512, at which point it was running 36 minutes late.
Freightliner Class 66 No. 66520 leads through Hamworthy working 6Y85 2348 Eastleigh East Yard to Dorchester South – 17/03/2024FL Class 66 No. 66512 brings up the rear on 6Y85 2348 Eastleigh East Yard to Dorchester South passing Hamworthy – 17/03/2024
As we arrived at the station in good time to see the engineering train heading to Weymouth, we were surprised to see an empty coaching stock movement, formed of SWR Class 444 No. 444001 passing through Hamworthy just after 0100 on its way to Bournemouth Traincare depot working as 5W71 0041 Weymouth to Bournemouth TRSMD. A result of the line being closed in the Poole area on the Sunday meant trains from London Waterloo terminated at Bournemouth. A replacement bus service ran to stations between Bournemouth and Wareham with a shuttle train service operating between Wareham and Weymouth during the day.
The worksite necessitating the Monday to Wednesday line closure was located in the Bincombe area, where track would receive the attention of a tamper and gain some fresh ballast. We popped out on Monday afternoon to take a look at what was going on, expecting to find the two Class 66 locomotives parked up on the down line between Bincombe Tunnel and Bincombe Tunnel Number 2. Instead we found Quattro Group’s Mercedes rail road vehicle ‘Mad Vax’ and one of their tracked Road Rail Vehicles (RRV).
A RailRoad vehicle at Bincombe – 18/03/2024Quattro Group’s Mad Vax vacuum excavation system, which won the Most Innovative RRV Product Award at the National Rail Awards in 2019, prepares to do its stuff at Bincombe. Quattro Group are rightly proud of this piece of kit; “The Mad Vax vacuum excavation system has all the power and performance needed to complete a wide array of rail applications from ballast removal to spillage clean up operation. The unit’s spoil capacity is an impressive 6m3, and with a side tipping hopper it can be emptied lineside, utilising a special split-lid spoil tank to give a lower overall profile and to reduce overall tipping height for works under overhead power cables or at a suitable location when off track. The machine is also equipped with a Powerarm and IKE rotating suction tube to aid in breaking up harder ground for improved efficiency.” – 18/03/2024Bincombe worksite for the March 2024 maintenance work – 18/03/2024
After a quick chat with friend of this blog, Robin, we drove off towards Upwey to see if the engineers train was stabled near the railway station. Despite much of the line side trees and vegetation having been cut back, there was no sign of the Freightliner train. After refreshments at The Royal Standard in Upwey, we proceeded to drive back towards Dorchester when, glancing to the right as we came over the brow of Ridgeway hill, we could see the unmistakable sight of a Class 66 locomotive. Parking the car in the next lay-by, I crossed over the road and proceeded along the footpath back in the direction of Weymouth to see if it was possible to get a photo of the train at rest.
Class 66 No. 66512 stands out amidst the Dorset countryside – 18/03/2024
I was quite pleased with the resulting photo of the train parked at the northern portal of Bincombe Tunnel, perfectly placed for a photograph imho.
Because I liked the shot so much, another view of Freightliner Class 66 locomotives No.’s 66520 and 66512 at Bincombe during engineering work reporting as 6Y85 2348 Eastleigh East Yard to Dorchester South – 18/03/2024A tamper sits in the sidings at Dorchester South waiting to be deployed at Bincombe – 18/03/2024 (G E Barrett)
The Class 66’s returned to Eastleigh on the afternoon of Tuesday 19th March. It was quite a novelty to see a local engineers train working in daylight hours!
Class 66 No. 66512 awaiting departure with 6Y85 1454 Dorchester South to Eastleigh East Yard – 19/03/2024 (G E Barrett)Class 66 No. 66520 in the gloom of a wet Dorchester South at the rear of 6Y85 1454 Dorchester South to Eastleigh East Yard – 19/03/2024 (G E Barrett)Freightliner Class 66 No. 66512 ready to depart from Dorchester South working 6Y85 1454 Dorchester South to Eastleigh East Yard – 19/03/2024 (G E Barrett)Freightliner Class 66 No. 66512 leads on 6Y85 1454 Dorchester South to Eastleigh East Yard passing Hamworthy – 19/03/2024Freightliner Class 66 No. 66520 runs through Hamworthy at the rear of 6Y85 1454 Dorchester South to Eastleigh East Yard – 19/03/2024
Video of Freightliner Class 66 No.’s 66520 and 66512 working a Dorset engineering train – March 2024 (Additional video courtesy of G E Barrett)
The monthly New Measurement Train (NMT) which is scheduled to visit Weymouth via the West route through Maiden Newton was curtailed at Yeovil on Wednesday 20th March 2024 owing to the line closure between Dorchester and Weymouth. Allocated Class 43 High Speed Train (HST) power cars No.’s 43357 and 43277 worked 1Q18 0748 Derby RTC to Bristol Kingsland Road.
While the NMT was making its way to Somerset, I could be found at Norden on the Swanage Railway watching visiting South Eastern & Chatham Railway (SECR) Class O1 steam locomotive No. 65 being prepped for towing down to Swanage in readiness for the railways Victorian Weekend. Resident preserved Birmingham Rail & Carriage Works (BR&CW) Class 33 No. 33111 had the task of collecting No. 65 and hauling her down to Swanage.
Swanage resident Class 33/1 No. 33111 cautiously hauls South Eastern & Chatham Railway (SECR) Class O1 steam locomotive No. 65 away from Norden sidings – 20/03/2024South Eastern & Chatham Railway (SECR) Class O1 steam locomotive No. 65 at Norden during the operation to haul her to Swanage in readiness for the railway’s Victorian Weekend – 20/03/3024Class 33/1 No. 33111 hauls South Eastern & Chatham Railway (SECR) Class O1 steam locomotive No. 65 as they depart Norden station heading to Swanage – 20/03/2024
SECR O1 No. 65 arrives on the Swanage Railway – 20/03/2024
The following day, I hitched a lift with friend of the blog Jamie for a visit to Maiden Newton to see Colas Railfreight Class 37 No.’s 37175 and 37219 ‘Jonty Jarvis’ top and tailing a Structure Gauging Train on its way from Westbury to Weymouth and return. The working left Westbury around two hours late and I probably aged Jamie by a few years by claiming we had plenty of time to make the journey over to see the train! We arrived in Maiden Newton with ten minutes to spare.
Great Western Railway Class 166 No. 166210 on the approach to Maiden Newton working 2V68 1328 Weymouth to Gloucester – 21/03/2024Colas Railfreight Class 37 No. 37175 on the approach to Maiden Newton leading on 3Q14 1021 Westbury Down Yard to Westbury Down Yard – 21/03/2024Colas Railfreight Class 37 No. 37175 with 37219 ‘Jonty Jarvis’ at the rear at Maiden Newton leading on 3Q14 1021 Westbury Down Yard to Westbury Down Yard on the outward leg to Weymouth – 21/03/2024On the return leg of 3Q14 1021 Westbury Down Yard to Westbury Down Yard Colas Class 37 No. 37219 ‘Jonty Jarvis’ leads into Maiden Newton – 21/03/2024 Colas Class 37 No. 37219 ‘Jonty Jarvis’ pauses at Maiden Newton as the driver collects to token to allow the train to progress onto the next single line section of track – 21/03/2024Great Western Railway Class 166 Turbo’s cross at Maiden Newton; No.166220 working 2O76 1110 Gloucester to Weymouth and No. 166210 forms 2V68 1328 Weymouth to Gloucester – 21/03/2024
Maiden Newton trains – 21/03/2024
Later that night, another engineering train ventured into Dorset in conjunction with work in the Christchurch area. I didn’t see train 6N75 2300 Eastleigh East Yard to Christchurch arrive, but I did get up early Friday morning to see DB Class 66 No. 66118 and pioneer shed No. 66001 departing Bournemouth as they returned with their train to Eastleigh East Yard this time working as 6N75 0505 Bournemouth to Eastleigh East Yard. It was so early, Bournemouth railway station was still locked up when I arrived. However the train departed around 20 minutes behind schedule, but not wanting to risk missing filming the departure, I stood steadfastly at my vantage point overlooking the station when I could have easily ventured down to platform level once the station was opened up to the travelling public for the first passenger trains of the day.
With Bournemouth railway station as its backdrop, DB Cargo Class 66 No. 66118 awaits departure working 6N75 0505 Bournemouth to Eastleigh East Yard – 22/03/2024DB Cargo Class 66 No. 66118 at Bournemouth leading on 6N75 0505 Bournemouth to Eastleigh East Yard – 22/03/2024DB Cargo Class 66 No. 66001 at the rear of 6N75 0505 Bournemouth to Eastleigh East Yard – 22/03/2024DB Cargo Class 66 No. 66001 awaits departure of 6N75 0505 Bournemouth to Eastleigh East Yard – 22/03/2024
DB Cargo Class 66’s at Bournemouth – 22/03/2024
HAMWORTHY BRANCH
Poole Harbour Commissioners (PHC) Annual Stakeholders Open Evening 2024 – 20/03/2024
Poole Harbour Commissioners (PHC) Annual Stakeholders Open Evening 2024 took place on 20th March in the North Lounge of the Passenger Terminal. We went along to see if there were any updates on the restoration of freight traffic along the Hamworthy Branch which runs down to the port area from a junction to the mainline at Hamworthy railway station. PHC CEO Captain Brian Murphy said; “We are very fortunate to have the port railway. We haven’t used it for some time, but it’s there and it aligns perfectly with our decarbonisation goals. Modal shift is the best way to get transport off the roads. We want to grow the business, we want to grow the freight. We want more cargo through the port but we’d rather actually get as much as possible on to rail rather than the roads. So this does align with the governments ambitious targets which are of part of their 2050 plan for clean maritime and reducing carbon emissions and there has been a lot of work which has actually happened thus far. The commissioners have invested quite heavily in securing the lease that runs from the port all the way to the mainline and there has been a lot of upgrading work which has happened on the Hamworthy Branch. We’ve got a little bit more to do in terms of in the port but we are looking at the business case and hopefully it all aligns. But clearly in terms of ownership, it’ll be a lot of trucks off the road so very excited about that project.”
We recently learned of the passing of our friend and fellow railway enthusiast, Syd Brown. Syd has been a transport enthusiast for many years and could regularly be found supporting local transport events. He was an active member of the old Dorset Transport Circle in times past. Syd’s working life was spent in Dorset County Council’s Roads and Bridges department (now known as Transport and Engineering) and he was also an official in the Dorset County branch of NALGO (now UNISON). Our condolences to Syd’s family.
Thank you for reading and for your comments and corrections. We’ll be back soon with our record of our day attending the Swanage Railway Victorian Weekend. Be seeing you!
Postscript:
Will we ever see trains coming off the Hamworthy Branch again? Back in 2017, DB Cargo Class 60 No. 60054 heads towards the mainline at Hamworthy while South West Trains (SWT) Class 444 No. 444032 waits at platform with a Weymouth service – 17/02/2017 DB Cargo Class 60 No. 60054 draws up to the signal protecting the branch from the mainline at Hamworthy – 17/02/2017
Newly repainted in retro British Rail Blue and Grey livery SWR Class 455 No. 455868 with 455909 behind, awaits departure from Branksome forming 5Y51 1432 Bournemouth T&R.S.M.D to Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs – 06/03/2024
March 1st 2024 to March 16th 2024
March 2024 kicked off with another visit to Dorset from the Snow & Ice Treatment Train (SITT) in the charge of GBRf Class 66 No.’s 66764 ‘Major John Poyntz Engineer & Railwayman’ and 66750 ‘Bristol Panel Signal Box’ working as 3Y89 2200 Totton Yard to Totton Yard. This ran on the evening of Friday 1st March and we saw the train passing through Hamworthy as it headed to Weymouth on its outward run.
GBRf Class 66 No.’s 66764 ‘Major John Poyntz Engineer & Railwayman’ leads through Hamworthy on the SITT 3Y89 2200 Totton Yard to Totton Yard – 01/03/2024
Video of GBRf Class 66 No.’s 66764 ‘Major John Poyntz Engineer & Railwayman’ leads through Hamworthy on the SITT 3Y89 2200 Totton Yard to Totton Yard – 01/03/2024
The following day, Saturday 2nd March, Yoshi exercised his National Trust membership and had an enjoyable day visting Lytes Cary Manor and Montacute House, both located in Somerset. On the way home we took a slight diversion and popped into the independent and dog friendly Winyard’s Gap Inn, situated on the outskirts of Chedington village in West Dorset overlooking the glorious Dorset and Somerset hills. After the First World War, the National Trust donated 16 acres of land close to the pub for a memorial to the 43rd Division of the Dorsetshire Regiment.
Yoshi with National Trust Lytes Cary Manor in the background – 02/03/2024Yoshi and daffodils at Montacute House – 02/03/2024Yoshi likes to walk around the grounds of Montacute House – 02/03/2024Winyards Gap where we stopped off on our way home. There were several doggos in the bar and a roaring fire. Like many amateur photographers, I do occasionally experiment with editing….. – 02/03/2024
Monday 4th March was the planned date for the unveiling of South Western Railway (SWR) retro liveried Class 455/8 Electric Multiple Unit (EMU) No. 455868, as the set was due to form a staff special running from Bournemouth to London Waterloo initially leaving Bournemouth depot as 5Z67 1012 Bournemouth TRSMD to Bournemouth. It was envisaged that SWR’s Managing Director would join the train at Woking in readiness for a ceremony being held at the London Terminus. However, these plans were cancelled following a derailment (or “operational incident” as it was described on the day) between Walton on Thames and Weybridge blocking all lines into Waterloo. This was the effect of a train, reportedly traveling at 90mph, hitting an object on the conductor rail.
A Network Rail Wessex safety bulletin posted on X (formerly Twitter) states the train struck scrap rail left on the track following engineering work:
At 05.50 on Monday 4th March 2024, a passenger train struck scrap rail travelling on the Up Fast line on the four track railway at Walton-on-Thames. This caused the front bogie of the train to partially derail. No passengers on the train were injured. Following the event, all lines were blocked to allow the safe evacuation of passengers. The derailment caused significant damage to the infrastructure. A few minutes before this incident, a train reported striking an object (at the time reported as a possible branch or piece of wood) on the adjacent Up Slow line. This was the third train in the Up direction following weekend engineering works, and the first on the Up Fast line. The works undertaken at the weekend included tamping, ballasting and scrap clearance. The location where the train struck the scrap rail was on a rail road access point (RRAP). This had been used at the weekend as part of a track renewal follow up. The incident is under investigation by the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) and Network Rail.”
Rumours abounded that the newly repainted Class 455 would sneak out of the depot later on the Monday, and when that didn’t happen, it was said to be working to Wimbledon on the Tuesday. And when that run didn’t materialise, news came that it would definitely depart Bournemouth Traction & Rolling Stock Maintenance Depot on the Wednesday! So that’s how we found ourselves on Branksome Station after lunch on March 6th, delighted to be one of the first to see No. 458868 in all her retro glory as she formed the 5Y51 1432 Bournemouth T&RSMD to Wimbledon Park Depot Sidings working along with fellow classmate No. 455909 which is still in red SWT livery.
While we waited for the celebrity Class 455 to appear, we saw one of the Class 701 Arterio test runs heading to Poole (as well as its return leg). The introduction of these units is severely delayed, but once they are cascaded onto suburban services, the Class 455’s will be withdrawn from service.
Five-Car SWR Class 701’s on test as No. 701530 leads to Poole working 5Q51 1115 London Waterloo to Staines Up Loop – 06/03/2024SWR Class 701 No. 701510 leads on the return working of 5Q51 1115 London Waterloo to Staines Up Loop – 06/03/2024Class 455 No. 455909 in SWT red livery leads No. 455868 into Branksome working 5Y51 1432 Bournemouth T&R.S.M.D to Wimbledon Park Depot Sidings – 06/03/2024Newly repainted in retro British Rail Blue and Grey livery, applied by the paint team at Bournemouth depot, SWR Class 455 No. 455868 with 455909 behind, awaits departure from Branksome forming 5Y51 1432 Bournemouth T&R.S.M.D to Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs – 06/03/2024
The retro look of No. 458868 is inspired by the original British Rail Blue and Minerva Grey livery that passengers would have seen when the trains first arrived on British Rail Southern Region in 1982. To meet modern accessibility standards, some slight changes have been made, with the units’ doors fully painted in Minerva Grey.
SWR’s name is displayed as are 12 Golden Spanners, commemorating Wimbledon Depot’s 12 award wins at the Modern Railways Golden Spanner awards in the category of Ex-British Rail Electrical Multiple Units. It’s presumed that this retro-painted train will be one of the last of its class to be taken out of service and likely to have a special farewell tour when that time arrives.
Underneath each of the Class 455 cab windows of No. 455868 there are 12 Golden Spanners, commemorating Wimbledon Depot’s 12 award wins at the Modern Railways Golden Spanner awards in the category of Ex-British Rail Electrical Multiple Units – 06/03/2024
A pair of refurbished Class 458 EMU’s were also out on day release from Bournemouth depot performing a test run, and we managed to snap a couple of shots of these as they arrived at Branksome to run into the depot before we headed home.
Refurbished Class 458/4 No.’s 458416 and 458424 approach Branksome working 5Q91 1320 Basingstoke to Bournemouth T&R.S.M.D – 06/03/2024Awaiting reversal into the depot, SWR Class 458/4 No. 458424 sits at Branksome railway station working 5Q91 1320 Basingstoke to Bournemouth T&R.S.M.D – 06/03/2024
Video featuring retro-BR livery SWR Class 455 No. 455868 – 06/03/2024
Monday 11th March and the monthly Class 73 top and tailed Colas Railfreight operated test train ventured onto our metals again. GBRf No.’s 73963 ‘Janice’ and 73961 ‘Alison’ took the honours this time working 1Q51 1005 Derby R.T.C.(Network Rail) to Eastleigh East Yard. We were also able to see a nocturnal Class 701 run departing Poole prior to the Class 73’s arriving.
Ten-Car SWR Class 701 No. 701003 pauses briefly at Poole forming the return 5Q52 1844 Eastleigh to Eastleigh TRSMD having reversed in Poole Storage Sidings – 11/03/2024Dorsetway line stalwart Class 444 No.444027 reaches journeys end working 1B57 1835 London Waterloo to Poole – 11/03/2024GBRf Class 73 Electro-Diesel No.’s 73963 ‘Janice’ and 73961 ‘Alison’ arrive at Poole top and tailing 1Q51 1005 Derby R.T.C.(Network Rail) to Eastleigh East Yard – 11/03/2024GBRf Class 73 No. 73961 ‘Alison’ at the rear of 1Q51 1005 Derby R.T.C.(Network Rail) to Eastleigh East Yard pauses at Poole – 11/03/2024
Video of GBRf Class 73 Electro-Diesel No.’s 73963 ‘Janice’ and 73961 ‘Alison’ passing Poole top and tailing 1Q51 1005 Derby R.T.C.(Network Rail) to Eastleigh East Yard – 11/03/2024
Wednesday 14th March saw more Class 458 Unit drags taking place to and from Bournemouth depot – this time with a variation in paths from recent similar movements when two locomotives have been employed – one loco at each end of the train to enable reversing into the depot sidings from Branksome railway station. On this run, only one locomotive was allocated to the train, necessitating a run round at Poole. This was believed to be at trial for future unit drag operations and saves the cost of hiring two locomotives by employing T7 EMU translator coaches which enable locomotives with standard hook and shackle couplers to move multiple units fitted with tightlock couplers. The coaches were converted at Eastleigh Arlington in 2014 from two ex-Class 508 Driving Motor Coaches, sourced from unit No. 508027, purposely for use on stock drags and make shunting simpler.
T7 barrier translator coach No. 64707 ‘Labezerin’ at the rear of 5Q64 Southampton Down Loop to Bournemouth T&RSMD – 13/03/2024
The two bright green T7 barrier translator coaches are registered as No. 64707 ‘Labezerin’ and No. 64664 ‘Liwet’ – both cars being named after angels; Labezerin is the genius of success in talismanic magic. He serves in the second hour of the day and, according to angelic lore, Liwet presides over unique ideas and inventions. So now you know.
We went to Poole railway station to see Class 69 No. 69008 ‘Richard Howe’ hauling refurbished SWR Class 458 No. 458415 arriving with 5Q64 Southampton Down Loop to Bournemouth T&RSMD before heading out to Poole Storage Sidings where the locomotive would detach and run round its train. Poole Town Bridge is closed for two weeks for its annual maintenance and I was caught out with a bridge lift at Twin Sails, and arrived at Poole Station with minutes to spare. Unfortunately, the camera on my phone was ‘hunting’ it recorded the train running through platform 2 resulting in out of focus video and the SD card in my DSLR malfunctioned. Not a promising start!
Rebuilt from Class 56 No. 56038, GBRf Class 69 locomotive No. 69008 recently named after driver ‘Richard Howe’ at Poole whilst running round its train which has been deposited in Poole Storage Sidings – 13/03/2024GBRf Class 69 locomotive No. 69008 ‘Richard Howe’ running into Poole railway station before heading back out to Poole Storage Sidings and recouping to its train – 13/03/2024
Later in the day, I opted to film the return working at Branksome as under cover of darkness, No. 69008 left Bournemouth depot on the first leg of its journey up to Widnes with Class 458 No. 458521, the next unit in line for refurbishment and conversion, working as 5Z66 1937 Bournemouth T&RSMD to Eastleigh East Yard. We also saw another SWR Class 701 Arterio test run and several passenger and empty coaching stock movements. You can watch events in the video below.
Video from Poole, Branksome and Parkstone – 13/03/2024
15th March and the Snow & Ice Treatment Train made another Friday evening visit on the Bournemouth to Weymouth line, reporting as 3Y89 2200 Totton Yard to Totton Yard and once again being top ‘n tailed by GBRf Class 66 No.’s 66764 ‘Major John Poyntz Engineer & Railwayman’ and 66750 ‘Bristol Panel Signal Box’.
GBRf Class 66 No.’s 66764 ‘Major John Poyntz Engineer & Railwayman’ and 66750 ‘Bristol Panel Signal Box’ working 3Y89 2200 Totton Yard to Totton Yard passing Hamworthy – 15/03/2024
View From North Dorset:
07/03/2024 – The New Measurement Train (NMT) passed through North Dorset with Network Rail Yellow liveried Class 43 HST power cars No.’s 43062 and 43013 as 1Q23 0556 Reading to Exeter via Salisbury.
Class 37 No. 37607 pauses at Yeovil Junction working the return leg of 3Q07 Exeter Riverside N.Y. to Exeter Riverside N.Y. (Scott Lewis) – 15/03/2024
Over night on the 14th and 15th March 2024, the Ultrasonic Test Unit (UTU) made an appearance in North Dorset with Harry Needle Class 37 No. 37607 working 3Q07 Exeter Riverside N.Y. to Exeter Riverside N.Y. Friend of the blog and North Dorset Correspondant, Scott, was on hand to see the train passing Gillingham and at Yeovil Junction in the early hours.
Class 37 No. 37607 working 3Q07 Exeter Riverside N.Y. to Exeter Riverside N.Y. Video by kind permission of Scott Lewis – 15/03/2024
HAMWORTHY BRANCH
Work has been taking place at Hamworthy Park Crossing in connection with renewing the electrical supply and the restoration of signalling at this location.
Aiming to restore signalling, work to clear vegetation at Hamworthy Park Crossing began on 7th March – 07/03/2024New ducting etc. has been put in place – 12/03/2024Awaiting new electrical connections. We were told the relay box will also be replaced – 12/03/2024Lineside vegetation clearance has been carried out near Hamworthy Park Crossing – 12/03/2024
February 27th 2024 saw the publication of the new Poole Harbour Commissioners (PHC) Masterplan – which expands on the previous ambition in returning rail freight to the port by utilising the Hamworthy Branch. First published in March 2013, the Masterplan identifies PHC’s vision and strategic outcomes for the next 20 years.
PHC Masterplan in relation to the Hamworthy Branch – February 2024
A date of 2025 for the reinstatement of the rail link is quoted if negotiations with potential stakeholders bear fruit. This ties in with information we have been told previously by Network Rail (NR). This was further supported in the response to a Freedom Of Information Request recently shared on Facebook:
[Network Rail] can confirm that there are plans to resume freight traffic to Poole harbour along the Hamworthy Branch. The project is subject to funding being secured to redevelop the sidings infrastructure within the Port, which would prove the catalyst for some latent demand for sea dredged aggregates traffic to originate from the Port and serve the London and Southeast market.
“There is some potential for container traffic as an onward development, but that is a longer-term prospect and would need to overcome some gauging challenges elsewhere before it could start. The focus will very much be on aggregates traffic and the market should cater for a dally train. There is a potential pot of funding which Network Rail is seeking to utilise for the Poole project but the application for the Port works to be part of this is not confirmed yet.”
From The Archive:
‘Janus’ class 0-6-0DE Yorkshire Engine Co. diesel-mechanical no. 391 ‘Astolat’ (works No.2630 of 1956) at Poole Port. These engines were 0-6-0 wheel arrangement locomotives that weighed 48 long tons and had a maximum speed of 23mph. The two Rolls-Royce C6SFL diesel engines gave a total power output of 400 hp. Each engine had its cooling system at the outer end, and the its generator at the inner end. There were two traction motors, each being powered by one generator, thus simplifying the electrical system. Production began in 1956, and ended in 1965 with 102 Janus locomotives being constructed, mostly for the British steel industry. Other prominent customers included Imperial Chemical Industries (12 locomotives), the Port of London Authority (10), and the National Coal Board (7). Three locomotives were exported. The name Janus is from the two-faced god Janus: the locomotive was symmetrical with two ‘faces’ – 1992 (John Chappell)‘Astolat’ was hired in from Allied Steel & Co., Cardiff from May to November 1992 and is seen at Poole Port – 1992 (John Chappell)
A 1992 glimpse of ‘Astolat’ at Poole Port. Video by John Chappell
DC Tours 1Z24 Hamworthy Quay Phoenix with Class 37 No.’s 37227 & 37902 and Class 33 No. 33114 providing the motive power -15/03/1992 Video by John Chappell
For The Record:
Dorset Council announced it is now part of the North as it declared it would receive £2.068 million each for the years 2023/24 and 2024/25 from the Department for Transport (DafT) ‘Network North fund’, from “reallocated HS2 government funding”, which together with other maintenance and pothole funds, will be dedicated to carriageway maintenance in the council area.
Network Rail and Lambeth council have announced a Vision Statement on future plans for Waterloo Railway Station – the London terminus for the Bournemouth and Weymouth line. Plans include opening up the station undercroft area for public use with new office space built above the station to help fund the upgrade. The masterplan also looks at how the wider area can be improved, with the street outside the front of the station pedestrianised and several of the arches carrying the railway to Charing Cross, directly in front of Waterloo, opened up to form new public walkways. Some of the existing bus and taxi stops could also be relocated to a new enhanced interchange on the south-eastern side of the station.
For more information on future plans for London Waterloo, follow the links below:
That just about brings us to the end of another railway dog blog entry, but just enough time to say on March 16th 2024, Yoshi and I celebrated the fifth anniversary of Gotcha Day. On this day in 2019, Yoshi adopted me and I’ve loved having his companionship ever since.
Thanks for reading, and for your comments and corrections. We’ll be back soon, until then take care. Be seeing you.
Gotcha Day – five years apart!
Postscript:
I doubt we’ll see a Class 455 in former SWT livery again. No. 455713 is seen here approaching Clapham Junction (therailwaydog collection)
The last South Western Railway Class 450 No. 450031 to carry South West Trains Blue Livery working 5B61 2152 Bournemouth to Bournemouth T&R.S.M.D at Branksome – 05/02/2024
February 1st 2024 to February 9th 2024
Colas Railfreight Class 66 No. 66849 ‘Wylam Dilly’ waits with 6C01 at Branksome – 03/02/2024
Over the weekend of 3rd and 4th February 2024, engineering works took place in Branksome station. A small number of track panels were relaid and remedial work carried out to the west of the station. Colas Railfreight were entrusted with providing the motive power for the two Network Rail engineering trains used during these works; 6C01 0013 Eastleigh East Yard to Bournemouth / 6C02 0315 Eastleigh East Yard to Bournemouth on Saturday and the associated return workings; 6C02 0530 Bournemouth to Eastleigh East Yard / 6C01 0630 Bournemouth to Eastleigh East Yard which ran early Sunday morning.
Three Class 66 locomotives were employed, No.’s 66846, 66848 and 66849 ‘Wylam Dilly’. I elected not to watch the trains arrive in the early hours of Saturday morning (I’m mad, but not that mad), and instead hoped I would be able to find them at work during the day. Initial intel was that the work site was most likely Poole Storage Sidings as activity had been observed in the locality during the week. In the event, it was Branksome railway station which saw the majority of the action. I made two visits and was lucky enough to observe both trains being utilised obtaining record shots of all three locomotives engaged at work. This meant that I could also rest easy in bed on the Sunday morning as the trains returned, although, if I’m being completely honest, I was quite tempted to set my alarm to see the Class 66’s departing for their journeys back to Eastleigh!
Colas Railfreight Class 66 No. 66849 ‘Wylam Dilly’ at Branksome. The first wagon containing old sleepers removed from the station area – 03/02/2024Colas Railfreight Class 66 No. 66849 ‘Wylam Dilly’ reversing through Branksome – 03/02/2023Colas Railfreight Class 66 No. 66849 ‘Wylam Dilly’ reversing its train through Branksome, clearing the way for Rail-Road Vehicle’s (RRV’s) to begin work lifting the new track panels into place – 03/02/2024New track panels resting on the Up platform at Branksome – 03/02/2024Road-Rail Vehicles (RRV) prepare to lift the first track panel into place – 03/02/2024The scene after the new track panels had been lowered into place and ballasted – 03/02/2024Colas Railfreight Class 66 No. 66846 at the rear of 6C02 spanning Archway Road – 03/02/2024Colas Railfreight Class 66 No. 66846 – 03/02/2024Colas Railfreight Class 66 No. 66848 at the head of 6C02 – 03/02/2024Colas Railfreight Class 66 No. 66848 having drawn forward to enable work to continue on the track – 03/02/2024Colas Railfreight Class 66 No. 66848 with RRV’s at work near Branksome railway station – 03/02/2024By the afternoon, Colas Railfreight Class 66 No. 66849 ‘Wylam Dilly’ had moved forward to occupy Parkstone railway station – 03/02/2024
Engineering work at Branksome – 03/02/2024
Monday 5th February there was a great deal of chatter on social media channels regarding South Western Railway (SWR) Class 450 No. 450031, believed to be the last remaining member of the class still adorned in the old second generation South West Trains (SWT) blue livery, carried by trains employed mostly on medium distance services. It was heavily implied that No. 450031 was enjoying its last day in service before heading to the paint shops for a repaint into standard SWR white and grey colours. It was quite easy to trace the workings of the unit on Real Time Trains and I found that it was indeed heading to Bournemouth Traction and Rolling Stock Maintenance Depot, due to arrive just after 2200.
Bournemouth depot is southwest of Bournemouth station, occupying the approach to the former Bournemouth West station. The branch leading to Bournemouth T&RSMD turns off at Branksome station where trains can often be seen stopping at platform 2 and reversing into the depot. Hopeful of getting a record shot of quite possibly the last EMU in SWT blue, I headed off to Branksome with friend of this blog, Jamie, to capture this event for posterity.
SWR Class 450 No. 450022 at Branksome awaiting to reverse in the depot working 5W81 2128 Bournemouth to Bournemouth T&R.S.M.D alongside unique Pride liveried Class 444 No. 444019 which is also destined for the depot working 5B60 2131 Poole to Bournemouth T&R.S.M.D – 05/02/2024The last blue Class 450 No. 450031 destined for the paint shop? The Desiro is working 5B61 2152 Bournemouth to Bournemouth T&R.S.M.D and is seen waiting to reverse into the depot at Branksome – 05/02/2024
Contain yourself for Desiro action from Branksome on 5th February 2024, featuring: 444005 – 1W81 1935 London Waterloo to Weymouth 450022 – 5W81 2128 Bournemouth to Bournemouth T&R.S.M.D 444019 – 5B60 2131 Poole to Bournemouth T&R.S.M.D 444007 & 444034 – 5E57 2025 Fareham to Bournemouth T&R.S.M.D 444010 – 1W82 2100 Weymouth to Woking 450031 – 5B61 2152 Bournemouth to Bournemouth T&R.S.M.D
Tuesday, and it was a dash to Christchurch to see GBRf Class 66 No.’s 66759 ‘Chippy’ and 66305 – top and tailing a Network Rail National Delivery Service Schweerbau High Speed Milling Machine consisting of No.’s DR79602/79603/79604 – just after midnight working 6X69 2316 Eastleigh East Yard to Pokesdown. As the weather was rather inclement, I stayed in the dry under the station canopy on the down platform. There was a fair bit of Network Rail activity around Christchurch Railway station, with members of NR’s Orange Army milling around and to be honest, I was hopeful the train would stop in the platform, but it sailed straight through. I was able to catch up with Bob who was also out braving the elements, however. On my drive home, I had a quick look in at Pokesdown to see if I could identify the work site, but I was unable to see any Network Rail activity from my vantage point over looking the station platforms.
Every train that runs on the UK rail network causes an element of wear and tear, and in some causes damage to the rails. In 2002, Network Rail (NR) implemented a process of frequent rail grinding which removes small amounts of metal from the rail surface to maintain the profile – the portion of the track which comes in to contact with the train wheel. Each year, NR grinds more than 5,000 miles of track and more than 3,000 switch units (points) to remove defects and maintain a smooth rolling surface for trains. Passing trains and exposure to the elements can cause cracks; a severe crack not addressed in time can break the rail, leading to potential derailments. All metal removed from the rails is returned and recycled.
The associated return working of the Milling Machine was 6X69 0435 Pokesdown to Eastleigh East Yard.
I think this weeks 6X69 was most likely this machine which I photographed at Eastleigh in the company of Beacon Rail liveried Class 66 No. 66797 in November 2022 – 24/11/2022
6X69 2316 Eastleigh East Yard to Pokesdown passing Christchurch – 07/02/2024
Hamworthy Branch
The Poole Harbour Commissioner’s (PHC) Draft Masterplan Consultation Document is available online. The document is the first draft in the process of updating PHC’s existing Masterplan, published in March 2013, and sets out the strategy and proposals for the future development of the Port over the next twenty years. Following a consultation process, the Final Masterplan is to be approved in early 2024.
In particular interest to this blog is the following (found on page 42 of the Draft Masterplan):
MAXIMISE THE PORT ESTATE POTENTIAL
In addition to the Marine Centre project, we will look at the following activities to make sure we maximise the Port estate’s potential.
EXPLORE POTENTIAL FOR THE RAIL LINK
The Port of Poole is one of the few South CoastUK ports to be rail connected and this link is likelyto become more relevant as the Governmentencourages modal shift of freight traffic to bemoved by rail rather than by the increasinglycongested road system.
Government guidance states that sites should beidentified and protected where they could becritical in developing infrastructure to widenchoices for movement of rail freight.
PHC is in discussion with Network Rail regardingimprovements to the Hamworthy branch line andport siding to align with customers’ expansionplans and transportation of cargo via rail. Rail canalso be a far more environmentally friendly modeof transport than road, aligning with our ambitionsto become a Leading Green Port.
Discussions with potential customers are ongoingand, if successful, could result in the reinstatementof the rail link as early as 2025.
In April 2022, Brittany Ferries announced that ithad given the go ahead for a new rail-freight linkbetween Cherbourg and Bayonne. With supportfrom the French Government, the EU, and theregions of Normandie and Nouvelle Aquitaine, Brittany Ferries will open the ‘rail motorway’linking the port of Cherbourg to the EuropeanFreight Centre at Mouguerre, near Bayonne,thereby connecting Spain to the UK and Irelandvia the French railway network. The launch of thenew service is expected by mid-2024.
This new rail freight link to Cherbourg willprovide opportunities for the Port of Poole toincrease the volume of freight received fromFrance. It is expected that the majority of theonward UK distribution will be via the UK’s Roadnetwork but PHC are in discussion with BrittanyFerries to determine whether their customerswill require onward rail transport within the UK.
This ties in with what we were told by Network Rail last year. We have reached out to prospective users of the rail link, and will update with any responses received.
For The Record
Crewe Railwayana Auctions 18th online telephone/email auction, which runs from Friday 1st March until Sunday 3rd March 2024 has some local interest station totems included. Where did I put my wallet?
What we like to call the “North Dorset New Measurement Train” ran on 8th February 2024 as an all yellow affair bringing back The Flying Banana in all its glory! Class 43 HST power cars No.’s 43062 ‘John Armitt’ and 43013 ‘Mark Carne OBE’ have recently returned to service and this pairing worked 1Q23 05:56 Reading to Salisbury via Exeter. Because of the wet weather, we didn’t make the trip up to Gillingham or Sherborne to see this particular working this month, much as I thought about it!
Here are some shots of “The Flying Banana” from the archive:
Network Rail Class 43 No. 43062 ‘John Armitt’ at the buffer stops in Weymouth having arrived with the New Measurement Train (NMT). John Armitt is an civil engineer with close connections to UK railways including his time as chief executive of Railtrack being appointed in 2001, and from 2002 to 2007 its successor, Network Rail (NR) – 26/07/2012NR Class 43 No. 43014 forms one end of the NMT at Weymouth – 26/07/2012Class 43 No. 43062 ‘John Armitt’ leading the NMT on the approach to Upwey railway station. No. 43014 was at the rear – 28/07/2011Class 43 No.’s 43014 and 43062 ‘John Armitt’ top and tail the NMT up Bincombe bank, Weymouth. The Isle of Portland can be seen in the distance – 26/07/2012The NMT top and tailed by Class 43 HST power cars No.’s 43014 and 43062 ‘John Armitt’ about to enter Bincombe Tunnel near Weymouth – 26/07/2012
The February 2024 edition of “British Railways Illustrated” magazine contains a two page feature entitled “Last Days at Bournemouth Shed” by Keith Chambers.
Yoshi with the latest edition of “British Railways Illustrated” – 09/02/2024The article on Bournemouth Shed in the February 2024 edition of “British Railways Illustrated” caught Yoshi’s eye – 09/02/2024
Thanks again for visiting our little corner of the internet. We welcome and appreciate your comments and corrections – keep them coming! We’ll be back soon, all being well, with an archive look at Bournemouth Depot Open Days in the 1980’s and 1990’s. Be seeing you!
Yoshi visited The London Museum of Water & Steam to celebrate the New Year. In the background are the museum buildings and the impressive Victorian standpipe tower, which is not, as you might expect, a chimney but a brick winter coat for the two systems of vertical pipes – through which water was pumped before it entered the mains water supply – contained within to prevent freezing and is the museum’s most striking feature standing at 200 ft high. The Grade I brick tower, of Italianate design, was constructed in 1867 to replace an earlier open metal lattice structure – 01/01/2024
January 1st 2024 to January 11th 2024
We kicked off 2024 with a visit to the “New Years Steam Up” being held at the London Museum of Water & Steam in Brentford. The Steam Up weekend of celebrations was the first opportunity in two years for people to marvel at the monstrous working steam engines that once provided water to the millions living and working in London. In July 2022, the Museum’s 96 year old Lancashire Boiler failed an inspection when it was discovered one of the seventeen rivets which hold the crown valve mounting flange onto the main boiler shell had lost its heat inside the boiler’s steam space. This meant that the boiler could no longer be used and the steam engines fell silent and still while extensive repairs were carried out. Now, just in time to celebrate the museum’s 50th anniversary the boiler is steaming once again.
Situated on the site of the former Kew Bridge Pumping Station, close to Kew Bridge on the River Thames in West London, the museum is centred on a collection of stationary water pumping steam engines dating from 1820 to 1910. It is the home of the world’s largest collection of working Cornish engines, including the largest working beam engine in the world; the Grand Junction 90 inch.
The Grand Junction 90 inch has a cylinder diameter of 90 inches (hence its name!) and was used to pump water to London for 98 years. This machine is over 40 feet high and weighs about 250 tons. It was described by Charles Dickens as “a monster”. It was built by Sandys, Carne & Vivian of Hayle in 1846 as the first Cornish beam engine specifically designed for water supplies and was powerful enough to supply water to the upper floors of buildings, allowing direct supply to upstairs bathrooms 01/01/2024
We arrived early after a good run in the car up from Dorset and luckily found parking on site in the small car park at the museum, although the site is only a 3 minute walk from Kew Bridge railway station if you chose to arrive by train. There were a number of families in evidence with young children during our visit and the museum is a great place to learn and have fun.
Exhibiting a plethora of steam, diesel and electric powered pumps, the London Museum of Water & Steam tells the story of London’s water supply housed in historic Georgian buildings and they very kindly allowed access to Yoshi, but explained that our boy may not like some of the steam engines when they are working. We duly followed this advice and Yoshi waited with one of his hoomans in the Pump and Grind Coffee Shop or explored the garden area while the machines were being operated. The coffee shop was very busy and served an excellent cuppa. It is run by “Our Barn Community”, a local charity working with young people with learning difficulties enabling a supported work placement.
We have shared just a small fraction of the engineering marvels housed at the museum below:
The Waddon Engine with drove 3 pumps was built by James Simpson & Co of Newarkin 1910 and originally found use at Waddon Pumping Station in Croydon. It was the last steam water-pumping engine in active UK service before being retired in June 1983. It was restored in 1990 and restored to original Edwardian colours for display at the museum – 01/01/2024This waterwheel was built in 1902 by S. Hindley & Sons in Bourton, Dorset for the Duke of Somerset to serve his estate at Maiden Bradley in Wiltshire and was one of the last waterwheels ever built to pump water in the UK – 01/01/2024The Boulton & Watt (West engine) is the oldest engine in the London Museum of Water & Steam having been built in Birmingham in 1820.It was one of a pair moved to Kew in 1840 which were then converted into a Cornish type between 1846 and 1848. Retired in 1944, this was the first engine to be returned to working order in 1975 – 01/01/2024
Kew Bridge Pumping Station was originally opened in 1838 by the Grand Junction Waterworks Company, expanding over the ensuing years and ultimately housing six steam pumping engines as well as four Allen diesel pumps and four electric pump sets. The steam engines were retired from service in 1944, although two were kept on standby until 1958. The Metropolitan Water Board thankfully decided not to scrap the resident steam pumping engines and set them aside to form the basis of a museum display at a later date which came to fruition in 1974 with the formation of the Kew Bridge Engines Trust.
The original Number 1 horizontal AC motor driving centrifugal pump was built in 1944 by Hawthorn Davey & Co of Leeds. This type of electric pump replaced steam engines at pumping stations across the UK and this example is the oldest surviving pump of its kind. It was retired in the late 1980’s – 01/01/2024
The museum also runs a 2 ft narrow gauge railway, which despite being advertised as running over the weekend, was unfortunately not operating during our visit. The museum has been a filming location for many television programmes, including the Doctor Who serial “Remembrance of the Daleks” broadcast in 1988.
After our visit to the London Museum of Water & Steam, we had planned on taking a trip into central London by rail, but in the event decided against this and instead took a drive and a leisurely walk around nearby Richmond, including a visit to the railway station. Of course we did!
The Art Deco façade of Richmond railway station complete with its square clock centrepiece – 01/01/2024
The Art Deco station building in Richmond, designed by James Robb Scott (1882-1965) for the Southern Railway and constructed in Portland stone dates from 1937 and replaced an earlier station on the site. Scottish born Scott became the Chief Architect of the Southern Railway and is perhaps best known for his redesign of London Waterloo between 1910 and 1923 where he was chiefly responsible for the offices, main entrance and war memorial to the fallen employees of the railway known as the Victory Arch. Scott also designed Wimbledon and Surbiton railway stations – now part of the South Western Railway (SWR) network – the latter having recently celebrated 40 years since being bestowed Grade II listed status.
SWR, Network Rail (NR) and the Railway Heritage Trust are jointly funding a £325,000 programme of improvements with hopes of more refurbishment to come in the future, subject to additional funding being made available. Initial work includes cleaning the Portland stone façade, repairing the timber entrance doors and polishing its bronze embellishments, repairing flagpoles and refurbishing customer toilets.
The restored entrance doors to Richmond railway station which Yoshi unceremoniously christened on our visit…. 01/01/2024
The style of the building at Richmond is suggested as being inspired by the work of Charles Holden (1875-1960), the architect behind London Underground stations including South Wimbledon on the Northern line. Holden’s designs included multi-frame glazing, enamelled signage panels, the use of an iconic typeface for signage and brick and tile detailing. Similar features at Richmond have been lost or covered up over time, including during the station’s last major refurbishment in 1985. SWR, NR and the Railway Heritage Trust have worked with Benedict O’Looney Architects on designs that include restoring or replicating those features, and others, in future improvements. Paying close attention to detail, the station’s original, hand-drawn plans are being used together with promotional photographs from when the station first opened its doors to customers. Samples of the station’s original paint are also being analysed by the University of Lincoln, specialists in the conservation and restoration of the interior and exterior features of listed and historic buildings.
The area in front of Richmond station main entrance was pedestrianised in 2013 and includes a war memorial to soldier Bernard Freyberg, who was born in Richmond. As well as Sir trains, the station is served by the London Overground North London Line and Underground District Line trains.
Star of the show, Adams 4-4-0 T3 No. 563 working the 1200 Swanage to Norden service approaches Corfe Common – 06/01/2024
The Swanage Railway’s first event of 2024 was their annual “Winter Warm Up” weekend held on January 6th & 7th. With cold, but clear weather forecast, I decided on heading down to Swanage on the Saturday after taking a chance on a picturesque sunrise at Durdle Door on the way.
Resident Class 33 No. 33111 crosses Corfe Viaduct hauling the 1245 Swanage to Norden train – 06/01/2023SR West Country 4-6-2 No. 34028 ‘Eddystone’ takes her turn on the demonstration freight working the 1132 Norden to Swanage nearing Afflington. Later during the weekend, brake van rides were offered – 06/01/2024This time working a passenger train, SR West Country 4-6-2 No. 34028 ‘Eddystone’ has departed Norden with the 1415 service to Swanage – 06/01/2024Class 33 No.D6515 ‘Lt Jenny Lewis RN’ takes her turn on the freight wagons working 1302 Norden to Swanage – 06/01/2024Class 33 No.D6515 ‘Lt Jenny Lewis RN’ departs Harman’s Cross with the 1030 Norden to Swanage – 06/01/2024
In action this year was the recently restored Adams 4-4-0 T3 No. 563 hauling its first freight train since its return to service, SR West Country 4-6-2 No. 34028 ‘Eddystone’ and the resident Class 33 diesel locomotives no.’s 33111 and D6515 ‘Lt Jenny Lewis RN’
Adams 4-4-0 T3 No. 563 powers away from Corfe Castle at the head of the 1357 Swanage to Norden demonstration freight – 06/01/2024
The Swanage Railway Trust 563 Locomotive Group have been nominated for the “Steam Railway Magazine Award”. This award is decided by the public and will be announced at Heritage Railway Association’s annual ceremony on February 10th 2024 and you can now cast your vote online until the 18th January 2024: www.steamrailway.co.uk/read/hra-awards
Video from January 6th 2024 Swanage Winter Warm Up
Scheduled mainline action kicked off the year with a “no-show” as the HST powered New Measurement Train (NMT) failed to reach Weymouth on January 3rd after a points failure at Castle Cary curtailed 1Z22 1211 Derby RTC (Network Rail) to Bristol Kingsland Road – top and tailed by Class 43 power cars No.’s 43274 and 43257 – at Westbury. Interestingly three different paths were put in for this test train on this particular day. The one which finally ran was timed later than the usual working to Dorset, but not as late as one of the options given for the day!
We did, however, get to experience a daylight Snow & Ice treatment Train (SITT) on Sunday 7th January as GBRf Class 66 locomotives No.’s 66764 ‘Major John Poyntz Engineer & Railwayman’ and 66772 ‘Maria’ in top and tail formation worked to Weymouth as 3Y88 1035 Totton Yard to Totton Yard. 66764 replaced No. 66723 ‘Chinook’ and No. 66743 which had both been previously paired up with No. 66772 on the Totton based SITT locomotive diagram.
Sunday morning tranquility is disturbed as GBRf Class 66 locomotives No.’s 66764 ‘Major John Poyntz Engineer & Railwayman’ and 66772 ‘Maria’ top and tail SITT 3Y88 1035 Totton Yard to Totton Yard across Upton Viaduct on the Holes Bay causeway – 07/01/2024GBRf Class 66 No. 66772 ‘Maria’ leads on the return 3Y88 1035 Totton Yard to Totton Yard Snow & Ice Treatment Train through Hamworthy with No. 66764 ‘Major John Poyntz Engineer & Railwayman’ at the rear – 07/01/2024GBRf Class 66 locomotives No.’s 66764 ‘Major John Poyntz Engineer & Railwayman’ and 66772 ‘Maria’ at Hamworthy working 3Y88 1035 Totton Yard to Totton Yard – 07/01/2024
Major John Poyntz served in the British army for 35 years, with the Royal Engineers and later the Royal Corps of Transport. After military service, he joined the Railway Inspectorate, now part of the Office of Rail and Road, and was the last Royal Engineer to take such a route, spending 25 years in the role as a Railway Inspector. His work included inspections of heritage railways and dealing with accidents and incidents such as the Severn Tunnel rail accident and the Cannon Street rail crash, both in 1991.
Overnight on Saturday 6th/Sunday 7th a ballast train headed to Moreton working as 6C03 2312 Eastleigh East Yard to Moreton (Dorset) in the hands of Colas locomotives Class 66 No. 66848 and Class 70 No. 70809. We saw the ensemble pass through Hamworthy on the outward leg and had planned to see the associated return 6C03 0810 Moreton (Dorset) to Eastleigh East Yard crossing Holes Bay, but as the train set off over an hour early and with the sun yet to rise, we played safe and returned once again to Hamworthy railway station to watch the train pass through.
January ballast train with Class 66 No. 66848 and Class 70 No. 70809
The SITT returned to the Bournemouth to Weymouth line under the cover of darkness on Monday 8th and Wednesday 10th January employing the same pair of Class 66’s as the previous Sunday run.
January 2024 Dorset Snow & Ice Treatment Train workings (additional video courtesy of G E Barrett)
In between the SITT workings, on Tuesday 9th January, we saw a first for Dorset as Direct Rail Services (DRS) ran a service to Winfrith using a Class 88 locomotive No. 88002 ‘Prometheus’ which had replaced failed Class 68 No. 68004 (which itself had substituted for No. 68005) and No. 68003 ‘Astute’ in top an tail formation. This was the inaugural use a Class 88 on the Bournemouth to Weymouth line.
DRS Class 68 No. 68003 ‘Astute’ with Class 88 No. 88002 ‘Prometheus’ working the empties to Winfrith as 6Z62 0100 Crewe Coal Sidings (DRS) to Winfrith Sidings through Hamworthy – 09/01/2024DRS Class 68 No. 68003 ‘Astute’ leads the return 6Z95 1551 Winfrith Sdgs to Crewe Coal Sidings (DRS) at Hamworthy – 09/01/2024Class 88 No. 88002 ‘Prometheus’ at the rear of 6Z62 0100 Crewe Coal Sidings (DRS) to Winfrith Sidings having cleared Hamworthy railway station. Class 68 No. 68003 ‘Astute’ leads – 09/01/2024
The Class 88 is a mixed traffic electro-diesel locomotive manufactured by Stadler Rail and is part of the Stadler Euro Dual family.
Class 88 No. 88002 ‘Prometheus’ remained at the rear for the return 6Z95 1551 Winfrith Sidings to Crewe Coal Sidings (DRS) – 09/01/2024
During the development of the Class 68 diesel locomotive for DRS which was first announced in January 2012, the design team at Stadler proposed the concept of a dual-mode locomotive that could be alternatively powered by an onboard diesel engine or via electricity supplied from overhead lines (OHLE). In comparison to conventional diesel locomotives, this arrangement enables operational costs to be significantly reduced when diagrammed on routes partially or entirely under OHLE, under which the diesel engine can be deactivated.In September 2013, DRS placed an order for ten such locomitives which would become the Class 88. Having been developed alongside the Class 68, considerable similarities are shared between the two locomotive types, with an approximate 70% share of components.
Video of January 9th 2024 Winfrith run (additional video courtesy of G E Barrett)
The Class 88 is the first dual-mode locomotive type in the UK to use the 25 kV AC electrification, as the only other electro-diesel locomotives to have entered service with British Railways are the Class 73’s and Class 74’s, which operated on the Southern Region using third rail electrification, and we’ve reached back into the archives to find some images to share:
Class 74 No. 74010 at Doncaster Works. Withdrawn from service in December 1977, the locomotive was cut up here in October 1979 after being given a brief reprieve so that it could be for evaluated for departmental use by the Railway Technical Centre (RTC) in Derby. It was given a light overhaul at Eastleigh before being towed to Derby, where it was eventually deemed to be unsuitable and taken to Doncaster for scrapping – 22/07/1979A hastily taken photo of Class 74’s at London Waterloo taken from a departing train bound for Weymouth. This side of the station later became Waterloo International between 1994 and 2007 – July 1977Class 74 No. 74004 has had a bit of a bump (not helped by my camera shake!) as it stands forlorn at Eastleigh Diesel Depot during the 1978 Open Day. This locomotive was withdrawn from service in December 1977 and cut up at Birds in Long Marston. She was originally built as the pioneer Class 71 and numbered E5000 – 30/04/1978Withdrawn Class 74’s at Eastleigh Diesel Depot Open Day including No.’s 74005 and 74009 – 30/04/1978
Eastleigh Open Day 1978 flyerClass 73 No. 73122 and 2-HAP Unit No. 6103 with a third unidentified carriage and Class 33 No. 33116 working a test train towards Dorchester South – 13/05/1981The same test train as in the image above focussing on Class 33 No. 33116 on the approach to Dorchester South – 13/05/1981
For The Record:
In other news, the SWR Class 701 Electric Multiple Units (EMU’s) finally entered revenue earning service on Tuesday 9th January 2024 when No. 701037 worked a single round trip between Waterloo and Windsor Eton Riverside. The Derby-built trains had been due to enter service in 2019. SWR have since promised the rolling stock would enter passenger service in 2023 – a promise echoed by the Department for Transport (DaFT) in a statement issued in May 2023, which said the trains would run “this calendar year”. It is intended a Class 701 will continue to run off-peak Monday to Friday between London Waterloo and Windsor, in order to fulfil that commitment, making one single round trip each day, or working between 1000 and 1600. The phased entry into service of the Class 701’s – which continue test runs to Poole and Bournemouth – will eventually allow for the withdrawal of SWR’s Class 455 units and the cascade of the Class 458 fleet to longer distance services.
Back in 2020, the first Class 701 to be delivered, No. 701002, was delivered to South Western Railway and somehow made its way to Weymouth where it is seen here in Jersey Sidings awaiting commissioning tests. Yoshi and I stumbled across it while out for our morning walkies – 16/06/200
The North Dorset NMT ran on Thursday 11th January 2024 – a week earlier than I expected – in the hands of HST Class 43 power cars No.’s 43013 and 43257.
Lake Road was closed to road traffic from its junction with Lake Drive to its junction with Coles Avenue from Monday 8th January up to and including Friday 12th January 2024 – 2200 to 0600 daily to facilitate removal of material from a bridge strike and replace missing signage on Lake Road Bridge situated on the Hamworthy Branch. We popped by a couple of times, and although the road was indeed closed, there didn’t seem to be any activity taking place with regards to bridge repairs, which is disappointing to say the least.
Road closure at Lake Road bridge – but little sign of any repairs taking place – 08/01/2024Yoshi had his first grooming session of 2024 on Monday 8th January and couldn’t wait to show off his new cut to his grandmama – 08/01/2024
That brings us to the end of another blog entry. Next week, we’ll celebrate Yoshi’s birthday and hopefully have some more Dorset based railway images and video to bring you. Thank you for reading and for your comments, corrections and amendments. All very much appreciated. We’ll leave you with a couple of shots from that early morning trip to Durdle Door! Be seeing you!
Sunrise at Durdle Door – 06/01/2024Sunrise at Durdle Door – 06/01/2024
GBRf Class 57 No.’s 57306 ‘Her Majesty’s Railway Inspectorate’ and 57310 ‘Pride of Cumbria’ head into the yard after reversing in Tonbridge station working 3W01 0907 Tonbridge West Yard GBRf to Tonbridge West Yard GBRf – 19/11/2023
November 18th 2023 to November 23rd 2023
I may have mentioned previously that I have a list of locomotives or unit trains I would very much like to photograph. These include named examples to livery variations. One such loco is GB Railfreight’s (GBRf) Class 66 No. 66743 which can be usually found North of The Border operating the luxury Belmond Royal Scotsman train along with sister locomotive No. 66746. GBRf took over the running of these excursion trains from West Coast Railways (WCR) in 2016. Outside the Scottish railtour season, the Royal Scotsman locos have to earn their keep on more mundane tasks, and last week No. 66743 was shuttling backwards and forwards from Scunthorpe or Doncaster to Eastleigh East Yard on freight or engineers related workings. At least until the weekend when she ended up on one of the engineering trains involved in the 16 day closure of the railway line between Salisbury and Yeovil Junction. This, I observed, meant she was stabled at Eastleigh East Yard on Sunday following her outing to Wiltshire. So with hopeful abandon, off I set at 0730 thinking the locomotive might well be parked in an advantageous position for a photo. Unfortunately, this was not to be the case with No. 66743 being somewhat obscured by a row wagons. It’s like that, this hobby, you win some and you lose some. The trick is not to be disheartened because next time, things may well go your way.
Belmond Royal Scotsman liveried Class 66 No. 66743 partially hidden behind wagons in Eastleigh East Yard – 19/11/2023
While I was in Eastleigh I took advantage of the lull in between rain showers to walk Yoshi and photograph other trains parked up.
Class 66 No. 66303 stands in Eastleigh East Yard – 19/11/2023Class 66 No. 66730 ‘Whitemoor’ alongside stablemate No. 66303 at Eastleigh East Yard – 19/11/2023GBRf Class 66 No. 66740 ‘Sarah’ stands at Eastleigh CTT Forwardings – 19/11/2023A view across to Eastleigh East Yard – with Class 66 locomotives No.’s 66730/66303/66740 resting between duties – 19/11/2023Class 66 No. 66782 at Eastleigh East Yard alongside a Class 08 shunter – 19/11/2023Class 08 No. 08511 in Eastleigh East Yard – 19/11/2023Colas Class 70 No. 70810 at Eastleigh – 19/11/2023Class 153 DMU Network Rail Video Inspection Unit No. 153385, Eastleigh – 19/11/2023
Eschewing a FatMacs breakfast (I’m on a diet, don’t you know), I decided to press on and drive over to Tonbridge in the hope that the Rail Head Treatment Trains (RHTT) based there would be engaged in leaf clearing as runs were scheduled across the day to and from Tonbridge West Yard. These are dependant on requirements and don’t always run however. Coincidentally, we started this blog two years ago on November 22nd 2021 with a brief clip of a steam hauled Belmond British Pullman tour through Tonbridge taken the previous day. I’d forgotten just how short those early blog entries were – something to be mindful of now, perhaps! We made another visit to Tonbridge on 12th November 2022, so this is becoming rather like an annual tradition. I felt the visit this year was one of diminishing returns, although we were able to capture an assortment of Class 57’s and Class 73’s!
Class 57’s have been employed on the Tonbridge circuit RHTT this year. No.’s 57305 and 57003 are seen in-between duties at Tonbridge West Yard – 19/11/2023Class 73 No.’s 73964 ‘Jeanette’ and 73128 ‘O.V.S. Bulleid CBE’ with Class 57 No.’s 57305 and 57003 in Tonbridge West Yard – 19/11/2023Class 73 No.’s 73964 ‘Jeanette’ and 73128 ‘O.V.S. Bulleid CBE’ at Tonbridge West Yard. A new GBRf shed can be seen during construction in the background – 19/11/2023Class 73 No. 73109 ‘Battle of Britain 80th Anniversary’ in seasonal RHTT livery in Tonbridge West Yard – 19/11/2023Class 73’s No.’s 73965 and 73961 at the rear of 1Z01 1300 Tonbridge West Yard to Derby RTC in Tonbridge West Yard with two unidentified Class 66 locomotives at the head of aggregate trains – 19/11/2023Class 73 No. 73136 ‘Mhairi’ in Tonbridge West Yard – 19/11/2023GBRf Class 73 No. 73963 ‘Janice’ at the head of 1Z01 1300 Tonbridge West Yard to Derby RTC awaits departure – 19/11/2023GBRf Class 69 No. 69008 was the only member of the class in evidence at Tonbridge West Yard during this visit – 19/11/2023GBRf Class 73’s No.’s 73961 ‘Alison’ and 73965 ‘Des O’Brien’ at the rear 1Z01 1300 Tonbridge West Yard to Derby RTC depart Tonbridge West Yard. No.’s 73963 ‘Janice’ and 73962 ‘Dick Mabbutt’ are leading – 19/11/2023 With four GBRf Class 73’s attached, Colas test train 1Z01 1300 Tonbridge West Yard to Derby RTC departs Tonbridge West Yard. No. 73961 ‘Alison’ is the trailing locomotive along with No.’s 73965 ‘Des O’Brien’, 73962 ‘Dick Mabbutt’ and 73963 ‘Janice’ – 19/11/2023 GBRf Class 73 No. 73963 ‘Janice’ and 73962 ‘Dick Mabbutt’ leading 1Z01 1300 Tonbridge West Yard to Derby RTC out of the yard while RHTT 3W01 0907 Tonbridge West Yard GBRf to Tonbridge West Yard GBRf top and tailed by GBRf Class 57 No.’s 57306 ‘Her Majesty’s Railway Inspectorate’ and 57310 ‘Pride of Cumbria’ arrive at Tonbridge station where the train reverses – 19/11/2023GBRf Class 57 No.’s 57306 ‘Her Majesty’s Railway Inspectorate’ and 57310 ‘Pride of Cumbria’ pause as they enter Tonbridge West Yard working 3W01 0907 Tonbridge West Yard GBRf to Tonbridge West Yard GBRf – 19/11/2023GBRf Class 73 No. 73119 ‘Paul Taylor’ arrives at Tonbridge West Yard working 3W91 1026 Tonbridge West Yard GBRf to Tonbridge West Yard GBRf, with No. 73212 ‘Stephen Eaves’ at the rear – 19/11/2023GBRf Class 73 No. 73212 ‘Stephen Eaves’ at the rear of 3W91 1026 Tonbridge West Yard GBRf to Tonbridge West Yard GBRf – 19/11/2023GBRf Class 73 No. 73119 ‘Paul Taylor’ in retro BR ‘Dutch’ Civil Engineers livery at Tonbridge West Yard having arrived with RHTT working 3W91 1026 Tonbridge West Yard GBRf to Tonbridge West Yard GBRf – 19/11/2023
On leaving Tonbridge, Yoshi and I had planned on seeing one more RHTT, this time passing through at Edenbridge Town Station as it was in the direction of home.
Edenbridge Town railway station on the Uckfield branch, one of two stations serving Edenbridge in Kent, was opened in January 1888 – 19/11/2023
We parked up in the station car park and checked Real Time Trains (RTT) to see that the train; 3W90 0715 Tonbridge West Yard to Tonbridge West Yard via the South East of England, top and tailed by GBRf Class 73 No.’s 73107 and 73213, was at Uckfield and had been for 20 minutes or so beyond its scheduled departure time. Passenger trains into Uckfield (which is a terminus station) were being turned around at Crowborough as the line beyond was effectively blocked.
RTT information regarding partially cancelled passenger trains on the Uckfield branch – 19/11/2023
I hung around in Edenbridge for a little while, but soon came to the conclusion that this RHTT was not going to be heading our way while there was still a decent amount of daylight left to photograph it. I briefly contemplated driving to Uckfield, but Google Maps informed me it was at least a 30 minute drive away and would substantially delay my arrival home, so instead made the decision to head for Dorset. Had I known there would be delays on the M25 caused by pedestrians “being loose on the carriageway”, I might well have taken the Uckfield option and returned home via the South Coast route!
Video from our visit to Tonbridge – 19/11/2023
Monday 20th November saw another attempt to collect South Western Railway (SWR) Class 458 Electric Multiple Unit (EMU) No. 458524 for onward transit to Alstom Widnes Transport Tech where it is to undergo refurbishment. Our regular reader may recall an abortive attempt a couple of weeks ago when the brakes on the EMU curtailed the train in Christchurch station. With the associated locomotives and barrier coaches due to arrive at Bournemouth depot mid-morning, I chose to head out to see the train pass through Bournemouth railway station as I felt I’d photographed and videoed these workings at Branksome where they reverse into the depot many times, so was looking for something different. The change of location was well rewarded as Class 56 No. 56081, leading on 5O58 0520 Leicester L.I.P. to Bournemouth T&R.S.M.D, made a fine sight and sound as she opened up passing through the station with the sound of her 3,250 brake horsepower (bhp) Ruston-Paxman power unit echoing around the glass roofed building.
GBRf Class 56 No. 56081 opens up as she arrives at Bournemouth station working 5058 0520 Leicester LIP to Bournemouth T&RSMD passing SWR Class 444 No. 444015 which has arrived on 2W54 1000 Poole to London Waterloo – 20/11/2023GBRf Class 56 No. 56081 thunders through Bournemouth station on 5058 0520 Leicester LIP to Bournemouth T&RSMD. Class 47 No. 47727 ‘Edinburgh Castle’ is at the rear, while SWR Class 444 No. 444015 awaits the arrival of a Weymouth service before coupling up and departing for London Waterloo – 20/11/2023Class 47 No. 47727 ‘Edinburgh Castle / Caisteal Dhun Eideann’ passing Bournemouth at the rear of 5058 0520 Leicester LIP to Bournemouth T&RSMD – 20/11/2023
I had also planned on seeing the return working from Branksome, due to arrive at 1715 running as 5Q58 17:11 Bournemouth Traction & Rolling Stock Maintenance Depot to Widnes Transport Tech. However, unbeknown to me – and most of the other local rail enthusiasts – the train left the depot, unheralded, at around 1300. You win some…..
While I was in Bournemouth, I took the opportunity of capturing some images and video of everyday operations, which I mostly forget to do.
CrossCountry Class 220 Voyager DMU No. 220001 in Bournemouth Middle Sidings waiting to move forward to form a service to Manchester – 20/11/2023 SWR Class 450 No. 450034 at Bournemouth platform 1 awaiting departure on 2B36 1002 Bournemouth to Winchester while Class 444 No. 444001 stands at platform 3 with the short formed 1W08 0903 Weymouth to London Waterloo – 20/11/2023SWR Class 444 No. 444024 waits at platform forming 2W57 0805 London Waterloo to Poole as fellow class member No. 444017 departs with the front five coaches of 1W57 0805 London Waterloo to Weymouth – 20/11/2023
Video from Bournemouth station, including GBRf Class 56 No. 56081, captured on 20/11/2023
Later Monday evening the regular monthly Colas test train from Derby RTC to Eastleigh East Yard via Weymouth ran as 1Q51 1115 Derby R.T.C.(Network Rail) to Eastleigh East Yard employing the usual traction of GBRf Class 73 locomotives. This time is was the turn of No.’s 73963 ‘Janice’ and 73965 ‘Des O’Brien’ – two locomotives we had seen the previous day departing Tonbridge bound for Derby.
Video screen grab of GBRf Class 73 No. 73963 ‘Janice’ at the head of 1Q51 1115 Derby RTC to Eastleigh East Yard via Weymouth passing through Poole – 20/11/2023Video screen grab of Class 73 No. 73965 ‘Des O’Brien’ passing Poole at the rear of 1Q51 1115 Derby RTC to Eastleigh East Yard via Weymouth – 20/11/2023
Video of 1Q51 1115 Derby RTC to Eastleigh East Yard via Weymouth passing through Poole – 20/11/2023Notification of BCP roadworks for 21st November 2023
The railway bridge over Lake Road on the Hamworthy Branch was subject to an inspection this week. A small group of Highway Maintenance engineers were on site for a few hours from 2100 on Tuesday 21st November.
Inspection of Lake Road bridge on the Hamworthy Branch – 21/11/2023Inspection of Lake Road bridge on the Hamworthy Branch – 21/11/2023Inspection of Lake Road bridge on the Hamworthy Branch – 21/11/2023Inspection of Lake Road bridge on the Hamworthy Branch – 21/11/2023
The guy we spoke to from the team was very enamoured with Yoshi, but wasn’t able to give us an inside scoop of what might happen at the bridge in the future. Further road closures described as “Works for Rail Purposes” are scheduled at the location in January 2024.
BCP roadworks map detailing roadworks at Lake Road bridge in January 2024
For The Record:
Poster giving customer information for the, clearly over-running, Weymouth Station Gateway Project in May 2022 – 22/05/2022
The Weymouth Station Gateway project (WSP), designed to create a more welcoming and user-friendly space for residents, businesses, and visitors to Weymouth railway station has won two trophies at the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) South West Civil Engineering Awards 2023. The £1.2m project led by Dorset Coast Forum in partnership with Dorset Council, using funding from South Western Railway, was designed by WSP to open up the layout of the station forecourt, promoting sustainable transport options and reducing anti-social behaviour. The scheme also involved the creation of Pocket Park from a disused section of track on the former Weymouth Harbour Branch. As well as being presented with the Community Award, Weymouth Station Gateway was also given the Judges’ Special Award. The judging panel was impressed with the collaborative, respectful partnership behind the scheme, bringing together the local community, the rail company and the transport authority to improve the public realm. The judges described the project as an outstanding example of infrastructure that unites communities and improves people’s daily lives.
Works during the Weymouth Station Gateway Project – 23/07/2022Works during the Weymouth Station Gateway Project – 22/05/2022
Ten project awards and two individual trophies were presented at the ICE South West Civil Engineering Awards in association with Kier BAM on Friday 10th November 2023 at a gala ceremony in Bristol hosted by TV presenter, Rob Bell. The awards are held annually to recognise achievement among regional engineers and project teams.
…. and relax. Thanks for visiting our page and for your comments and corrections, which are always gratefully received! We’ll be back next week all being well! Be seeing you!
Yoshi celebrating not only this blog’s second birthday, but the 60th Anniversary of Doctor Whoof – 23/11/2023
LMS Jubilee 4-6-0 No. 45596 ‘Bahamas’ working the final 2023 Railway Touring Company organised “Dorset Coast Express” 1Z92 0845 London Victoria to Weymouth – 17/08/2023
August 16th 2023 to August 23rd 2023
For a long while I’ve been meaning to climb up to the railway line accessed from the old main road between Dorchester and Weymouth, just north of Upwey village, with the aim of photographing passing trains. This was once the site of Upwey Wishing Well Halt, and although the steps survive either side of the railway line, nothing now exists of the platforms which once stood here. Opened by the Great Western Railway (GWR) on 28th May 1905 and served by rail motor trains between Weymouth and Dorchester, the station survived until 7th January 1957 when it was closed. Originally the station was a two platform timber built affair with corrugated iron pagoda style shelters. The nearby tourist attraction of Upwey Wishing Well brought many visitors by rail in the early years of the halt’s existence, but increasing competition from road transport and buses which could deposit their passengers closer to the Well itself saw an ever diminishing use by rail passengers. The last remnants were swept away during the 1988 Bournemouth to Weymouth electrification scheme. Locked gates and fences protect observers from the railway, preventing trespass but affording a good view up to Bincombe tunnel. I chose Thursday 17th August to visit as there were two special excursion trains due to pass in relatively quick succession. Grateful thanks to Jamie for the lift down to Upwey. A few days later I returned to Upwey and the actual Wishing Well to celebrate my mum’s 90th birthday. Happy days.
Still in South Western Trains livery, South Western Railway Class 444 EMU No. 444045 runs past the site of the former Upwey Wishing Well Halt with 1W21 1035 London Waterloo to Weymouth – 17/08/2023Class 57 No. 57601 ‘Windsor Castle’ heads up “The Northern Belle: Weymouth Harbour” 1Z79 0711 Coventry to Weymouth – 17/08/2023165137 – 2V68 1328 Weymouth to GloucesterLMS Jubilee 4-6-0 No. 45596 ‘Bahamas’ works the final 2023 “Dorset Coast Express” 1Z92 0845 London Victoria to Weymouth coasting down Bincombe Bank – 17/08/2023West Coast Railways Class 57 No. 57313 ‘Scarborough Castle’ working 5Z80 1333 Weymouth to Yeovil Pen Mill empty coaching stock movement designed to free up space in Weymouth because of the two excursion trains scheduled for the day works up Upwey Bank towards Bincombe Tunnel – 17/08/2023
Video from 17th August 2023 including the following: 444034 – 1W61 1005 London Waterloo to Weymouth and Poole 444029 – 1W20 1303 Weymouth to London Waterloo 444045 – 1W21 1035 London Waterloo to Weymouth 57601/57313 – 1Z79 0711 Coventry to Weymouth 444034 – 1W62 1320 Weymouth and Poole to London Waterloo 165137 – 2V68 1328 Weymouth to Gloucester 45596/ 47802 – 1Z92 0845 London Victoria to Weymouth 57313/57601 – 5Z80 1333 Weymouth to Yeovil Pen Mill 47802/45596 – 1Z93 1636 Weymouth to London Victoria 57601/57313 – 5Z82 1641 Yeovil Pen Mill to Weymouth – with thanks to G E Barrett for video clips at Dorchester
Later on the 17th I headed off to Branksome to see an engineers train pass through bound for Poole. On this occasion the train was worked by GBRf and was top and tailed by class 66 locomotives. On my way home, I popped in at Poole to see the locos and ballast hoppers awaiting deployment.
GBRf Class 66 No. 66791 6G28 2304 Eastleigh East Yard to Poole – 18/08/2023GBRf Class 66 No. 66749 ‘Christopher Hopcroft MBE 60 Years Railway Service’ at the rear of 6G28 2304 Eastleigh East Yard to Poole – 18/08/2023
The following Tuesday and I was once again setting off for more midnight engineering train shenanigans, this time with DB Cargo class 66’s in charge of a train of new rail which was destined for the Christchurch – Pokesdown area.
DB Cargo Class 66 No. 66028 at the head of 6N65 2349 Eastleigh East Yard to Christchurch – 23/08/2023DB Cargo Class 66 No. 66067 at the rear of 6N65 2349 Eastleigh East Yard to Christchurch having run through the station – 23/08/2023
Video of Dorset engineers train amongst every day railway movements – August 2023
Hamworthy Branch Update:
Out walking Yoshi around Hamworthy and I noticed a planning application notice fastened to the fence close to where the original Poole station once stood. What caught my eye was a variation of conditions quoted within the notice allowing for a “National Rail parking area” as part of a new development on the former James Brothers Site on Station Road.
Planning application notice – August 2023Diagram of redevelopment plans of the former James Brothers Site on Station Road, Hamworthy varied to align with new plan numbers, including a revised drainage strategy, wording changed with amended parking space numbering to allow for a dedicated Network Rail parking area which includes a set of gates to allow access to railway land to the south of the site. As shown by the plans, these will be flood-gates at a minimum height of 3.6m – August 2023
From The Archive:
I have to admit to being partial to an engineering train. Every night I lie in bed, the brightest colours fill my head, a million dreams are keeping me awake, I think of what the world could be. No, hang on, that’s from “The Greatest Showman”. Anyway, back in April 2015 there was no need to dream of engineers trains as eleven of them found their way to Upwey on Saturday 11th, following an earlier light engine visit on the 9th which ran as a crew route refresher for Colas. The purpose of this engineering possession was for the relaying of the up line between Upwey station and Bincombe Tunnel. Trains ran in order as follows; No. 66050 top and tailed with No. 66101, No. 70805, No. 66016, No. 70807, No. 70808, No. 66014, No. 66177, No. 66705, No. 70809, No. 66204 and finally train eleven with No.’s 66074 and 66174.
EWS Class 66 No. 66016 at Upwey – 11/04/2015Class 66 Np. 66050 and Class 70 No. 70805 at Weymouth – 11/04/2015Class 70 No. 70805 in Weymouth station – 11/04/2015Class 66 No. 66016 on the approach to Weymouth – 11/04/2015Class 66 No. 66050 departs Weymouth with a train of track panels – 11/04/2015GBRf Class 66 No. 66705 arrives at Dorchester South with a train of new ballast – 11/04/2015A view over to Upwey railway station with Class 66 No. 66101 in DB red livery – 11/04/2015Class 66 No. 66204 near Upwey – 11/04/2015Class 70 No. 70809 arrives into Dorchester – 11/04/2015A view towards Weymouth looking down to the site of Upwey Wishing Well Halt – 11/04/2015Class 70 No. 70807 at rest in Weymouth station – 11/04/2015Class 70 No. 70808 between to trains in Weymouth – 11/04/2015GBRf Class 60 No. 66705 pokes out of Bincombe Tunnel – 11/04/2015Road/rail machines watched by Class 66 No. 66014 near Upwey – 11/04/2015Class 66 No. 66177 at Upwey – 11/04/2015DB liveried Class 66 No. 66101 at Upwey – 11/04/2015Class 66 No. 66174 at a stand on Bincombe Bank- 12/04/2015Another view looking towards Weymouth with a track machine where Upwey Wishing Well Halt was once located – 12/04/2015Class 66 No. 66074 near to the location of Monkton and Came Halt railway station which opened in 1905 as Came Bridge and closed in 1957 – 12/04/2015
Starting with No. 66174 which departed Dorchester South mid-afternoon most of the trains returned to Eastleigh on Sunday 12th in reverse order with the last running early on Monday 13th.
Class 66 No. 66074 at Dorchester South departs for Eastleigh. The Brewery Square development is being built in the background – 12/04/2015
A continuation of the work was carried out over three successive evenings on 13th, 14th and 15th April, with two engineers trains allocated to this. On the evening of Monday 13th No. 66050 worked train No. 1 followed by top and tail Class 70 No.’s 70808 and 70809, the same loco’s repeated the moves the following day. However on Wednesday 15th No. 66170 turned up with the same Class 70’s remaining on the second train (With thanks to “The Corkscrew” the newsletter of The Wimborne Railway Society for the meticulous notes!)
That’s us for this week. Thanks, as ever, for reading and for your comments and corrections which are always welcome, except the ones with links to dubious websites obviously (these can, however, be obtained by writing to me on the back of a ten pound note). Be seeing you!
Yoshi wanting to play ball rather than help compile this weeks blog!
Wednesday 1st March 2023 to Tuesday 7th March 2023
“The Titfield Thunderbolt” film poster
I love an Ealing Studios film, and this week, “The Titfield Thunderbolt” celebrated its 70th Anniversary having been released to the public for the first time on 5th March 1953 with a Gala Premiere at the Leicester Square Theatre in London as part of the British Film Academy’s award ceremony, before going on general release from the 6th. Filmed in 1952, the feature was mostly shot on the Camerton branch between Camerton and Limpley Stoke on the Cam Brook Valley near Bath which had closed to traffic in February of the previous year. Monckton Combe railway station stood in for Titfield while the village scenes were shot in Freshford. The Fish Bay platform at Bristol Temple Meads makes cameo appearances as Mallingford railway station.
Yoshi watches “The Titfield Thunderbolt”
“The Titfield Thunderbolt” was inspired by the real life story behind the rescue of the Welsh narrow-gauge Talyllyn Railway in 1951. Directed by Ealing stalwart Charles Chrichton (1910-1999), starring Stanley Holloway (1890-1982) and with a screenplay by another Ealing old hand T.E.B. Clarke (1907-1989) the film opens with a view of Midford Viaduct on the Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway (S&DJR) as a train on the Camerton branch passes underneath. Midford is on our bucket list to explore one day, especially as there is a conveniently placed pub – the Hope & Anchor – located under the old S&D viaduct, the trackbed now forming a footpath and cycleway. The pub website notes: “The single line section between Midford & Bath required a special safety device known as “The Tablet”. A train about to enter this section had to pick up the tablet by means of a mechanical catcher. If the tablet was not there it meant another train was already on that stretch of track. Sometimes the act of giving up the tablet on the outward journey would result in the (accidental?) dropping of the tablet down the embankment into the garden of the inn. By some strange quirk of fate, this seemed to happen a lot more frequently during opening hours and climbing down to retrieve it was thirsty work!”
“The Titfield Thunderbolt” (1953) Trailer
Foreshadowing the Beeching report which would be released ten years later, “The Titfield Thunderbolt” tells the story of group of villagers determined to save their branch line after British Railways announces its closure. When a rival bus company, who have signed a deal with the nationalised railways to run a replacement service, sabotages the newly acquired train prior to an official inspection, the villagers resurrect the line’s first locomotive, ‘Thunderbolt’ which is being kept in the Mallingford Town Hall museum.
The 60th Anniversary Blu-Ray release of “The Titfield Thunderbolt”
The actual locomotive chosen to “play” the role of ‘Thunderbolt’ was Liverpool & Manchester Railway (LMR) 0-4-2 No. 57 ‘Lion’ built by Todd, Kitson & Laird of Leeds. The March 1953 edition of “The Railway Magazine” tells us the film studio borrowed the veteran loco from the Liverpool Engineering Society who, as well as allowing the application of a new nameplate, gave permission for her to be painted in a fictional bright green with red lining livery. ‘Lion’ had been in store at Crewe painted in her original dark maroon colour and was transported to Westbury in Wiltshire for an overhaul and steaming test, which proved most satisfactory, her original steam pressure gauges checked against a modern counterpart with one being correct to within a pound. Shortly after production commenced it was discovered that ‘Lion’ consumed excessive amounts of fuel and water, it was thought because she was originally designed to burn coke rather than the coal being used. The locomotive was sent back to Westbury where a damper was fitted which enabled her to simmer all day awaiting periods of sun during which scenes would be filmed. The daily filming schedule was carefully arranged to reduce the requirement to turn the locomotive and rolling stock, but when this was needed the triangle junction at Bradford-on-Avon was utilised. Various items of rolling stock were employed, including an old Great Eastern coach, two brake vans (one containing a diesel generator for arc-lighting), a cattle truck and several flat wagons as well as two Great Western Railway (GWR) 1400 Class 0-4-2 tank engines No.’s 1401 and 1456. No. 1456 provided banking assistance to ‘Lion’ on the 1 in 100 gradients between Limpley stoke and Combe Hay when scenes were not being filmed.
“The Railway Magazine” March 1953 edition included a feature on the filming of “The Titfield Thunderbolt” written by Baynham Honri (1903-1987)
I remember seeing ‘Lion’ in 1980 when she took part at “The Great Railway Exposition” in Manchester in connection with “The Rocket 150” celebrations marking the 150thAnniversary of the Rainhill Trials in 1829 and the opening of the Liverpool & Manchester Railway in September 1930. Unfortunately, along with other locomotives, she was on display in what I remember as being quite a gloomy shed area and my camera at the time would have been unlikely to have captured an image in the darkened conditions. Today you can see ‘Lion’ on static display at The Museum of Liverpool.
Rapido Trains publicity image
Rapido Trains are developing a special range of models celebrating the 70th Anniversary of “The Titfield Thunderbolt”. These are the only models licensed by StudioCanal the current rights owner of the film.
Hornby Horbies Ltd had announced they too were going to release a ‘Thunderbolt’ model but have since withdrawn this from their schedule as licensing permission was not gained. They have however pushed ahead with their model pack of ‘Lion’.
Hornby ‘Lion’ Train PackHornby ‘Lion’ model
You would think that the combination of Ealing Studios and railways would result in “The Titfield Thunderbolt” being my favourite film, but that honour falls to another Ealing production; “The Ladykillers” (1955) which also happens to feature extensive railway scenes, this time around King’s Cross in London. If you haven’t seen it, I highly recommend it. “The Ladykillers” was remade in 2004 with Tom Hanks and the location swapped to Mississippi. I don’t know why anyone thought this was a good idea.
The two five car Class 701 units, No.’s 701509 and 701512, which I mentioned last time I had missed seeing in Dorset made a return visit on Thursday 2nd March 2023, and this time I was ready and waiting for them! Here’s some video as they arrive and depart Poole.
Five Car Class 701 test run – 02/03/2023South Western Railway (SWR) 5 -car Class 701 Electric Multiple Unit No. 701509 arrives at Poole on the return working to Eastleigh – 02/03/2023SWR 5 -car Class 701 Electric Multiple Unit No. 701512 departs Poole working 5Q51 1115 London Waterloo to Eastleigh as Desiro Class 444 No. 444028 arrives with 2W65 1205 London Waterloo to Poole – 02/03/2023
The Snow & Ice Treatment Train made an appearance on the Bournemouth to Weymouth line on Monday 6th. Its earlier scheduled run on Friday 3rd March was cancelled, so it was good to see the train run. And in daylight too, which was a bonus! We were pleased to see that large logo British Rail retro liveried GBRF Class 66 No. 66789 ‘British rail 1948-1997’ was one of the pair of locomotives allocated to the service, the other being No. 66750 ‘Bristol Panel Signal Box’.
GBRf Class 66 No.’s 66789 ‘British Rail 1948-1997’ and 66750 ‘Bristol Panel Signal Box’ top and tail 3Y88 1000 Totton Yard to Totton Yard across Holes Bay, Poole – 06/03/2023GBRf Class 66 No. 66750 ‘Bristol Panel Signal Box’ leading the return 3Y88 SITT with No. 66789 ‘British Rail 1948-1997’ bringing up the rear passes Class 444 No.444010 working 1W21 1035 London Waterloo to Weymouth service at Hamworthy – 06/03/2023
3Y88 1000 Totton Yard to Totton Yard – 06/03/2023 (Dorchester video courtesy of GE Barrett)
Taking Yoshi for a walk around Hamworthy Park recently, we passed under Lake Road bridge. It looks as if a vehicle wasn’t quite so lucky and deviated from the road and into the newly installed gate protecting the new access steps to the Hamworthy branch line above. Coupled with the damage to the warning lights at Ashmore Avenue crossing, I’m beginning to think someone doesn’t like the idea of the freight line re-opening!
Damaged Lake Road Access Point – 05/03/2023Debris at damaged Lake Road Access Point – 05/03/2023Access Point information for Lake Road – 05/03/2023Damaged Lake Road Access Point – 05/03/2023
For The Record
I forgot to mention that the South Western Main Line resumed a full timetable on 24th February 2023 following reinstatement works following the major landslip at Hook which occurred on 15th January 2023 and affected Weymouth to London Waterloo services.
Sad news that John Parry MBE, creator of the Parry People Mover ultra-light vehicles passed away on 17th February 2023 after a short illness. He was 85. The most successful UK application of his idea is the 0.8 mile Stourbridge Junction to Stourbridge shuttle which operates every ten minutes between 0545 and 2354 Monday to Saturday with a more limited service on Sundays. These have been operated by pair of Class 139 Parry People Movers since their introduction to the branch, claimed to be the shortest in Europe, in 2009. The class 139’s are powered by Ford 86hp 2..3 litre LPG fuel engines and have flywheels to capture the energy generated which is then reused for acceleration and on-board systems. I mention it here as in 1996 an early version of a Parry People Mover was trialled on the much missed Weymouth Quay Branch in September 1996. You can watch a fascinating record of this on You Tube here.
West Midlands Trains Parry People Mover No. 139001 at Stourbridge Junction. These units have been a great success since taking over operations on the short branch to Stourbridge Town in June 2009 – 04/08/2015West Midlands Trains No. 139001 departing Stourbridge Junction. The unit will descend the 1 in 67 incline along the 0.8 mile branch line to Stourbridge Town – 04/08/2015
The RMT union has suspended industrial action, including strikes and an overtime ban, at Network Rail following the receipt of a new pay offer. Strikes remain on for now at 14 train operating companies – including South Western Railway (SWR) and Great Western Railway (GWR). More updates will be released over the coming days.
Train ticket prices in England and Wales increased by an average of 5.9% on Sunday 5th March 2023 – the largest fare hike in a decade.
South Western Railway (SWR) is set to trial the use of QR codes soon to allow mobile phone users to access features including “real-time journey information” as well as a suite of further modules relevant to their trip. A select number of train services, including London Waterloo to Weymouth services, will feature QR codes located in prominent areas of the train such as seat backs, tables, accessible areas and toilet facilities. The innovative technology developed by software experts Whoosh will also allow passengers to use features such as “Talk to Us” to communicate with SWR about any issues on their journey, including on board faults and the digital service will know where the communication is coming from and be able to automatically populate areas of the report.
That’s it for this week. It’s been a quiet one for me on the full size railway scene, but I was busy at the weekend putting floor boards down in our loft space in preparation for a model railway layout. I’ll be honest, this project has taken me far longer to get to this stage than I would have liked and my accidental mis-step resulting in putting my size 10’s through the ceiling was a low point (but not as low as it could have been as the rest of me didn’t follow my feet!), but good progress has been made over the last few weeks and I’ll soon be looking at building the baseboards for the railway track when funds allow. Thank you, as always, for stopping by and your comments and corrections. This weeks blog was brought to you with The Who “Tommy Live at The Royal Albert Hall”, The National (their latest offering “New Order T-Shirt” is just my cup of tea, or even my caramel latte) and Depeche Mode (who should really come and play a concert at the Weymouth Pavilion instead of all the big international venues they like to frequent). See you next week, take care and may your dog go with you.
Yoshi amongst the daffodils at Holes Bay – 06/03/2023
Southern Railway Battle Of Britain Class 4-6-2 No. 34070 ‘Manston’ arrives at Corfe castle in the rain working 2N03 1115 Norden to Swanage – 07/01/2023
With no trains running in Dorset until Sunday 8th January, it was down to the Swanage Railway to provide railway based entertainment, which they did admirably with their Winter Warm Up event over the weekend of 7th / 8th January 2023. The timetable involved four locomotives running passenger services between Swanage and Norden as well as each loco taking turns on a demonstration freight train which, to be honest, was the main attraction for me. The outlook for the weather forecast was poor, so it was decided Yoshi would remain home with his mama and join me later in the day.
We started off by seeing Class 50 No. 50026 ‘Indomitable’ passing SR Battle of Britain Class 4-6-2 No. 34070 ‘Manston’ at Harmans Cross with the first workings of the day.
Class 50 No. 50026 ‘Indomitable’ in Network South East livery departs Harmans Cross working 2N01 1030 Norden to Swanage – 07/01/2023
The rain held off until we arrived at Corfe Castle. Waiting for the late running first freight of the weekend in the charge of SR U Class No. 31806 the heavens opened. It was at this point where I think my Canon DSLR camera must have suffered from water ingress. I should have switched the camera off and removed the battery and lens, but I foolishly carried on using it throughout the day until the point it gave up the ghost and would not switch on at all.
Southern Railway U Class 2-6-0 No. 31806 working the first demonstration freight 6N04 1102 Herston Halt to Norden on the Saturday Winter Warm Up event – 07/01/2023Here I am getting soaked watching SR Battle Of Britain Class 4-6-2 No. 34070 ‘Manston’ departing Corfe Castle working 2N03 1115 Norden to Swanage – 07/01/2023 (Photograph courtesy of @da_buckley967)Class 33 No. D6515 (33012) ‘Lt Jenny Lewis RN’ approaches Harmans Cross with the 2N12 1245 Swanage to Norden service – 07/01/2023SR Battle Of Britain Class 4-6-2 No. 34070 stands at Harmans Cross carrying a “Locomotive Club of Great Britain” (LCGB) headboard 2N09 1245 Norden to Swanage – 07/01/2023Class 50 No. 50026 ‘Indomitable’ takes a turn on the freight working 6N11 1302 Norden to Swanage seen here passing Harmans Cross – 07/01/2023U Class 2-6-0 No. 31806 nears Harmans Cross 2N14 1330 Swanage to Norden – 07/01/2023The final image taken with my Canon D1200 DSLR camera before it shut down for the last time; Class 33 No. D6515 (33012) ‘Lt Jenny Lewis RN’ prepares to depart Swanage with the 6N22 1527 Swanage to Norden demonstration freight running as part of the Winter Warm Up – 07/01/2023
Video from Saturday 7th January 2023 Swanage Winter Warm Up
In 2016 the Winter Warm Up was on 27th December and I recall a frosty start to the day, as can be seen in the set of photographs below:
U Class 2-6-0 No. 31806 approaches a frosty Harmans Cross with an early morning service from Swanage – 27/12/2016U Class 2-6-0 No. 31806 arrives at Harmans Cross in cloud of steam with the first steam hauled service of the day from Swanage – 27/12/2016Class 33 No. D6515 (33012) ‘Lt Jenny Lewis RN’ departing Harmans Cross – 27/12/2016A Diesel Multiple Unit set catches the sun at Harmans Cross sidings – 27/12/2016Class 33 No. D6515 (33012) ‘Lt Jenny Lewis RN’ nears journeys end at Norden – 27/12/2016London & South Western Railway (LSWR) 0-4-4T M7 Class No. 30053 being serviced at Swanage shed. No. 30053 is owned by the Drummond Locomotives Limited, and has been running regularly on the Swanage Railway since 1992. No. 30053’s boiler certificate expired in early 2017 but an extension to the certificate was obtained as the boiler had been re-tubed in 2011. The locomotive was in service until the end of October 2017 when the boiler certificate finally ran out. In December 2017 the boiler was lifted off the frames to enable the overhaul of the locomotive to start. The boiler was returned to the frames in September 2022 and it is planned that the locomotive will be back in service during 2023. She’s a particular favourite of mine and I look forward to seeing her running again – 27/12/2016London & South Western Railway (LSWR) 0-4-4T M7 Class No. 30053 taking shape once again at Swanage Railway’s Herston Works – 01/11/2022Three Class 33’s at Swanage, from left to right, No. D6515 (33012) ‘Lt Jenny Lewis RN’, No. 33111 and behind SR Battle Of Britain Class 4-6-2 No. 34070 ‘Manston’, No. 33201 – 27/12/2016Class 33 No. 33111 heads out of Swanage with a train destined for Norden – 27/12/2016Class 33 No. D6515 (33012) ‘Lt Jenny Lewis RN’ passes the observation area opposite Swanage depot while taking a turn on the freight wagons – 27/12/2016Class 33 No. 33111 recreating a bygone era with a loose coupled freight – 27/12/2016U Class 2-6-0 No. 31806 approaching Corfe Castle – 27/12/2016With Corfe Castle in the background, another image of Class 33 No. 33111 working the demonstration freight train – 27/12/2016U Class 2-6-0 No. 31806 takes her turn on the Winter Warm Up freight consist – 27/12/2016London & South Western Railway (LSWR) 0-4-4T M7 Class No. 30053 nears Corfe Castle working a demonstration freight – 27/12/2016 London & South Western Railway (LSWR) 0-4-4T M7 Class No. 30053 stands at Harmans Cross while working a demonstration freight – 27/12/2016Class 33 No. 33111 double heads with sister locomotive No. D6515 (33012) ‘Lt Jenny Lewis RN’ on the final working to Swanage on 27/12/2016The front end differences can be clearly seen in this image of Class 33 No.’s 33111 and D6515 (33012) ‘Lt Jenny Lewis RN’ – 27/12/2016Class 33 No.’s 33111 and D6515 (33012) ‘Lt Jenny Lewis RN’ are observed by the train crew of a Swanage bound train on their departure to Norden – 27/12/2016
Tuesday 10th January 2023 and I decided an outing to Eastleigh was in order to test out a replacement camera body and hopefully put it through its paces. It was set to be a busy day in the Hampshire railway town with Class 33 No. D6515 ‘Lt Jenny Lewis RN’ scheduled to haul Class 50 No. 50026 ‘Indomitable’ from Swanage to Eastleigh Arlington Works where the Hoover is to undergo a period of winter maintenance, Freightliner Class 47 No. 47830 ‘Beeching’s Legacy’ passing on a trip to Banbury and the release of the latest Class 69 conversion from the Works and its onward journey to Tonbridge. However it transpired that the Class 50 move from Swanage was revised to run the next day, Wednesday 11th January (photos next week my lucky reader!), the Class 47 was replaced by FL Class 66 No. 66596. The Class 69, however was in a reasonably good position for a photograph on the Works following a special naming ceremony earlier in the day.
GBRf Class 69 No. 69007 ‘Richard Trevithick’ at Eastleigh Works. The locomotive was converted from Class 56 No. 56037 which also carried the same name. Earlier in the day at a private ceremony for the benefit of ex Cardiff Canton employees the loco carried her former number and a double BR arrow emblem underneath the nameplate on one side. Before being released into traffic the 69007 number and GB Railfreight decals were affixed – 10/01/2023
The Class 69 was scheduled to depart the Works at 1424, but by 1515 she still had to make her way out onto the mainline. At this point, conscious that Yoshi needed a bit of a comfort break, I decided not to wait any longer and instead decided to work our way towards home, stopping briefly to drop off a packet for a couple of Yoshi’s feline friends who are in the area.
Package duly delivered we drove back through Eastleigh to see No. 69007 had moved up to Works gates and set to head into Eastleigh railway station to reverse before carrying onto Tonbridge. I made my own reversal and headed back into the station where I was just in time to get a photograph of the locomotive standing at platform 3 and video of her departure.
GBRf Class 69 No. 69007 ‘Richard Trevithick’ reverses at Eastleigh railway station working the delayed 0Z07 1424 Eastleigh Works GBRf to Tonbridge West Yard GBRf – 10/01/2023Nameplate detail of Class 69 No. 69007, Eastleigh – 10/01/2023Class 56 No. 56037 and an unidentified member of the class working the heavy Port Talbot to LLanwern iron ore train through Cardiff Central. Class 56’s were employed in pairs on this working having replaced the perhaps even more impressive triple headed Class 37’s! At this point in time No. 56037 was yet to be named – 25/05/1981Now named ‘Richard Trevithick’, Class 56 No. 56037 is on display at Old Oak Common Open Day – 20/09/1981Nameplate detail of Class 56 No. 56037, Old Oak Common – 20/09/1981
On our way home from Eastleigh as we neared Junction 1 of the M27 my car suddenly lost power and we cautiously limped off the motorway to the relative safety of The White Hart pub at Cadnam where we awaited assistance from the AA and our eventual recovery home. The car is booked in with the garage for Friday. If things happen in three’s, I am nervously awaiting incident number three!!
My car being checked over by the AA. Unfortunately, it was not a problem that could be fixed at the roadside and we required a lorry to take us home – 10/01/2023Yoshi enjoys the delights of The White Hart, Cadnam as we await the arrival of the tow truck – 10/01/2023
Video of Class 69 No. 69007’s first outing at Eastleigh – 10/01/2023
Meanwhile, on the Hamworthy Branch, which has yet to see a train run along its length following the recent upgrade work, more remedial effort will be required following the damage to fencing and road crossing lights, as seen in the images below:
An update to the long running South Western Railway (SWR) Class 701 Electric Multiple Units (EMU) saga has been reported with SWR formally accepting 24 finished units and repeating their commitment to introduce the fleet into service “as early in 2023 as possible”. A concurrent statement from the Department for Transport indicated that work to finalise a service-standard software package for the trains was still underway and that driver training had not yet commenced.
A number of SWR Class 701 units standing in Eastleigh depot – 10/01/2023Class 701 No.’s 701031 and 701025 stabled in Eastleigh Works – 10/01/2023
Thank you for joining us again this time. All being well, we’ll be back next week as long as I can avoid breaking anything else! This weeks blog was brought to you accompanied by the sounds of Stephen Sanchez, Ludovico Einaudi and Everything But The Girl.
Endpiece:
SR Battle Of Britain Class 4-6-2 No. 34070 ‘Manston’ at rest on Swanage shed following the first day of the Swanage Railway Winter Warm Up – 07/01/2023
