The Railway Dog

Category: Railway Stations

  • Yoshi visits Burnham On Sea

    Swanage resident Class 33 No. 33111 tows Adams T3 4-4-0 No. 563 from Norden to Swanage – 30/08/2023

    August 30th 2023 to September 5th 2023

    Wednesday August 30th was a busy day for local rail activity in our part of Dorset with a Class 458/5 unit drag scheduled from Bournemouth depot and the return of a Victorian era “Top Link” engine in the form of London & South Western Railway (LSWR) Adams T3 4-4-0 No. 563 to the Swanage Railway following her six year overhaul. And with both these things scheduled to happen 17 miles apart at relatively the same time it was time for a plan! 

    It was my intention to pop over to Branksome railway station around half four to see the arrival of GBRf Class 57 No. 57305 and Class 47 No. 47749 ‘City Of Truro’ arriving with barrier wagons working 5Z72 1548 Eastleigh East Yard to Bournemouth T&R.S.M.D in preparation for another Class 458/5 electric multiple unit move to Widnes Transport Tech where the units are being modified and refurbished for future use by South Western Railway (SWR). Following this, it would be a half hour drive to Norden where T3 No. 563 would be waiting to be towed down to Swanage. Once again, Jamie very kindly provided transport and good company with Yoshi sitting this adventure out at home. 

    On arrival at Branksome we followed the progress of 5Z72 via Real Time Trains (RTT) and Open Train Times (OTT) which showed the train getting progressively later. This meant that is was likely to arrive at platform 2 the same time as a passenger service was scheduled on platform 1. So careful consideration had to be made in order for the GBRf working to not be blocked from view if I opted for the wrong platform from which to see the train. I played it safe and wandered off to the London end of platform 2 in time to see the Class 57 round the corner just as the service train crept up behind me on the adjacent track. I wasn’t to be so lucky on the return working however! 

    GBRf Class 57 No. 57305 climbs into Branksome working 5Z72 1548 Eastleigh East Yard to Bournemouth T&RSMD – 30/08/2023

    It’s been approximately 20 years since the most recent Class 57 conversions from Class 47’s were out-shopped by Brush Traction at Loughborough and 32 of the 33 rebuilds during the late 1990’s and early 2000’s are still in existence following the scrapping of No. 57004 in July 2023, this being the first and to date, only Class 57 to be broken up.

    GBRf Class 47 No. 47749 ‘City of Truro’ awaits permission to reverse 5Z72 1548 Eastleigh East Yard to Bournemouth T&RSMD into the depot – 30/08/2023

    Cameras safely stowed away we drove off through Poole and Wareham, where we were stuck behind slow moving motorhomes and bus services. Narrowly avoiding being further delayed by a herd of cows crossing the road at Stoborough, we arrived at Norden well before Class 33 No. 33111 arrived from Swanage towing a brake van to collect No. 563. The Victorian 4-4-0 looked amazing, even from a distance, as we observed the locomotive from the road bridge looking across to Arne Road siding. The final Diesel Multiple Unit service of the day from Wareham to Corfe castle was waiting clearance at the road crossing into Norden station and once this had passed through the area, we didn’t have too long to wait until the Crompton arrived. In fact the whole operation of reversing into the siding and coupling up to the T3 was done ahead of the proposed timings and once the consist pulled away we moved on to our next vantage point. We had plenty of time as it was planned for the diesel locomotive to run around the T3 and brake van in Norden station so the Class 33 was leading for the onward journey to Swanage. With top speed a sedate 15mph for the 33 and T3 pairing, we took a position overlooking the Grade II listed viaduct in the shadow of Corfe Castle. We didn’t know if we’d be in for a long wait as things were, at that time, around an hour ahead of schedule. As luck would have it, we didn’t have long before the locomotives came into view. 

    Looking stunning in her restored Drummond passenger green livery, Adams T9 4-4-0 No. 563 has been reunited with her tender and awaits the arrival of the train to tow her to Swanage – 30/08/2023
    Class 33 No. 33111 slowly draws T3 No. 563 slowly out of Arne Road Siding – 30/08/2023
    Adams T9 4-4-0 No. 563 being moved from Norden to Swanage – 30/08/2023
    Adams T9 4-4-0 No. 563 is towed across the Grade II listed viaduct at Corfe Castle by Class 33 No. 33111 – 30/08/2023

    T3 No.563 was completed in March 1893 and was allocated new to Nine Elms shed, with moves to Guildford and Eastleigh over the following years.  After an overhaul in 1935, she was transferred to Salisbury where she was looked after by shed staff, performing as station pilot or working slow trains to Bournemouth until being reallocated to Eastleigh in February 1938. She was withdrawn in March 1939 following her failure whilst working a Fawley goods train. However, with the onset of World War II she was reinstated into traffic being allocated to both Basingstoke and Eastleigh before being withdrawn again in 1945 following cessation of hostilities in Europe. She was resurrected yet again three years later in 1948 as an exhibit at London Waterloo’s centenary celebrations where she represented the LSWR. There then followed periods of storage in the electric carriage shed at Farnham, and at Tweedmouth before being restored at Eastleigh prior to moving to the Clapham transport museum in 1961 as part of the National Collection. From 1975, she was subsequently displayed at York and Shildon and took part in theatre productions of “The Railway Children” in London and Toronto before being disposed of by the National Railway Museum in 2017, when following a series of negotiations it was agreed to transfer ownership of No. 563 to the Swanage Railway Trust.

    No. 563 has been extensively restored at the Flour Mill near Lydney in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire with the tender being restored separately at Herston Works, Swanage.  Restoration started in November 2017, at the cost of £650,000. Having passed her boiler exam in July 2023 and moving under her own power for the first time in 75 years, No. 563 was transported by road to Purbeck arriving early morning on Wednesday August 30th.  Resplendent in lined-out 1890’s Drummond passenger green livery, the T3 was reunited with her tender prior to making the journey by rail from Arne Road Siding at Norden in the company of “Crompton” Class 33 No. 33111. She will undergo inspections and testing prior to entering operational service. Unfortunately while the locomotive was being moved at low speed to Swanage, both coupling rods started to run warm. Before testing can resume, precautionary checks will be required and the re-machining of the coupling rods bushes. Commissioning work will continue at Herston while this is being done.  It is hoped that No. 563 will haul her first passenger train in 75 years on the Swanage Railway to mark the centenary of the Southern Railway and the 185th anniversary of the formation of the London and South Western Railway in 2023, but no date has yet been confirmed.

    No. 563 fills a gap in the Swanage Railway fleet as the class hauled trains from London to Swanage from the 1890’s through to the 1930’s and represents an image of what the railways would have been like during the industrial and social development of Dorset during the 19th Century. 

    Adams T3 4-4-0 No. 563, Swanage Railway – 30/08/2023

    As things had happened smoothly and well ahead of schedule, following a quick consult of Google Maps, we decided we had enough time to head back to Branksome and see the Class 458/5 drag departing Bournemouth depot. On our return to Branksome, we checked RTT and OTT once again, but it was to be a good 17 minutes after the allotted time that Class 57 No. 57305 rolled back into the station working as 5Q72 1926 Bournemouth T&R.S.M.D to Wembley Receptions 1-7. Although diagrammed to reverse at platform 2, the train in fact arrived on platform 1. Again decisions had to be made on where to stand in order to get a shot of the GBRf locos and SWR EMU. All went well until departure time when, having returned to the London end of platform 2, a Class 444 working a service train arrived just as the Class 47, now leading the train out, powered up and departed. You win some, you lose some! 

    GBRf Class 57 no. 57305 emerges from Bournemouth depot working 5Q72 1926 Bournemouth T&R.S.M.D to Wembley Receptions 1-7 – 30/08/2023
    Class 458/5 No. 458525, part of 5Q72 1926 Bournemouth T&R.S.M.D to Wembley Receptions 1-7, stands in the platform at Branksome on the way to Widnes Transport Tech for conversion and refurbishment – 30/08/2023
    Class 458 EMU move from Bournemouth T&RSMD – 30/08/2023

    On Sunday September 3rd, we took the opportunity to go and bark at some CrossCountry HST’s in Somerset. With only a few weeks remaining of scheduled XC High Speed Train workings we drove over to Highbridge and met up with @smithy.377 (check out his excellent Instagram account!).

    Once an important centre on the Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway (S&DJR) accommodating their locomotive works, Highbridge survives today as a top on the Bristol to Taunton Main Line operated by Great Western Railway (GWR). The original station opened on 14th June 1841, when the Bristol and Exeter Railway (B&ER) opened its broad gauge line to Bridgwater. The B&ER was later amalgamated into the Great Western Railway (GWR) on 1st January 1876.

    The Somerset Central Railway (later absorbed into the S&DJR) opened to Glastonbury on 28th August 1854 but was worked by the B&ER for the first few years as it was also originally built to Brunel’s broad gauge. Separate platforms were provided for each railway and a connection between the was two situated in the goods yard. The layout eventually consisted of two terminal platforms and two through platforms to service an extension line that continued via Highbridge Wharf (where most of the S&DJR goods traffic was also handled) and onwards to Burnham On Sea extending the line two or three miles westwards which opened on 3rd May 1858.

    To reach the extension, the S&DJR line crossed the B&ER main line on the level just north of the road bridge, by means of a special ‘diamond crossing’ over the main line and a gated level-crossing over the A38. The Burnham line was a key element in the original planning for the Somerset and Dorset line and was built with the expectation of picking up passengers from paddle-steamer ferries from South Wales and transporting them to the south coast of England with Burnham On Sea railway station, essentially a terminus, also including a through platform allowing services to travel on to a 900ft S&DJR built stone pier on the River Severn/River Parrett estuary from where the steamers would sail. Railway operations onto the pier ceased in 1888 although the pier continued in use for shipping until the 1950’s.

    Burnham On Sea effectively closed when regular passenger services were curtailed at Highbridge on 28th October 1951. Excursion traffic continued until 1962, and the goods depot remained open until 1963 with all rail traffic ceasing in 1966. The station building, main platform and goods shed were all subsequently demolished. The excursion platform remained on the derelict site for over a decade, until the former track bed eastwards was developed into Marine Drive, a road which has helped ease traffic flowing into the town.

    The location of the station itself was on the junction of Old Station Approach and Abingdon Street, and the former goods yard is now a small car park. An adjacent pub on the High Street was renamed the “Somerset & Dorset”. The local RNLI station and yard occupy land to the south and east of the former main station building, adjacent to the site of the former excursion platform. A B&M store occupies the seaward-west side. To remember its railway past, there are various features which have been installed by the local railway Heritage Group, notably a replica semaphore signal on Old Station Approach near the entrance to the High Street Car Park, a buffer stop on the corner of South Esplanade and Pier Street located very near to the site of original railway terminus, a station signboard and replica signal box which stands on what was known as the excursion platform, and a locomotive shaped weathervane on the town green. The original signal box which once stood alongside the platforms has been restored and is now based at Washford on the West Somerset Railway.

    Burnham On Sea station sign marking the site of the former excursion platform – 03/09/2023
    Yoshi enjoys the shade provided by the replica signal box at Burnham On Sea – 30/08/2023
    Plaque explaining the replica signal box at Burnham On Sea – 30/08/2023

    Returning to Highbridge the S&DJR locomotive works closed in 1930 after the motive power of the line was taken over by the London Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS), whilst its joint-venture owning partner the Southern Railway (SR) took over civil engineering and line operations. a small engine shed remained open until the Somerset & Dorset line and platforms finally shut in 1966. All of the original B&ER/GWR and S&DJR station buildings have all since been demolished, replaced on current platforms by metal and glass shelters. There is also no trace of the former S&DJR trackbed, platforms, engine shed or works, all of which are now beneath new housing to the east of platform 1. A couple of old wagon wheels sit on a short length of track on a plinth marking the past history of the site.

    Wheel sets mark the area where the S&DJR yard and works once stood at Highbridge – 03/09/2023
    Old rail at Highbridge – 30/08/2023

    To see film of Highbridge and Burnham in the early 1960’s follow this link: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b03495yn/lets-imagine-a-branch-line-railway-with-john-betjeman. First transmitted in 1963, John Betjeman looks at the Evercreech Junction to Burnham On Sea railway line, providing a unique profile of a working steam branch line railway as he travels along the original part of the Somerset Central Railway. Examining towns and stations along the way, Betjeman laments the tragic decline of steam railways. The journey culminates with a stroll around Highbridge Wharf.

    Twenty odd years ago I visited Burnham On Sea regularly for work based at Highbridge Radio Station (Portishead Radio). The radio station, which operated the world’s largest and busiest maritime radio service, closed in April 2000, having initially operated from a site near Devizes in 1920. At its peak, in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s, over 300 staff were employed at the Highbridge site. The station buildings were demolished in 2007 and the Mulholland Park housing estate was built on the site.

    Motive power through Highbridge is currently provided by GWR Intercity Express Trains (IET) and soon to be retired HST Castle Sets with one stopping train in each direction each hour. Passing CrossCountry Voyager sets will continue after the retirement of the XC HST’s.

    CrossCountry Class 43 HST power car No. 43007 leads 1V48 0811 Leeds to Plymouth through Highbridge – 03/09/2023
    CrossCountry Class 43 HST power car No. 43378 at the head of 1S53 1327 Plymouth to Edinburgh approaches Highbridge railway station – 03/09/2023
    CrossCountry Class 43 HST power car No. 43321 at the rear of 1S53 1327 Plymouth to Edinburgh speeds through Highbridge – 03/09/2023
    Celebrity BR liveried CrossCountry Class 43 HST power car No. 43008 working 1S55 1427 Plymouth to Leeds on the approach to Highbridge – 03/09/2023
    GWR Castle Class HST No. 43155 with the stopping 2U20 1050 Penzance to Cardiff Central service approaches Highbridge – 03/09/2023
    GWR Castle Class HST No. 43155 at the rear of 2U20 1050 Penzance to Cardiff Central awaiting departure from Highbridge – 03/09/2023
    GWR Castle Class HST No. 43189 working 2C79 1400 Cardiff Central to Penzance passes under the road bridge on the approach to Highbridge from the Bristol direction – 03/09/2023
    GWR Castle Class HST No. 43016 2C79 1400 Cardiff Central to Penzance sits at the platform in Highbridge – 03/09/2023
    GWR InterCity Express Train (IET) No. 800004 at Highbridge working 2C77 1300 Cardiff Central to Penzance – 03/09/2023
    CrossCountry Voyager Class 220 DMU No. 220003 approaches Highbridge with 1S47 1027 Plymouth to Edinburgh – 03/09/2023
    CrossCountry Voyager Class 220 DMU No. 220003 1S47 1027 Plymouth to Edinburgh passing through Highbridge – 03/09/2023
    CrossCountry Voyager Class 220 DMU No. 220006 1M45 1049 Paignton to Manchester Piccadilly at Highbridge – 03/09/2023
    CrossCountry Voyager Class 220 DMU No. 220021 1V56 1101 Leeds to Plymouth powers through Highbridge – 03/09/2023
    With the leaves on the trees starting to display autumnal colours, CrossCountry Voyager Class 220 DMU No. 220012 forming 1V54 0935 York to Plymouth passes Highbridge – 03/09/2023
    GWR IET No. 800304 forming 1C22 1630 London Paddington to Plymouth at Taunton East Junction – 03/09/2023
    CrossCountry Class 43 HST power car No. 43357 1V62 1105 Edinburgh to Plymouth catches the last rays of sun at Taunton East Junction – 03/09/2023
    CrossCountry Class 43 HST power car No. 43303 at the rear of 1V62 1105 Edinburgh to Plymouth approaching Taunton – 03/09/2023
    XC HST’s in Somerset – 03/09/2023

    As I was in the Poole area on Monday I took the opportunity of getting a glimpse of one of the Class 701 units; No. 701021, on its latest mileage accumulation run, working as 5Q51 1115 London Waterloo to Staines Up Loop. This service runs to Poole Storage Sidings where the train reverses. The 701’s are still to enter revenue earning service with South Western Railway.

    Class 701 No. 701021 stands at Poole working 5Q51 1115 London Waterloo to Staines Up Loop – 04/09/2023
    Video of Class 701 No. 701021 at Parkstone and Poole working 5Q51 1115 London Waterloo to Staines Up Loop – 04/09/2023

    Tuesday evening saw the return of the GBRf pairing of Class 57 No. 57305 and Class 47 No. 47749 ‘City Of Truro’ with another Class 458 EMU drag from Widnes Transport Tech to Bournemouth depot. This time, I elected to see the train passing Bournemouth instead of my usual spot at Branksome. After a coffee from the Pumpkin buffet on platform 2, I walked through the car park which was once the site of Bournemouth steam shed and up to Beechey Road bridge which gives a view back towards the railway station. While I was in Bournemouth, I took the opportunity of photographing regular train movements, including South Western Railway (SWR) Class 444’s, Class 450’s and CrossCountry Voyager DMU’s.

    SWR Class 444 No. 444025 awaiting departure from Bournemouth working 1W28 1703 Weymouth to London Waterloo as Class 450 No. 450088 passes as 1B45 1535 London Waterloo to Poole – 05/09/2023
    Occupying bay platform 1, SWR Class 450 No. 450063 prepares for departure with 1B68 1802 Bournemouth to Basingstoke – 05/09/2023
    SWR Class 444 No. 444003 on the approach to Bournemouth with the 1W70 1720 Weymouth to London Waterloo service – 05/09/2023
    SWR Class 444 No. 444039 works 1W72 1820 Weymouth to London Waterloo at Bournemouth – 05/09/2023
    SWR Class 444 No. 444045 at Bournemouth Middle Sidings – 05/09/2023
    Having arrived from Manchester Piccadilly, CrossCountry Voyager Class 221 No. 221133 worked 5022 1919 Bournemouth to Bournemouth Middle Sidings before forming the 1M78 1945 departure from Bournemouth to Birmingham New Street – 05/09/2023
    GBRf Class 57 No. 57305 hauling refurbished SWR Class 458 No. 458405 with Class 47 No. 47749 ‘City Of Truro’ at the rear passes through Bournemouth as 5X65 1435 Wembley Receptions 1-7 to Bournemouth T&RSMD. The locomotives and barrier coaches retuned to Eastleigh later that evening – 05/09/2023
    X65 1435 Wembley Receptions 1-7 to Bournemouth T&RSMD.- 05/09/2023

    Britain’s busiest railway stations have been identified following the analysis of data for 2,616 locations, and Bournemouth came top in the Dorset with 5616 passengers per day and the 190th station in the UK. Bournemouth has a performance ranking of 1908.  The analysis of National Rail data, collated by On Time Trains Stations, is ranked by a performance score, calculated based on service punctuality and cancellation frequency.

    Further afield, it has been announced that TransPennine Express (TPE) will withdraw their troubled Nova 3 Class 68 hauled trains with effect from the December 2023 timetable change. We mention this, as back in 2016 prior to the TPE contract being awarded to FirstGroup, it was widely reported that the Department for Transport (DaFT) was eager to utilise de-motored Class 442 “Wessex Electric” electric multiple units hauled by Class 68 locomotives on Trans Pennine services. This plan, however, developed into an order for 66 new MK 5a carriages. The “Wessex Electrics” were introduced when the Bournemouth to Weymouth route was electrified and imho are amongst the best electric multiple units ever built. All this gives me an excuse to share some images of TPE liveried Class 68’s along with a few local photos of Class 442 EMU’s in South West Trains days.

    68027 ‘Splendid’ at York – 18/06/2021
    68024 ‘Centaur’ at York -30/08/2020
    68025 ‘Superb’ at York- 30/08/2020
    68019 ‘Brutus’ at York – 18/06/2021
    68032 ‘Destroyer’, York – 17/06/2021
    68032 ‘Destroyer’ at York – 18/06/2021
    South West Trains Class 442 No. 442415 at Weymouth. FM Rail owned Class 31 No. 31128 ‘Charybdis’ waits to depart with a “John Lewis Partnership” private charter back to London Victoria – 29/07/2006
    South West Trains Class 442 No. 442418 at Bournemouth – 28/12/2006
    De-branded Class 442 No. 442416 at Branksome – 03/05/2007

    Yoshi has been ship spotting at Poole Quay this week as two steamships, both originally from Glasgow, namely SS Shieldhall and PS Waverley, visited.

    SS Shieldhall is a preserved steamship that operates from Southampton. She is one of the last reciprocating steam engined ships built, using technology that dated back to the last quarter of the 19th century and which was obsolete at the time of her construction. She spent her working life as one of the “Clyde sludge boats”, making regular trips from Glasgow to dump treated sewage sludge at sea – 04/09/2023 
    PS Waverley is the last seagoing passenger-carrying paddle steamer in the world. Built in 1946, she sailed from Craigendoran on the Firth of Clyde to Arrochar on Loch Long until 1973 – 04/09/2023

    Thanks for making it this far! I often say I ignore the Voyager units, but think I’ve more than made up for it this time around. Comments and corrections gratefully received. Be seeing you!

  • Upwey Wishing Well

    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 – 17/08/2023
    Class 57 No. 57601 ‘Windsor Castle’ heads up “The Northern Belle: Weymouth Harbour” 1Z79 0711 Coventry to Weymouth – 17/08/2023
    165137 – 2V68 1328 Weymouth to Gloucester
    LMS Jubilee 4-6-0 No. 45596 ‘Bahamas’ works the final 2023 “Dorset Coast Express” 1Z92 0845 London Victoria to Weymouth coasting down Bincombe Bank – 17/08/2023
    West 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 – 18/08/2023
    GBRf 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 – 23/08/2023
    DB 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 2023
    Diagram 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 – 11/04/2015
    Class 66 Np. 66050 and Class 70 No. 70805 at Weymouth – 11/04/2015
    Class 70 No. 70805 in Weymouth station – 11/04/2015
    Class 66 No. 66016 on the approach to Weymouth – 11/04/2015
    Class 66 No. 66050 departs Weymouth with a train of track panels – 11/04/2015
    GBRf Class 66 No. 66705 arrives at Dorchester South with a train of new ballast – 11/04/2015
    A view over to Upwey railway station with Class 66 No. 66101 in DB red livery – 11/04/2015
    Class 66 No. 66204 near Upwey – 11/04/2015
    Class 70 No. 70809 arrives into Dorchester – 11/04/2015
    A view towards Weymouth looking down to the site of Upwey Wishing Well Halt – 11/04/2015
    Class 70 No. 70807 at rest in Weymouth station – 11/04/2015
    Class 70 No. 70808 between to trains in Weymouth – 11/04/2015
    GBRf Class 60 No. 66705 pokes out of Bincombe Tunnel – 11/04/2015
    Road/rail machines watched by Class 66 No. 66014 near Upwey – 11/04/2015
    Class 66 No. 66177 at Upwey – 11/04/2015
    DB liveried Class 66 No. 66101 at Upwey – 11/04/2015
    Class 66 No. 66174 at a stand on Bincombe Bank- 12/04/2015
    Another view looking towards Weymouth with a track machine where Upwey Wishing Well Halt was once located – 12/04/2015
    Class 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!

  • Stratford Revisited

    August 2nd 2023 to August 8th 2023

    LMS Jubilee Class 4-6-0 No. 45596 ‘Bahamas’ supported by WCRC Class 47 No. 47802 (out of shot at the rear of the train) working 1Z82 0845 Victoria to Weymouth powers through the rain at Branksome with “The Dorset Coast Express” – 02/08/2023

    The dreadful weather on Wednesday August 2nd did not fully deter me from heading out to see the couple of special workings on the Dorset Coastway. With a light engine movement from Eastleigh to Bournemouth depot closely followed by the second “Dorset Coast Express” meant an early lunch as I decided to catch the train over to Branksome. I’d calculated that I would have at least ten minutes from getting to Branksome on the train which arrived at 1149 before the GBRf Class 47 running as 0Z48 1046 Eastleigh TRSMD to Bournemouth T&RSMD would arrive, so I was a little frustrated to learn that my train was running 16 minutes late because of problems with the doors. A quick check on Real Time Trains revealed that the light engine was also running late – 15 minutes at that point, and looking at the maps on Open Time Trains I saw that it had also been put into Totton Yard to allow a down passenger train to pass. So, in the event, I still managed to arrive at Branksome before No. 47727 ‘Edinburgh Castle’, although I hadn’t banked on the next service from Weymouth running on time and blocking out the duff’s arrival into platform 2.

    GBRf Class 47 No. 47727 ‘Edinburgh Castle’ running light engine from Eastleigh to Bournemouth depot reverses in Branksome railway station – 02/08/2023

    Having observed ‘Edinburgh Castle’ retiring into the depot area, it was a 45 minute wait before LMS Jubilee Class 4-6-0 No. 45596 ‘Bahamas’ made her second visit to Dorset this year with The railway Touring Company run special from London Victoria to Weymouth. The rain didn’t ease and more and more people hoping to get a glimpse of the steam hauled train pass began to shelter under the platform awnings. A last minute decision on my part meant a switch of platforms, which I’m pleased I did, as I was really happy with the resulting photographs and video of the train has it rushed through in the rain. Once again the planned use of  a second steam locomotive, Swanage Railway’s U-Class 2-6-0 No. 31806, did not materialise. There’s one more DCE running this season, so I hope the issues preventing the U running can be resolved and she can make an appearance climbing the Dorset banks. As the rain was becoming increasingly heavy, I declined to go and see both the light Class 47 return working as 0Z49 1618 Bournemouth T&R.S.M.D to Eastleigh East Yard and the West Coast Railways Class 47 No. 47802 heading up the return “Dorset Coast Express”, although I’m pleased to report my brother did see this pass Dorchester South and his video is included below.

    LMS Jubilee Class 4-6-0 No. 45596 ‘Bahamas’ top and tailed with WCRC Class 47 No. 47802 work 1Z82 0845 Victoria to Weymouth – 02/08/2023
    Video from 2nd August 2023 (with thanks to GE Barrett for the Dorchester South material of the return “Dorset Coast Express”)

    On Thursday it was an early start as I needed to be in Southampton and once again I took the opportunity for a quick look over at Eastleigh.

    Class 66 No. 66791 backs onto the milling machine at Eastleigh – 03/08/2023
    GBRf’s Class 66 No. 66723 ‘Chinook’ with class mate No. 66791 at the rear top and tail the milling machine at Eastleigh – 03/08/2023
    GBRf Class 73 No.’s 73961 ‘Alison’ and 73965 ‘Des O’Brien’ prepare to work 1Q54 1255 Eastleigh Yard to Tonbridge Yard via Ascot, Aldershot, Guildford and Reading – 03/08/2023
    Three class 73 electro-diesels No.’s 73213, 73136 and 73119 stand at Eastleigh East Yard with Class 08 shunter No. 08810. Class 47 No. 47727 ‘Edinburgh Castle’ in the background later worked 0M10 1400 Eastleigh TRSMD to Leicester LIP – 03/08/2023

    Thursday evening and it was the turn of Scott, our North Dorset Correspondent, to venture out to catch Colas liveried Class 37 No. 37116 on test train 3Q07 2031 Exeter Riverside to Exeter Riverside via Yeovil Pen Mill and Salisbury. The test train with a Class 37 and DBSO crossed through North Dorset as part of this working.

    Colas Class 37 No. 37116 working 3Q07 2031 Exeter Riverside to Exeter Riverside via Yeovil Pen Mill and Salisbury at Yeovil Pen Mill – 03/08/2023 (Photo courtesy of Scott Lewis)
    Colas Class 37 No. 37116 working 3Q07 2031 Exeter Riverside to Exeter Riverside via Yeovil Pen Mill and Salisbury at Yeovil Pen Mill – 03/08/2023 (Photo courtesy of Scott Lewis)

    On Saturday, Yoshi enjoyed a mini break with his cousins as Caroline and I had a day in London, primarily to see “Abba Voyage” at the purpose built venue adjacent to the Pudding Mill Lane Docklands Light Railway (DLR) station. It was a phenomenal 90 minutes and well recommended. On our way back to Waterloo station for our train home, we made a brief diversion to the Westfield shopping centre which now inhabits much of the land which had been occupied by Stratford railway depot and works. For no apparent reason, other than it being a railway locomotive, Avonside Engine Co 0-6-0ST works No. 2068 ‘Robert’ stands on a section of track outside the entrance to Stratford railway station. 

    ‘Robert’ was built by the Avonside Engine Company in 1933 for the Staveley Coal and Iron Ltd for use at their Lamport Calcine Sidings, Hanging Houghton, near Brixworth, Northamptonshire where it spent all of its working life as Lamport No3 until September 1969 when it was sold privately. Since then the locomotive has had many homes, including Buckinghamshire Railway Centre at Quainton, Foxfield Railway at Dilhorne in Staffordshire, Peak Rail at Matlock before going to the Midland Railway Centre at Butterley where the locomotive gained its name. In 1993 the locomotive was bought by the Dockland Development Corporation for the Kew Bridge Steam Museum where it was cosmetically restored to make it look like a Beckton Gas Works engine. The following year, 1994, the locomotive was displayed on the tracks of Winsor Terrace in Beckton close to the Beckton Gas Works and close to the then new extension of the DLR. Ownership passed to Newham Borough Council in 1999 and as ‘Robert’ had been vandalised it was decided to move the locomotive to a plinth in front of Stratford station. In 2008 due to bridge construction work in the area the locomotive was moved again to the East Anglia Railway Museum at Colchester and repainted at the expense of the Olympic Delivery Authority before returning to Stratford and placed in its current position during 2011 as a new community landmark – 05/08/2023

    On Sunday we took Yoshi’s grandmama to The Purbeck School in Wareham as they were hosting the Dorset Arts & Crafts Association 2023 Showcase. Ever on the lookout for items of railway themed interest, I was pleased to find the following panels included as part of “The South West Coast Path” exhibition created by West Country Embroiderers as a celebration of its 50th Anniversary and to showcase the skills of its members. This special exhibition features 166 individual stitched panels, along with county markers and a map of the South West coast displayed consecutively so that the viewer has a ‘visual walk’ along the coast path from Studland in Dorset, through South Devon, Cornwall and finishing on the border of North Devon and Somerset. For another opportunity to see “The South West Coast Path” exhibition it will be displayed at The Gallery Upstairs in Upton Country Park, Poole from 5th to 9th  October 2023, or you can view a slideshow here.  

    Seaton Tramway by Michaela Pohl, Ottery St Mary
    Sky and ground areas painted with fabric paint. Reverse printed a photo of a Tram onto the fabric. Outlined in back stitch. Various colours and stitches such as stem and long stitch used to fill in detail and people. French knots for the gravel areas.
    More long and stem stitches complete the cornfield and the trees. Needle felted clouds.
    Dawlish by Gillian Strong, Torbay
    Inspired by memories of family walks along the sea wall and watching the trains pass. Materials & amp; stitches: Calico painted background, cliff walls, beach and sea slightly felted. Embellished with French knots using embroidery silk threads, perle cotton No 8. A little scrim used on the beach, together with net, beads and French knots. Felt used for the path and railway and narrow cord for the railway track.
    Babbacombe Cliff Railway by Lynne Weston, Paignton
    Calico background. Worked entirely by hand using long and short stitch with a few French knots. Different shades of blue dominate the sky and sea, and shades of green for the surrounding wood and area.

    From The Archive

    I visited Stratford Depot a few times in the BR Blue days of the 70’s and 80’s – usually on an official Open Day, but at least once on a shed visit with the National Railway Enthusiasts Association (NREA) who ran coach tours for enthusiasts with permits to visit railway depots and sibling points. I recall there was a long access tunnel which led to the depot, so I dug out my copy of the Ian Allan ABC British Rail Locoshed Directory which gave geographical locations and information on all BR motive power depots to find the entry on Stratford:

    The listing for Stratford Depot included in the 1978 edition of Ian Allan’s Locoshed Directory, the cover of which depicted locomotives at Stratford TMD

    Stratford Depot was built by the Northern and Eastern Railway (NER) which operated a line between Stratford and Broxbourne opened in 1840. By 1843, the main building was a 16 track roundhouse which was known as The Polygon, with outbuildings including workshops, a blacksmith and saw pits all contained within the shed complex. In February 1846 additional accommodation was authorised, which included the Erecting Shop. In 1847 the Eastern Counties Railway (ECR) works in Romford were closed and moved to Stratford. By 1867 the carriage department which later became Stratford Works was installed in a 370 ft X 80 ft building attached to the north side of the Polygon. From this point, the development of Stratford Depot and Stratford Works were closely linked and as the site evolved, new sections of the works were opened away from the original shared site that lay between the Great Eastern Main Line and the Lea Valley line.

    As part of the 1955 Modernisation Scheme Class 40 diesel-locomotives were delivered brand new to Stratford and allocated to main line express duties. These were replaced in the 1960’s by Class 37’s which in turn were replaced by Class 47’s with the Class 37’s transferring to freight duties. In 1977 two Stratford Class 47’s were famously turned out with silver roofs and “Union Jack” flags on their bodysides to celebrate the silver jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II. This was in contradiction of strict BR guidelines but proved so popular that soon other Stratford based Class 47 locomotives were adorned with silver roofs and became instantly identifiable to the delight of railway enthusiasts. The 1980’s saw a further addition of a small Cockney Sparrow symbol.

    The Class 47’s were themselves displaced by the electrification of the main lines to Cambridge and Norwich in the mid 1980’s, when Class 86 locomotives allocated to Norwich Crown Point took over operation of express services on the Great Eastern Main Line. The Cambridge line was served by Electric Multiple Units.

    The privatisation of the railways in April 1994 saw Stratford depot taken over by English Welsh & Scottish (EWS) and remained as such until closure in 2001 with the site being used for the construction of the new international station on High Speed One. A new diesel depot was opened at nearby Temple Mills but this only lasted a few years as changes to the freight market saw the depot closed.

    Today the site is occupied by Stratford International station and a shopping centre called Westfield Stratford City. A commemorative plaque was unveiled on the site on 10 July 2012 featuring a 30A shedplate and Stratford cockney sparrow in its design and acknowledging the history of the site.

    Replica of Stephenson’s ‘Rocket’ at Stratford Depot Open Day – 11/07/1981
    Class 31 No. 31008 at Stratford. Built at Brush Falcon works, Loughborough as No. D5508 this locomotive entered service in April 1958 as one of the twenty Brush Type 2 Pilot Scheme locomotives ordered by British Railways to replace steam traction and initially designated Class 30. These twenty locomotives did not have the headcode box mounted on the roof above the cab as did later members of the class and were “non-standard” in having Electro-Magnetic Multiple-Working control equipment (denoted by the orange circle clearly visible above each buffer) and limited to 80mph. They were allocated to East Anglian sheds throughout their service, ending their days allocated to Stratford. They were built with Mirrlees JVS12T 1250bhp engines and Brush electrical equipment, but the engines were not a success and in 1964 a programme of works commenced to re-engine the fleet with the 1470bhp English Electric 12SVT engines with No. D5504 receiving her new engine during a classified repair at Doncaster works in October 1968. The re-engined locomotives became Class 31/0 and being non standard with the rest of the class 31 fleet these twenty locomotives were early casualties with the nine (31001/07/09/10/11/12/14/16/18) being placed into storage in May 1976. However No. 31008 was one of the more fortunate of the sub-class and would survive in traffic until October 1980 when the last three (31004/08/19) were withdrawn. This was not the end for No. 31008 however as she was transferred for departmental use and converted into a non-powered carriage heating unit, re-numbered ADB968016 being used in the Stratford area before being condemned in 1982. She was eventually broken up at Crewe works in June 1985 – 11/07/1981
    Class 306 (AM6) three car electrical multiple unit (Shenfield Unit) No. 007 at Stratford. The Class 306’s were introduced in 1949 for the Liverpool Street to Shenfield services. They were originally built to run on DC power but as part of an exercise to standardise systems over the BR network all 92 sets were rebuilt in 1960 to utilise the new AC system. The Class 306’s remained on the lines out of London Liverpool Street for all of their lives and were withdrawn during 1980 and 1981 with all except one unit being scrapped. Unit No. 017 survives as part of the National Collection – 11/07/1981
    Class 31 No. 31125 at Stratford. Note the absence of the over-window headcode box which were introduced on later members of the class. This locomotive was cut up in May 2001 by Harry Needle Railroad Co. – 11/07/1981
    Class 37 No. 37131 at Stratford. This loco entered service in March 1963 and was withdrawn in June 2005. She was cut up at C F Booth in Rotherham in April 2007 – 11/07/1981
    English Electric Class 37 No.’s 37044 and 37267 on shed at Stratford. 37044 was renumbered in 1988 survived until 2021 as No.37710 with WCRC. No. 37267 lives in with Colas as No. 37421 – 11/07/1981
    Class 55 Deltic and megabeast No. 55021 ”Argyll and Sutherland Highlander’ on display at Stratford Open Day. The cab of this locomotive survives and is owned by The South Wales Loco Cab Preservation Group – 11/07/1981
    Class 47 No. 47158 ‘Henry Ford’ was named at Stratford Open Day. This locomotive was withdrawn from service in 2001 and cut up at Kingsbury by the Harry Needle Railroad Company in October 2004 – 11/07/1981
    Class 47 No. 47583 was painted in large logo livery with two white horizontal stripes extending from the double BR arrow along the bodyside. For the week of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer’s wedding, red and blue stripes were added to the arrow emblem – 11/07/1981
    Class 40 No. 40092 at Stratford. This loco was disposed of at BREL Swindon in March 1986 – 09/07/1983
    Class 31 No.’s 31126 and 31179 at Stratford – 09/07/1983
    Only two months old Class 58 No. 58002 on display at Stratford. This locomotive was cut up at Eastleigh in December 2013 – 09/07/1983
    Peak Class 46 No. 46010 in Stratford Works. The locomotive is currently privately preserved – 09/07/1983
    Class 25 No. 25177 took part in re-railing demonstrations during the 1983 Stratford Open Day. The locomotive lasted another three years before being cut up at Swindon Works – 09/07/1983
    Class 47 No. 47122 at Stratford. This locomotive was introduced into service in January 1964 and scrapped at Springburn in October 1989 – 09/07/1983
    Class 37 No. 37118 at Stratford. The loco was broken up at Carnforth in 2005 – 09/07/1983
    Class 37 No. 37004 on the fuelling point at Stratford. Lasting in service for over 35 years, No. 37004 was introduced into traffic in January 1961 and cut up at MC Metals in Springburn June 1996 – 09/07/1983
    With its distinctive silver roof denoting a Stratford based loco Class 47 No. 47577 ‘Benjamin Gimbert GC’ on display at the 1983 depot open day – 09/07/1983

    Benjamin Gimbert GC (6th February 1903 – 6th May 1976) was an engine driver with the LNER who was awarded the George Cross and the Order of Industrial Heroism along with his fireman James Nightall (whose award was posthumous) for saving an ammunition train from a fire on 2nd June 1944 during the Soham rail disaster when the leading wagon on a fifty-one cart ammunition train caught fire. Gimbert and Nightall uncoupled the burning wagon from the rest of the train in order to allow Gimbert to tow the burning wagon away from the rest of the ammunition train. The wagon exploded after being towed a distance 140 yards, killing Nightall instantly, but preventing a chain reaction in the other wagons. The explosion blew a twenty-foot crater in the track, destroying Soham railway station and damaged 600 buildings in the nearby village. Gimbert miraculously survived.

    The citation for the George Cross awards reads:
    “As an ammunition train was pulling into a station in Cambridgeshire, the driver, Gimbert, discovered that the wagon next to the engine was on fire. He immediately drew Nightall’s attention to the fire and brought the train to a standstill. By the time the train had stopped the whole of the truck was enveloped in flames and, realising the danger, the driver instructed the fireman to try to uncouple the truck immediately behind the blazing vehicle. Without the slightest hesitation Nightall, although he knew that the truck contained explosives, uncoupled the vehicle and rejoined his driver on the footplate.
    The blazing van was close to the station buildings and was obviously liable to endanger life in the village. The driver and fireman realised that it was essential to separate the truck from the remainder of the train and run it into the open. Driver Gimbert set the engine in motion and as he approached a signal box he warned the signalman to stop any trains which were likely to be involved and indicated what he intended to do. Almost immediately the vehicle blew up. Nightall was killed and Gimbert was very severely injured.
    Gimbert and Nightall were fully aware of the contents of the wagon which was on fire and displayed outstanding courage and resource in endeavouring to isolate it. When they discovered that the wagon was on fire they could easily have left the train and sought shelter, but realising that if they did not remove the burning vehicle the whole of the train, which consisted of 51 wagons of explosives, would have blown up, they risked their lives in order to minimise the effect of the fire. There is no doubt that if the whole train had been involved, as it would have been but for the gallant action of the men concerned, there would have been serious loss of life and property”

    On 28th September 1981 two Class 47 locomotives were named in honour of the two railwaymen: No. 47577 was named ‘Benjamin Gimbert, GC’ and No. 47579 ‘James Nightall, GC. The names are now carried by DB Cargo Class 66 locomotive No.’s 66077 and 66079 respectively

    Today the site of Stratford Depot is occupied by Stratford International station and the Westfield Stratford City shopping centre. A commemorative plaque was unveiled on the site on 10 July 2012 featuring a 30A shedplate and Stratford cockney sparrow in its design and acknowledging the history of the site.

    EWS Class 66 No. 66137 on a container train at Stratford – 21/11/2011
    66064 leads on a Rail Head Treatment Train towards Stratford – 21/11/2011
    Class 90 No. 90003 ‘Raedwald of East Anglia’ passes a Dockland Light Railway train at Stratford. The Class 90 25kV AC overhead electric locomotives, built for mixed-traffic duties, were introduced to service during the closing years of BR – 21/11/2011
    Class 90 No. 90012 ‘Royal Anglian Regiment’ at Stratford. A total of 50 Class 90 locomotives were manufactured by BREL at Crewe Works between 1985 and 1990. The design of the Class 90 is heavily derived from the Class 87, but incorporates many improvements and new features and were intended as replacements for the Class 81-85 locomotives, all of which dated from the early 1960’s and had become quite unreliable due to their advanced age – 21/11/2011
    Class 90 No. 90013 ‘The Evening Star’ passes Stratford. As part of its East Anglia franchise bid, National Express provided a fleet plan to replace the ageing Class 86 locomotives in use on the Great Eastern Main Line with the more powerful and newer Class 90 locomotives, hoping this would improve performance and reduce operating costs. The Class 90’s were to become available due to Virgin Trains plan to replace all loco hauled passenger trains with Class 390 Pendolino units, freeing up their 15 class 90 locomotives. No.’s 90001 – 90015 were progressively delivered to Crown Point Traction Maintenance Depot to replace the Class 86’s. The National Express franchise came to an end in February 2012, with the replacement franchisee Greater Anglia taking over and continuing to operate the Class 90’s. In January 2020, the Class 745 FLIRT emu sets began entering service to replace the Class 90 sets. Following the introduction of these units, the loco-hauled sets were all withdrawn from service, with the final set running its last services on 24th March 2020. Thirteen Class 90’s moved to Freightliner to replace their class 86’s, while two went to Locomotive Services Limited (LSL) to operate their excursion trains  – 21/11/2011
    Class 317 No. 317881. The British Rail Class 317 is an electric multiple unit (EMU) passenger train constructed by British Rail Engineering Limited in two batches, 48 sets being produced in 1981–82 and 24 sets in 1985–87. They were the first of several classes of British Rail EMU to be based on the all-steel Mark 3 bodyshell, departing from the “PEP”-aluminium design which had spawned the earlier Class 313 to Class 315, Class 507 and Class 508. The Mark 3 bodyshell was also the basis of Class 318, Class 455, and the diesel Class 150. The Class 317 uses overhead alternating current electrification. All were withdrawn in July 2022. – 21/11/2011
    Freightliner Class 66 No. 66956 heads through Stratford – 21/11/2011
    Class 315 No. 315856 runs through Stratford. The BR Class 315 was a fleet of alternating current (AC) electric multiple unit (EMU) trains, built by British Rail Engineering Limited at Holgate Road Carriage Works in York between 1980 and 1981; they replaced the Class 306 units. It was the fifth and final variant of unit derived from British Rail’s 1971 prototype suburban EMU design which, as the BREL 1972 family, eventually encompassed 755 vehicles across Classes 313, 314, 315, 507 and 508. Revenue services with Class 315 units commenced in 1980 and continued until December 2022 – 21/11/2011
    An unusual form of transportation materialised at Stratford in November 2011 – 21/11/2011
    Celebrating the release of the Sixth Series of the regenerated Doctor Who at Westfield, Stratford with 11th Doctor actor, Matt Smith and his companions Arthur Darvill – who played Rory, and Karen Gillan who was Amy Pond – 21/11/2011
    Short video from a visit to Stratford in March 2001
    A footnote to the Class 90 info above – DB Cargo have announced recently that because of the increased costs for electricity, it is no longer commercially viable to run their Class 90 25kV electric locomotives and have put their last five active members of the class into storage. Class 66 diesel locomotives will replace them on West Coast Main Line intermodal trains. The video screenshot above shows DB Class 90 No.’s 90035 and 90034 heading out of Crewe Basford Hall yard – 14/07/2022

    And with that, we reach the end of another blog entry. I’ll leave you with a pic of Yoshi. Thanks for reading and for your comments and corrections. Be seeing you!

    Yoshi was rather taken with the pavement art sunflowers in South Street, Dorchester and demanded he had his photo taken with one – 06/08/2023

  • Yoshi Goes To The Mid-Hants

    Yoshi on the platform at Ropley on the Mid-Hants Railway with Class 20 No.’s D8059 (20059) and D8188 (20188) awaiting departure with a train bound for Alton – 15/07/2023

    July 12th 2023 to July 19th 2023

    I have a not so long list of locomotives or trains which I would like to photograph. This is distinct from my train spotting days when I wanted to see everything! This past week has been a good one in my efforts at ticking off a few items from the list, starting on Wednesday 12th July as I took the train to Birmingham for a work meeting.

    South Western Railway Class 444 No. 444028 having arrived as an empty coaching stock movement from Bournemouth T&RSMD before forming the 1B14 0500 departure from Poole to London Waterloo – 12/07/2023

    My journey began at 0430 when I left home for Poole Railway Station in order to catch the 0500 train towards London. Reports of over-running engineering work in the Solent area gave me unnecessary cause for concern as we were not substantially delayed by these. I was scheduled to change at Southampton Parkway onto a CrossCountry service, but on checking the train providers website I found that due to a shortage of train drivers, my scheduled train would instead start from Winchester further up the line. This was not a bad thing as it meant I had time to grab a caramel latte at Winchester (although they forgot to add the caramel syrup – bah!) before the allotted Class 221 Voyager diesel-multiple unit arrived to pick up passengers, despite being announced and signed as “not stopping” at this station. This announcement left many on the platform bemused and confused and there was no follow up advice via the station tannoy in an attempt to rectify things. This could have been a bad thing.

    CrossCountry Voyager Class 221 DMU No. 221124 stands at Winchester platform 1 working the 1M22 0633 service to Manchester Piccadilly – 12/07/2023

    The train was quite lightly loaded from Winchester, and after taking a quick snap of the train, on boarding I discovered there was only one other passenger in my coach. Frustratingly they had decided to sit in my reserved seat. To be fair the seat reservations took a few minutes to show up on the little electronic display panels, and things were soon resolved and we both set off in our allocated seats.

    CrossCountry Voyager Class 221 DMU No. 221124 having deposited me at Birmingham New Street – 12/07/2023

    On arrival at Birmingham it was a quick seven minute walk to Snow Hill where the work office is located. The meeting room situated on the 17th floor provides a panoramic view over the city and a vantage point looking down upon Birmingham Snow Hill railway station.

    An unidentified West Midlands Trains Class 172/3 Turbostar DMU working 2S29 0854 Kidderminster to Stratford-Upon-Avon into Birmingham Snow Hill – 12/07/2023

    The meeting over, I scurried back to Birmingham New Street as there was a train on my list I was hoping to see which was diagrammed to work through the station, stopping only to grab few pics of a passing tram.

    West Midlands Metro was launched on 30th May 1999 as Midland Metro partly utilising the disused Birmingham Snow Hill to Wolverhampton low level route. CAF Urbos 3 Tram No. 38 passes Snow Hill – 12/07/2023
    The same tram as in the previous image, No. 38, just beat me down the hill to the Grand Central stop just outside New Street station – 12/07/2023
    Another tick as in Regional Railways retro livery Class 323 No. 323221 stands at Birmingham New Street with the 2P37 1436 service to Lichfield. No. 323215 is the second unit in standard West Midlands Trains colours – 12/07/2023
    Regional Railways retro livery Class 323 No. 323221 working 2P37 1436 Birmingham New Street to Lichfield at Birmingham New Street – 12/07/2023
    CrossCountry Voyager Class 221 DMU No. 221119 works through Birmingham New Street with 1O20 1325 Manchester Piccadilly to Bournemouth which I eschewed for a Pendolino service to London Euston – 12/07/2023
    My Avanti West Coast Pendo Class 390 No. 390135 ‘City of Lancaster’ sits amidst the hustle and bustle at Birmingham New Street. 53 of these train sets were ordered by Virgin West Coast in 1999. They were built by Alstom in Italy and fitted out in Washwood Heath near Birmingham – 12/07/2023
    Nameplate detail of Class 390 No. 390135 ‘City of Lancaster’ – 12/07/2023

    My return journey to Dorset was via London which gave me the opportunity to travel on an Avanti West Coast Pendolino train. I wish I hadn’t bothered to be honest, as my reserved seat didn’t match up with a window and my view was quite a slight one but required looking towards the window in the seating in front of me, but at least it provided some sort of view as we sped down the west Coast Main Line (WCML). The preceding service to London Euston ahead of my departure had been cancelled which meant increased numbers of customers travelling on my train. Because the Class 390 Pendolino trains have a tilting capability they have to be quite snug to fit into the UK loading gauge but I found this did not make for comfortable seating arrangements. But I found it fascinating to see the masts for the overhead catenary seemingly at 45 degree angles as we passed by on sections of curved track as otherwise I don’t think you’d know the train was tilting in order to smooth out the bends.

    My journey’s end with Class 390 No. 390135 ‘City of Lancaster’ at the buffer stops of platform 7 of London Euston having worked the 1B50 1547 service from Birmingham New Street – 12/07/2023

    On arrival in London I took the opportunity to pop into King’s Cross station as Class 91 No. 91111 ‘For The Fallen’ was scheduled to arrive with empty coaching stock forming a later service to Leeds which gave me time to take a few mobile phone photographs before I needed to get the tube over to London Waterloo and my final train home.

    While waiting at London Kings Cross I made use of the pub located in the original Great Northern Railway parcels office dating back to 1852 with a view overlooking the platforms – 12/07/2023
    One from my list; much hoped for Class 91 No. 91111 ‘For The Fallen’ rests at platform 4 having arrived with empty coaching stock movement 5D29 Ferme Park Reception Sidings to London Kings Cross – 12/07/2023
    LNER Azuma Class 801 No. 801105 arrives at its final destination with 1Y88 1602 York to London Kings Cross – 12/07/2023
    Another study of LNER InterCity 225 Class 91 No. 91111 ‘For The Fallen’ which will haul 1D29 1903 London Kings Cross to Leeds – 12/07/2023
    Homeward bound courtesy of the South Western Railway 1W79 1903 London Waterloo to Weymouth service formed of Class 444 No.’s 444035 at the rear and 444041 out of sight at the head of platform 15. The train split at Southampton Central, the front five coaches running a fast service to Weymouth whilst the rear section performs a stopping service to Poole – 12/07/2023

    The weekend of 14th to 16th July saw the Watercress Line / Mid-Hants Railway holding their diesel gala. Yoshi and I took the opportunity to visit on the Saturday. As usual, we purchased a gala day ticket and because of the wet weather forecast quite intended to use it! In the event, the rain held off for the most part, but I decided that it might make a pleasant change to enjoy some locomotive haulage along line and opted to ride in the London Underground 4TC unit which was visiting for the event. We were hauled by two visiting locomotives; Class 66 No. 66502 ‘Basford Hall Centenary 2001’ and Class 33/0 No. D6515 (33012) ‘Lt. Jenny Lewis RN’.

    Home fleet Class 47 47579 “James Nightall GC” approaches Ropley – 15/07/2023
    Class 20 No.’s D8188 (20188) and D8059 (20059) arrive at Ropley with a train from Alresford – 15/07/2023
    The driver of “Teddy Bear” Class 14 No. 9551, visiting from the Severn Valley Railway courtesy of the SVR Class 14 Company Ltd, exchanges tokens at Ropley – 15/07/2023
    On static display on Ropley Shed; Class 08 No. 08032 – 15/07/2023
    Class 08 No. D3462 (08377) at Ropley shed awaiting a trip to Alresford – 15/07/2023
    Class 11 No. D12082 was running driver experience opportunities up and down the yard at Ropley – 15/07/2023
    Class 08 No. 08288 ‘Phoenix’ on shed having worked a train up from Alresford – 15/07/2023
    Class 33/0 No. D6515 (33012) ‘Lt. Jenny Lewis RN’ appeared courtesy of the 71A Locomotive Group and is, of course, usually found at the Swanage Railway. She is seen here at Ropley – 15/07/2023
    Another view of Class 33/0 No. D6515 (33012) ‘Lt. Jenny Lewis RN’ this time taken from the footbridge at Ropley – 15/07/2023
    For many the star attraction, Class 66 No. 66502 ‘Basford Hall Centenary 2001’, courtesy of Freightliner on the approach to Ropley – 15/07/2023
    Freightliner Class 66 No. 66502 ‘Basford Hall Centenary 2001’ awaits the road at Ropley hauling the London Underground 4TC set No. 428 – 15/07/2023
    Freightliner Class 66 No. 66502 ‘Basford Hall Centenary 2001’ and the London Underground 4TC set No. 428 at Alresford – 15/07/2023
    Nameplate of Freightliner Class 66 No. 66502 ‘Basford Hall Centenary 2001’ – 15/07/2023
    Yoshi takes a ride onboard London Underground 4TC set No. 428 – 15/07/2023
    London Underground 4TC set No. 428 stands at Alton while No. 33012 runs around out of sho – 15/07/2023
    Having run round the 4TC coaching stock Class 33/0 No. D6515 (33012) ‘Lt. Jenny Lewis RN’ awaits departure time from Alton – 15/07/2023
    Alton is also a mainline station and is shared with SWR. Class 450 No. 450005 is ready for departure with the 1A50 1515 service to London Waterloo – 15/07/2023
    While we were getting off the train at Ropley, Yoshi had to say hello to train guard gone freight train driver, author, illustrator, columnist, fundraiser and lover of all dogs; Bessie Matthews. Bessie has written and illustrated railway safety book “Arlo’s Adventures There and Back” which follows Arlo the badger as he makes his first ever solo trip on the train to see his friends Duskie and Moss, who live a couple of stops away. The reader helps the trio stay safe by turning to the page they think is the best choice featuring real world scenarios such as level crossings and station platforms, as well including a child-friendly glossary of railway terms – 15/07/2023
    Resident Class 50 No. 50027 ‘Lion’ on static display at Ropley shed – 15/07/2023
    Always love seeing dog related railway images, and this is one of our faves. Seen at Ropley – 15/07/2023
    Yoshi didn’t look too pleased when I tried to recreate a railway poster in 2021. Maybe I’ll have another go when I have time on my hands!
    Our snapshot video of the Mid-Hants Diesel Gala 2023

    Before and after our visit to the Watercress Line, we popped into Eastleigh. In the morning I was looking to get a photograph of Direct Rail Services Class 68 No. 68034 which although had visited Dorset on a Winfrith run in recent months had in the meantime been named ‘Railriders 2000’ at Crewe Heritage Centre on 10th June 2023. The name had been previously carried by Class 66 No. 66303 having received the nameplates on 7th July 2021. However the Class 66 was moved to become part of the GBRf fleet in 2022 and the decision to transfer the name was taken.

    Prior to seeing the DRS Class 68 move from Eastleigh to Crewe, we did our usual and parked up on Campbell Road for a view of the works. I was pleased to see Class 07 shunter No. 07007. This class of locomotive was originally built to replace USA steam tank engines at work on Southampton Docks back in the early 1960’s – 15/07/2023
    Eastleigh Works is currently the graveyard of Class 313 EMU’s which await their turn under the cutter’s torch – 15/07/2023
    More Class 313’s in store at Eastleigh – 15/07/2023
    While we were walking around Campbell Road to get a view of Eastleigh Works, we heard Class 47 No. 47727 ‘Edinburgh Castle’ fire up. She is seen here on the left of the image adjacent to still stored SWR Class 701 units – 15/07/2023
    The law of the jungle; the elderly Brush Type 4 has not eaten for days and is slowly stalking its prey, a much younger Stadler Rail cat as she manoeuvres out into the open.. DRS Class 68 No. 68034 ‘Rail Riders 2020’ hauls two PFA wagons as 6Z32 0845 Eastleigh Arlington (Zg) to Crewe Coal Sidings (DRS) while GBRf Class 47 No. 47727 ‘Edinburgh Castle’ is running light engine working OF47 0900 Eastleigh Trsmd to Leicester L.I. P. – 15/07/2023
    Nameplate detail of Class 68 No. 68034 ‘Rail Riders 2020’ – 15/07/2023
    A busy scene at Eastleigh as DRS Class 68 No. 68034 ‘Rail Riders 2020’ passes through working 6Z32 0845 Eastleigh Arlington (Zg) to Crewe Coal Sidings (DRS) – 15/07/2023

    Following the Class 68 departing Eastleigh Arlington, GBRf Class 47 No. 47727 ‘Edinburgh Castle’ was booked to run to Leicester light engine.

    GBRf Class 47 No. 47727 ‘Edinburgh Castle’ running light engine on the approach to Eastleigh railway station working as OF47 0900 Eastleigh Trsmd to Leicester L.I. P. – 15/07/2023

    We also ticked another locomotive off the wanted list in the shape of GBRf Class 66 No. 66723 ‘Chinook’ which we saw pass through Eastleigh in the morning whilst waiting for the Class 68 move. The Class 66 carries the distinctive outline of a chinook helicopter on its bodyside and with the aid of a step ladder was able to get mobile phone images through the ever rampant buddlea as the locomotive was stabled on Eastleigh East Yard in the afternoon.

    GBRf Class 66 No. 66723 ‘Chinook’ stabled on Eastleigh East Yard – 15/07/2023
    Bodyside detail of GBRf Class 66 No. 66723 ‘Chinook’ stabled on Eastleigh East Yard – 15/07/2023
    Nameplate of GBRf Class 66 No. 66723 ‘Chinook’ stabled on Eastleigh East Yard – 15/07/2023
    GBRf Class 66 locomotives no.’s 66301 and 66717 ‘Good Old Boy’ parked up at Eastleigh East Yard – 15/07/2023
    A short video from Eastleigh – 15/07/2023

    Much excitement on Tuesday evening as the first of South Western Railway’s Class 458/4 electric-multiple units was scheduled to arrive at Bournemouth depot. An attempt to run the train the previous week had been cancelled so when the associated workings to Widnes Transport Tech to retrieve the unit went ahead it was a sure sign that we would see it in Dorset.

    The 30 original 4-car Class 458 EMU’s were built by Alstom at Eastwood Heath, Birmingham between 1998 and 2002 for South West Trains (SWT) and are part of the Coradia Juniper type of trains. Between 2013 and 2016, the class was merged with the mechanically similar Class 460 units and extensively rebuilt to form a fleet of 36 5-car units which were designated as Class 458/5’s. The trains were operated by South Western Railway (SWR) following SWT’s loss of the South Western franchise.

    In March 2021 SWR announced it would be refurbishing 28 Class 458 units, the work being carried out by Alstom at Widnes in Cheshire at a cost of £25 million. Work will involve returning each unit to its original 4-car formation by removing the Class 460 vehicles, restoring the original maximum speed of 100 mph, and reconfiguration of the passenger saloons. These “new” units will be reclassified and renumbered as Class 458/4’s. They will be leased from rolling stock company Porterbrook until at least 2027 and are to be based at Bournemouth Traction & Rolling Stock Maintenance Depot (T&RSMD). The first two units to be sent for refurbishment, No.’s 458507 and 458517, arrived at Widnes in August 2022. Now, finally, it is time for their return to SWR metals.

    The real excitement was generated over the locomotives which had been allocated to dragging the first Class 458/4 to its new home; GBRf Class 56 No. 56081 and Class 69 No. 69008. Both unusual traction for Dorset. So it was no surprise to find Branksome railway station a very popular location for railway enthusiasts on Tuesday evening, all hopeful at getting a glimpse of the special working. The train was scheduled to arrive at Branksome for reversal into Bournemouth depot at around 1840. But it was soon clear that things were not going quite to plan when, looking at the live map on Open Time Trains (OTT), the train appeared stalled at Southampton Central. Many theories were passed around, but it would seem that there were concerns over the dampers or shock absorbers on the refurbished unit. And although not actually out of gauge west of Southampton, there was no paperwork to confirm this which resulted in the train being halted in platform 3 of Southampton Central. At first many commentators were of the opinion that the consist would be moved back to Eastleigh awaiting clearance for it to proceed to Bournemouth the following day. Being a pedant, I kept a close view on OTT and was rewarded by the notification of the train moving towards its intended destination. I was also thankful for the texts and messages from friends who were also observing what was happening. So after walking Yoshi, I returned to Branksome in time to see Class 56 No. 56081 rounding the curve into the station 264 minutes late. It was disappointing that I hadn’t seen the train in daylight as anticipated, but it was great to see anyway.

    GBRf Class 56081 runs through Branksome hauling 5Q65 1435 Wembley Terminal Complex Wheel Lathe to Bournemouth Traction & Rolling Stock Maintenance Depot – 18/07/2023
    GBRf Class 69 No. 69008 at the rear of 5Q65 1435 Wembley Terminal Complex Wheel Lathe to Bournemouth Traction & Rolling Stock Maintenance Depot as the crew prepare to reverse into the depot – 18/07/2023

    Obviously, by this time, the return working consisting of the locomotives and barrier coaches had missed the 2100 departure for Eastleigh, but I quite expected them to return that night, but I for one, wasn’t going to hang around to confirm this. On checking the Real Time Trains schedules the following morning I was quietly pleased to have been proven wrong as a path had been put in the system for a return working at 0900 taking the train to Eastleigh. So off I went to get those daylight shots I had missed the previous day.

    Knowing I had to be back at home for 1000, I was getting a little perturbed when there was no sign of movement at the appointed hour or indeed for several minutes afterwards. Eventually the train headcode turned up on the OTT map, which is always a promising sign, followed by the sweet sound of the point motor shifting allowing trains access out of the depot onto the main line. I was very pleased, once again, to see No. 56081 approaching Branksome, this time giving a steam locomotive a run for its money with all the clag it was emitting. Clag can be defined as “dust, dried up oil and other associated bits of junk that have collected in the exhaust manifold being blowing out of the roof with a white to black colouration, in thick opaque clouds” and No. 56081 was certainly living up to that description! And that ticks another thing off my list – a Class 56 locomotive working on the mainline in Dorset.

    A view I never though I’d see as Class 56 No. 56081 departs Bournemouth depot working 5M50 0900 Bournemouth Traction & Rolling Stock Maintenance Depot to Eastleigh East Yard – 19/07/2023
    Top and tailed by GBRf Class 56 No. 56081 and Class 69 No. 69008 5M50 0900 Bournemouth Traction & Rolling Stock Maintenance Depot to Eastleigh East Yard eases towards the mainline – 19/07/2023
    GBRf Class 69 No. 69008 (converted from Class 56 No. 56038), the first of six members of the class to be fitted with Dellner couplers for use on multiple unit stock movements awaits departure from Branksome working 5M50 0900 Bournemouth Traction & Rolling Stock Maintenance Depot to Eastleigh East Yard – 19/07/2023
     With No. 69008 leading, 5M50 0900 Bournemouth Traction & Rolling Stock Maintenance Depot to Eastleigh East Yard powers away from Branksome with Class 56 No. 56081 at the rear with Mk1 barrier coaches No.’s ADB975974 ‘Paschar’, ADB975978 ‘Perpetel’, 6376 & 6377 – 19/07/2023
    Video of unit stock movement and associated working to Bournemouth 18th & 19th July 2023

    The arrival of Tuesday’s unit drag felt like it had taken as long as the time it is taking for the SWR Class 701’s to enter revenue earning service. It’s been a while since I ventured out to see one on a mileage accumulation run, but on July 13th I did just that and was lucky enough to see No. 701054 running through Poole with a brief stop to open and close its doors. Which was nice.

    SWR Class 444 No. 444037 awaits departure time at Poole working 2W62 1400 service to London Waterloo as Class 701 No. 701054 passes with 5Q51 1115 London Waterloo to Staines Up Loop – 13/07/2023
    The 701 mileage accumulation continues via Poole – 13/07/2023

    For the record…

    While I was in Birmingham on 12th July, Swanage based Class 33/0 No. 33012 ‘Lt. Jenny Lewis RN’ ran from her Isle of Purbeck home to Eastleigh to collect the LU 4TC set before an onward move to Alton in readiness for the Mid-Hants Diesel Gala. On the same day, via “the West”, Class 37 No.’s 37610 and 37612 ran to Weymouth with the New Measurement Train working as 1Z22 0757 Derby RTC to Bristol Kingsland Road.

    Hamworthy Watch…

    Work has been carried out at Ashmore crossing on the Hamworthy branch with the warning lights to the right of the above image being repaired after sustaining damage from a vehicle hit several weeks ago. Further vegetation clearance has also been observed along this section – 16/07/2023
    Roadworks have been scheduled to be in place overnight of 21st/22nd November 2023 at Lake Road Bridge on the Hamworthy branch. There has been concerns over the safety of the bridge structure at this point of the line and although there has been previous work to replace rotten timbers it looks as if more does need to be done before trains can pass over this section

    Thank you so much for visiting. We really appreciate your feedback. Be seeing you!

    Virgin Trains Super Voyager Class 221 No. 221106 ‘Willem Barents’ celebrates the “The Prisoner” as it carries advertising for “Festival No.6” which is held at Portmeirion, North Wales, the filming location for 1960’s cult TV series. Seen at London Euston on 22/02/2016

  • Yoshi and the Hastings Unit

    In between showers of rain, Yoshi takes a look at Hastings Unit No. 1001 at Weymouth following its arrival with “The Jurassic Coast Explorer” railtour – 08/07/2023

    July 5th 2023 to July 11th 2023

    This time around we were lucky enough to see two separate railtours grace our patch. But before that on Wednesday 5th July, the Ultrasonic Test Unit (UTU) reached Weymouth via  Bournemouth working as 3Q02 2140 Eastleigh East Yard to Eastleigh East Yard via Weymouth Signal DR194. As the name of the UTU suggests, ultrasonic equipment – the same technology used in medical practices – is employed to detect minute flaws in the track as the train passes over it. Hauled by Colas Class 37 No. 37175 the ensemble was in much use in the South and visited Weymouth once again on Sunday 9th July (although running around two hours late) as 3Q14 1517 Westbury to Westbury via Weymouth. UTU’s inspect around 64,000 miles of track all over the UK using four trains over 750 shifts annually.

    Ultrasonic Test Unit (UTU) in Dorset – July 2023 (Additional video by kind permission of G E Barrett)

    Ultrasonic Testing Unit trains usually have 1 locomotive at one end, and a DBSO (Driving Brake Standard Open) at the other. The DBSO controls the locomotive at the other end whilst it is leading the formation. UTU trains have ground-penetrating radar systems to detect voids and deformations up to 2 meters into the ballast and earth. Similarly to Plain Line Pattern Recognition test trains (on which more below), UTU trains use rail profile scanners to help identify problems or degradation in track profile, comparing it to a template of an ideal track.

    Hastings Unit No. 1001 at Weymouth having arrived with “The Jurassic Coast Explorer” – 08/07/2023

    The first railtour over the weekend was Hastings Diesels Limited’s (HDL) “The Jurassic Coast Explorer” which ran on Saturday July 8th 2023 employing  their Hastings Diesel-Electric Multiple-Unit (DEMU), one of a class of trains built during 1957 and 1958 to replace steam-hauled stock operating between London and Hastings via Tunbridge Wells. The six-coach units, incorporating diesel generators at each end, were unique in having specially narrow bodies which enabled them to pass through the unusually narrow tunnels on the Hastings line. When the line was electrified in 1986, these “Hastings” diesel units were withdrawn (and the tunnels single-tracked to solve the width problem). The preserved example, certified for mainline running, is numbered Unit No. 1001 but actually includes vehicles from several different units and trains including a buffet car from a 4-BIG electric multiple unit (EMU) and a Trailer Second (TSO) from a 4-CEP EMU which unlike the other stock are built to standard UK loading gauge.

    Hastings Unit No. 1001 speeds past Winfrith working 1Z70 0651 Hastings to Weymouth “The Jurassic Coast Explorer” – 08/07/2023
    Hastings Unit No. 1001 at rest in Weymouth whilst working “The Jurassic Coast Explorer” – 08/07/2023
    Hastings Unit DEMU nameplate detail ‘Mountfield’ – 08/07/2023
    Hastings Unit DEMU nameplate detail ‘Tunbridge Wells’ – 08/07/2023
    Hastings Unit No. 1001 powers up through Upwey whilst working the return “The Jurassic Coast Explorer” 1Z72 1538 Weymouth to Hastings – 08/07/2023 (With thanks to G E Barrett for Dorchester images)
    Video of Hastings Unit No. 1001 railtour “The Jurassic Coast Explorer” – 08/07/2023

    The following day, Sunday July 9th the seemingly annual tour celebrating “The End Of Southern Steam” reached Weymouth. The last day of regular steam haulage across the British Railways (BR) Southern Region took place on July 9th 1967. 56 years later and Southern Railway Bullied Pacific No. 35018 ‘British India Line’ returned to the metals she would have travelled over back in her working BR days. Starting out from London Victoria the passengers were hauled by No. 35018 to Yeovil Junction via Salisbury where the steam locomotive was removed from the train for turning and servicing, the tour advancing to Weymouth behind West Coast Railway Company (WCRC) owned Class 47 No. 47802 which had been on the rear of the train since its London departure.

    I left home thinking I had lots of time to find a location to photograph the train near Gillingham, and was surprised to see on Real Time Trains the tour had in fact gained five minutes by the time it had reached Dorset. So a change of plan was instigated and I diverted off to Sherborne where I was caught out by the train approaching my over bridge vantage point wrong line.

    Southern Railway Bullied Pacific No. 35018 ‘British India Line’ working wrong line at Sherborne as 1Z82 London Victoria to Yeovil Junction Down Main Platform – 09/07/2023
    WCRC Class 47 No. 47802 resides departure with 1Z83 1344 Yeovil Junction Down Main Platform to Weymouth which left Yeovil 20 minutes late – 09/07/2023
    Yoshi meets Southern Railway Bullied Pacific No. 35018 ‘British India Line’ at Yeovil Junction which was being serviced at the Yeovil Railway Centre – 09/07/2023
    Nameplate detail for Bullied Pacific No. 35018 ‘British India Line’ – 09/07/2023
    Southern Railway Bullied Pacific No. 35018 ‘British India Line’ having been turned on the Yeovil Railway Centre turntable – 09/07/2023

    Having been refreshed by the team at the Yeovil Railway Centre, No. 35018 worked light engine down to Weymouth where she re-joined the railtour for a spirited late afternoon departure bound for London Waterloo. I waited for the light locomotive at Evershot, but my view was obscured by steam. I then got ahead of No. 35018 and saw her again very close to the former Monkton and Came Halt which had been opened by the Great Western Railway in 1905 as part of their ambitions to combat road based transport. The station served the nearby Came Golf Links and visitors to Maiden Castle. This ultimately failed and the Halt was closed in 1957. Some remains of the platforms can still be seen.

    Running tender first to Weymouth as 0Z84 1523 Yeovil Junction Down Main Platform to Weymouth Jersey Siding to rejoin the main train Southern Railway Bullied Pacific No. 35018 ‘British India Line’ passes Monkton – 09/07/2023
    Making a spirited climb towards Bincombe summit Southern Railway Bullied Pacific No. 35018 ‘British India Line’ hauling Railway Touring Company’s “End of Southern Steam” 1Z84 1724 Weymouth to London Waterloo tour advances towards Upwey – 09/07/2023
    Southern Railway Bullied Pacific No. 35018 ‘British India Line’ the “End of Southern Steam” tour – 09/07/2023 (With grateful thanks to @da_buckley967 for the departure from Weymouth and G E Barrett for Dorchester footage)

    Co-incidentally two days later, London Waterloo celebrated its 175th anniversary which included the unveiling of a plaque commemorating the landmark birthday, a joint Network Rail and South Western Railway choir treated visitors to iconic ‘Waterloo’ songs such as ABBA’s “Waterloo” and The Kinks’ “Waterloo Sunset” as well of a preview of Class 701 “Arterio” EMU No. 701043 on platform 19 which was also adorned with a celebratory London Waterloo 175 roundel . The fleet of 90 Class 701 trains are over two years late at being introduced on Reading, Windsor and South West London suburban routes. In addition, fittingly situated under the famous Waterloo clock on the station concourse, a fascinating 40-panel history exhibition was put on display for a limited time. 

    Celebrating Waterloo 175 logo – 12/07/2023
    An exhibition celebrating Waterloo 175 stood for a few days on the concourse of the Southern Terminus – 12/07/2023

    Delayed by a week, Monday 10th July saw the monthly 1Q51 Plain Line Pattern Recognition (PLPR) test train head to Weymouth, as usual top and tailed by GBRf Class 73 electro-diesel locomotives, but this time in daylight. The train usually runs on our patch in in the late evenings but the rescheduled working was scheduled for a lunchtime turn around at Weymouth. 

    GBRf Class 73 No. 73962 ‘Dick Mabbutt’ leading the outward leg of 1Q51 1008 Woking Up Yard Reception to Woking Up Yard Reception via Weymouth Plain Line Pattern Recognition (PLPR) test train passing Hamworthy – 10/07/2023
    GBRf Class 73 No. 73961 ‘Alison’ at the rear of 1Q51 Woking to Woking via Weymouth passing Hamworthy – 10/07/2023

    Plain Line Pattern Recognition uses a variety of tools to measure and detect defects and potential problems that might arise in track condition. PLPR uses equipment such as: 4 foot camera used to check the track condition, thermal imaging to check rail temperature, fasteners are checked with diagonal and top down cameras. The various cameras used store HD laser scanned images which show different angles and planes of the track and rails. PLPR was initially rolled out on the NMT measurement train, but has since been fitted to Network Rail’s coaches and can be seen across the UK rail network. The coaches on the PLPR may also by fitted with Radio Survey equipment, for testing of NRN, CSR and GSM-R communication systems.

    Video of 1Q51 Plain Line Pattern Recognition (PLPR) Test Train – 10/07/2023 (With thanks to G E Barrett for Dorchester video)

    From the Archive…

    In contrast to how SR Bullied Pacific No. 35018 ‘British India Line’ looked on her recent visit to Weymouth, below are three images of the locomotive and tender when she left storage on Portland taken by John Chappell.

    No. 35018 ‘British India Line’ was the first Merchant Navy locomotive to have the original air-smoothed casing removed as part of a rebuild of the class and emerged from Eastleigh Works in her new form during February 1956. She was withdrawn from service with British Railways in August 1964 and despatched to Barry Scrapyard for disposal. However, after languishing in South Wales for 15 years, she was purchased for preservation by Richard Heather and John Bunch, and in March 1980 the engine was moved to the Mid Hants Railway (MHR) where it was planned for her to be restored to full working order. In the event little work was undertaken on the locomotive during this time and she was later moved to a site in Portland but following little work again being undertaken on restoring the engine she moved once again, in 2012, to Carnforth in Lancashire having been purchased by David Smith. She finally underwent a thorough restoration to running order for mainline standards.

    SR Bullied Pacific No. 35018 ‘British India Line’ departs storage on Portland – 24/04/2012 (Image: John Chappell)
    SR Bullied Pacific No. 35018 ‘British India Line’ is manoeuvred out of storage on Portland – 24/04/2012 (Image: John Chappell)
    Tender for SR Bullied Pacific No. 35018 ‘British India Line’ departs storage on Portland – 24/04/2012 (Image: John Chappell)
    Hastings Unit No. 1001 was privately chartered for the Any Piper Memorial Railtour from Hastings to London Waterloo, Bournemouth and Poole in conjunction with Network rail and GBRf – 08/08/2010

    “The Dorset Diadem” rail tour took Hastings Unit No. 1001 to Bournemouth and Swanage were she was scheduled to arrive at 1320 and giving passengers just under three hours at the seaside town.

    Hastings Unit DEMU No. 1001 “The Dorset Diadem” at Wareham – 25/06/2011 (Image: John Chappell)
    No. 1001 forming the “The Dorset Diadem” railtour to Swanage rests at Wareham – 25/06/2011 (Image: John Chappell)

    Hastings Diesel Limited’s 57th public rail tour the “Weymouth Envoy” ran from Hastings to Weymouth via London Waterloo therefore running the entire length of the LSWR main line.

    At Weymouth No. 1001 was shunted to Jersey Sidings and is seen here pulling forward on the return to Weymouth Railway Station to pick up passengers passing Great Western Railway Class 150 No. 150927 – 20/07/2012 (Image: John Chappell)
    Hastings Unit No. 1001 awaits 1632 departure working as 1Z31 Weymouth to Hastings – 20/07/2012 (Image: John Chappell)
    Back in July 2015, Colas Class 37 No. 37175 was again in charge of the Ultrasonic Test Unit, seen here at Dorchester West propelling to Weymouth – 16/07/2015

    Thank you for stopping by. Your comments, corrections, contributions are most welcome. Be seeing you.

  • Yoshi Goes To Fawley Hill

    Yoshi and I in front of Hudswell Clarke & Co Ltd 0-6-0 ST No. 31 at Fawley Hill Museum – 25/06/2023

    We eased into a busy few days by popping over to Hamworthy on Friday 23rd June 2023 to see a Freightliner Class 66 locomotive on a route learner from Southampton Maritime to Weymouth and back.  No idea if this means there may be some engineering trains heading our way in the future or just a refresher for the crew. Either way, it was good to see. 

    Freightliner Class 66 No. 66551 passes Hamworthy on a route learner running as 0W45 0902 Southampton MCT to Weymouth – 23/06/2023
    Freightliner Class 66 No. 66551 having passed through Hamworthy station working 0W45 0902 Southampton MCT to Weymouth – 23/06/2023

    On the return trip back to Southampton Maritime, I sought a location I have not used previously. A footbridge across the railway afforded a nice view of the mainline on the approaches west of Hamworthy. I had not, however, taken into the account that the bridge was surrounded by mesh which made photography very difficult. It was also very bouncy when being walked across, so I was very relieved nobody passed at the same time as the light Class 66 trundled by underneath!

    Freightliner Class 66 No. 66551 passes Hamworthy on the return route learner running as 0W46 1041 Weymouth to Southampton MCT – 23/06/2023
    Class 66 No. 66551 on route learning duties – 23/06/2023

    On Saturday, Yoshi’s mama had planned an all female picnic meet-up with friends, which left the boy and I free to go and see some trains during the day! I’d noted on the rail tour calendar that double-headed Class 69’s were scheduled to run down to Cornwall, so this became my objective of the day. In fact there were four tours scheduled to pass through Taunton that same day, with one changing diesel traction for steam in the station, so this was probably a good choice of location. 

    Cornish Mazey Day Statesman – 1Z64 0522 Solihull to Penzance

    LSL Class 47 No.’s 47805 and 47614 flying through Creech St. Michael with the “Cornish Mazey Day Statesman” 1Z64 0522 Solihull to Penzance – 24/06/2023

    Operated by: Statesman Rail

    Motive power: 2 x LSL Class 47 No.’s 47805 and 47614

    The Pathfinder Mazey Day Special – 1Z69 0544 Tame Bridge Parkway to Penzance

    GBRf Class 69 No.’s 69005 and 69006 on the approach to Creech St. Michael working “The Pathfinder Mazey Day Special” 1Z69 0544 Tame Bridge Parkway to Penzance – 24/06/2023
    GBRf Class 69 No.’s 69005 and 69006 on the approach to Creech St. Michael working “The Pathfinder Mazey Day Special” 1Z69 0544 Tame Bridge Parkway to Penzance – 24/06/2023

    Operated by: Pathfinder Tours

    Motive power: 2 x GBRf Class 69 No.’s 69005 and 69006

    At a ceremony in Gloucester on Friday 23rd June 2023, No. 69006 was named ‘Pathfinder Railtours – Peter Watts 50 Years Service 1973-2023’.  After the naming No.’s 69006 and 69005 ran light engines to Burton to collect the tour stock for the following day.

    English Riviera Express – 1Z27 0550 Shrewbury to Kingswear (For Dartmouth)

    LSL Class 37 No.’s 37521 and 37688 with Class 47 No. 47828 at the rear hauling the diesel leg of the “English Riviera Express” 1Z27 0550 Shrewbury to Kingswear (For Dartmouth) at Creech St. Michael – 24/06/2023
    LSL Class 47 No. 47828 at the rear of the “English Riviera Express” 1Z27 0550 Shrewbury to Kingswear (For Dartmouth) at Creech St. Michael – 24/06/2023
    Having changed locomotives in Taunton railway station and now with LNER A4 4-6-2 No. 60007 ‘Sir Nigel Gresley’ in charge “English Riviera Express” 1Z27 0550 Shrewbury to Kingswear (For Dartmouth) passes Fairwater Yard, Taunton – 24/06/2023
    LNER A4 4-6-2 No. 60007 ‘Sir Nigel Gresley’ heads up the “English Riviera Express” 1Z27 0550 Shrewbury to Kingswear (For Dartmouth) with Class 47 No. 47828 at the rear passing Fairwater Yard, Taunton – 24/06/2023
    LNER A4 4-6-2 No. 60007 ‘Sir Nigel Gresley’ heads up the “English Riviera Express” 1Z27 0550 Shrewbury to Kingswear (For Dartmouth) at Silk Mills, Taunton – 24/06/2023

    Operated by: Saphos Trains

    Motive power: 2 x LSL Class 37 No.’s 37521 and 37688 with Class 47 No. 47828 at the rear. At Taunton the Class 37’s were taken off the train and substituted by LNER A4 4-6-2 No. 60007 ‘Sir Nigel Gresley’. The Class 47 remained to provide assistance at the rear.

    The Whistling Ghost – 1Z10 0608 Birmingham Snow Hill to Bishops Lydeard

    With Silk Mills bridge in the background, GWR Castle 4-6-0 No. 7029 ‘Clun Castle’ hauling “The Whistling Ghost” 1Z10 0608 Birmingham Snow Hill to Bishops Lydeard wending its way across the GW mainline onto the branch which leads to the West Somerset Railway – 24/06/2023
    GWR Castle 4-6-0 No. 7029 ‘Clun Castle’ hauling “The Whistling Ghost” 1Z10 0608 Birmingham Snow Hill to Bishops Lydeard pulls onto the branch which leads to the West Somerset Railway – 24/06/2023
    GWR Castle 4-6-0 No. 7029 ‘Clun Castle’ at the head of “The Whistling Ghost” 1Z10 0608 Birmingham Snow Hill to Bishops Lydeard at Norton Fitzwarren. The Tysley collection’s Class 47 No. 47773 at the rear – 24/06/2023

    Operated by: Vintage Trains

    Motive power: GWR Castle 4-6-0 No. 7029 ‘Clun Castle’ with support from Class 47 No. 47773. Originally planned to run on 20th May 2023, the tour was rescheduled to June. On the WSR the train was taken from Bishops Lydeard to Minehead by 2 x GWR Manor Class 4-6-0 locomotives No.’s 7828 and 7812. Good friend of therailwaydog.co.uk, @smithy.377 kindly allowed us to share the following photos and video from the West Somerset leg of the tour.

    GWR Manor Class 4-6-0 locomotives No.’s 7828 ‘Odney Manor’ and 7812 ‘Erlestoke Manor’ await the arrival of “The Whistling Ghost” tour at Bishops Lydeard (image by kind permission of @smithy.377) – 24/06/2023
    Video from @smithy.377 as No.’s 7828 ‘Odney Manor’ and 7812 ‘Erlestoke Manor’ pass No. 7029 ‘Clun Castle’ at Bishops Lydeard – 24/06/2023
    Having substituted for No. 7029 ‘Clun Castle’, No.’s 7828 ‘Odney Manor’ and 7812 ‘Erlestoke Manor’ await departure from Bishops Lydeard with “The Whistling Ghost” tour (image by kind permission of @smithy.377) – 24/06/2023
    GWR Manor Class 4-6-0 locomotives No.’s 7828 ‘Odney Manor’ and 7812 ‘Erlestoke Manor’ depart Bishops Lydeard with “The Whistling Ghost” bound for Minehead (image by kind permission of @smithy.377) – 24/06/2023

    For more excellent railway images check out their Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/smithy.377/

    It was another hot day and for the most part Yoshi was able to find shade or at least a cooling breeze. We had toyed with the idea of heading to Bristol as two Class 20 locomotives were reported to be stabled at Bristol Kingsland Road (more on these later). But ultimately, it was far too hot for the boy to be out in the sun for any prolonged period so we waited a little while to see an interesting Class 43 HST power car move from Plymouth to Doncaster and then headed home in good time to pick up Caroline after the picnic. 

    Inter-City liveried Class 43 No. 43184 with No. 43285 at the rear working 5E23 1036 Laira T&RSMD to Doncaster Works Wagon Shops seen passing Norton Fitzwarren – 24/06/2023
    HST Class 43 power car No. 43285 tailing No. 43184 and two MK3 coaches as 5E23 1036 Laira T&RSMD to Doncaster Works Wagon Shops at Norton Fitzwarren – 24/06/2023
    Trains around Taunton the morning of 24th June 2023

    On Sunday 25th June, Yoshi, Caroline and I had been invited to Fawley Hill Museum and Railway Running Day. It sounds very grand to be invited. In reality, because the museum and railway are open on a limited number of days per year, admission is by prior application and invitation only as space is limited. Fawley Hill is a private museum established in the 1960’s by the late Sir William McAlpine at his estate near Henley on Thames.  It hosts a fine collection of memorabilia and models relating to railways together with a working standard gauge railway operating on the steepest gradient in the country. Since its inception the site has grown steadily with a wide range of interesting artefacts and buildings arriving from all over the country. Many items of architecture have been rescued and reassembled at Fawley Hill to save them from demolition, creating a unique urban landscape in a country estate. The park also contains a variety of animals including many species of deer.

    Deer at Fawley Hill – 25/06/2023

    There is a strict “No Photography” rule on visitors inside the Museum, although in reality we found limited photography was acceptable as long as no images are posted on the internet in any way. Which unfortunately includes blogs about railways.  So, you’re going to have to take my word for it – the museum is fascinating and holds over 6,000 objects. My favourite sections were a display on the artist Terrence Cuneo, and an area dedicated to LNER A3 No. 60103 ‘Flying Scotsman’ which was saved for the nation by Sir William McAlpine, the Museum’s founder. There are some amazing models including a very clever diorama of Swindon Works employing use of reflections to force a longer perspective. 

    On the day of our visit, Class 03 No.D2120 was running trains, and we took a ride in Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway half-coach ‘Judy’. Yoshi was allowed to sit with us on the wooden seating and he watched out of the window as we meandered around the estate’s railway system.

    Class 03 0-6-0 Diesel Mechanical Shunter No. D2120 climbs the slope to Somersham Station at Fawley Hill pulling Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway half-coach ‘Judy’ – 25/06/2023

    230 Class 03 diesel shunter locomotives were constructed by BR at Swindon and Doncaster Works between 1957 and 1962. No. D2120 was built at Swindon and entered service in October 1959. She was first allocated to Dangraig Depot and spent her entire career in the Swansea area of South Wales.

    In March 1972 whilst undergoing an overhaul, No. D2120 was converted to Burry Port & Gwendraeth Valley Railway (BPGVR) loading gauge. Eventually a total of 11 Class 03’s were converted in this way. The BPGVR had a severe height restriction and this conversion involved reducing the cab height by 4½ inches, and the fitting of a headlight in front of the exhaust stack, and another at the rear of the cab, for use when locomotives crossed unprotected level crossings. The converted locomotives were also fitted for multiple working with a second locomotive of the same class. During the mid 1970’s British Rail adopted a locomotive five figure computer numbering methodology under the Total Operations Processing System (TOPS) used for managing railway locomotives and rolling stock and No. D2120 was renumbered No. 03120 in March 1974.

    In 1978, No. 03120 spent three months (August – October) in store at Swindon, being re-introduced into service in November. She was given a final general overhaul at Swindon in May 1983 and retained as a standby loco, allocated to Landore Depot, Swansea. She was
    finally withdrawn by BR in February 1986 and released for sale.
    Purchased by Sir William McAlpine, No. 03120 arrived at Fawley in December 1986, wearing the standard fleet livery of BR rail blue with ‘wasp’ yellow and black painted warning ends. Since arriving at Fawley, she has been repainted into early BR Green as No. D2120, the wasp stripes at each end of the locomotive were restored in 2019. D2120 wears loco shed allocation plate 87C (Danygraig).

    Class 03 0-6-0 Diesel Mechanical Shunter No. D2120 backs onto a GWR plank open wagon and a guards van to increase passenger capacity on the train rides at Fawley Hill – 25/06/2023
    Class 03 0-6-0 Diesel Mechanical Shunter No. D2120 working visitor train rides at Fawley Hill – 25/06/2023
    Class 03 0-6-0 Diesel Mechanical Shunter No. D2120 passes under the footbridge which was originally located at Brading Station on the Isle of Wight where it spanned the Ryde to Shanklin line before moving to Fawley Hill in March 2000 (CLS) – 25/06/2023
    Hudswell Clarke & Co Ltd 0-6-0 ST No. 31 at Fawley Hill Museum. This locomotive was ordered from Hudswell Clarke & Co Ltd in November 1912 by the Ministry of Fuel and Power, and built at their Hunslet, Leeds works. She was allocated builder’s number 1026, and completed in April 1913, at a total cost of £1485. Delivered new to Robert McAlpine & Sons, Cuffley on 14 April 1913, No 31 was allocated Plant Number 2581 in 1931. She was outshopped in Caledonian Blue, a colour she kept throughout her time at the McAlpine company even though the corporate colour was green.
    No 31 is the only surviving locomotive to have been owned by Sir Robert McAlpine & Sons for the whole of its working life. She worked on a number of building contracts including Wembley Stadium (1923-1924), RAF Boscombe Down (1944) and Llanwern Steelworks (1960-1961). The locomotive was rebuilt by Hudswell Clarke & Co in 1938. No 31 went into storage at McAlpine’s yard at Hayes in 1961 and remained there until she was identified for scrapping in 1965. At this point, Sir William decided to give No 31 a new life in retirement and purchased the locomotive.
    No 31 arrived at Fawley in September 1965 and was subsequently repainted in GWR Brunswick green livery. Above the smokebox door is carried loco shed plate 81M – a code unique to Fawley – 25/06/2023
    One of two Planet 0-4-0 Diesel Mechanical locomotives at Fawley, No. 3894 ‘Ernie’ in Fawley station yard with Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway half-coach ‘Judy’ – 25/06/2023
    Somersham Station, previously to be found on the St. Ives to March line. The station was opened by the Eastern Counties Railway (ECR) in 1848. The line was closed to all rail traffic in 1967. The waiting room survived until 1977 when it was moved to Fawley – 25/06/2023
    Shobnall Maltings Signal Box is a Midland Railway (Type 3a) signal box dating from 1905. It was the first building to arrive for use on the Fawley railway in 1969 and was originally built at Swadlincote East near Burton-on-Trent. It was moved to operate at the Bass, Ratcliff & Gretton Ltd brewery and renamed Shobnall Maltings – 25/06/2023
    These tyres from ‘Flying Scotsman’ were removed from the driving wheels of the famous LNER Class A3 4-6-2 prior to her journey to Australia in September 1988 – 25/06/2023
    Blackfriars Bridge Capital taken from the old Blackfriars Bridge across the River Thames in London. The bridge opened in June 1864 and demolished in the 1960’s. The bridge abutments remained until the mid-1980’s when the one on the north side of the river was removed along with its decorative cast iron capital or pediment. This example arrived at Fawley in 1984 whilst the remaining two are still in situ in London – 25/06/2023
    The columns of the old Blackfriars railway bridge standing next to the current bridge – 26/08/2022
    The southern abutment and LC&DR insignia have been restored – 26/08/2022
    Our visit coincided with the arrival of some Austin-Healey sports cars… – 25/06/2023
    …and some Morris Minor cars and vans! – 25/06/2023

    If you would like the opportunity to visit Fawley Hill, you can find out how here:  https://www.fawleymuseum.org/events

    ​Doggos are not permitted inside the museum buildings at Fawley Hill, so Caroline and I took it in turns to enjoy the delights on display while the other sat with Yoshi in a cool spot which obviously happened to be situated just by the toilets. It was during my time at this spot that I checked email on my phone and although the 4G coverage was barely existant, I discovered the Class 20’s I mentioned earlier and at that time believed to be in Bristol were in actual fact stabled at Didcot just 18 miles up the road from our current location and more or less in the correct direction for our drive back to Dorset. So after a cup of tea and an excellent piece of raspberry and coconut slice, we took a few final photographs and set off towards home. 

    On arrival in Didcot, we parked up and I took a stroll over to the railway station. The Class 20’s were conveniently parked adjacent to the platforms and were getting a fair bit of attention from other rail enthusiasts, much to the puzzlement of waiting passengers. The locomotives, currently part of the Harry Needle Rail Company (HNRC) fleet but still carrying the remnant livery of their previous owners; GBRf, are on hire to Rail Operations Group (ROG).

    Class 20 No.’s 20905 and 20901 with SIM14 ‘Sentinel’ (No. 99 84 0362 006-0) at Didcot – 25/06/2023
    Class 20 No.’s 20901 and 20905 at Didcot – 25/06/2023
    Class 20 No. 20901 at Didcot. Contrast the differences in nose end detail with the following image of classmate No. 20905 – 25/06/2023
    No. 20905 at Didcot. Contrast and compare with the image above of classmate No. 20901 – 25/06/2023

    The locos, rare visitors to west, are currently working in tandem with one of seven Eurailscout Switch Inspection Machines (SIM). I’m more used to switches being called points, but accept this “Americanism” as it quite an explanatory term. The points are the movable rails which guide the wheels towards either the straight or the diverging track allowing a train to switch tracks if required. They’re quite complex really and require a fair amount of maintenance to ensure they are in a safe and usable condition. SIM14 ‘Sentinel’ (No. 99 84 0362 006-0) arrived at Didcot by road from Holland at the start of June 2023 and was subsequently moved to Bristol Kingsland Road by a single Class 20 locomotive. It spent several nights working in the Bristol area doing exactly what the name suggests – inspecting various switches and junctions in the vicinity of Temple Meads, East Junction and West Junction. After spending the weekend at Didcot again, it was moved to Southall yard on the 12th June for further overnight inspections in the Paddington area. More recently the single Class 20 was joined by its classmate and on the 20th June returned to the Bristol area, moving back to Didcot on the morning of the 23rd despite the TOPS reporting they were still 77 miles further west. 

    Close up of Eurailscout SIM14 ‘Sentinel’ (No. 99 84 0362 006-0) at Didcot – 25/06/2023

    Eurailscout  says the following about the Swith Inspection Machines: “About 50% of all track disruptions are caused by faulty switches, with timely maintenance being needed in order to prevent these disruptions. We use a SIM wagon to measure and inspect the geometry and rail profiles of your switches under day-to-day operating conditions. A single locomotive can push or pull the SIM wagon, which means it can be shunted around quickly between the normal rail traffic. Since we also record high-quality video images during this work, you can make a visual inspection of the switch without having to put it out of service for the inspection and without your staff having to walk on the track themselves.”

    Also stabled at Didcot were Class 66 No.’s 66136 and 66083 – 25/06/2023
    Class 66 No.’s 66051 ‘Maritime Intermodal Four’ and 66129, Didcot Yard – 25/06/2023

    Monday and Tuesday saw some stock movements run around at Poole Storage Sidings as they either went to or from Bournemouth T&RSMD. First up on June 26th was ROG Class 37 No. 37884 ‘Cepheus’ hauling a Class 455 electric multiple unit No. 455863 from Wimbledon to Bournemouth for repair of a failed motor alternator. We saw the Cass 37 and empty coaching stock unit pass through Poole station on the way to the sidings. The locomotive detached from the front of the unit and ran back into Poole station and reversed back out again to attach itself to the other end of the empty stock before passing back through the station on the way to Bournemouth depot. 

    ROG Class 37 No. 37884 ‘Cepheus’ hauling broken Class 455 electric multiple unit No. 455863 through Poole as 5Q86 1246 Wimbledon Park CSD to Bournemouth T&RSMD – 26/06/2023
    Class 455 No. 455863 being towed into Poole Storage Sidings as 5Q86 1246 Wimbledon Park CSD to Bournemouth T&RSMD. Class 37 No. 37884 ‘Cepheus’ will run around the EMU to haul it back to Bournemouth depot – 26/06/2023
    Class 37 No. 37884 ‘Cepheus’ at Poole running around 5Q86 1246 Wimbledon Park CSD to Bournemouth T&RSMD – 26/06/2023
    Class 37 No. 37884 ‘Cepheus’ and No. 455863 work 5Q86 1246 Wimbledon Park CSD to Bournemouth T&RSMD – 26/06/2023
    5Q86 1246 Wimbledon Park CSD to Bournemouth T&RSMD at Poole – 26/06/2023

    The following day it was the turn of Class 47 No. 47727 ‘Edinburgh Castle’ to arrive at Bournemouth T&RSMD to collect a stored ten-car Class 701 unit and take it off to Wimbledon for a further priod of storage. Regular readers may recall that the Class 701’s are yet to enter revenue earning service with South Western Railway and are currently undergoing testing and running in mileage accumulation runs. In fact, if you have a length of track able to accommodate one of these units, I’m sure Network Rail would love to hear from you as sidings all over the country are being filled up with these trains. Scheduled to depart Bournemouth at 1235, I was very much caught out when I discovered that the train had left 66 minutes early. I was very kindly picked up by our friend Jamie who deposited me at Poole station. Unfortunately, there were no free parking spaces available and as Jamie drove off in search of one, the Class 47 and unit hove into view. 

    Class 47 No. 47727 ‘Edinburgh Castle’ powers up at Poole hauling Class 701 EMU No. 701042 working 5Q86 1235 Bournemouth T&RSMD to Wimbledon Park Depot Sidings – 27/06/2023
    Class 701 No. 701042 being hauled to Wimbledon having passed through Poole behind Class 47 No. 47727 ‘Edinburgh Castle’ – 27/06/2023
    5Q86 1235 Bournemouth T&RSMD to Wimbledon Park Depot Sidings departing Poole – 27/06/2023

    Later the same day, Southern Railway West Country Class 4-6-2 No. 34046 ‘Braunton’ visited Weymouth with a Steam Dreams excursion originating from London Victoria. The tour ran to Yeovil Junction where the steam locomotive came off the train for servicing and turning at the Yeovil Railway Centre whilst Class 47 No. 47614 took the train onto Weymouth.

    A lineside fire at Upwey got most of us thinking that the cause was ‘Braunton’, but in fact the steam locomotive hadn’t even passed through the area when the line to Weymouth was closed. Thankfully it wasn’t long until everything was sorted and the track between Upwey and Weymouth reopened at around 1800. This enabled the light steam locomotive to complete its run down to rejoin the stock with no delay to the departure of the tour which was scheduled to return to London via the Bournemouth route.

    Jamie was again kind enough to allow me to join him at Parkstone to see the train pass through. Unfortunately, ‘Braunton’ was running an impressive 8 minutes early as she stormed the bank at Parkstone, just as a London Waterloo to Poole service in the form of SWR Class 444 No. 444004 pulled in on platform 2, obscuring the view for many of those waiting to photograph or video the steam passing through on the Up line. So, my sincere apologies to Jamie who had his view blocked by the service train. I don’t think he’ll be asking me to accompany him on any future outings at this rate!

    Southern Railway West Country Class 4-6-2 No. 34046 ‘Braunton’ storms the bank at Parkstone working 1Z72 1836 Weymouth to London Victoria – 27/06/2023
    Class 47 No. 47614 shrouded in steam at the rear of 1Z72 1836 Weymouth to London Victoria having passed through Parkstone – 27/06/2023
    Steam Dreams “Weymouth” rail tour (Dorchester video by kind permission of GE Barrett)- 27/06/2023

    I was pleased to learn one of my favourite railway stations, Wemyss Bay in Scotland, has won this year’s World Cup of Stations competition following a five day contest across 11 geographical regions in England, Scotland and Wales. Supported by the Rail Delivery Group and the Community Rail Network over 70,000 votes were cast. 48 stations were chosen by TV presenter Tim Dunn and pitched against each other in 16 rounds to whittle down the final few. Wemyss Bay came in at first place with 8,403 votes in the last round, beating second place Denmark Hill on 7,441 votes and third place runner up Leamington Spa with 3,271 votes.

    Wemyss Bay Railway station exterior. The station was designed by James Miller (1860-1947) in 1903 for the Caledonian Railway and is a Category A listed building – 23/06/2021 
    The station is a terminus on the Inverclyde Line, located 26 miles west of Glasgow Central. The station incorporates the Caledonian MacBrayne ferry terminal connecting mainland Scotland to Rothesay on the Isle of Bute and was designed to move passengers from train to ferry in five minutes via a curved covered way while luggage was moved on trolleys by a separate route – 23/06/2021
    The centrepiece of Wemyss Bay Station is a semi-circular ticket office, your eyes drawn upwards… – 23/06/2021
    …. towards curving roofs with a remarkable use of glass and steel curves. Platforms bend in one direction and the ramp down to the pier in another – 23/06/2023 
    ‘MV Argyle’ or ‘Earra-Ghaidheal’ in Gaelic pictured here, alongside her sister ship, ‘MV Bute’, operate sailings between Wemyss Bay and Rothesay on the Isle of Bute – 23/06/2021

    And there we have it! We’ve reached the end of another blog entry. Thank you for your time in visiting us and for your comments, encouragement, corrections and contributions! We’ll be seeing you.

    Postscript

    Fawley Hill’s Cut-down cab Class 03 No. D2120 in BR blue days as No. 03120 at Landore depot, Swansea – 27/08/1981

  • Yoshi Climbs Gold Hill

    14th June 2023 to 20th June 2023

    We went to Shaftesbury on Sunday to see old buses. Caroline and I visited a pub or three and Yoshi took a liking to Gold Hill. Famous as the location for the 1973 Hovis bread TV advert directed by Ridley Scott. Still the same today as its always been – 18/06/2023

    Wednesday 14th June 2023 saw Colas test train 1Q18 Derby RTC to Bristol Kingsland Road visit Dorset in the capable charge of top and tailed Class 37 locomotives No.’s 37612 and 37254. I was in the east of the county hoping to capture a Class 701 drag from Bournemouth to Eastleigh which didn’t materialise. It’s been quite a month for unusual movements being cancelled here; a Class 69 hauled Weedkiller to Weymouth, a Class 37 test train via the West and a Class 455 drag with a Rail Operations Group (ROG) Class 37 to Bournemouth T&RSMD to mention a few.

    Class 37 No. 37612 leads 1Q18 Derby RTC to Bristol Kingsland Road via Weymouth into Dorchester West (video screen grab courtesy of G E Barrett) – 14/06/2023
    Class 37 No. 37254 leads out of Weymouth where 1Q18 Derby RTC to Bristol Kingsland Road has reversed for the run to Bristol (video screen grab courtesy of @da_buckley967) – 14/06/2023
    Video of Class 37 No.s 37612 and 37254 working 1Q18 Derby RTC to Bristol Kingsland Road courtesy of @da_buckley967 and G E Barrett – 14/06/2023

    On Saturday, I popped over to the Southampton area for a brief evening visit to see LNER A3 4-6-2 Pacific No. 60103 ‘Flying Scotsman’. I don’t understand the scorn poured on this locomotive by a certain section of the railway enthusiast fraternity. I think it’s great Scotsman captures the imagination of the general public and it was delightful to hear a lot of chatter on our local radio station before and after the locomotive visited Portsmouth. I was interested to see if No. 60103 retained her white roof which she had gained the previous week in advance of hauling the Royal Train carrying King Prince Charles over the North Yorkshire Moors Railway on Monday 12th June, and I was very pleased to see she had! I was able to observe the “Portsmouth Flyer” rail tour on its way back to London Victoria from the overbridge leading to Dock Gate 20 at Millbrook. It’s also an excellent vantage point to see the locomotives being stabled at Freightliner Maritime depot. I thought the location would be quite popular with onlookers, but in the event it was just myself and another photographer there to see the “People’s Locomotive” steam by. It was quite pleasant passing the time having a friendly chat about railways of today and years gone. 

    Freightliner Class 08 shunter No. 08785 at Southampton Maritime – 17/06/2023
    Class 66 No. 66594 at Southampton Maritime – 17/06/2023
    A line up of Class 70’s at Southampton Maritime, including No.’s 70003,70007 and 70014 with Class 66 No.’s 66565, 66594 and 66504 also visible- 17/06/2023
    Class 66 No. 66529 receives attention at Southampton Maritime – 17/06/2023
    CrossCountry Voyager No. 220011 nears Redbridge working 1020 1325 Manchester Piccadilly to Bournemouth – 17/06/2023
    LNER A3 Pacific No. 60103 ‘Flying Scotsman’ at Millbrook working the return “The Portsmouth Flyer” 1Z73 1606 Portsmouth Harbour to London Victoria – 17/06/2023
    The white cab roof applied to LNER A3 Pacific No. 60103 ‘Flying Scotsman’ can be seen clearly in this view of the locomotive as she works the return “The Portsmouth Flyer” 1Z73 1606 Portsmouth Harbour to London Victoria on the approach to Redbridge – 17/06/2023
    West Coast Railway Company Class 47 No. 47802 at the rear of “The Portsmouth Flyer” 1Z73 1606 Portsmouth Harbour to London Victoria approaching Redbridge – 17/06/2023

    After seeing ‘Flying Scotsman’ I had just enough time to pop over to Eastleigh to get a photo of the Network Rail Class 153 Inspection Train. I was also able to see UK Railtours “The Magic Carpet” on its way from Exeter to London Victoria. This was hauled by two GBRf Class 73 Electro-diesels of the type we normally get here on a test train the first Monday of every month. 

    GBRf Class 66 No. 66726 ‘Sheffield Wednesday’ in Eastleigh East Yard in preparation for working 7C03 2302 to Clapham Junction Windsor Lines civil engineering train later in the day along with No. 66846 – 17/06/2023
    A view over Eastleigh East Yard with GBRf Class 66 No. 66726 ‘Sheffield Wednesday’ and Colas Rail Class 66 No. 66846 in the foreground – 17/06/2023
    DB Cargo Class 66 No. 66100 ‘Armistice 100 1918 – 2018’ in the sidings adjacent Eastleigh railway station – 17/06/2023
    Nameplate detail of Class 66 No. 66100 ‘Armistice 100 1918 – 2018’ – 17/06/2023
    Still carrying EWS Livery, DB Cargo Class 66 No. 66083 partners No. 66100 ‘Armistice 100 1918 – 2018’ at Eastleigh – 17/06/2023
    Network Rail Video Inspection Unit No. 2 (VIU2) No. 153376 rests at Eastleigh. Network Rail employs three Class 153 DMU’s for video assessment of track and points – 17/06/2023
    GBRf Class 66 No. 66701 having just reversed onto wagons ready to form 6G13 1952 Eastleigh East Yard to Cheam engineers train – 17/06/2023
    Maritime Blue liveried Class 66 No. 66051 ‘Maritime Intermodal Four’ passing through Eastleigh heading up 4V44 1824 Southampton Eastern Docks to Morris Cowley MAT – 17/06/2023
    GBRf Class 73/9 No.’s 73964 ‘Jeanette’ and 73962 ‘Dick Mabbutt’ hauling UK Railtours “The Magic Carpet” one the approach to Eastleigh – 17/06/2023
    GBRf Class 73/9 No.’s 73964 ‘Jeanette’ and 73962 ‘Dick Mabbutt’ hauling UK Railtours “The Magic Carpet” 1Z62 1533 Exeter St Davids to London Victoria on the approach to Eastleigh – 17/06/2023
    On the rear of “The Magic Carpet” 1Z62 1533 Exeter St Davids to London Victoria GBRf Class 66 No. 66768 – 17/06/2023
    In 2011, leasing company Akiem acquired seven unused JT42CWRM locomotives, which would originally enter service for Veolia Cargo SAS (77501-77503) as order 20078941 and Crossrail Benelux (77504-77507) as 20078920. On 20 June 2011, all seven locos were delivered with train protection systems for Germany, Belgium and France. After being delivered to Akiem, they were immediately leased to VFLI.
    Purchased and imported by GBRf Class 66 No.’s 66308 (ex-77503) and 66307 (ex-77502) are seen at Eastleigh Arlington Works having been repainted into standard GBRf livery following sizing modifications for the UK rail loading gauge carried out at Doncaster – 17/06/2023
    Class 313’s continue to arrive at Eastleigh Arlington for component recovery and scrapping. No.’s 313206, 313201, 313207 and 313208 can be identified in this view. An appeal to fund maintenance and storage costs of blue liveried No. 313201 has been launched – 17/06/2023
    No.’s 313206, 313201, 313217, 313207 and 313208 await their fate at Eastleigh Arlington – 17/06/2023
    These Class 313 EMU’s at Eastleigh Arlington have had their numbers cut out. We can identify No. 313202, closest to the camera, from the coach number 62530 – 17/06/2023

    “The Magic Carpet” passed through Dorset and our North Dorset correspondent was on hand to capture the train at Gillingham:

    GBRf Class 73/9 No.’s 73964 ‘Jeanette’ and 73962 ‘Dick Mabbutt’ head up UK Railtours “The Magic Carpet” at Gillingham on the return leg (photo courtesy of Scott Lewis) – 17/06/2023

    This past weekend the 2023 “Royal Blue Run” saw the return of preserved and restored coaches to roads across the West Country, showcasing these fine specimens in authentic settings across the country recreating lost scenes. This year the Royal Blue & Associated Motorways run saw the privately owned vehicles recreate an age of bygone travel on the open roads through Wiltshire, Somerset, Devon and Cornwall reaching Penzance in the far south west.  The specific routes chosen were drawn from Royal Blue timetables from different eras. Sometimes segments of express services are followed, or in other cases seasonal variants are used (e.g. summer Saturdays only or winter season routing).  Every stretch has to be pre-driven to ensure the original roads remain suitable for coaches to pass even with modern parking practices or traffic management schemes. The coaches set out from Salisbury bus station on Friday 16th June and we chose to see them passing through Shaftesbury on their return final stage run up the A30, as used by the ‘stopping’ Penzance to London services, to Salisbury.

    Burlingham C33F AEC Regal Reg No. CFK 340 in the livery of operator Burnham built 1948 at Shaftesbury – 18/06/2023
    Royal Blue ECW Bristol MW6G Fleet No. 2267 Reg No. 56 GUO built 1961 at Shaftesbury – 18/06/202
    Wilts & Dorset Beadle C32R Bristol L6B Fleet No. 279 Reg. EMW284, built 1947 at Shaftesbury – 18/06/202

    The Thames Valley & Great Western Omnibus Trust (TV&GWOT) website provides more information on the Royal Blue Runs which “were established in 2002 so that owners and their passengers can relive the pleasures of long distance luxury coach travel for which their carefully preserved vehicles were originally intended. The aim is to follow original Royal Blue routes as closely as possible and to travel at a leisurely pace redolent of the times. The runs also create a wonderful spectacle for innocent bystanders and dedicated photographers alike, thanks to the hard work and resources the owners have devoted to restoring and maintaining their fine coaches.

    A lot of work goes into planning the runs from selecting routes from the extensive Royal Blue network and researching the original drivers’ instructions and passenger timetables, preparing maps and outline routing, driving the routes to develop detailed instructions allowing for modern day features and constraints, organising refreshment stops, obtaining parking permissions, to identifying potential accommodation for a dozen or more coaches and their passengers. Despite all the preparations, final timings are hard to judge whether due to roadworks or things that might pique the interest of crews along the way. The coaches do not travel in close convoy so as not to inconvenience other road users. Some drivers have also been known on occasion to deviate from the intended route (unintentionally!).

    Overall the focus is on education and enjoyment and we hope that however you take part you share in the pleasure.”

    Western National Fleet No. 3307 Reg AFJ 727T Plaxton Supreme DP41F Bristol LH6L built in 1979 at Shaftesbury – 18/06/202
    A long way from home, Crossville Fleet No. CRG106 Reg AFM 106G ECW C49F Bristol RELH built in 1969 at Shaftesbury – 18/06/202
    Royal Blue Fleet No. 1286 Reg MOD 973 ECW Bristol LS6G C39F built in 1952 at Shaftesbury – 18/06/202
    Royal Blue (Western National) Fleet No. 1250 Reg. LTA 729 Duple Bristol LL6B C37F built in 1951 at Shaftesbury – 18/06/202
    A very short video of Royal Blue Run buses passing through Shaftesbury – 18/06/2023

    I certainly derived much pleasure from seeing the coaches which were running around thirty minutes behind schedule when they passed us. Not bad timing in my humble opinion! I previously saw the 2016 Royal Blue Run which having started at London Victoria Coach Station ran to Bristol on Day One. The following day was designed to commemorate 50 years since the final train on the Somerset & Dorset Railway, a much loved and mourned route that ran through Royal Blue heartland from Bath to Bournemouth. The route intertwined with several famous S&D locations, recreating in part the former rail replacement service that was created when the line closed in 1966. Day Three was an excursion from Bournemouth to Lulworth Cove, followed by a trip across the New Forest to Lyndhurst. It was Lulworth Cove where I decided to see the buses as they grouped together in the car park before once again taking to the open road where I took the opportunity to see them passing through Lulworth village and Wareham.

    Royal Blue Bristol MW6G Fleet No. 2246 Reg. 625 DDV built 1960 enters the car park at Lulworth Cove – 19/06/2016
    Western National Bristol MW6G ECW C39F Fleet No. 1423 Reg. EDV 505D built in 1966 and entered service in Plymouth seen at Lulworth Cove – 19/06/2016
    A Royal Blue line up at Lulworth Cove – 19/06/2016
    Royal Blue ECW Bristol MW6G Fleet No. 2267 Reg No. 56 GUO built 1961 passing through Lulworth – 19/06/2016
    Wilts & Dorset Beadle bodied Bristol L6B Fleet No. 279 Reg. EMW284, built 1947 at Lulworth – 19/06/2016
    Royal Blue Fleet No. 1299 Reg. OTT 98 1953 Bristol LS6G with ECW C39F coachwork at Lulworth village – 19/06/2016
    Royal Blue express services Fleet No. 2351 Reg. 837 SUO Bristol RELH6G ECW passing through Wareham – 19/06/2016

    From The Archives:

    Mention of Penzance as part of the Royal Blue Run this year reminded me that I was going to look for a photograph of the Pullman Camping Coaches which used to stand at Marazion and I mentioned as much in our blog entry “Yoshi Goes To Cornwall”. As luck would have it, I was looking for some paperwork the other day and came across the following images:

    For many years Marazion was home to six old Pullman coaches that were employed as camping coaches; holiday accommodation offered by the railway containing sleeping and living space designed to encourage people to travel by train to the stations where they were situated – March 1993
    British Rail Parcels Sector liveried Class 47 No. 47462 ‘Cambridge Traction & Rolling Stock Depot’ at Penzance – March 1993
    Class 47 No. 47463 (with her pre-TOPS number D1586 marked between her head code lights) in BR Standard Monastral Blue livery, which she retained to the end, stands at Penzance. The locomotive entered service in May 1964 and was cut up in November 1996 by MRJ Phillips at Crewe Works – March 1993
    Class 47 No. 47462 ‘Cambridge Traction & Rolling Stock Depot’ at Penzance. The locomotive was built at Crewe and entered traffic on May 16th 1964 as D1582. Named at Cambridge Open Day held on 29th September 1990 by Jack Firman a retired workshop supervisor, the nameplates were removed in December 1993 and later transferred to No. 47736 – March 1993
    Class 47 No. 47462 at Penzance. The locomotive was cut up at Toton by Harry Needle Rail Co in March 2003 – March 1993

    Alongside the Cornwall photographs above, the same box of documents contained, amongst other things, a Blake’s 7 ‘Liberator’ model and an old diary. I’ve not been one for keeping a diary, but for six months in 1982, I seemed to have managed it. Tucked inside the diary was a piece of paper from a rail tour I took from London Paddington to the Severn Valley Railway on Saturday 19th June 1982.

    Great Western Society Limited “The Salopian II” information sheet – 19/06/1982
    Great Western Society Limited “The Salopian II” information sheet – 19/06/1982

    This must have been my first visit to the SVR, and I don’t really remember much about the day if I’m honest. So from the pages of a diary not opened in years, here, extracted from amongst references to exams, my sister’s wedding, the Falklands War and working part-time at Bere Regis Motors in Dorchester, is my record of the Great Western Society Limited’s “The Salopian II”:

    Thursday June 10th 1982

    Rail tour tickets for the 19th arrived today. Going with Tony S.
    Adam Ant is number one with ‘Goody Two Shoes’

    Friday June 18th 1982

    At 2245 Tony and I boarded the mail train at Dorchester South. Jon H was there as well, but he’s going off somewhere else when we get to London. 

    There was talk about the mail train being taken off soon. If so, we will have problems if we want an overnight jaunt to connect with rail tours departing London in the future. 

    Saturday June 19th 1982

    The locomotive which hauled the mail train from Dorchester, 33118, came off at Eastleigh where it was replaced by 73122. We arrived at London Waterloo right-time and then, together, Jon, Tony and I took a black cab across to Euston. At 0600 we went our separate ways with Jon heading to Kings Cross while Tony and I undertook the two and a half mile stroll to Paddington railway station. The weather was dismal , but at least it didn’t pour down with rain.

    At Paddington, we were due to depart at 0740 but at the appointed time we were surprised to see our train loco; 47532, being taken off the stock at 0725 and taken away.

    Class 47 No. 47532 at the head of “The Salopian II” rail tour at London Paddington prior to being removed from the train. HST Class 43 Power Car No. 43145 is on the adjacent track – 19/06/1982

    We eventually left at 0757 with the class 47 having been replaced by 50012.

    Class 50 No. 50012 ‘Benbow’ approaches London Paddington to take over “The Salopian II” rail tour. The locomotive would be withdrawn from service in January 1989 and cut up by Vic Berry in Leicester by July of that year – 19/06/1982

    By the time we arrived at Didcot we were 27 minutes down on schedule. But a quick locomotive changeover meant this was reduced to 16 minutes when we left behind 7029 ‘Clun Castle’.

    GWR 4073 Class 4-6-0 No. 7029 ‘Clun Castle’ backs onto “The Salopian II” at Didcot – 19/06/1982
    GWR 4073 Class 4-6-0 No. 7029 ‘Clun Castle’ at Didcot – 19/06/1982
    GWR 4073 Class 4-6-0 No. 7029 ‘Clun Castle’ at Didcot – 19/06/1982
    GWR 4073 Class 4-6-0 No. 7029 ‘Clun Castle’ stopped at Banbury for a water stop – 19/06/1982
    Class 33 No. 33025 ‘Sultan’ in the bay platform at Banbury as No. 7029 ‘Clun Castle’, having drawn forward from the previous image, takes on water – 19/06/1982

    By the time of our next locomotive changeover the ‘Castle’ had managed to make up the deficit and we arrived bang on time allowing 20165 and 20167 to take us forward to Bewdley on the Severn Valley Railway where we still managed to arrive 20 minutes late!

    GWR 4073 Class 4-6-0 No. 7029 ‘Clun Castle’ alongside Class 20 No.’s 20165 and 20167 which took over “The Salopian II” at Dorridge – 19/06/1982
    Class 20 No.’s 20165 and 20167 backing onto “The Salopian II” at Dorridge – 19/06/1982

    On the SVR we were hauled by 43106 from Bewdley to Dorridge and return. We had a couple of hours to look around the shed at Bridgnorth and get refreshments.

    While on Severn Valley Railway metals our train was hauled by LMS Ivan Class 4 No. 43106, the only surviving member of the class. Seen here at Bridgnorth – 19/06/1982
    GWR 7800 Class 4-6-0 No. 7812 ‘Erlestoke Manor’ at Bridgnorth – 19/06/1982
    LMS Stanier Class 5 4-6-0 No. 5000 at Bridgnorth. No. 5000 is part of the National Collection and is currently on static display at the Shildon Locomotion Museum in County Durham – 19/06/1982
    Longmoor Military Railway No. 600 ‘Gordon’ (named after General Gordon of Khartoum) was. built in 1943 for the War Department and is seen here at Bridgnorth. In 1957, during the Suez Crisis, ‘Gordon’ worked highly secretive trains between Longmoor Military Base and Southampton. The locomotive is currently on static display on the SVR at The Engine House, Highley – 19/06/1982
    GWR 7800 Class 4-6-0 No. 7812 ‘Erlestoke Manor’ at Bridgnorth – 19/06/1982
    GWR 7800 Class 4-6-0 No. 7812 ‘Erlestoke Manor’ at Bridgnorth – 19/06/1982

    I managed to get a piece of smut in my in my eye from 4930 ’Hagley Hall’ which I just couldn’t get out. [2023 note: I’m thinking No. 4930 may have hauled us one way on the SVR, but my diary says No. 43106 worked the train in both directions]

    GWR Collett 4-6-0 Hall Class No. 4930 ‘Hagley Hall’ at Bridgnorth. She was built in 1929 at Swindon Works and originally allocated to Wolverhampton Stafford Road – 19/06/1982
    GWR Collett 5700 Class 0-60PT “Pannier Tank” No. 5764 entered service at London’s Old Oak Common in 1929 and was later one of a number of the class sold to London Transport following withdrawal from British Rail in 1960. She is currently on static display in London Transport guise, numbered L95, at The Engine House, Highley. She is seen here in GWR livery at Bridgnorth – 19/06/1982

    Returning to Bewdley, the 20’s took control of our train once again and regained all lost time and even gained 15 minutes. But despite these efforts, the quarter hour and more was lost due to a number of signal stops. In my opinion the star of the day; 92220 ‘Evening Star’, to be precise, replaced the diesel power at Saltley and despite working hard we arrived back at Didcot some 16 minutes down.

    BR Standard Class 9F No. 92220 ‘Evening Star’ during a water stop at Banbury. No. 92220 was the last steam locomotive to be built at for British Railways and was earmarked for preservation before she entered service in March 1960. She hauled the last Pines Express on the Somerset & Dorset line on 8th September 1962. ‘Evening Star’ had a working life of five years before being withdrawn from service in March 1965 after sustaining damage in a shunting incident at Cardiff Docks. She was overhauled and restored at Crewe Works following withdrawal working in preservation until the late 1980’s. She is now on static display at the Railway Museum in York and one of nine existing locomotives of a class which numbered 251- 19/06/1982

    50040 took us forward to Reading where Tony and I de-trained for our connection down to Basingstoke and home. 

    Sunday June 20th 1982

    The down Mail arrived into Basingstoke at Midnight. We were extremely lucky to have made it as our connecting service train from Reading should have left at 2300 and “The Salopian II” arrived at 2302. We met Paul E and Mark B, two rail enthusiasts from Charminster who had been part of the group who went to Plymouth Laira with us in April. This time they had been to Calais with Mark’s parents. A class 73 took us from Basingstoke to Eastleigh where 33010 came on to bring us into Dorchester South just after 0300 where we all said our good-byes and headed home to our beds. 

    I was up again at 0900 in order to see some excursion trains.

    Class 33 No. 33029 approaching Dorchester South – 20/06/1982
    Class 47 No. 47526 at Dorchester West – 20/06/1982

    The piece of smut in my eye from ‘Hagley Hall’ was still there, so I called on [my brother], who was out. Anyway, he appeared at half four and spent an hour moving the smut from the blue bit of my eye to the edge and finally relief!

    GBRf Class 73 No.’s 73964 ‘Jeanette’ and 73961 ‘Alison’ were out on a GB Railfreight staff special the “Tonbridge Trailblazer” in June 2016 running from Ashford International to Weston-super-Mare. The ED’s are seen here at Bath Spa on the return leg working 1Z63 1725 Weston-super-Mare to Ashford International – 18/06/2016

    Postscript:

    Longmoor Military Railway No. 600 ‘Gordon’ as seen in 2023 at The Engine House, Highley – 20/05/2023
    London Transport No. L95 (the former GWR Collett 5700 Class 0-60PT “Pannier Tank” No. 5764) as seen in 2023 at The Engine House, Highley – 20/05/2023
    It’s goodbye from me, and a goodbye from Yoshi! Thanks for reading. We appreciate your comments, contributions, updates and corrections. See you soon!

  • Yoshi Goes To The West Somerset Railway

    Yoshi at Minehead on the West Somerset Railway with Class 33 Crompton No. D6575 (33057) – 09/06/2023

    This week we had the first Class 69’s to Dorchester and the second ever Class 40 to visit Weymouth, the first occasion being Forty years ago. So that’s quite appropriate! 

    Setting the alarm for stupid o’clock on Friday morning I was in Dorchester in good time to see GBRf Class 69 No.’s 69004 and 69003 ‘The Railway Observer’ working 3Q00 2355 Exeter Riverside N.Y. to Exeter Riverside N.Y. weedkiller which was scheduled to reverse at Dorchester Junction at 0221 – 0229. I had a bit of a longer wait than planned at Dorchester West as the train arrived 37 minutes down on schedule. The vegetation control set was scheduled to visit Weymouth via Dorchester South on Monday 12th June with the train having moved to Eastleigh over the weekend. Unfortunately a tragic incident between Poole and Bournemouth caused disruption to services and the train was cancelled.

    In its retro Railway Technical Centre livery, GBRf Class 69 No. 69004 crosses the road bridge at Dorchester West working 3Q00 2355 Exeter Riverside New Yard to Exeter Riverside New Yard – 09/06/2023
    Class 69 No. 69003 ‘The Railway Observer’ at the rear of 3Q00 2355 Exeter Riverside New Yard to Exeter Riverside New Yard passing through Dorchester West – 09/06/2023
    The Weedkilling train passed through Dorchester West and reversed at Dorchester Junction. Class 69 No. 69003 ‘The Railway Observer’ now heads up 3Q00 2355 Exeter Riverside New Yard to Exeter Riverside New Yard on the return journey to Devon – 09/06/2023
    GBRf Class 69 No. 69004 at Dorchester West working 3Q00 2355 Exeter Riverside New Yard to Exeter Riverside New Yard – 09/06/2023
    The first Class 69’s to Dorchester – 09/06/2023

    Later the same Friday, Yoshi and I headed over the county border to the West Somerset Railway for the second day of their 2023 diesel gala.

    The West Somerset Railway (WSR) is a 22 miles in length and is the longest standard gauge heritage railway in the UK. It originally opened in 1862 between Taunton and Watchet. In 1874 it was extended from Watchet to Minehead by the Minehead Railway. At first the railway was a single track line with improvements required in the first half of the 20th century to cater for the increase in tourism to the Somerset coast. The line was closed by British Rail in 1971 and reopened in 1976 as a heritage line.

    Interestingly, Wikipedia notes: “In 1845, when the Bristol and Exeter Railway (B&ER) had recently completed its main line, there were proposals for a number of different and competitive railway schemes in west Somerset. A Bristol and English Channels Direct Junction Railway was proposed as a link from Watchet through Stogumber and Bishops Lydeard to Bridport on the south coast, which would be an alternative to ships taking a long and dangerous passage around Land’s End. This prompted the promotion of a connecting line from Williton to Minehead and Porlock, a line designed to attract tourists to Exmoor. Shortly afterwards, a Bristol and English Channels Connection Railway was suggested from Stolford to Bridport which would have passed through the Quantock Hills near Crowcombe. Alternatively, the Bridgwater and Minehead Junction Railway would link with the B&ER at Bridgwater and run through Williton to Minehead with a branch to Watchet and a connecting Minehead and Central Devon Junction Railway would provide a line to Exeter. An alternative link to South Devon was proposed by the Exeter, Tiverton and Minehead Direct Railway through Dunster and offered an extension to Ilfracombe.” Of course, none of these schemes came to fruition, but it is interesting to speculate on the possible developments of Bridport and West Bay. 

    Unfortunately one of the planned 2023 gala highlights, a double headed Class 35 Hymek hauled train, didn’t transpire on the day I visited as both available examples of the class were deemed out of order. We saw the Hymeks on the diesel depot at Williton and it was good to see that the dedicated band of volunteers and engineers were working hard on getting at least one example operational for the following day.

    At Williton depot Class 35 Hymek No. D7017 was being worked on in order to return the locomotive to service. D7017 has been running trains on the West Somerset Railway since 1977. The loco was first moved to Taunton on leaving BR service in 1975, before being moved up to Minehead in 1976 – 09/07/2023

    Introduced into service between 1961 and 1964, the Hymek’s were intended as a medium power mixed traffic locomotive, but were often rostered to deputise for some of BR Western Region’s largest steam locos on 13 and 14-coach trains in their early years. A total of 101 locos were built and were allocated all over the West of England. They settled down to become a successful and capable fleet and weee regular visitors to Weymouth via the route from Yeovil. However the Hymek’s careers were cut short by BR’s standardisation of diesel-electric locomotives. The first withdrawals came in 1971, with some locos scrapped being less than nine years old. Full withdrawal of the fleet was planned for 1973 and a farewell tour, “The Hymek Swansong”, ran in the September of that year. Due to loco shortages, ten Hymek’s lasted until 1975 when they were finally withdrawn. Of these, four examples have survived into preservation; the two WSR based Diesel & Electric Preservation Group (D&EPG) Hymek’s No.’s D7017 and D7018; No. D7029 with the Diesel Traction Group based at the Severn Valley Railway currently undergoing restoration having been out of service since 1987, and No. D7076 with the Bury Hydraulic Group and is set to return to traffic at the East Lancs Railway 2023 Diesel Gala.

    Also not working on the day of our visit was Class 35 No. D7018. Following withdrawal from British Rail in 1975, D7018 was first located at Didcot Railway Centre for a number of years before moving to Williton to join sister locomotive D7017 – 09/06/2023
    Class 52 Western Diesel-Hydraulic No. D1010 ‘Western Campaigner’ seen at Williton. She is currently non-operational pending work on transmission and bodywork repair. No. D1010 was stored outside Merehead quarry for a number of years before being preserved by The Diesel & Electric Preservation Group, firstly at Didcot and then moving to the West Somerset Railway. The Western locomotives were the Western Region’s diesel-hydraulic flagship. Designed for express passenger work, they were equally at home on heavy freight. D1010 is one of 74 locos built at either Swindon or Crewe works between 1961 and 1963. All locos were named, each name beginning with the word ‘Western’. They were the last of the Diesel-Hydraulic classes to be withdrawn from service, after being classified as non-standard, the final operational members of the class being withdrawn in 1977 . Seven locomotives of the 74 built were saved for preservation – 09/06/2023

    The other big draw for the WSR 2023 diesel gala was Class 55 Deltic diesel locomotive No. 55009 ‘Alycidon’ which sounded on fine form. Owned by the Deltic Preservation Society (DPS) the loco has been restored as a main line runner, and hopefully we’ll get to see and hear the magnificent Napier engine sound in Dorset at some point. Named at Doncaster Works on July 21st 1961 before introduction to traffic,  the as then No. D9009 maintained the ‘racehorse’ tradition of the London North Eastern Railway (LNER) by commemorating the winner of the 1949 Ascot Gold Cup. In May 1981, she moved to York after the closure of Finsbury Park depot and was one of four Deltics prepared to work a series of farewell railtours during their final six months of operation. Withdrawn on 2nd January 1982 ‘Alycidon’ was sold to the DPS for £16,550.09 in May of the same year. 

    Deltic Preservation Society’s Class 55 No. 55009 ‘Alycidon’ arrives at Wiliton – 09/06/2023
    Class 55 No. 55009 ‘Alycidon’ approaches Watchet – 09/06/2023
    Class 55 No. 55009 ‘Alycidon’ arrives at Wiliton with a service bound for Bishops Lydeard – 09/06/2023

    We made sure that Yoshi had plenty of water to drink and shade was available for him while watching the trains. Other locomotives in action at the West Somerset Railway on the Friday were:

    Waterman Railway Heritage Trust’s Class 25 No. D7659 (25309). The locomotive was delivered new to was new to London Midland (Midland) Lines on July 21st 1966 and was the last member of the batch built by Beyer Peacock at Gorton Works in Manchester and the last new Class 25 to be delivered in green livery. She was withdrawn from BR service on September 13th 1986 – 09/06/2023
    Class 25 No. D7659 (25309) on the turntable at Minehead. This locomotive returned to service during the latter part of 2021 for the first time in more than 23 years following a comprehensive restoration that effectively saw the loco rebuilt – 09/06/2023 
    Class 14 “Teddy Bear” No. D9526 prepares to leave Minehead. No. D9526 was one of 56 locos of this class built by BR at Swindon Works in 1964-5. Intended for pick-up and branch line freights, they were made redundant almost immediately by closure of many secondary lines in the late 1960’s. Almost the entire fleet was sold for use in industry, with 23 going to Stewarts and Lloyds huge iron ore mines railway system around Corby and 19 going to the NCB’s North East Area. No. D9526 was an exception and was sold to Blue Circle Cement at Westbury, where it worked until suffering serious engine problems in 1977. It was donated to the Diesel and Electric Preservation Group (D&EPG) by Blue Circle and moved to Williton in 1980. After repairs and restoration work, D9526 made its preservation debut in 1984 – 09/06/2023
    Class 33 No. 33002 ‘Sea King’ sits on the turntable at Minehead awaiting her next turn. The loco, originally D6501 is the oldest surviving Crompton, having been delivered new to 73C Hither Green Depot in 1959. No. 33002 was stored serviceable on 5th September 1996 at Stewarts Lane. In the privatisation years, the locomotive enjoyed stints with the Harry Needle Railroad Co. and Direct Rail Services. The locomotive was purchased by South Devon Diesel Traction in December 2004 and operates on the South Devon Railway – 09/06/2023
    D6566 (33048) approaches the crossing at Watchet heading towards Minehead. No. D6566 was withdrawn from BR service in 1995 and after a two year period in store, was condemned as surplus to requirements in 1997. Acquired almost immediately by one of the D&EPG founder members, the locomotive arrived at Williton in May 1997 and worked her first train on the WSR in October of that year, marking the first use of a Class 33/0 in preservation. No. D6566 was stopped for overhaul in 2013 after 16 years of service on the WSR. The overhaul included engine work and major bodywork repairs and the locomotive returned to service in 2018 – 09/06/2023
    Type 3 Diesel-Electric Class 33 No. D6575 (33057) is one of two West Somerset Railway resident Crompton’s of which originally 98 were built by the Birmingham Railway Carriage & Wagon Company (BRC&W) in Smethwick, West Midlands between 1960 and 1962. She is seen at Minehead after arriving with a train from Bishops Lydeard. She worked mixed traffic on the Southern Region of BR for 35 years until withdrawal in 1996 following a bogie fire that damaged No. 2 traction motor and the electrical wiring at No.1 cab end. The loco passed through several owners during the following nine years before being acquired by the owner of D6566 (33048) as a source of spares, arriving at Williton in September 2005 in a dilapidated state. However, following appraisal at Williton, the loco was deemed repairable. Following much painstaking work, she returned to action on the WSR in 2012 – 09/06/2023
    Class 03 No. D2133 at Minehead. The locomotive wasn’t an active participant of the diesel gala. The Class 03 locomotive was one of British Railways most successful 0-6-0 diesel-mechanical shunters with 230 built at Doncaster and Swindon works between 1957 and 1962. No. D2133 is a Swindon Works example, built in 1960 and withdrawn from BR in July 1969 and therefore was never renumbered under the Total Operations Processing System (TOPS) scheme of the early 1970’s. As was the case with many ex-BR shunters No. D2133 carried on working in private hands at the British Cellophane factory in nearby Taunton until 1994 when she was presented to the WSR – 09/06/2023
    Video of our visit to the West Somerset Railway 2023 Diesel Gala

    Saturday saw some preserved diesel action much closer to home as Class Forty Preservation Society owned Class 40 No. D345 (40145) hauled Pathfinder Railtours 50th Anniversary charter train which ran from Burton-on-Trent to Weymouth. The tour celebrated the 10th June 1973 railtour, co-organised by Pathfinder’s Peter Watts, which departed Gloucester Eastgate heading for Pwllheli all those years ago. I have very fond memories of Peter Watts Publishing railway books in the 1970’s and 1980’s. Peter is stepping away from management at Pathfinder tours but was very much involved with the organisation of the 50th Anniversary Tour. An added bonus was the use of MK1 coaches and could well be the last mainline use of such stock.

    Class Forty Preservation Society owned Class 40 No. D345 (40145) nears Parkstone at the head of Pathfinder Railtours 50th Anniversary charter train 1Z40 0701 Burton-on-Trent to Weymouth – 10/06/2023
    No. D345 in Jubilee Siding at Weymouth. Class 47 No. 47815 ‘Great Western’ is engaged in empty coaching stock movements behind – 10/06/2023
    Class 47 No. 47815 ‘Great Western’ prepares to move the empty coaching stock from the sidings back into Weymouth station as 5Z41 1346 Weymouth to Weymouth – 10/06/2023
    No. D345 in Jubilee Siding at Weymouth – 10/06/2023
    No. D345 prepares to run light engine into Weymouth station – 10/06/2023
    At the head of the rake of MK1 coaches, No.D345 awaits departure of 1Z41 1636 Weymouth to Burton-on-Trent. The tour returned via Dorchester West and Yeovil – 10/06/2023
    Pathfinder photoshoot at Weymouth ahead of the departure of the 50th Anniversary charter train – 10/06/2023
    No. D345 powers towards the site of the former Radipole Halt with 1Z41 1636 Weymouth to Burton-on-Trent – 10/06/2023
    No. D345 having departed Weymouth with 1Z41 1636 Weymouth to Burton-on-Trent – 10/06/2023
    Our video of D345 hauling Pathfinder Railtours 50th Anniversary charter train 1Z40 0701 Burton-on-Trent to Weymouth (with thanks to my brother for the Dorchester footage) – 10/06/2023

    The Class Forty Preservation Society said this of the climb out of Weymouth: “Those who were on the train to hear 40145 lift the equivalent of 14 coaches unassisted up the 1 in 50 summit of Bincombe bank leaving Weymouth will know what I mean when I say I will take the memory to my grave.  Truly a high point of 20 years of mainline running.  Even the Lickey later in the day was an anti-climax after that!”.  Yoshi’s pal Jamie was at Bincombe to record the ascent.

    No. D345/ 40145 was the first locomotive of the final batch of deliveries of the type and was built with centre-headcode panels. Along with 180 others of the 200-strong fleet, the loco was built by English Electric at Vulcan Foundry, entering service on 17th May 1961. D345 was one of four (D345 to D348) which were allocated to 55H Neville Hill, and used to upgrade the short-lived “Queen of Scots Pullman” running between Leeds and Edinburgh / Glasgow, replacing LNER Pacific steam power. Allocated to numerous depots during her British Rail career, her final allocation was to Longsight in May 1978 where she was based until withdrawal on 10th June 1983 after sustaining derailment damage in Stourton Yard, Leeds. However, she was one of the final Class 40’s to receive a General Overhaul at Crewe Works in November 1980 and was purchased by The Class Forty Preservation Society and delivered to Bury in February 1984, the first of the class to enter preservation.

    The last (and only) Class 40 to make it to Weymouth previously was No. 40001 on 21st May 1983 which I remember well!

    The Westbury to Weymouth leg of “The Wessex Whistler” was entrusted to Class 33/1 No.’s 33113 and 33118. The pair are seen passing through Dorchester West – 21/05/1983
    Following light engine No. 40001 opens up as she passes through Dorchester West on the way to Weymouth – 21/05/1983
    Class 40 No. 40001 at Weymouth with the return Severn Valley Railway Association rail tour “The Wessex Whistler” the first time a member of the class had made it to Weymouth. The tour originated in York and ran under the head code 1Z25 throughout – 21/05/1983
    Class 40 No. 40001 at Weymouth with the Severn Valley Railway Association rail tour “The Wessex Whistler” – 21/05/1983
    Class 40 No. 40001 at Weymouth awaits departure from Weymouth with the return Severn Valley Railway Association rail tour “The Wessex Whistler” – 21/05/1983

    Thanks for reading! We’ll see you soon.

    End Piece:

    Back in 2019, both West Somerset Hymeks were working during the diesel gala as evidenced here as No.’s D7018 and D7017 arrive at Crowcombe Heathfield – 21/06/2019

  • Yoshi Goes To Cornwall

    Did Yoshi discover King Arthur at Tintagel during our trip to Cornwall? “Gallos”(meaning ‘power’ in Cornish) created by sculptor Rubin Eynon is an 8ft bronze sculpture standing above cliffs on the Atlantic coast-side of the castle – 22/03/2023
    Yoshi with the new Tintagel Bridge in the background which reinstates the original route to the castle. In the Middle Ages, Tintagel’s residents walked from one side of the site to the other using a narrow land bridge as high as the clifftops. But the crossing disappeared between the 14th and 17th centuries, leaving the castle divided by a natural chasm. English Heritage launched a competition in 2015 to find a design for a new bridge. The winning concept was created by Ney & Partners Civil Engineers and William Matthews Associates. The project was completed in August 2019. The design sees two cantilevers reach out and meet, not quite touching, with a 40mm gap in the middle. The gap represents the transition from the mainland to the island, present to past. The bridge is paved with Cornish Delabole slate, with stainless steel balustrades fitted along its length. The balustrades have been designed to be so fine that, when viewed from a distance, they disappear against the sky – 22/03/2023

    As mentioned in our last blog, we recently spent a few days in Cornwall. This gave me the opportunity to see some of the remaining semaphore signals on the Great Western mainline and also GWR sleeper trains arriving and departing from Penzance. We stayed in Camelford for three nights before moving onto Penzance for a couple of days.

    While we were in the Camelford area we visited Padstow and Bodmin and we were able to walk along some disused railway trackbed which now forms the Camel Trail; an 18 mile largely traffic free, surfaced and virtually level multi use trail. It provides access to the beautiful Cornish countryside between Wenfordbridge, Bodmin, Wadebridge and Padstow and is suitable for walkers, cyclists, horse-riders and wheel-chair users.

    The former Padstow railway station, the western terminus of the North Cornwall Railway. It was opened in 1899 by the London and South Western Railway and closed in 1967 following the Beeching report. The building currently houses the offices of Padstow Town Council – 22/05/2023

    We walked from Padstow towards Wadebridge and from Bodmin, we also walked in the direction of Wadebridge as the trail follows the paths of two former railway lines; a section of the North Cornwall Railway between Padstow and Wadebridge and most of the Bodmin and Wadebridge Railway from Wadebridge to Wenford Bridge, along with a short branch from that line to Bodmin.

    The Bodmin and Wadebridge Railway was originally built at a cost of £35,000 following a study commissioned in 1831 by local landowner Sir William Molesworth of Pencarrow. The line was intended to carry sand from the Camel estuary to inland farms for use as fertiliser. In the 1840’s, England’s railway network expanded towards Bodmin. The London and South Western Railway (LSWR) purchased the Bodmin and Wadebridge Railway in 1846 and intended to connect it to the rest of the system by a new line through North Cornwall. The line from Halwill reached Wadebridge in June 1895 and then Padstow in March 1899. Later the railway was used to ship slate and china clay from inland quarries to ships in Padstow and also transport fish landed in Padstow inland to London and other cities. When both quarrying and fishing died off, the railway lost most of its traffic. The last passenger train ran in 1967 and freight ceased in 1983, when a need to invest in new track forced the line to close.

    On leaving Padstow, the Camel Trail crosses Petherick Creek on this bridge which formerly carried the North Cornwall Railway – 22/05/2023
    Petherick Creek bridge. Construction began in December 1896 with the erection of temporary staging over Little Petherick Creek, a mile south-east of Padstow. This facilitated construction of a bridge comprising three spans of 133 feet each, curving to the north on a radius of about 20 chains. It was built by contractors from Derby, Messrs Eastwood Swingler & Co. The spans are formed of two Pratt trusses, together with nine cross girders and three wind braces, giving a deck width of 16 feet 3 inches. Two rail bearers are also provided. The ironwork was brought by rail to Wadebridge before being carried on barges to site down the River Camel. Each truss weighs 350 tons. Heading towards Padstow, the structure is approached on a 230-yard embankment, protected by revetments. This incorporates a brick and slate arched bridge at its east end.The main bridge’s abutments are formed in brick and concrete. Supporting the spans are two piers incorporating pairs of cast iron cylinders, 8 feet in diameter and at 18 feet 3 inch centres. These are braced at the top. Rail level is approximately 85 feet above bedrock, 30 feet above the river bed and 16 feet above high water level. At the top of the cylinders are granite bedstones and cast iron bearings.The contractor experienced considerable difficulty assembling the piers. Each 200-ton cylinder was loaded with a 50 ton weight, causing it to sink through the river silt. With bedrock found, the mud was then excavated using grabs, sometimes taking 48 hours to progress just one yard down. When the water had been pumped out and the interior cleaned, they were then filled with concrete – 22/05/2023
    Listen to the wind as Yoshi crosses Petherick Creek bridge in a rare portrait ratio video – 22/05/2023
    Looking back at Petherick Creek – 22/05/2023
    The Camel Trail near Padstow -22/05/2023
    St Issey on the Camel Trail – 22/05/2023
    Lobster pots on the River Camel alongside the disused railway line – 22/05/2023
    Road bridge over the Camel Trail at Bodmin – 23/05/2023
    Dunmere on the Camel Trail – 23/05/2023
    Dunmere Halt on the Camel Trail – 23/05/2023
    Dunmere Halt on the Camel Trail – 23/05/2023
    Dunmere on the Camel Trail – 23/05/2023
    Nanstallon Halt on the Camel Trail – 23/05/2023
    Remains of railway track at Nanstallon on the Camel Trail – 23/05/2023
    Remains of signalling at Nanstallon on the Camel Trail – 23/05/2023
    The branch to Camelford on the Camel Trail – 23/05/2023

    While Yoshi’s mama was visiting Bodmin Jail (now a tourist attraction, Caroline wasn’t spending time at the invitation of the local constabulary), the boy and I also popped in briefly on the Bodmin & Wenford Railway. On the day of our visit visiting steam loco GWR Small Prairie Class 4500 Churchwood 2-6-2T tank engine No. 5553 was in operation, but we also saw several heritage diesel locomotives on site. The Bodmin Railway Preservation Society (BRPS) was formed in 1984, and they in turn formed the Bodmin Railway plc in order to raise funds to purchase the line from Bodmin Parkway to Boscarne Junction, via Bodmin General. They were successful, and North Cornwall District Council (now part of Cornwall Council) secured the land from British Rail.

    Bodmin General railway station was constructed by the Great Western Railway and opened in 1887, when the 3½-mile branch line from Bodmin Road to Bodmin was opened. The station is beautifully restored to reflect the 1950’s and is resplendent in the British Railways (Western Region) colour scheme of the period. It currently houses the headquarters of the Bodmin and Wenford Railway – 23/05/2023
    Yoshi at Bodmin General with GWR Small Prairie No. 5553. The locomotive was built at Swindon in 1928 and withdrawn in November 1961 when she was sold for scrap to Woodham Brothers in Barry. Having spent nearly 28 years in the scrapyard, she was the last locomotive to leave Barry in January 1990 where she was transported to the Dean Forest Railway – 23/05/2023
    No. 5553 arrives at Bodmin General. Feel free to bark along – 25/03/2023

    Services between Bodmin Parkway and Bodmin General were restored in 1990, and the line was extended back to Boscarne Junction six years later, in 1996.

    Boscarne Junction station on the Bodmin and Wenford railway. The Camel Trail passes this location – 23/05/2023

    Since then the Bodmin & Wenford Railway has operated trains – principally steam, but with some heritage diesel services – over the 6½ miles between Bodmin Parkway and Boscarne Junction via Bodmin General.

    Class 50 No. 50042 ‘Triumph’ at Bodmin. Withdrawn in 1990 the Bodmin Mainline Diesel Group purchased the loco in 1991 and restored her to pristine condition in 1993 – 23/05/2023
    Class 47 No. 47306 ‘The Sapper’ at Bodmin. Built by Brush at their Falcon Works in Loughborough in 1963 the locomotive arrived on the Bodmin and Wenford Railway in 2007 straight from St Blazey where she had been placed in store following withdrawal from mainline use – 23/05/2023
    Class 37 No. 37142 built in 1963 at English Electric’s Vulcan Foundry is currently undergoing an overhaul at Bodmin. In her mainline days she worked China Clay trains across Cornwall so is very much at home on the Bodmin and Wenford Railway – 23/05/2023
    Travel back to April 1995 when Robert Stephenson & Hawthorn Works 0-6-0T locomotive No. 7597 was in operation on the Bodmin and Wenford Railway. The locomotive was built in 1959 and spent her industrial life at the Rye House Power Station on the Lea Valley in Essex. She is currently being overhauled at The Lincolnshire Wolds Railway.

    We also had time to take photographs of GWR Castle HST Sets and a passing freight at Bodmin Parkway railway station which we visited before reuniting with Caroline. The signal box at Bodmin Parkway is now a café and I enjoyed a latte in between photographing passing trains.

    Class 43 No. 43098 ‘Walton Castle’ departs Bodmin Parkway working 2U24 1250 Penzance to Cardiff Central – 23/05/2023
    GWR IEP No. 802107 departs Bodmin Parkway with 1A88 1215 Penzance to London Paddington passing DB Class 66 No. 66165 6C99 1103 Exeter Riverside N.Y. to St. Blazey SS – 23/05/2023

    The next day we drove to Penzance via a couple of stations which still have their semaphore signalling intact. Cornwall has long been one of the country’s most remarkable outposts of lower quadrant semaphore signalling, but time is fast running out for much of its marvellous mechanical infrastructure, with a major re-signalling project due to be completed in Autumn 2023.

    The present Exeter signalling centre is to become the centralised control point for the West of England and will become a Railway Operations Centre in all but name. The section from Lostwithiel to Truro will be controlled from a new work station incorporating four or five VDU screens, sited in the Exeter centre. It will mean the closure of Lostwithiel, Par and Truro signal boxes but the same track layouts will be retained, more or less, except for some minor rationalisation. Improving the capacity on the Newquay branch is part of the plan as is the modernisation of two level-crossings on each of the Looe and Gunnislake branches.

    At Lostwithiel, the junction for the Fowey freight line, the two holding loops for the china clay trains, and the level crossing at the eastern end of the station, will all be controlled from Exeter. The crossing will become CCTV-controlled, with the monitoring screens sited at the Exeter work station. It is anticipated that the downtime of the barriers, a cause of local complaint, can be reduced with this arrangement.

    Class 43 No. 43010 ‘Lydford Castle’ at the rear of the late running 2C69 0900 Cardiff Central to Penzance Castle HST service – 24/05/2023
    Class 66 No. 66104 heads up 6G09 1302 Goonbarrow Junction EWS to Fowey Dock Carne Point china clay working at Lostwithiel. The locomotive runs around the train in Lostwithiel Up Goods Loop before heading back through the station to Fowey – 24/05/2023
    Having run round its wagons, Class 66 No. 66104 hauls 6G09 1302 Goonbarrow Junction EWS to Fowey Dock Carne Point china clay back through Lostwithiel – 24/05/2023
    Lostwithiel signal box and crossing – 24/05/2023

    At Par, the junction for the Newquay branch, the signal box will be abolished and the entire layout, including the main line connections to enable through running to the branch, will be put on the Exeter work station. The intermediate block sections at St Austell, Burngullow and Probus will also transfer to Exeter. Par station will be equipped with a new footbridge and lifts to comply with the disabled access requirements.

    Class 43 No. 43010 ‘Lydford Castle’ pauses at Par with 2P20 1515 Penzance to Plymouth service – 24/05/2023
    Semaphore signals at Par – 24/05/2023
    Grade II listed signal box and semaphore signals at Par. The box opened in 1879 and is built to the first GWR standard design, it was set up to control the GWR’s mainline onwards to Penzance, together with the junction for the branch to Newquay – 24/05/2023

    Par is one of two operational Cornish signal boxes – along with Lostwithiel – to enjoy a Grade II Listing, being one of only two surviving examples of a GWR-designed Type 2 box to survive in its original location, at the western end of platforms 2 and 3 on Par station.

    As well as the main line, modifications will be made to some of the Cornish branch lines to increase operating flexibility and an improved train service. The most significant of these will be on the one from Par to Newquay, currently the Cinderella branch in the county with, broadly, a two-hour interval service. The intermediate signal box at Goonbarrow splits the section, after that the branch being ‘One Train Working’.

    802006 ‘Harry Billinge MBE LdH’ at Newquay having arrived with the 1N68 0905 Plymouth to Newquay service – 23/05/2023

    Only one operational platform exists at Newquay. A passing loop is to be provided at Goss Moor that will enable an hourly service to be introduced. The second platform at Newquay will be brought back into use thus enabling more through trains from beyond Par. The county’s ambition is to create a Mid Cornwall Metro to facilitate more train usage into the areas of greater employment. This will imply the restoration of full signalling throughout, which will be controlled from Exeter.

    During our sty in Penzance, I enjoyed watching the GWR sleeper service headed up by Class 57 locomotives depart for London in the evening and the corresponding service arrive from the capital in the morning. The Night Riviera leaves Penzance at 2145 and arrives in London paddington at 0504 while the reverse working departs London at 2345 and is scheduled to pull in to Penzance at 0754. On the Wednesday, I was interested to learn that the sleeper service was diverted via Yeovil that day. 

    Class 57 No. 57604 ‘Pendennis Castle’ awaits departure of 1A50 2145 Penzance to London Paddington sleeper – 24/05/2023
    CrossCountry Voyager Class 220 No. 220009 ready to set off ECS to Long Rock after working in 1V58 1003 Edinburgh Waverley to Penzance – 24/05/2023
    Class 57 No. 57603 ‘Tintagel Castle’ at the buffer stops at Penzance having worked 1C50 2345 London Paddington to Penzance – 25/05/2023
    Class 57 No. 57603 ‘Tintagel Castle’ nameplate
    Class 57 No. 57603 ‘Tintagel Castle’ awaiting shunting movement to Long Rock having arrived with the morning 1C50 2345 London Paddington to Penzance service – 25/05/2023
    Class 57 No. 57603 ‘Tintagel Castle’ and GWR Bi-Mode IET Class 802 No. 802101 ‘Nancy Astor’ working 1A80 0815 Penzance to London Paddington – 25/05/2023
    Penzance Signal Box – 25/05/2023
    Penzance Signal Box – 26/05/2023
    Class 57 No. 57603 ‘Tintagel Castle’ at the rear of 5A50 2012 Penzance Traction & Rolling Stock Maintenance Depot to Penzance Empty Coaching Stock move forming the evening Night Riviera sleeper service to London Paddington – 25/05/2023
    Class 57 No. 57603 ‘Tintagel Castle’ having arrived at the rear of the ECS move from Long Rock ready to haul the 1A50 2145 Penzance to London Paddington sleeper – 25/05/2023
    GWR Class 158 No. 158950 at Penzance having arrived with 2C36 1830 Plymouth to Penzance service – 25/05/2023
    Class 08 No. 08645 ‘St.Piran’ at rest having brought the Night Riviera stock into Penzance whilst GWR Class 158 No. 158950 awaits departure with the 2E30 2100 service to Exeter St. Davids – 25/05/2023
    Class 57 No. 57602 ‘Restormel Castle’ at the buffer stops in Penzance having worked the down Night Riviera sleeper service – 26/05/2023

    On Thursday we walked from Penzance to Marazion which conveniently meant we passed by Long Rock where Penzance TMD, the most westerly and southerly rail depot in the country, is located. There has been a depot a Long Rock since 1914 when a steam shed was opened. The current depot dates from 1977 with later modernisation to increase capacity in 2017.

    Long Rock depot seen from the west of Penzance – 25/05/2023
    The coastal path runs adjacent to Long Rock. Caroline and Yoshi pass an unidentified IET awaiting its next duty from Penzance – 25/05/2023
    Class 08 No. 08645 ‘St.Piran’ (after the patron saint of Cornwall) in Kernow livery at Long Rock, Penzance. Built at Harwich Works and originally numbered D3812 this
    0-6-0 diesel shunter entered traffic in February 1959 being allocated to Newport Pill. The locomotive was allocated to different Welsh depots until December 2018 when, with the closure of Landore, she moved to Penzance. Her new livery was unveiled to the public at a special open day to raise money for the Penlee Lifeboat in April 2019 –
    Nameplate of Class 08 No. 08645 ‘St. Piran’
    Class 57 No. 57603 ‘Tintagel Castle’ pokes her nose out of the shed at Long Rock – 25/05/2023
    Class 57 No. 57603 ‘Tintagel Castle’ with the Night Riviera Sleeper stock in the sidings at Long Rock – 25/05/2023
    New sidings being constructed at Long Rock depot, Penzance – 26/05/2023
    Once an important stop on the main London Paddington – Penzance route, Marazion railway station, which originally opened in March 1852 by the West Cornwall Railway, has been stripped of its platforms and awnings. The current building which dates from the 1880’s has been fully restored into a two bedroom bungalow. The line was absorbed into the Great Western Railway on 1st January 1877. The station was never particularly busy, although it dealt with a fair bit of agricultural traffic including broccoli and new potatoes. The station was closed to passengers 5 Oct 1964, with freight services following on 6 Dec 1965. The station is situated on the shore of Mount’s Bay and offers wonderful views across to St. Michael’s Mount. For many years Marazion was home to six old Pullman coaches that were employed as camping coaches, holiday accommodation offered by the railway containing sleeping and living space designed to encourage people to travel by train to the stations where they were situated. I remember the coaches from a previous visit to the area and I’ll tray and find some photographs at some point! The coaches, which had fallen into disrepair, were removed in 2006 and nine holiday cottages built in their place – 25/05/2023
    Yoshi was a real trooper on our walks. Earlier on the same day we had walked to Mousehole before setting off for Marazion. St Michael’s Mount can be seen behind Yoshi. It is a rocky island crowned by a medieval church and castle, home to the St Aubyn family and a community of islanders – 25/05/2023
    Yoshi at Mousehole. Famous for its narrow streets and tiny harbour, its name comes from a cave in the cliffs nearby. Until the 16th century it was one of the main ports on Mount’s Bay, the other being Marazion. Mousehole is believed to have been the landing place of the Knights of St John when they returned from the Holy Land. The poet, Dylan Thomas called it the prettiest village in England – 25/05/2023
    Stone from Penlee Quarry was transported along by the coast near Newlyn in large containers on rails. The containers were originally pulled by a locomotive called ‘Penlee’, also known as ‘Janner’s Engine’ to the south pier in Newlyn, where the contents were loaded onto boats. Later, in the 1960’s, six diesel locomotives were required for hauling the stone. The quarry closed in the late 1980’s – 25/05/2023
    Marazion is a town of great antiquity, being one of the oldest chartered towns in Cornwall and in Medieval times was a significant location. Marazion was granted its first charter of incorporation by Henry III in 1257 and was reaffirmed on 13th June 1595 by Queen Elizabeth I. The name derives from the important fairs and markets that were held in the town, the earliest dating back to 1070; Marghas Byghan (Small Market) and Marghas Yow or Jew (Thursday Market) blurred over time to become ‘Marazion’. The presence of the Benedictine Monastery on St. Michael’s Mount attracted pilgrims to Marazion, who hung about in the town until the causeway was revealed by the ebbing tide allowing them to cross to the island – 25/05/2023
    Lineside video of our visit to Cornwall in May 2023

    Bringing us up to date, another Winfrith run took place over 31st May and 1st June 2023 as unusually the train collecting low lever radioactive waste from the Steam-Generating Heavy Water Reactor stayed a night in the sidings at the Dorset facility. Ownership of the Winfrith Nuclear site is under the auspices of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA). The site is managed by Magnox Limited who are contracted to deliver the site decommissioning programme, the Winfrith reactor having been shut down in 1990.

    Direct Rail Services (DRS) Class 68’s No.’s 68017 ‘Hornet’ and 68034 top and tail 6Z62 Crewe Coal Sidings DRS to Winfrith Sidings on the approach to Parkstone railway station – 31/05/2023
    DRS Class 68’s No.’s 68017 ‘Hornet’ and 68034 in the sidings at Winfrith – 31/05/2023
    DRS Class 68’s No.’s 68017 ‘Hornet’ and 68034 in the sidings at Winfrith – 31/05/2023
    DRS Class 68 No. 68034 passing through Hamworthy heading up the return working 6Z95 Winfrith Sidings to Crewe Coal Sidings DRS. No. 68017 ‘Hornet’ was on the rear of the consist – 01/06/2023
    Winfrith Cats 31/05/2023 & 01/06/2023

    On Saturday 3rd June “The Dorset Coast Statesman” ran to Weymouth for the third time in 2023. On this occasion the tour originated from Peterborough and was top and tailed by LSL Class 47 locomotive No.’s 47805 ‘Roger Hosking MA 1925-2013’ and 47593 ‘Galloway Princess’. I was unable to see this working (again!) as I was in Lichfield helping to celebrate the wedding of two friends, and the following photos are by kind permission of Scott Lewis.

    47593 ‘Galloway Princess’ at the buffer stops in Weymouth – 03/06/2023 (Image courtesy of Scott Lewis)
    47805 ‘Roger Hosking MA 1925-2013’ in Weymouth station at the rear of 1Z40 0617 Peterborough to Weymouth – 03/06/2023 (Image courtesy of Scott Lewis)

    Our North Dorset Correspondent was up in the early hours of Tuesday 6th June to see Class 69 locomotives No.’s 69003 ‘The Railway Observer’ and 69004 which are currently operating in the West Country on weedkiller duties. This is the first operational visit of the class to our area. Yeovil Junction railway station was in Dorset until 1991 when county boundaries were changed. The 69’s are scheduled to work the same vegetation management train to Dorchester West in the early hours of 9th June and the Bournemouth to Weymouth on the 12th/13th June 2023.

    GBRf Class 69 No.’s 69003 ‘The Railway Observer’ at Yeovil Junction – 06/06/2023 (Image courtesy of Scott Lewis)
    GBRf Class 69 No.’s 69004 at Yeovil Junction working 3Q00 Exeter Riverside NY to Exeter Riverside NY – 06/06/2023 (Image courtesy of Scott Lewis)

    Yoshi was delighted to learn that South Western Railway (SWR) have joined other rail operators in banning e-scooters, e-skateboards, u-unicycles and “hoverboards” across its stations as from 1st June 2023. The rule has been introduced as there is a small fire risk due to the potential for their lithium-ion batteries to overheat.

    With that piece of trivia we come to the end of another blog entry. Thank you for joining us and as always we appreciate your comments, corrections and feedback. We’ll be seeing you.

  • Promenade Plantée

    Class 373 No. 3222 and Class 374 No. 4033 Eurostar trains at London St. Pancras – 27/03/2023

    At the end of March we had a few days in Paris having travelled by Eurostar from London St. Pancras to Pais Gare du Nord. We did a lot of walking as we took in the sights and sounds of the City during our mini break.

    Paris Gare du Nord is the southern terminus of Eurostar services. Class 374 set No. 4025 rests at the buffer stops having worked 9O18 1026 London St. Pancras International to Paris Nord. Class member No. 4011 sits alongside – 27/03/2023

    On a quiet Tuesday morning, we avoided a demonstration against the raising of the pension age planned for later in the day and took the opportunity to track down the Promenade Plantée. We headed to Gare de Lyon via Metro Line 14 which was operating throughout the strike day as it is fully automated and features driverless Siemens trains.

    Double-deck TGV No. 249 at Gare de Lyon – 28/03/2023
    TGV No.’s 617, 272 & 791 Gare de Lyon – 28/03/2023

    On arriving at Gare de Lyon, we enjoyed a cup of tea and a very expensive macaroon before finding our bearings. We didn’t see any of the piles of uncollected bin bags which the mainstream media would have us believe were on every street corner and soon found a signpost directing us towards our destination; the world’s first elevated park walkway and a well loved part of the French capital City.

    Pointing the way to Promenade Plantée – 28/03/2023

    Promenade Plantée is built on the former Vincennes railway line which once linked Bastille station to Verneuil-l’Étang after passing through Vincennes. It’s now a peaceful, green stroll 10 metres above street level, which begins just east of the Opera Bastille at the crossroads at rue de Lyon and avenue Daumesnil and winds through the 12th arrondissement for three miles, coming out before the Bois de Vincennes. 

    The original railway ceased its operation on December 14th, 1969. A section of the line beyond Vincennes was integrated into Line A of the RER, while the Paris-Vincennes section was completely abandoned. In the 1980’s, the area was renovated with the former Bastille station being demolished in 1984 to make way for the Opéra Bastille. The Reuilly section was designed in 1986 incorporating the old commercial rail depot of Reuilly into a group of park areas. The Promenade Plantée was put into place at the same time in order to reuse the rest of the abandoned line and was designed by architects Jacques Vergely and Philippe Mathieux. It was inaugurated in 1993.

    Promenade Plantée – 28/03/2023
    Promenade Plantée – 28/03/2023
    Promenade Plantée – 28/03/2023
    Promenade Plantée – 28/03/2023
    Promenade Plantée – 28/03/2023
    Promenade Plantée – 28/03/2023
    Promenade Plantée – 28/03/2023

    At its west end near the Bastille the walkway utilises a viaduct, renovated in 1989 by architect Patrick Berger, where its 45 archways have been adapted to house artisan shops displaying the works of florists, violin makers, glass blowers and furniture restorers all creating the Viaduc des Arts. 

    Viaduc des Arts, Promenade Plantée – 28/03/2023
    Viaduc des Arts, Promenade Plantée – 28/03/2023
    Viaduc des Arts, Promenade Plantée – 28/03/2023

    Further along a modern building splits in two with the walkway running inbetween, while a long, wobbly cable footbridge stretches across the Jardin de Reuilly. Then the elevated section heads to street level – becoming accessible to bikers, rollerbladers and skateboarders, too; a tree-lined corridor passes through old railway tunnels before ending at another park, the Jardin Charles Peguy. This is right by the disused train tracks of what was known as La Petite Ceinture and plans are afoot to extend the Promenade Plantée along the old railway line in the future. There are other examples of disused high level railway lines having been converted into parks, notably the High Line in New York. There are plans for a similar venture in Camden, London.

    Later in the day we attempted the most touristy Paris activity; a vast to the Eiffel Tower. Every time I’ve tried to ascend the structure on previous visits to the City, the tower has been closed due to strike action and this time was no exception. We decided instead to visit La Basilique du Sacré Cœur de Montmartre and take a short trip on the funicular located there.

    A line 6 Paris Metro train crosses the Seine with the Eiffel Tower in the background – 28/03/2023

    The closest metro station to the Eiffel Tower is Bir-Hakeim, an elevated station serving line 6 in the Boulevard de Grenelle in the 15th arrondissement. It is situated on the left bank of the Bir-Hakeim bridge over the Seine. The station opened as part of the former Line 2 South on 24 April 1906. The station was called Quai de Grenelle until 1949, when it was renamed. The name of both the bridge over the Seine and the station commemorates the World War II battle of Bir- Hakeim. A commemorative panel is situated at the entrance of the platform for trains traveling towards Nation.

    A line 6 Metro train on an elevated section of railway leading to Bir-Hakeim station – 28/03/2023
    Bir-Hakeim station – 28/03/2023
    Bir-Hakeim station – 28/03/2023
    Bir-Hakeim station – 28/03/2023

    We took the train to Montmartre and enjoyed a evening meal before asking for directions to the funicular railway which turned out to be a brief walk away. On arrival we found the funicular closed because of that days strike action. So we climbed the steps and watched the sun set over Paris.

    The furnicular is closed – 28/03/2023
    The funicular cars at rest – 28/03/2023
    A view of the top station – 28/03/2023
    La Basilique du Sacré Cœur de Montmartre – 28/03/2023

    We returned back home on the Friday, and I was able to get a couple of photographs of locomotives at Gare du Nord as we awaited boarding for our Eurostar service to London St. Pancras.

    The SNCF class BB 15000 is a class of 25 kV 50 Hz electric locomotives built by Alstom and MTE between 1971 and 1978. This is No. 215059 at Gare du Nord – 30/03/2023
    The SNCF BB 22200 is a class of electric locomotives built by Alstom between 1976 and 1986. They are a dual voltage version of the BB 7200 and BB 15000 classes. No. 22243 stands at at Gare du Nord – 30/03/2023
    SNCF BB 22200 No. 22243 alongside TGV Thalys PBA No. 4533 at Gare du Nord – 30/03/2023
    Gare du Nord – 30/03/2023
    Overlooking the Eurostar platforms at Gare du Nord – 30/03/2023
    Arrival on 1703 Paris Gare du Nord to London St. Pancras formed of Class 374 No. 4005 – 30/03/2023

    We’ll hopefully be back with our regular update next week – thanks for reading. Take care and see you next time!

    Southern Railway poster; “I’m Taking and Early Holiday cos I know Summer Comes Soonest in the South”