The Railway Dog

Category: Southampton

  • December ’23 Catch Up

    Yoshi at Yeovil Junction with Class 67 No. 67006 ‘Royal Sovereign’ was in charge of UK Railtours “Carols At Sherborne Abbey” 1Z15 0715 Peterborough to Yeovil Jn Heritage Platform. The Class 67 locomotives are a class of Bo-Bo diesel electric mainline locomotives which were built for the English, Welsh and Scottish Railway between 1999 to 2000 by Alstom at Meinfesa in Valencia, Spain with drive components (engine and transmission) from General Motors Diesel. Yoshi is a cockapoo dog, a miniature poodle and cocker spaniel mix produced in Wiltshire – 23/12/2023

    December 11th 2023 to December 31st 2023

    The second part of our December blog is finally here! After our trip to the North, we didn’t have to wait long for some local railway themed action as another Class 458 EMU drag from Widnes Transport Tech to Bournemouth depot took place on Wednesday 13th running as 5X73 0722 Wembley Receptions 1-7 to Bournemouth TRSMD. I kept one eye on its movement via the live maps available on the Open Time Trains website, and at one point almost left home early as the train was running well ahead of time.

    GBRf Class 69 No.69008 at Branksome preparing to reverse into the depot with 5X73 0722 Wembley Receptions 1-7 to Bournemouth TRSMD – 13/12/2023

    However, the train was held outside of Eastleigh for a while so I was able to get to Branksome on the train as planned just prior to the arrival of GBRf Class 56 No. 56081 and Class 69 No. 69008 with South Western Railway (SWR) Class 458 No. 458424 sandwiched in-between barrier coaches. The return run taking another Class 458 for refurbishment in Widnes was set for departure the afternoon of the same day, but was afforded three different paths out of the depot. Avoiding the possibility of picking the wrong working and either missing the departure or having a lengthy wait I decided just to remain at home instead!

    GBRf Class 56 No. 56081 with SWR Class 458 No. 458424 in tow arrives at Branksome heading 5X73 0722 Wembley Receptions 1-7 to Bournemouth TRSMD – 13/12/2023

    No. 56081 is to to be retired to Longport in the New Year. While the option for additional Class 69 conversions doesn’t appear to have been taken yet, the planned despatch of the Class 56 to Longport certainly places it in position for potential conversion to No. 69017.

    Later on the same day, the Snow & Ice Treatment Train (SITT) ran from Totton to Dorchester South and back as 3Y89 2211 Totton Yard to Totton Yard with Class 66 No.’s 66743 and 66772 ‘Maria’. I toyed briefly with the notion of driving to Dorchester to get a photo of No. 66743 in its Belmond Royal Scotsman livery, but decided against it on this occasion.

    GBRf Class 66 No.’s 66743 and 66772 ‘Maria’ passing Hamworthy with 3Y89 2211 Totton Yard to Totton Yard – 13/12/2023

    Saturday 16th December was a bit of a road trip so I could see what could well be the final DB Cargo (DBC) Class 60 hauled railtour as the class are to be ‘retired’ in April 2024 by the Deutsche Bahn owned freight operator following an announcement it is to eliminate the use of its Class 60 locomotives by re-gearing ten of its Class 66 loco’s to provide an enhanced tractive effort.  As most of its services are operated by Class 66 locomotives, with the Class 60’s only seeing limited use, DB Cargo concluded that if services operated by its Class 60 locomotives could be transferred to Class 66’s with a higher tractive effort, it would benefit its customers and the company.

    DB Cargo has also said that in the future they are going to focus on contractual railtour operations, with the likes of the Belmond British Pullman trains, and less on the ‘ad hoc’ operations for other tour promoters, such as Pathfinder Railtours who were running “The Festive Midland-Ian” which was promoted as an attempt to try and cover as many freight lines, loops and locations as possible in the West Midlands, featuring some “rare track”. The requested motive power had been Top & Tail DBC Class 60’s but, due to the low numbers of the class remaining in service, on the day DBC were forced to substitute a Class 66 for one of them.

    Pathfinder named the railtour “The Festive Midland-Ian” after Ian Loveday who devises and helps with many enthusiast rail based excursions. Ian often advises and assists with access to heavily sought after lines including this 16th December charter.

    The route for the tour was confirmed as:  GLOUCESTER, CHELTENHAM SPA, WORCESTER SHRUB HILL, Kidderminster DGL, STOURBRIDGE JUNCTION, Stourbridge DGL, Rowley Regis UGL, BIRMINGHAM SNOW HILL, Up & Down Small Health Goods, Caledonia Yard, Up & Down Small Heath Goods, Tyseley Up Through Siding, Dorridge UPL, Leamington Spa UCV, Fenny Compton UGL, Banbury DGL, Banbury Reservoir Sdgs – BANBURY (Break), Fenny Compton DGL, Kineton Branch NR Limit, Leamington Spa DCV, Hatton DGL, Dorridge UDGL, Birmingham New Street (non-stop), Wolverhampton Logistics Centre, Bescot Stadium, Bushbury DGL, Stafford RMT, Oxley Chord, Wolverhampton, Bescot Stadium, Bescot DGL, Aston, BIRMINGHAM NEW STREET, Rowley Regis DGL, STOURBRIDGE JUNCTION, WORCESTER SHRUB HILL, CHELTENHAM SPA, GLOUCESTER

    I decided to head to Banbury as I remembered an accesible road bridge close to the Tarmac works which in turn is adjacent to Banbury Resevoir sidings. “The Festive Midland-Ian” is believed to be the first passenger train to visit to the Reservoir stone terminal sidings at Banbury. On the way, I took a slight detour so I could pick up @smithy.377 and looking at the timings available to us on real Time Trains, we realised we’d have a few passes of the train as it worked its way along Banbury Goods Loop and back before tackling the stone terminal sidings. We also enjoyed a few other passing passenger trains and a couple of freights.

    Chiltern Class 58 No. 68012 (set AL04/ DVT 82309) propels 1H27 08:19 Stourbridge Junction to Marylebone towards Banbury railway station – 16/12/2023
    Freightliner Class 70 No. 70014 working 4O27 06:49 Crewe Basford Hall SSM to Southampton Marine Container Terminal nears Banbury – 16/12/2023

    The railtour had to arrive at Resevoir Sidings prior to the arrival of a scheduled GBRf stone train which was confirmed as running on the 16th. The Pathfinder tour was then diagrammed to head into Banbury for a brief layover before heading back up the mainline towards Wolverhampton. I had read the previous day that the Class 66 would be leading towards Banbury, but I was very pleased to see the Class 60 at the front as it rounded the distant curve heading for down goods loop. This meant that we managed to get numerous shots of the leading locomotive and led me to abandon any thoughts of chasing the train up to Fenny Compton and possibly beyond.

    DB Cargo Class 60 No. 60024 hauling “The Festive Midland-Ian” 1Z60 0545 Gloucester to Banbury towards Banbury on the Down Goods Loop – 16/12/2023
    DB Cargo Class 60 No. 60024 hauling “The Festive Midland-Ian” 1Z60 0545 Gloucester to Banbury – 16/12/2023
    DB Cargo Class 60 No. 60024 hauling “The Festive Midland-Ian” 1Z60 0545 Gloucester to Banbury towards Banbury on the Down Goods Loop – 16/12/2023
    GBRf Class 66 No. 66740 ‘Sarah’ arrives with 6G34 02:59 HINDLOW GBRF to Banbury Reservoir Redland Aggregates – 16/12/2023
    GBRf Class 66 No. 66740 ‘Sarah’ prepares to run around her train; 6G34 02:59 HINDLOW GBRF to Banbury Reservoir Redland Aggregates – 16/12/2023
    Class 66 No. 66194 takes charge of the second leg of “The Festive Midland-Ian” 1Z61 1211 Banbury to Wolverhampton Walsall Street Steel Terminal – 16/12/2023

    After seeing the Class 66 No. 66194 taking “The Festive Midland-Ian” back towards Wolverhampton, I opted to return home via Didcot in the hope that I could get a photo of special King Prince Charles Coronation liveried Class 66 No. 66023 which had been showing as being on Didcot Fuelling Point. On arrival at Didcot railway station, we were allowed up onto the platforms by Great Western Railway gateline staff, but unfortunately, the No. 66023 was nowhere to be seen. @smithy.377 later discovered the locomotive was inside a shed and therefore out of sight of our cameras. We were able to photograph a few other DBC Class 66 locomotives however.

    In red DB Cargo livery Class 66 NO. 66149 in Didcot Yard – 16/12/2023
    Still carrying EWS livery, DB Cargo Class 66 locomotives No.’s 66083 and 66063 at Didcot – 16/12/2023
    Video from Banbury on 16th December 2023 featuring DB Cargo Class 60 No. 60024 and Class 66 No. 66194 top and tail working “The Festive Midland-Ian” from Pathfinder Railtours; 1Z60 0545 Gloucester to Banbury & 1Z61 1211 Banbury to Wolverhampton Walsall Street Steel Terminal. Other trains featured include:
    68012 (set AL04/ DVT 82309) – 1H27 08:19 Stourbridge Junction to Marylebone
    221139 – 1M30 07:45 Bournemouth to Manchester Piccadilly
    221137 – 1O08 07:25 Manchester Piccadilly to Bournemouth
    70014 – 4O27 06:49 Crewe Basford Hall SSM to Southampton Marine Container Terminal
    168108/168106 – 1R17 09:02 Marylebone to Birmingham Moor Street
    168218/168328 – 1H28 09:13 Birmingham Moor Street to Marylebone
    220031 – 1V83 06:23 Newcastle to Reading
    168004 / 168xxx – 1H30 09:43 Birmingham Moor Street to Marylebone
    168xxx/ 168107 – 1R19 09:32 Marylebone to Birmingham Moor Street
    168xxx/ 168217 – 1R21 10:02 Marylebone to Birmingham Moor Street
    66740 ‘Sarah’ – 6G34 02:59 HINDLOW GBRF to Banbury Reservoir Redland Aggregates
    168001 ‘Adrian Shooter’/168xxx – 1H33 10:43 Birmingham Moor Street to Marylebone
    220027 – 1O12 09:25 Manchester Piccadilly to Bournemouth
    220033 – 1M38 09:45 Bournemouth to Manchester Piccadilly
    168322/168215 – 1R25 11:02 Marylebone to Birmingham Moor Street

    Engineering works at Middle Stream Bridge near Wool on Sunday 17th December meant there were no trains running in the area. Yoshi and I had a little “family” trip out to Weymouth and I grabbed a couple of photographs of track machines resting between duties on our way home.

    Balfour Beatty Matisa B66UC Tamper No. DR75501 in the sidings at Dorchester South prior to working the following days 6Q66 05:00 Dorchester Junction to Eastleigh East Yard – 17/12/2023

    A tamping machine or ballast tamper, informally simply a tamper, is a self-propelled, rail-mounted machine used to pack (or tamp) the track ballast under railway tracks to make the tracks and roadbed more durable and level. Prior to the introduction of mechanical tampers, this task was done by manual labour with the help of beaters. As well as being faster, more accurate, more efficient and less labour-intensive, tamping machines are essential for the use of concrete sleepers since they are too heavy to be lifted by hand.
     
    At its most basic, a tamping machine only packs the ballast. Some modern machines, sometimes known as tamper-liners or tamping and lining machines, also correct the alignment of the rails to make them parallel and level, in order to achieve a more comfortable ride for passengers and freight and to reduce the mechanical strain applied to the rails by passing trains. This is done by finding places where the sleepers have sunk from the weight of the passing trains or frost action, causing the track to sag.
     
    The B 66 UC is a high-performance universal continuous action tamping machine designed for normal and high-speed lines. In addition to the plain line, it can handle the heaviest switches and crossings, especially those with concrete sleepers. This machine has a tamping shuttle fitted with four tamping units and a lifting and slewing clamp. In addition to these tools, telescopic diverging track lifting devices can be used when handling heavy switches and crossings. The very responsive shuttle allows a substantial output on plain line despite the fact that this is a single-head machine. The longitudinal stroke of the tamping units is long enough to position the units in a way to easily and quickly tamp Y shaped sleepers. Located in the centre of the machine, the tamping cabin provides an excellent visibility on the tools and the track. Thanks to the machine’s user-friendliness and its ergonomic controls, only two operators are needed to operate the B 66 UC to its full potential.
     
     Loram C44 Rail Grinding Machine No. DR79301 in Wool Sidings. It will depart for Poole on 19/12/2023 as 4Q01 23:44 Wool MOD Siding Freightliner Heavy Haul to Poole – 17/12/2023

    A railgrinder is a permanent way maintenance train used to restore the profile and remove irregularities from worn tracks to extend tracklife and to improve the ride of trains using it.
     
    The C44 Series Rail Grinder is designed with advanced technology features that also meets stringent international standards, weights and clearances. The C44 Series complies with the W6A clearance diagram and the axle weights of international commuter lines and freight rail applications.
     
    Loram’s C44 rail grinder delivers high-efficiency re-profiling of the railhead, removing or reducing rail corrugations, corrosion, joint mismatches and other railhead surface irregularities with industry-leading productivity.

    Monday 18th December and with all lines re-opened, it was the turn of the monthly Colas test train from Derby RTC to Eastleigh East Yard via Weymouth running as 1Q51 1115 Derby R.T.C.(Network Rail) to Eastleigh East Yard employing the usual traction of GBRf Class 73 locomotives. This time it was the turn of No.’s 73964 ‘Jeanette’ and 73962 ‘Dick Mabbutt’.

    GBRf Class 73’s No.’s 73964 ‘Jeanette’ and 73962 ‘Dick Mabbutt’ passing through Hamworthy working 1Q51 11:15 Derby RTC Serco to Eastleigh East Yard – 18/12/2023

    Another day out to see a railtour took place on Saturday 23rd December, this time closer to home as DB Cargo Class 67 No. 67006 ‘Royal Sovereign’ was in charge of UK Railtours “Carols At Sherborne Abbey” 1Z15 0715 Peterborough to Yeovil Jn Heritage Platform. No. 67006 is one of two class members painted in a special Royal Claret livery and as such would be primarily tasked with working the Royal Train. However, the locomotive is often used for special charter trains and other occasional passenger services when not fulfilling her Royal duties. We took a roundabout route to see the railtour, taking in Totton Yard so I could finally get a clear photograph of GBRf Class 66 No. 66743 in Belmond Royal Scotsman livery as it is was still being employed on the SITT along with No. 66772 ‘Maria’.  I also popped in on Freightliner Southampton Maritime and Eastleigh (which admittedly was rather quiet!)

    GBRf Class 66 No. 66743 at Totton Yard – 23/12/2023
    GBRf Class 66 No.66772 ‘Maria’ on the rear of the SITT at Totton Yard – 23/12/2023
    GBRf Class 66 No. 66743 and No.66772 ‘Maria’ in Totton Yard on the SITT. The train was scheduled to head to Eastleigh East Yard later that evening where it would remain over the Christmas period – 23/12/2023
    Freightliner Class 70 No. 70001 at Southampton Maritime – 23/12/2023
    FL Class 66 No.’s 66606 and 66570 at Southampton Maritime – 23/12/2023
    Class 08 diesel shunter No. 08785 at Southampton Maritime – 23/12/2023
    A trio of FL Class 70’s at Southampton Maritime; 70007, 70002 and 70005 – 23/12/2023
    Class 153 Video Inspection Unit (VIU2) No. 153376 at Eastleigh – 23/12/2023
    DB Cargo Class 66 No. 66158 on a DB Infrastructure Train destined for Abbey Street Junction for work over the Christmas period at Eastleigh – 23/12/2023

    Always looking for a new photographic location, I had time to scout out the western portal of Gillingham tunnel. After parking up at the side of the road above the tunnel, Yoshi and I made our way along a public footpath through fields which are adjacent to the railway track. A trio of sheep were not too sure about our arrival and took off to the opposite corner to watch us from afar. Yoshi, thankfully, showed little interest in the ovine beasts and settled down at my feet as we waited for the Class 67 to turn up hauling its train.

    Class 67 No. 67006 ‘Royal Sovereign’ emerges from Gillingham Tunnel hauling 1Z15 0715 Peterborough to Yeovil Jn Heritage Platform – 23/12/2023

    After seeing the train at Gillingham tunnel, I popped into Yeovil Junction in time to see the locomotive running around her train which was being serviced after dropping off the passengers in Sherborne for the festive carol service at the Abbey the tour was named after.

    Class 67 No. 67006 ‘Royal Sovereign’ runs around its train at Yeovil Junction – 23/12/2023
    Crests applied to Class 67 No. 67006 ‘Royal Sovereign’ – 23/12/2023
    Class 67 No. 67006 ‘Royal Sovereign’ reversing back onto the coaching stock to form the return leg of the “Carols At Sherborne Abbey” railtour – 23/12/2023
    Class 67 No. 67006 ‘Royal Sovereign’ at Yeovil Junction whilst the coaching stock employed on the “Carols At Sherborne Abbey” railtour is serviced – 23/12/2023
    Video of 67006 ‘Royal Sovereign’ working “Carols At Sherborne Abbey” 1Z15 0715 Peterborough to Yeovil Jn Heritage Platform
    Also includes the following passing trains:
    Gillingham Tunnel:
    159020/159013 – 1L25 1021 London Waterloo to Exeter St Davids
    159012/159105 – 1L44 1125 Exeter St Davids to London Waterloo
    Yeovil Junction:
    159003/159015 1L29 1120 London Waterloo to Exeter St Davids

    On my way home from Yeovil, I made another slight detour to take a look at the Swanage Railway’s “Polar Express” operation, this years seasonal offering from the Purbeck Heritage line, which I had so far not managed to see in 2023. “Polar Express” trains started running on 17th December and continued through to 30th December. With failing light which rendered photography of moving trains difficult, I waited for the late running 1445 trip from Swanage to show at Corfe Castle with resident Class 33 No. 33012 (D6515) ‘Lt Jenny Lewis RN’ hauling the outward run and Southern Railway 4-6-2 West Country Class No. 34028 ‘Eddystone’ with “Polar Express” emblazoned on her tender, working the return. I followed the train down to Swanage and as darkness fell this only enhanced the colourful lights within the carriages.

    Class 33 No. 33012 (D6515) ‘Lt Jenny Lewis RN’ heads up the 1445 “Polar Express” service from Swanage – 23/12/2023
    SR 4-6-2 West Country Class No. 34028 ‘Eddystone’ heads towards Swanage after stopping at The North Pole (Norden) with a “Polar Express” train – 23/12/2023
    Class 33 No. 33111 and LSWR 4-4-0 T9 Class No. 30120 in the sidings at Swanage while Class 33 No. 33012 (D6515) ‘Lt Jenny Lewis RN’ waits with a “Polar Express” service in the station – 23/12/2023
    Class 33 No. 33111 at Swanage – 23/12/2023
    LSWR 4-4-0 T9 Class No. 30120 at Swanage – 23/12/2023
    Class 33 No. 33012 (D6515) ‘Lt Jenny Lewis RN’ awaits departure of the 1645 “Polar Express” service from Swanage – 23/12/2023
    Darkness falls on Class 33 No. 33012 (D6515) ‘Lt Jenny Lewis RN’ as she awaits departure of the 1645 “Polar Express” service from Swanage – 23/12/2023
    Swanage Railway’s “Polar Express” – 23/12/2023

    With SWR Desiro Electric Multiple Unit’s (EMU’s) remaining in the old South West Trains (SWT) livery now in single figures, it has been reported that Class 450 No. 450111 and Class 444 No. 444040 ‘The D-Day Experience Portsmouth’, both wrapped in a striped form of the South Western Railway grey livery, will be the last two units to be painted into standard SWR colours.

    Class 450 No. 450111 at Eastleigh working 2B32 0902 Bournemouth to Winchester – 23/12/2023
    Side view showing the “stripey” South Western Railway livery carried by Class 450 No. 450111 at Eastleigh
    Class 444 No. 444040 ‘The D-Day Experience Portsmouth’ at Poole having arrived with 1B31 1357 Brockenhurst to Poole – 24/12/2023
    Side view of Class 444 No. 444040 ‘The D-Day Experience Portsmouth’ – 24/12/2023
    Bodyside detail of Class 444 No. 444040 ‘The D-Day Experience Portsmouth’ – 24/12/2023
    Class 444 No. 444040 ‘The D-Day Experience Portsmouth’ at Poole forming the 5B31 1437 Poole to Poole Storage Sidings ECS – 24/12/2023

    The original South West Trains train livery used the Stagecoach Group colours – red, blue and orange – in a similar style to the Network South East (NSE) livery. Some detail variations were introduced before a major updating of the group’s design identity in 2000. New logos and typefaces were developed, as well as new bus and train liveries.

    An unidentified Class 442 “Wessex Electric” EMU on the approach to Wareham in Network South East Livery at some point in the late 1990’s
    Another unidentified Class 442 “Wessex Electric” EMU, carrying the original South West Trains livery based on the NSE style previously carried by the trains, nearing Upwey station – 05/09/1998
    Class 442’s at Dorchester South in the revised SWT livery in the early 2000’s

    The second-generation South West Trains liveries, designed by industry specialist Best Impressions, have swooshes of the Stagecoach colours, which sweep back from the nose of the train to give an impression of movement. There were three versions of the livery employed – white on the Class 444 and 159 trains used on many longer-distance services, red on Class 455 and 456, and blue used on Class 458 and 450 trains.

    SWR Class 444 No. 444034 on the approach to Weymouth showing the colours of its former operator SWT – 01/05/2020
    The final South Western Railway Class 444 in South Western Trains livery No. 444045 arrives at Hamworthy working 1W55 0735 London Waterloo to Weymouth – 30/12/2023
    SWR Class 450 No. 450060 in blue SWT colours at Weymouth – 20/05/2020
    Class 450 No. 450088 departing Hamworthy with an early morning Weymouth to Brockenhurst stopping service – 23/12/2021

    The final Desiro’s to be re-liveried from former SWT colours into SWR grey are No.’s 450031, 450099, 450116 and 444045.

    For completion: a Class 455 No. 455854 in the SWT red livery with a London Waterloo bound service at Clapham Junction – 10/12/2022

    The final railtour of 2023 bordering on the Dorset area was run by UK Railtours employing DB Cargo Class 66 locomotives booked for use in a top and tail formation. “Another Awkward Week Adventure”, named because of those so called awkward days between Christmas and New Year originated in Peterborough. Problems with one of the locomotives; No. 66185 meant the railtour left 60 minutes late from its originating station after No. 66028, which had been the rear locomotive, was removed from the back of the train and re-attached to the front with No. 66185 remaining inside. This was how Yoshi and I saw the train after it had passed through Winchester on its way to Eastleigh. Here passengers had the option to detrain and take a bus to the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu or remain onboard for some rare track miles into Southampton Eastern and Western Docks.

    DB Cargo Class 66 No.’s 66028 and 66185 ‘DP WORLD London Gateway’ double heading 1Z66 0730 Peterborough to Southampton Eastern Docks “Another Awkward Week Adventure” railtour west of Winchester – 30/12/2023

    I next moved onto Southampton where I fancied filming the excursion crossing Canute Road which is adjacent to the former Southampton Terminus railway station which served the Port of Southampton and Southampton City Centre from 1839 until 1966. The former Terminus station building is now a casino and The South Western Hotel opened by the LSWR in 1872 has been converted into private apartments. Of the station platforms, all that remains is the glass canopy and a single line that runs from Northam junction to the Queen Elizabeth II Cruise Terminal. The private road into where the platforms once stood is now a car park.

    DB Cargo Class 66 No. 66028 crossing Canute Road, Southampton with 1Z66 0730 Peterborough to Southampton Eastern Docks – 30/12/2023
    Disgraced DB Cargo Class 66 No. 66185 ‘DP WORLD London Gateway’ dead in the consist of 1Z66 0730 Peterborough to Southampton Eastern Docks – 30/12/2023
    DB Cargo Class 66 No. 66158 runs light engine across Canute Road, Southampton as 0Z66 1340 Eastleigh Down Carriage Shed to Southampton Eastern Docks – 30/12/2023
    After running light into the docks, DB Cargo Class 66 No. 66158 leads out working 1Z67 1402 Southampton Eastern Docks to Southampton Western Docks – 30/12/2023

    Our final location was the footbridge over the railway line between Southampton Central and Millbrook ready to catch the train head towards Western Docks and out again Yoshi waited in the car as the weather, already very windy, turned increasingly wet! I photographed the railtour on its outward leg into Western Docks, but by the time it returned (running late) the light had gone and I didn’t want another DSLR to fall foul of water damage in 2023! Instead I managed some dodgy video which can be seen lower down the page.

    Back leading the tour again; DB Cargo Class 66 No.’s 66028 and 66185 ‘DP WORLD London Gateway’ on the approach to Millbrook heading up 1Z67 1402 Southampton Eastern Docks to Southampton Western Docks – 30/12/2023
    DB Cargo Class 66 No. 66158 at the rear of 1Z67 1402 Southampton Eastern Docks to Southampton Western Docks on the approach to Millbrook – 30/12/2023
    “Another Awkward Week Adventure” DB Cargo Class 66 No.’s 66028 and 66185 ‘DP WORLD London Gateway’ and 66158: 1Z66 0730 Peterborough to Southampton Eastern Docks / 0Z66 1340 Eastleigh Down Carriage Shed to Southampton Eastern Docks / 1Z67 1402 Southampton Eastern Docks to Southampton Western Docks / 1Z68 1531 Southampton Western Docks to Eastleigh – 30/12/2023

    One final festive gift courtesy of GB Railfreight saw the SITT run to Weymouth on New Years Eve as 3Y88 1200 Totton Yard to Totton Yard, top and tailed by Class 66 locomotives No.’s 66723 ‘Chinook’ and 66772 ‘Maria’. The SITT with the same two Class 66’s in charge was also the first locomotive hauled train into Dorset early on New Years Day 2024 when it returned as far as Bournemouth in the early hours working as 3Y89 0100 Totton Yard to Totton Yard.

    GBRf Class 66 No.’s 66723 ‘Chinook’ and 66772 ‘Maria’ at Hamworthy on SITT 3Y88 1200 Totton Yard to Totton Yard – 31/12/2023
    Close up of the helicopter decal on the side of GBRf Class 66 No. 66723 ‘Chinook’ – 31/12/2023
    GBRf Class 66 No. 66772 ‘Maria’ at the rear of the SITT 3Y88 1200 Totton Yard to Totton Yard. Classmate No. 66723 ‘Chinook’ leads – 31/12/2023
    GBRf Class 66 No.’s 66772 ‘Maria’ 66723 ‘Chinook’ passing Hamworthy working the return SITT 3Y88 1200 Totton Yard to Totton Yard – 31/12/2023
    GBRf Class 66 No.’s 66772 ‘Maria’ 66723 ‘Chinook’ working the return SITT 3Y88 1200 Totton Yard to Totton Yard (Dorchester South video courtesy of G E Barrett) – 31/12/2023

    For The Record

    Following 16 days closure for engineering work on the West of England Line, the line between Salisbury and Yeovil Junction re-opened on Monday 11th December while landslip repairs were affected by flooding at Crewkerne tunnel which extended the duration required for work to be completed with SWR advising customers not to attempt to travel between Yeovil Junction and Exeter St David’s until Wednesday 13th December.

    Class 66 No. 66732 ‘GBRf The First Decade 1999-2009 John Smith – MD’ at Dinton near Salisbury during the 16 day engineering possession. TV screen grab from BBC South Today – 01/12/2023
    Class 66 No. 66732 ‘GBRf The First Decade 1999-2009 John Smith – MD’ at Dinton near Salisbury. TV screen grab from BBC South Today – 01/12/2023
    Class 66 No. 66790 ‘Louise’ at Gillingham. TV screen grab from BBC South Today – 01/12/2023

    Thanks for reading, that’s it for 2023! Wishing everyone a very Happy New Year. We’ll leave you with a pic of Yoshi at Durdle Door. Be seeing you!

    Yoshi took an early morning trip to Durdle Door to see the sunrise – 22/12/2023

  • 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!

  • Best Way to West Bay

    Yoshi visits Bradpole to check out the crossing gate and track on the former Bridport Branch – 26/02/2023

    Wednesday 22nd February 2023 to Tuesday 28th February 2023

    We start off this week with another ‘no-show’ as the New Measurement Train running as 1Z22 0748 Derby RTC Serco to Bristol Kingsland Road Freightliner Heavy Haul scheduled to visit Weymouth via Yeovil Pen Mill on Wednesday 22nd February 2023 was truncated at Cheltenham Spa. The train would have seen Class 37 locomotives No.’s 37421 and 37610 in Dorset had it not been partially cancelled en-route at the request of the operator. It did make me wonder about the legal obligation, if any, of Network Rail to observe the findings by the Rail Accident Investigation Board (RAIB) and run these trains over the entire rail network. Maybe one day we’ll try and find out. Wednesday did, however, see two other special workings along the Bournemouth to Weymouth section as the Snow & Ice Treatment Train (SITT) and the third and final Freightliner engineers train of the week both ran as planned. The SITT made a return visit to Dorset running as far as Wareham on Monday 27th February.

    All three February 2023 Dorset Freightliner engineers trains for your delectation
    GBRf Class 66 No. 66789 ‘British Rail 1948-1997’ in retro large logo livery stands in Totton Yard. I think it rather suits! – 25/02/2023

    Keen to get a daylight image of British Rail large logo liveried Class 66 No. 66789 on the SITT as I incorrectly, as it turned out, assumed the loco would be swapped out for another member of the same class, Yoshi and I made the trip to Totton Yard to see the train before its return working to Eastleigh East Yard on Saturday morning.

    GBRf Class 66 No. 66789 ‘British Rail 1948-1997’ and 66730 ‘Whitemoor’ top and tail the Snow & Ice Treatment Train (SITT) in Totton Yard – 25/02/2023
    Video of the SITT working over the last week of February 2023 with GBRf Class 66 No. 66789 ‘British Rail 1948-1997’ and 66730 ‘Whitemoor’ at various locations

    We also stopped off in Southampton to peer over the road bridge crossing the railway which leads to the Southampton Maritime Container Terminal which is built on reclaimed land and was opened in 1968. Dealing solely in deep sea container traffic the adjacent Freightliner terminal for rail-borne traffic links directly to the South West Main Line (SWML) at Millbrook and Redbridge. Network Rail carried out upgrades, completed in early 2021, allowing trains up to 775 metres in length to gain access to Southampton MCT which is the major rail freight traffic centre in the region. Intermodal freight transport involves the transportation of cargo in a shipping container utilising multiple modes of transport such as rail, ship, truck and aircraft without any handling of the contents while changing modes. Direct intermodal services operate from Southampton MCT six days a week to UK destinations such as Leeds and Crewe.

    In this video: XC 220008 / 221140 1M38 0945 Bournemouth to Manchester Piccadilly; GWR 166209 1F62 0923 Portsmouth Harbour to Romsey; FL 70004 4018 0424 Lawley Street FLT to Southampton MCT; SWR 444021/444017 1W08 0903 Weymouth to London Waterloo; SWR 444016/444031 1W59 0905 London Waterloo to Weymouth and Poole; SWR 158883 2S23 1007 Romsey to Romsey; FL 66568 4V34 1102 Southampton MCT to Portbury Automotive FHH; SWR 450002 2B36 1002 Bournemouth to Winchester; 444042/444019 1W54 0920 Weymouth and Poole to London Waterloo; SWR 444010/444020 1W61 1005 London Waterloo to Weymouth and Poole
    Freightliner Class 08 No. 08785 at Southampton MCT – 25/02/2023
    As South Western Railway service 1W17 0835 London Waterloo to Weymouth formed of Class 444 EMU No.’s 444026 and 444034 passes on the SWML, Class 66 No. 66536 receives attention at Southampton MCT – 25/02/2023
    Class 70 No. 70004 arrives at Southampton MCT working the 4018 0424 from Lawley Street Freightliner – 25/02/2023
    The SITT passes Southampton MCT at Redbridge working 3Y88 1032 Totton Yard to Eastleigh East Yard in the care of GBRf Class 66 locos No.’s 66730 ‘Whitemoor’ and 66789 ‘British Rail 1948-1997’ – 25/02/2023
    Class 70 No. 70004 having just detached from her train at its final destination; 4018 0424 Lawley Street to Southampton MCT – 25/02/2023

    Finally, we paid a visit to Eastleigh in the hope that former Colas Rail and newly outshopped in GBRf livery Class 67 No. 67027 would be in a position for a decent photograph as had been widely reported on social media the previous day. The Class 67 should have departed Eastleigh Arlington works bound for Rugby on the Friday, but brake issues meant it remained stuck in Hampshire. Although I was pleased with my iPhone shot of the Class 66 at Totton, my luck ran out when it came to Eastleigh and the Class 67 as the locomotive had been moved inside a shed for remedial modifications with only the front being visible from the road adjacent to the works. Yoshi and I did, however, get to a catch up with an old pal over coffee, so it turned out to be a very good day after all.

    Disappointingly newly liveried into GBRf colours, Class 67 No. 67027 hides in a shed at Eastleigh Arlington. No amount of coaxing would persuade her to reveal her new paint scheme – 25/02/2023
    Direct Rail Services Class 37 No. 37602 in the yard at Eastleigh Arlington works – 25/02/2023
    Colas Class 70 No. 70801 awaits her next duty at Eastleigh East Yard – 25/02/2023
    GBRf Class 66 No. 66790 at Eastleigh East Yard – 25/02/2023

    On Sunday, Yoshi, his mama and I made a return visit to the Station Kitchen at West Bay which we last wrote about in November 2022. This time we booked to eat in the old station building which is dog friendly (the carriages are not) and Yoshi joined us for our lunchtime visit. Again, the food was exceptional and our surroundings quirky and fun.

    The Station Kitchen at West Bay – 26/02/2023
    The Station Kitchen, West Bay Lentil, wild mushroom & honeyed carrot roast, farm vegetables, rosemary roasties with a balsamic onion jus. Scrummy! – 26/02/2023
    Yoshi offers to get the drinks in – The Station Kitchen, West Bay – 26/02/2023

    Prior to eating, we took the opportunity to walk the former railway track bed between West Bay and Bridport which is now a footpath and haven for nature. It was much tidier than on previous visits and Yoshi proved himself to be a good boy yet again when he roamed off lead. As the footpath approaches Bridport it rises to meet Burton Road. The original level of the railway crossed beneath the road here at Wanderwell Bridge. The top of the bridge, bore entrance and track bed can still be made out if you look closely. On its way towards Bridport East Street Station, the railway would have passed through Wanderwell and then east of the roundabout junction of Burton Road and West Bay Road.  Sea Road South, the A35 Bridport by-pass, now occupies the former track bed and there is no trace left of East Street station, the site now occupied by a garage. Sea Road North has replaced the track bed between East Street Station and Bridport station (also known as Bradpole Road Station).

    The start of the former West Bay to Bridport footpath looking north – 26/02/2023
    Along the route of the former extension from West Bay to Bridport – 26/02/2023

    The railway reached Bridport in 1857 being officially opened on 12th November, just over three years after a public meeting in Bridport Town Hall in October 1854 where it was decided a railway branch line to link the town to the main line at Maiden Newton would be built. The Bridport Railway Company was formed and the necessary Act of Parliament passed on 5th May 1855. The operating licence was awarded by the Bridport Railway Company to the Great Western Railway (GWR) who supplied the steam locomotives and rolling stock before taking over the railway completely. An extension to the line running from Bridport to Bridport Harbour was instigated in 1879 with passenger services commencing on 31st March 1884. In an attempt to attract holiday traffic, the GWR named their new station at the harbour; West Bay, popularising the name by which the area is now commonly known. Passenger services to West Bay ceased in 1930 but the line remained open for freight traffic until 3rd December 1962 when only minimal traffic ran including coal and shingle from the beach. The track on the Bridport to West Bay section, which had not long been relaid with concrete sleepers, was removed in March 1965 having been cut into short lengths and sold for scrap. 

    My well thumbed and well loved copy of “The Bridport Branch” by B L Jackson and M J Tattershall

    Our visit prompted me to dig out my copy of “The Bridport Branch” by B L Jackson and M J Tattershall. It was the first railway text book I acquired back in the 1970’s and I recall thinking it a very expensive tome at the time. Most likely my lovely mum financed the purchase and I was surprised to note the cover price was a princely £2.40. Published by the Oxford Publishing Co. (OPC), a leading publisher of railway books back then, the book was first issued in 1976, only a year after the closure of the branch it tells the history of. I would have missed travelling by train from Maiden Newton to Bridport by a couple of years, my interest in railways really taking hold in 1977.  The Bridport Branch had been listed for closure as part of the Beeching plan of March 1963.  We’ll take a closer look at “The Reshaping of British Railways”, to give the Beeching plan its proper title, next month following the 60thanniversary of its publication, but it is interesting to learn that a notice was posted on 1st September 1964 for the closure of all intermediate stations between Yeovil Pen Mill and Dorchester West, the latter due to be closed on 4th January 1965. However, at a public enquiry held in Yetminster it was argued that it was difficult to see how Maiden Newton could be closed on that date as the Bridport Branch would still be open and for which no notice of closure had yet been issued. The Minister of Transport’s solution was announced on 22nd April 1965; Maiden Newton and Dorchester West were to stay open along with Yetminster, Thornford Halt and Chetnole Halt while Evershot, Cattistock, Bradford Peverell and Grimstone & Frampton would close from 3rd October 1966.

    On our way home from West Bay, we stopped off in the village of Bradpole to seek out the crossing gates and short length of rail embedded in the road which is most likely the last original track remaining from the Bridport Branch. The current gates are not original and were replacements made by local carpenters John Gale and Bernie Joy as a memorial to the railway. An adjacent section of the track bed has been grassed over for local residents to enjoy as part of the Railway Gardens and allotments. In December 2022, concerned at the poor repair of the crossing gates, Bradpole Civil Parish Council appealed for help in finding someone with the expertise to renovate them. Following discussions with a local woodwork firm the Parish Council are seeking funds so that a full restoration project can take place later in 2023 which will see a new gate being constructed as it is felt the existing one is now beyond repair. 

    The crossing gates at Bradpole – 26/02/2023

    The Bridport Community Railway has an ambitious plan to restore the link between West Bay and the main line at Maiden Newton with a sustainable narrow gauge tramway and heritage steam operation alongside cycle and foot paths. In January 2021, one of the founding members of the group behind the project is quoted in the local Bridport News as saying; “Around 80 per cent of the feedback we have received has been generally positive. Ten percent are raving fans and ten per cent think we’re in cloud cuckoo land.”

    Another lost railway and victim of the Beeching cuts can be celebrated at The Wimborne Railway Society “Railex” Model Railway Exhibition when the award winning Bournemouth West model layout will be on display. Celebrating the days of steam and the much missed Somerset & Dorset line which ran from Bath to Bournemouth West, the site of which now lies underneath the Wessex Way road, the terminus can be seen in all its miniature glory at The Allendale Centre, Hanham Road, Wimborne on 15/16th April 2023.

    Bournemouth West in model from as seen in April 2022

    For The Record

    What is I believe to be the first visit to Dorset of five car Class 701 EMU’s occurred on Tuesday 28th February as No.’s 701509 and 701512 visited Poole working 5Q51 1306 Eastleigh to Eastleigh. Yoshi and I were enjoying our lunchtime walk and completely missed these. I had hoped they would make a return journey to Bournemouth later in the evening, but the associated working did not materialise.

    Yet to enter revenue earning service, five car Class 701 No. 701509 nears Eastleigh – 29/03/2022

    Engineering trains for the Network Rail work being carried out on the Yeovil Pen Mill to Dorchester West section of the Heart of Wessex Line have so far been headed up by a mixture of Freightliner and Colas Rail workings, involving Class 66 locomotives No.’s 66592/ 66537 / 66192 and Class 70 No. 70811.

    Royal Mail ‘Flying Scotsman’ Centenary Stamp Presentation Pack

    The Royal Mail have revealed images of a special stamp issue being released on 9th March 2023 to celebrate the centenary of ‘Flying Scotsman’.

    The colour version of the ‘Flying Scotsman’ £2 coin

    The Royal Mint have also announced the release of a special £2 coin featuring an original design by John Bergdahl and colour artwork by Ffion Gwillim. The coin is available in a range of editions all featuring the edge inscription “Live For The Journey”.

    From the May timetable change, the first weekday train to the Bristol area terminating at Filton Abbey Wood from Weymouth timed to depart at 0526 will no longer run and will in future start at Yeovil Pen Mill from where the train will depart at 0618.

    That brings us to the end of another week. Thanks for reading! Please keep your comments, corrections and observations coming – they are all appreciated…. even the ones suggesting I include photographs and video clips to make things more interesting. A nice idea, but I’ll carry on as I am for now….

    Yoshi almost takes flight at West Bay in front of the iconic East Cliff. There has been much discussion about this being the perfect image for an album cover of doggo songs by Yoshi; “Ears In The Wind” – 26/02/2023
    We’ll leave you with one more image of the SITT top and tailed by GBRf Class 66 locos No.’s 66730 ‘Whitemoor’ and 66789 ‘British Rail 1948-1997’ at Redbridge – 25/02/2023