Wednesday 31st August to Tuesday 6th September 2022
Yoshi train spotting on the end of Westbury station with Colas Class 56049 ‘Robin of Templecombe 1938 – 2013’ in the background – 03/09/2022
This week kicked off with two Weymouth bound rail tours in two days when “The Dorset Coast Statesman” and “The Dorset Coast Express” passed through our patch.
LSL Class 47 No.’s 47828 and 47853 (47614) round the curve into Hamworthy with the “Dorset Coast Statesman” – 31/08/2022LSL Class 47 No.’s 47853 (47614) and 47828 with the return “Dorset Coast Statesman” arriving at Poole – 31/08/2022
LSL Class 47 No.’s 47828 and 47853 (47614) with the “Dorset Coast Statesman” – 31/08/2022LMS Jubilee No. 45596 ‘Bahamas’ is captured between Branksome and Parkstone working the outward leg of “The Dorset Coast Express” 1Z82 0845 London Victoria to Weymouth – 01/09/2022Class 33/0 No. 33025 at the head of the return working of “The Dorset Coast Express” 1Z84 1635 Weymouth to London Victoria. Because of a problem with traction equipment, the tour was terminated at Clapham Junction – 01/09/2022LMS Jubilee No. 45596 ‘Bahamas’ at the rear of “The Dorset Coast Express” return working 1Z84 1635 Weymouth to London Victoria. The cut track on the pointwork for the Hamworthy Branch can clearly be seen, with the replacement frog for the point lying between the up and down lines. From December 12th 2022 the timetable includes a weekday “runs as required” freight service down the Hamworthy Branch to Hamworthy Blue Circle Industries (BCI) at 07:52. There is as yet no indication of a return working – 01/09/2022
LMS Jubilee No. 45596 ‘Bahamas’ and Class 33/0 No. 33025 with The Railway Touring Company excursion “The Dorset Coast Express” (With grateful thanks to @da_buckley967 for the Weymouth section, and G E Barrett for Winfrith) – 01/09/2022
No. 45596 ‘Bahamas’ managed to start a couple of minor line side fires between Dorchester South and Weymouth which caused delays to services until the flames were investigated and extinguished. The original intention was for Swanage based SR U Class 4-6-0 No. 31806 to run light engine to Weymouth to haul the train to Southampton, where it would reverse and head to London via Romsey once again in the care of the Jubilee locomotive. In the event, Class 33/0 No. 33025 which was on the rear of the tour from London worked the return section as far as Southampton Central because of the risk of line side fires.
Yoshi and I eventually saw No. 31806 on Sunday 4th September 2022 working the services on the Swanage Railway. In connection with the last seagoing paddle steamer ‘Waverley’ No. 31806 carried a special headboard on some trains in honour of the visiting ship.
Video of SR U Class 4-6-0 No. 31806 on the Swanage Railway – 04/09/2022
As we were in the area, Yoshi and I took a stroll along retired Victorian pier at Swanage to see ‘Waverley’ arrive to pick up passengers for a cruise to see the Bournemouth Air Show. Built in 1946, ‘Waverley’ sailed between Craigendoran on the Firth of Clyde and Arrochar on Loch Long until 1973 when she was sold to the Paddle Steamer Preservation Society for £1. She has since been restored to her 1947 appearance and now operates passenger excursions around the British coast.
‘Waverley’ is the 16th Clyde built vessel to be named after Scottish novelist and poet Sir Walter Scott’s (1771-1832) first novel published in 1814. She was ordered by the London and North Eastern Railway (LNER) to replace an earlier paddle steamer of the same name which was sunk by aircraft on 29th May 1940 during the evacuation of troops from Dunkirk.
Waverley, the last seagoing paddle steamer in the world approaches Swanage – 04/09/2022Yoshi watches from the end of Swanage’s historic pier as Waverley arrives to take passengers for trip to watch the Bournemouth Air Show – 04/09/2022Waverley alongside Swanage Pier – 04/09/2022Yoshi takes the air at Swanage Pier with Waverley in the background – 04/09/2022Waverley moored alongside Swanage Pier – 04/09/2022
The Swanage Railway announced this week that LNER A3 Class 4-6-2 No. 60103 ‘Flying Scotsman’ would be visiting the line from 19th October to 6th November 2022. ‘Flying Scotsman’ has recently undergone an extensive overhaul and celebrates her 100th birthday on 24th February 2023 and is sure to attract a lot of interest from enthusiasts and the general public.
Yoshi met up with No. 60103 ‘Flying Scotsman’ when she visited Southampton on 6th June 2021 and is looking forward to catching up again in October!
The iconic locomotive will be hauling passenger trains from Swanage to Norden from Saturday 22nd October to Wednesday 26th October 2022 and on static display at Swanage station on Thursday 20th October and Friday 21st October 2022 and again from Thursday 27th October to Sunday 6th November 2022.
LSL Class 47 No.’s 47593 ‘Galloway Princess’ and 47614 (47853) approaching Creech St. Michael working Saphos Trains “English Riviera Express” 1Z60 0545 Crewe to Dartmouth Kingswear – 03/09/2022
Saturday 3rd September 2022, Yoshi and I headed to the Taunton, Somerset area for the second week running, this time to see BR Standard Class 7 4-6-2 No. 70000 “Britannia’ in charge of Saphos Trains “English Riviera Express” 1Z60 0545 Crewe to Dartmouth Kingswear storm Whiteball. I was quite pleased to find the BR Standard allocated to this tour as I’d been itching to see her working all summer. As well as ‘Britannia’ we saw LSL Class 47 No.’s 47593 ‘Galloway Princess’ and 47614 (47853) passing Creech St. Michael with the train prior to the steam locomotive taking over at Norton Fitzwarren. Shortly after ‘Britannia’ passed by our line side position another tour hurtled by in the form of top and tailed WCRC Class 47 locomotives No.’s 47746 ‘Chris Fudge 29.7.70 – 22.6.10’ and 47815 ‘Great Western’ working 1Z84 0824 Birmingham International to Paignton – I almost missed these two as I was under the impression they were due an hour later than they actually were!
Standard Class 7 4-6-2 No. 70000 “Britannia’ in charge of Saphos Trains “English Riviera Express” 1Z60 0545 Crewe to Dartmouth Kingswear on the ascent to Whiteball tunnel – 03/09/2022
A quick perusal of the rail-gen groups flagged up a Class 56 working to Westbury on a train of spent ballast and scrap sleepers and unique “Steel On Steel” liveried Class 60 No. 60062 working 6B33 1137 Theale Puma to Margam T.C. Ruling out the Class 56 due to time constraints, we jumped in the car and headed up the M5 to Pilning, South Gloucestershire, with time to spare before the Class 60 appeared.
DB Cargo Steel On Steel liveried Class 60 No. 60062 ‘Sonia’, with her striking flame design celebrating the important role DB Cargo UK plays in supporting the UK’s metal transportation market, working 6B33 1137 Theale Puma to Margam T.C. The special livery is part of the company’s “Freight Belongs On Rail” campaign – 03/09/2022
We were also able to see one of the two parliamentary service trains which stop at Pilning each week. Parliamentary trains, also known as ghost trains, are passenger services operated to comply with the Railway Regulation Act of 1844 that required railway companies to provide inexpensive rail transport for less affluent passengers. The act required that at least one such service per day be run on every railway route in the UK. Although this is no longer a legal requirement, the term describes train services that continue to be run to avoid the cost of formal closure of a route or station but with reduced services often to just one train per week. As platform two is currently out of use at Pilning, the footbridge providing access having been removed in 2016, the two stopping services travel in the same eastbound direction. Currently the times for these trains are Saturday at 08:33 (Cardiff Central to Weston-super-Mare service) and 15:32 (Cardiff Central to Penzance service). Because there are no stopping westbound trains, a fares easement is in place which allows passengers to travel to Severn Tunnel Junction in order to return eastbound to alight at Pilning.
You can bark along with our day by watching the video below:
Video form September 3rd 2022 including 70000 ‘Britannia’, Class 60 No. 60062, GWR Castle HST sets and IEP’s – 03/09/2022
On our way home, we popped into Westbury to see if we could see the Class 56 loco which had arrived there earlier, and to use the loo! As it turned out, the No. 56049 ‘Robin of Templecombe 1938 – 2013’ could not have been better positioned for a photograph! With thanks to @da_buckley967 for the company and rail gen updates!
Class 56049 ‘Robin of Templecombe 1938 – 2013’ sits in the Colas sidings at Westbury -03/09/2022Nameplate detail of Class 56049 ‘Robin of Templecombe 1938 – 2013’ – 03/09/2022Freightliner Class 66 No. 66512 preparing to work 6Y16 1934 Westbury Down Yard to Burngullow Junction – 03/09/2022GWR Class 158 DMU No.’s 158760 and 158750 await departure from Westbury – 03/09/2022GBRf Class 66 No. 66722 ‘Sir Edward Watkin’ Westbury – 03/09/2022
In other news, The Railway Heritage Trust is interested in the restoration of the LSWR goods shed at Wool which although is in quite a poor condition still retains its original sliding doors and office partition.
A visit today to #Wool Station to see a potential restoration project. An original L&SWR goods shed in need of a future use, complete with original sliding doors and office partition. @PurbeckCRP@SW_Helppic.twitter.com/ydQZD9D51p
— RailwayHeritageTrust (@RailwayHeritage) August 8, 2022
That’s it for this week – we’ll be back soon. Thanks for being there! Bye for now.
Yoshi was very excited to see the cab of Class 55 Deltic No. 55008 ‘The Green Howards’ when he visited the Barrow Hill 150+2 Celebration Gala – 28/08/2022
In contrast to last week, Yoshi and I have been kept reasonably busy over the last seven days.
New Measurement Train
Colas operated NMT Class 43 No. 43299 at Yeovil Junction heading 1Q23 0556 Reading to Salisbury via Exeter St Davids seen at Yeovil Junction – 25/08/2022 (Image courtesy of Scott Lewis)NMT carriage from 1Q23 0556 Reading to Salisbury via Exeter St Davids seen at Yeovil Junction – 25/08/2022 (Image courtesy of Scott Lewis)NMT Class 43 No. 43274 at the rear of 1Q23 0556 Reading to Salisbury via Exeter St Davids seen at Yeovil Junction – 25/08/2022 (Image courtesy of Scott Lewis)
Yoshi’s North Dorset Correspondent sent us video and photos of the New Measurement Train which passed through Dorset on the Salisbury to Exeter line on Thursday 25th August 2022.
Network Rails’ New Measurement Train running 1Q23 0556 Reading to Salisbury via Exeter St Davids seen at Yeovil Junction – 25/08/2022 (With many thanks to Scott Lewis)
South Western Railway (SWR) services between between Tisbury and Gillingham have emergency speed restrictions currently imposed because of the warm weather. Network Rail says the conditions have dried out the clay beneath railway embankments which can result in shrinkage and movement of the rails. SWR will be announcing a temporary, revised timetable on Friday 2nd September 2022 with the likelihood there will be a reduced number of services between Salisbury and Exeter St Davids and journeys will take longer than usual.
87002 ‘Royal Sovereign’
On Friday 26th August 2022, Yoshi spent the day with his cousins while I was in London escaping from martian invaders at Jeff Wayne’s The War of the Worlds: The Immersive Experience, which I can thoroughly recommend. After surviving the alien threat, I headed off to London Euston to see Locomotive Services Ltd’s “The Friday Charter” which, for only its second weekly run, between London and Manchester / Crewe was hauled by Class 87 No. 87002 ‘Royal Sovereign’ and a fine sight she looked at the head of a rake of Inter-City Executive liveried carriages. There were a number of railway enthusiasts waiting on platform 16 to see the train depart and it was good to see many were from a younger generation than myself, hopefully assuring interest in railways survives.
1Z41 1742 London Euston to Manchester Piccadilly departs London Euston behind Class 87 No. 87002 – 26/08/2022
On our way home from London Waterloo, I was able to see Class 701 No. 701046 depart on a mileage accumulation run.
Class 701 No. 701046 at the platform 6 buffer stops of London Waterloo having worked into the SR terminus working 5Q42 1844 Eastleigh to London Waterloo. The unit would form the 2114 5Q43 London Waterloo to Eastleigh TRSMD departure. Note the new Arterio branding under the SWR logo – 26/08/2022
Video of Class 701 mileage accumulation runs – August 2022Class 701 No. 701038 seen at Poole Storage Sidings working 5Q51 1115 London Waterloo to Eastleigh – 24/08/2022
Great Dorset Steam Fair
Yoshi didn’t make it to this years Great Dorset Steam Fair which is held at Tarrant Hinton near Blandford Forum, but his cousin the collie Jess had a great day out and sent us the following images of out of ticket Rebuilt Battle of Britain Class Bullied Pacific No. 34053 ‘Sir Keith Park’ which was on show healing to demonstrate heavy haulage and loading / unloading courtesy of heavy haulage contractor Allelys.
No. 34053 is currently out of ticket following her recent stint at the Spa Valley Railway – 27/08/2022 (Image courtesy of G. E. Barrett)Nameplate detail No. 34053 ‘Sir Keith Park’ (Image courtesy of G. E. Barrett)Smokebox close-up of No. 34053 ‘Sir Keith Park’ (Image courtesy of G. E. Barrett)
GBRf Staff Charter
GBRf liveried Class 50 No.’s 50049 ‘Defiance’ and 50007 ‘Hercules’, the latter still running with one side disguised as No. 50034 ‘Furious’, having passed Cogload Junction north of Taunton working a GBRf staff charter from Warrington to Paignton and return – 27/08/2022
Saturday 27th August Yoshi and I visited a friend in the Taunton area. We of course looked to see on Real Time Trains for any interesting workings we might be able to see while in Somerset. As luck would have it, GBRf organised staff charter hauled by two Class 50 locomotives were perfectly timed for our visit. We parked up at Creech St. Michael adjacent to the Bridgwater and Taunton Canal and walked alongside the waterway until we reached the over bridge just south of Cogload Junction which was to be our vantage point.
The Bridgwater and Taunton Canal – 27/08/2022
The Canal was engineered by James Hollinsworth and opened in 1827. The original section ran from Taunton to Huntworth where it joined the River Parrett. Ten years later, in 1837, the canal as extended from Huntworth to Bridgwater dock where a lock was made to join the River Parrett. This was to be blocked off when the docks closed to coastal shipping in 1971.
In 1866 the Canal was under considerable pressure from the railway and was eventually sold to the Bristol & Exeter Railway Company, although control eventually passed to the Great Western Railway. There was no interest in promoting commercial traffic on the Canal which slowly declined in preference to the much quicker railway. In 1907 the last barge tolls were collected after which the Canal became a water course. In 1947 the British Transport Commission took over responsibility of the Canal and later still in 1962 the British Waterways took over its management.
A noticeable feature on the Creech section of the canal is “The Old Engine House”, built in 1827 to pump water into the canal from the RiverTone, originally housing a beam engine pump, and later two locomotive boilers which worked a centrifugal pump delivering 125,000 gallons per hour. Eventually the engine house supplied the water troughs fixed between the nearby railway lines, so that steam engines could pick up water from the troughs in the railway tracks without having to stop, saving valuable time for through express services.
GBRf staff charter; 1Z18 0732 Warrington Bank Quay to Paignton and 1Z20 1641 Paignton to Warrington Bank Quay – 27/08/2022
Barrow Hill
An early start on Sunday August 28th saw us heading North to Barrow Hill near Chesterfield for the deferred event celebrating 150 years since the opening of the roundhouse in 1870. Intended to take place in 2020, Covid meant that the gala could not take place until two years after the anniversary. Known as Staveley Roundhouse until 1948 when it was renamed as Barrow Hill to avoid confusion with an ex-Great Central Railway shed located nearby, it was built to a standard Midland Railway square shed design in 1870 with a central turntable under cover. The shed was operational from 1870 until 9 February 1991 and Grade II listed in the same year. Chesterfield Borough Council purchased the building and surrounding yard from the British Rail Property Board in December 1996. During the interim years, the Roundhouse and associated buildings were heavily vandalised and came dangerously close to being lost forever. The site reopened to the public in July 1998 after the building was restored by the Barrow Hill Engine Shed Society
Recreated Baby Deltic Class 23 No. D5910 ( formerly Class 37 No. 37372) took centre stage on the turntable while GBRf Class 69 No. 69003 was named ‘The Railway Observer’ the day before our visit. GWR 1500 Class 0-6-0PT shunting engine No. 1501 was in steam working shuttle trains from the Roundhouse Halt up the Springwell branch line. Midland Railway 158A Class 2-4-0 No. 156 was on display alongside Midland Railway Compound No. 1000, the first time in several years the two Midland Railway locomotives have been seen together.
It was a little on the warm side, so we took care to ensure Yoshi had lots of water and shade during our time at Barrow Hill. It was quite busy on arrival, but numbers thined out during the day.
Baby Deltic Class 23 No. D5910 (formerly Class 37 No. 37372) Barrow Hill – 28/08/2022Class 85 No. 85006 Barrow Hill – 28/08/2022Class 81 No. 81002 Barrow Hill – 28/08/2022Class 45 No. 45105 Barrow Hill – 28/08/2022Class 02 No. 02003 Barrow Hill – 28/08/2022Great Western Railway Class 2-6-2T No. 5164. Built in 1930. On loan from the Severn Valley Railway at Barrow Hill – 28/08/2022Hawthorn Leslie 0-40ST No. 2491 ‘Henry’. Built in 1901. Barrow Hill – 28/08/2022Great Central Railway Class 11F (LNER Class D11)4-4-0 No. 506 ‘Butler Henderson’ built in 1919. On loan from the National Railway Museum at Barrow Hill – 28/08/2022Nameplate detail of Great Central Railway Class 11F (LNER Class D11)4-4-0 No. 506 ‘Butler Henderson’ built in 1919. On loan from the National Railway Museum at Barrow Hill – 28/08/2022Class 20 No. 20905 ‘Dave Darwin’ Barrow Hill – 28/08/2022Midland Railway 156 Class 2-4-0 No. 158A. Built in 1866. On loan from the National Railway Museum at Barrow Hill – 28/08/2022Midland Railway Compound Class 4-4-0 No. 1000. Built in 1902. On loan from the National Railway Museum at Barrow Hill – 28/08/2022GER Class G58 (LNER Class J17) 0-6-0 No. 8217. Built in 1905 at Barrow Hill – 28/08/2022Vulcan Foundry 0-4-0-OST No. 3272 Vulcan. Built in 1918 at Barrow Hill – 28/08/2022Class 08 No. D4092 Barrow Hill – 28/08/2022GBRf honoured the Railway Correspondence & Travel Society (RCTS) by naming Class 69 No. 69003 ‘The Railway Observer’ after the Society magazine at Barrow Hill. – 28/08/2022Nameplate detail of Class 69 No. 69003 ‘The Railway Observer’ at Barrow Hill – 28/08/2022Class 69 No. 69003 ‘The Railway Observer’ at Barrow Hill – 28/08/2022Yoshi with Class 69 No. 69003 ‘The Railway Observer’ at Barrow Hill – 28/08/2022Class 66 No. 66726 ‘Sheffield Wednesday’ Barrow Hill – 28/08/2022Class 91 No. 91120 Barrow Hill – 28/08/2022Class 91 No. 91117 Barrow Hill – 28/08/2022Class 83 No. 83012 at Barrow Hill – 28/08/2022The unique Class 89 No. 89001 ‘Avocet’, was built as a prototype in 1986 for a fleet that was never ordered. Barrow Hill – 28/08/2022Class 37 No. 37610 Barrow Hill – 28/08/2022Class 37 No. 37612 Barrow Hill – 28/08/2022Class 45 No. 45060 ‘Sherwood Forester’ Barrow Hill – 28/08/2022Class 82 No. 82002 Barrow Hill – 28/08/2022Class 82 No. 82002 Barrow Hill – 28/08/2022Class 20 No. 20304 Barrow Hill – 28/08/2022Class 20 No. 20301 Barrow Hill – 28/08/2022Class 08 No. 08956 Barrow Hill – 28/08/2022EMR Class 156 No. 156498 Barrow Hill – 28/08/2022Class 27 No. 27066 Barrow Hill – 28/08/2022Class 50 No. 50008 ‘Thunderer’ Barrow Hill – 28/08/2022Yoshi with Class 50 No. 50008 ‘Thunderer’ Barrow Hill – 28/08/2022Class 67 No. 67007 Barrow Hill – 28/08/2022Yoshi with Class 67 No. 67007 Barrow Hill – 28/08/2022Class 67 No. 67007 Barrow Hill – 28/08/2022DC Rail liveried Class 56 No. 56091 ‘Driver Wayne Gaskell’ at Barrow Hill – 28/08/2022Class 37 No.’s 37219 ‘Jonty Jarvis’ and 37901 Barrow Hill – 28/08/2022Class 37 No. 37901 Barrow Hill – 28/08/2022Class 37 No. 37667 ‘Flossie’ Barrow Hill – 28/08/2022Class 37 No. 37667 (D6851)’Flossie’ with Class 47 No. 47769 and Class 20 No. 20314 Barrow Hill – 28/08/2022Class 55 No. 55015 ‘Tulyar’ Barrow Hill – 28/08/2022Yoshi gets up close to Class 55 No. 55015 ‘Tulyar’ Barrow Hill – 28/08/2022Cab of Class 55 No. 55008 ‘The Green Howards’ – Barrow Hill 28/08/2022
Although Yoshi clearly took a liking to the Deltic locomotives, he was a little unsure about the metal steps leading up to the door of No. 55008 ‘The Green Howards’, so we reversed back down to the security of ground level. However, Scott kindly took the following video of the Napier Deltic engine simulation which we can all enjoy!
Napier Deltic engine simulation (Courtesy of Scott Lewis)Class 03 No. 03066 Barrow Hill – 28/08/2022No. 1501 Barrow Hill – 28/08/2022Class 02 No. D2868 Barrow Hill – 28/08/2022Class 07 No.D2996 (07012) Barrow Hill – 28/08/2022
Video of Barrow Hill 150 +2 Celebration Gala shuttles – 28/08/2022
After our visit to Barrow Hill, we journeyed home via DB Cargo operated Toton Traction Maintenance DepotChanges and currently the only TMD within DB Cargo UK where heavy maintenance is carried out on locomotives. Our visit was to see the lines of withdrawn Class 60 locomotives currently in store. I was surprised by the number of diesel engines slowly rotting away.
Class 60 locomotives at Toton – 28/08/2022 (Image courtesy of Scott Lewis)Yoshi having surveyed the Class 60 locomotives at Toton – 28/08/2022 (Image courtesy of Scott Lewis)
In other news, Network Rail have been granted retrospective listed building approval for adorning the pedestrian bridge at Wareham railway station with a heritage style roundel sign which has been in place on the grade 2 station site since November 2021. The station was built in 1864 and listed for its historical and architectural importance in 1976. Network Rail said they did not realise the footbridge which is a later addition to the station buildings was included in the listed status.
Shame about the lamppost! The Wareham station sign as seen on 03/01/2022
Swanage Railway resident Class 33/1 No. 33111 was taken to Bristol St. Phillips Marsh depot on a low loader for wheel turning this week following her recent failure on the heritage branch.
On Bank Holiday Monday Yoshi popped down to Poole Quay to see the arrival of Steamship Shieldhall, launched in 1955 for the transport of treated sewage sludge down the river Clyde to be dumped at sea – 29/08/2022
This week’s blog has mostly been put together with the sound of Alexi Sayle’s “Strangers on a Train” gracing our ears. We loved the idea of combining the “Tank Museum” at Bovington with “Monkey World” and creating a monkey tank driving nightmare. Many thanks for popping by and for your comments, corrections and updates. Thank you to Caroline for helping out with video and putting up with me. And finally a big thank you for Scott for taking the driving seat on Sunday for our trip to Derbyshire. See you in seven!
We went to a meal on Saturday evening with friends and as a parting gift, we were all given a personalised cup cake, which was a lovely thought. Mine was a train. No idea why! As responsible paw-rents, we did not allow Yoshi to taste the cup cakes, although as you can see, he was very interested in trying. Look, it’s been a quiet week, humour me!
With two days of strike action by RMT members during this period, there has not been much notable activity on Yoshi’s home patch. A scheduled steam rail tour to Weymouth on Thursday 18th August, the first of the strike days was cancelled.
Work replacing sleepers and re-ballasting continues on the Hamworthy Branch. Although the branch is still cut off, a “stop” sign protecting the main line was in evidence on 18th August 2022
South Western Railway’s recent release of its 2022/23 business plan did not include any plans for the introduction of their long delayed £1 billion fleet of 90 new Class 701 EMU’s, with only the hope that the Arterio trains would see service as soon as possible. The trains, built at Alstom in Derby, had been scheduled to enter traffic in 2019 but have been plagued with faults preventing the start of driver training and train acceptance. Without the new rolling stock, SWR are unable to operate a full pre-COVID timetable and with overall passenger numbers at 70% of pre-COVID levels any previous plans to increase services in December 2022 have been deferred. On Wednesday 17th August, we caught a glimpse of SWR Class 701 No. 701048 on a mileage accumulation run at Poole:
Class 701 No. 701048 at Poole – 17/08/2022
From The Archive
This week in..
2019: Sunday 18th August 2019 found Class 33/0 D6515 (33012) ‘Lt Jenny Lewis RN’ and GBRf Class 73 No. 73107 ‘Tracey’ top and tail London Underground liveried 4TC working 1Z74 1626 Swanage to London Waterloo “The Swanage Sunday Special No.4”
2016: The Railway Touring Company ran “The Dorset Coast Express” on 17th August 2016 employing LMS Jubilee Class 4-6-0 No. 45699 ‘Galatea’ and Class 33/2 No. 33207 ‘Jim Martin’ in top and tail formation.
LMS Jubilee Class 4-6-0 No. 45699 ‘Galatea’ working 1Z67 0842 London Victoria to Weymouth on the approach to Dorchester South – 17/08/2016Class 33/2 No. 33207 ‘Jim Martin’ on the rear of 1Z67 0842 London Victoria to Weymouth nearing to Dorchester South – 17/08/2016
2014: SR Battle of Britain Class 4-6-2 No. 34067 ‘Tangmere’ and Class 33/0 No. 33029 with the return 17th August 2014 “The Weymouth Seaside Express” – 1Z83 1700 Weymouth to Bristol Temple Meads
SR Battle of Britain Class 4-6-2 No. 34067 ‘Tangmere’ at Weymouth Jersey Sidings – 17/08/2014Nameplate detail of SR Battle of Britain Class 4-6-2 No. 34067 ‘Tangmere’- 17/08/2014SR Battle of Britain Class 4-6-2 No. 34067 ‘Tangmere’ alongside Class 33/0 No. 33029 in Weymouth Jersey Sidings – 17/08/2014
“The Weymouth Seaside Express” – 17/08/2014BR Standard Class 7 4-6-2 No. 70013 ‘Oliver Cromwell’ passing through Upwey with Railway Touring Company organised “The Dorset Coast Express” 1Z67 0844 London Victoria to Weymouth. No. 70013 was one of the four locomotives which worked the farewell to steam rail tour on British Railways in 1968 – 20/08/2014WCRC Class 37 No. 37706 on the rear of “The Dorset Coast Express”. Due to the unavailability of an additional steam locomotive the Class 37 worked the return tour as far as Southampton Central, where the train reversed for the onward journey to London Waterloo via Laverstock once again under the command of No. 70013 ‘Oliver Cromwell’ – 20/08/2014
2013:
DRS Class 37 No. 37402 with inspection saloon No. 975025 ‘Caroline’ departing Dorchester. ‘Caroline’ was converted from the buffet car of a former Hastings DEMU in the late 1960’s for use as a saloon for the General Manager of the Southern Region of BR to entertain VIP guests, but was also used by the engineers for line inspections and assessments. Originally numbered TDB975025 and with a kitchen and catering on board, she became known as the “gin palace” and an invitation to travel became something of a golden ticket. ‘Caroline’ formed the first standard gauge passenger working into the Channel Tunnel on 22nd October 1992. ‘Caroline’ now resides at Derby with LORAM/Network Rail and is widely used for track inspections, line repair assessments and still, occasionally, to entertain VIP’s. ‘Caroline’ has been earmarked for the national collection once her service life is over – 21/08/2013
2012:
SR Battle of Britain Class 4-6-2 No. 34067 ‘Tangmere’ storms up Bincombe Bank at Upwey deputising for No. 5029 ‘Nunney Castle’ with The Railway Touring Company “Weymouth Seaside Express” rail tour. These were a popular series of Sunday excursions which ran from Bristol Temple Meads to Weymouth – 19/08/2012
2011:
Back in August 2011 friends invited me to go along to a book talk and signing being given by author Neil Gaiman (who is currently enjoying success with the Netflix adaption of his “The Sandman” work). This seemed like a great idea, however the location was Edinburgh. Obviously, that’s not a short hop from Dorset being a distance of 548 miles, but after some investigation, I found I could travel from Weymouth to Edinburgh by coach for £9. Which at the time of booking seemed like a real bargain.
The first coach on my journey to Edinburgh ready for loading and departure from Weymouth at 1815. I needed to change coaches at Bournemouth and London Victoria – 15/08/2011The second coach just after arriving at London Victoria Coach Station @2210. This was a very nice coach with plush, comfy leather seats – 15/08/2011The third coach on lease to National Express stands at Charnock Richard Motorway Services during the 0300 driver fag break. This coach reminded me of the ancient vehicles which were employed on school trips all those years ago when the state was trying to educate me. And indeed, all those years ago when schools could organise trips without fear of litigation. My school ran a trip to Woodhams’ Barry Island scrap yard once. Nobody lost a limb and we all came back safe and sound after clambering all over the rusting steam locos. Oh, the memories came flooding back. Uncomfortable seats with harsh fabric made from the short sharp ear hair plucked from goblins, no leg room, defective air-con and the faint smell of sick – 16/08/2011
I thought I’d get some sleep on the coach from London to Edinburgh as the countryside passed by in darkness. I realised it wouldn’t be much of a deep sleep, more likely that light sleep where you’re semi-conscious of the movement of the transport you find yourself traveling in and when you wake up, you discover you’ve dribbled down your front. Or is that just me? Things started badly as we weaved our way through the streets of London and the driver turned on all the interior lights and the radio. The sound of Smooth Radio cut through my own choice of entertainment playing through my earphones making listening to my iPod difficult, and when a section of my fellow passengers started singing along to Simply Red, impossible. Eventually, as a woman a couple of seats in front of me started to wave her arms around in time to Bread’s “Make It With You”, I seriously doubted my decision to travel by coach, although in hindsight, she may have just been trying to get the overhead seating airflow to work.
Eventually, after driving all through the night, we arrived in Edinburgh and I headed off to Waverley railway station to make use of the excellent shower facilities available to weary travellers for the princely sum of £5 – for which you get a shower pack including shower gel and the loan of a towel. I checked Network Rail’s webpage on Edinburgh Waverley just now and the showers still cost £5. How reassuring.
After freshening up, I took a stroll along Princes Street and took in the landscaped gardens in the shadow of Edinburgh Castle – 16/08/2011I took a local bus out to Ocean Terminal to see The Royal Yacht Britannia – 16/08/2011The Royal Yacht Britannia. Again. Taken from the other end to that in the previous picture (someone can remind me of the correct nautical terms in the comments – thanks very much) – 16/08/2011
After visiting the shopping centre at Ocean Terminal, I headed back into the city with the intention of taking some railway photos from Princes Street Gardens, but because of very heavy rain I instead took shelter in the (then) new National Museum of Scotland.
The Wylam Dilly was built in 1813 and is one of the oldest surviving steam locomotives in existence. By strange coincidence, 1813 was the same year the coach I travelled on from London to Edinburgh was built – 16/08/2011The Wylam Dilly is named after the Wylam Colliery where it was used to pull coal wagons along the Wylam Wagonway to the river near Newcastle upon Tyne. A ‘dilly’ was the name used for the coal trucks used on the wagon way. Don’t tell me I don’t set out to educate – 16/08/2011Also in the National Museum of Scotland was Dolly the Sheep, a Finnish Dorset crossbreed and famous for being the first mammal to be cloned. She has to stand really still as she revolves around in her glass box. At night she drives around the museum in cars – 16/08/2011This is Sir Jackie Stewart’s racing car which can be found in the National Museum of Scotland. I observed that there was not much room to take home the weekly shop, but Dolly the Sheep likes how it handles corners – 16/08/2011
After visiting the museum and the rain abated it was time to find the location of the Edinburgh Book Festival and an interesting hour or so in the company of Mr Gaiman. While loitering for my friends to arrive, I inadvertently started a ramshackle queue, so front row seats awaited us. Go me!
A view of the approaches to Edinburgh Waverley – 16/08/2011Following chats, catch ups and pizza with my pals after the Neil Gaiman signing, I headed back south on another coach for the long journey to London. Actually, it was the same rubbish coach I had arrived in Edinburgh on earlier that day. Same drivers, but a different smelly bloke in the seat in front of me. You can imagine my enthusiasm when we met the above sign on the M6 at 4am – 17/08/2011Arrival into London Victoria Coach Station was over an hour late – 17/08/2011As my connecting coach to Bournemouth was due to depart a few hours after my arrival in London, I took the opportunity to stretch my legs and take in LNER A1 Class 4-6-2 No. 60163 ‘Tornado’ and empty coaching stock being moved into London Victoria railway station by EWS liveried Class 67 No. 67008 ready to form “The Cathedrals Express” rail tour to, of all places, Weymouth – 17/08/2011EWS Class 67 No. 67008 with the ecs for “The Cathedrals Express” nears London Victoria – 17/08/2011EWS Class 67 No. 67002 ‘Special Delivery’ and LNER A1 Class 4-6-2 No. 60163 ‘Tornado’ on the rear of the empty coaching stock movement into London Victoria – 17/08/2011LNER A1 Class 4-6-2 No. 60163 ‘Tornado’ departs London Victoria bound for Weymouth piloted by Class 67 No. 67002 ‘Special Delivery’ as the steam locomotive had no fireman at this point of the journey – 17/08/2011Former Wessex Electrics Class 442 No’s 442420 and 442410 on a Gatwick Express service with a SouthEastern Class 465 in the background – 17/08/2011Southern Class 455 No. 455839 with an unidentified SouthEastern Class 465 on the approaches to London Victoria. No. 455839 was one of the first Southern Class 455’s to be sent to Newport Docks for scrap earlier this year (The final journey being hauled by Class 47 No. 47727 along with sister Class 455 No. 455839 on 4th May 2022) – 17/08/2011The start of my own journey from London to Weymouth. However, by the time we reached Bournemouth I couldn’t take any more coach travel and I bailed out and took the train for the remainder of my trip – 17/08/2011SouthWest Trains liveried Class 444 No. 444005 having emerged from Bincombe Tunnel with a London Waterloo to Weymouth service – 17/08/2011 I arrived in Weymouth ahead of the steam tour and was able to see LNER A1 Class 4-6-2 No. 60163 ‘Tornado’ exiting Bincombe Tunnel on the run down into Weymouth with Steam Dreams “The Cathedrals Express” – 17/08/2011LNER Peppercorn Class A1 4-6-2 No. 60163 ‘Tornado’ was built between 1994 and 2008 to an original design by Arthur Peppercorn, the last Chief Mechanical Engineer of the London and North Eastern Railway. She was the first newly built British mainline steam locomotive following the completion of BR Standard 9F Class 2-10-0 No. 92220 ‘Evening Star’ in 1960, and the only Peppercorn Class A1 in existence after all the original locomotives of that class were scrapped. In 2017 No. 60163 became the first steam locomotive to officially reach 100 mph on British tracks for over 50 years – 17/08/2011 Nameplate detail for LNER A1 Class 4-6-2 No. 60163 ‘Tornado’ – 17/08/2022No. 60163 ‘Tornado’ worked “The Cathedrals Express” from London Victoria to Weymouth and then went tender first with her support coach to Yeovil Junction for turning while the train followed with Class 66 No. 66101 in charge. ‘Tornado’ took charge of the rail tour once again on departure from Yeovil on the return journey to London Victoria via Sherborne and Salisbury – 17/08/2011DB Class 66 No. 66101 assists with No. 60163’s support coach in the sidings at Weymouth – 17/08/2022
Video of “The Cathedrals Express” and light engine + support coach movement in the Weymouth area – 17/08/2022
2010:
Class 47 No. 47580 ‘County Of Essex’ heads 1Z62 0614 Shrewsbury to Weymouth “Dorset Coast Statesman” approaching Upwey – 19/08/2010Also at Upwey, Class 47 No. 47826 with Scarborough Spa Express branding works the return “Dorset Coast Statesman” 1Z63 1637 Weymouth to Shrewsbury – 19/08/2010The Railway Touring Company ran “The Dorset Coast Express” from London Victoria to Weymouth and back on Wednesday 18th August 2010. Having assisted at the rear of the main train on its return leg hauled by LNER A4 4-6-2 No. 60019 ‘Bittern’, SR N15 Class 4-6-0 No. 30777 ‘Sir Lamiel’ runs light engine with support coach to Weymouth, before running round and proceeding to Yeovil Junction for servicing at the mainline steam centre – 18/08/2010
Video of LNER A4 4-6-2 No. 60019 ‘Bittern’ during the 2010 summer season of “The Dorset Coast Express” rail tours. This is the result of experimenting with reformatting my 4:3 aspect ratio video footage in 16:9, however I’m not happy with the compression rate. But I’ll post it here at the bottom of the page, so probably nobody will notice!
That’s all for this time. Thanks for reading and for your corrections and comments to previous entries. Hopefully we’ll have our feet firmly back in 2022 for next weeks instalment. Join us again in seven days to find out!
Yoshi in front of stationary Class 33/0 No. D6515 (33012) ‘Lt Jenny Lewis RN’ which was working Swanage Railway Friday Night Bistro train duties. The train stops here for around thirty minutes and we had permission from the driver and guard to take this photo. Please ensure you and your pets stay safe in and around railway property – 12/08/2022
This was looking like a quiet week on the local railway scene, but Yoshi and I had some lovely family events to fill the days. It’s not all about the trains, apparently. Despite the lack of main line entertainment, we were surprised to find another Direct Rail Services (DRS) Winfrith train was running on Thursday 11th August. These workings are in connection with the removal of low level nuclear waste from Magnox Winfrith. This weeks run only appeared on the schedules a couple of days previously (Tuesday 9th August 2022) and, according to folk at Magnox Winfrith I chatted to, may well be the last such working of 2022. The next is provisionally slated for around March 2023. Let’s see.
I chose to see the down working pass through Hamworthy on its way to Winfrith. The locomotives top and tailing the train were DRS Class 68 No.’s 68002 ‘Intrepid’ and 68007 ‘Valiant’. No. 68005 ‘Defiant’ had originally been allocated to the working but developed a fault on its way from Sellafield to Crewe with the empty PFA wagons which would be used for onward transit to Dorset. The Class 68’s were built by Vossloh at Albuixech, Valencia for use by Direct Rail Services.
DRS Class 68 locomotives No.’s 68002 ‘Intrepid’ and 68007 ‘Valiant’ top and tail a set of empty PFA wagons bound for Magnox Winfrith powering through Hamworthy with 6Z62 0103 Crewe Coal Siding (DRS) to Winfrith Sidings – 11/08/2022
For the return run, I wanted to catch the loaded train leaving Winfrith sidings as there will be only a limited number of these workings, so I thought I would take the opportunity on a beautiful sunny day. The security guys at Winfrith were pleasant and relaxed about my taking photos from a public footpath. After departure from Winfrith Sidings, the train goes on to Dorchester South where it reverses to embark on its trip back to Crewe. While it was doing this, I headed off to Poole in order to catch the consist passing over Holes Bay.
DRS Class 68 No. 68002 ‘Intrepid’ stands in Winfrith Sidings awaiting departure with the loaded train of low level nuclear waste – 11/08/2022DRS Class 68 No. 68002 ‘Intrepid’ edges out of Winfrith Sidings towards the main line – 11/08/2022At the rear of the loaded train DRS Class 68 No. 68007 ‘Valiant’ formerly in ScotRail livery – 11/08/2022DRS Class 68 locomotives No.’s 68007 ‘Valiant’ and 68002 ‘Intrepid’ crossing Holes Bay with the loaded 6Z95 1600 Winfrith Sidings to Crewe Coal Sidings (DRS) – 11/08/2022
And here’s our video of the August 2022 Winfrith Cats:
DRS Class 68 locomotives No. 68002 ‘Intrepid’ and 68007 ‘Valiant’ with the third Winfrith train of 2022 seen at Hamworthy, Winfrith and Holes Bay – 11/08/2022
Digital photography has given us the ability to snap away more or less at our hearts content. Back in my misspent youth armed at first with my 126 Kodak camera, then my 110 Kodak and finally my trusty Russian made 35mm Zenit SLR I was very conscious of both the cost of the film and of the developing and printing. This meant that, often, I had one chance to take a photograph of a particular train. I wasn’t always too mindful however of where the sun was in relation to my subject and the effect this would have on the resulting image. It would take a week or so for the prints to be returned in the post from Truprint or other postal D&P service which might have a money saving promotion on the go. In my mind I had always taken a masterpiece of railway photography, but invariably what was returned never lived up to my expectations. But what did it matter? There would be another Class 33/0 on the Weymouth Boat Train or Inter-Regional Class 47 hauled holiday special excursion to get into the camera viewfinder another day. Until when there wasn’t, of course. Railway’s have always encompassed change and development. If they didn’t, we’d still all be being hauled by variations of Stephenson’s ‘Rocket’ and getting smut in our faces sitting in open topped wagons. I sometimes wish I’d taken more photos of everyday scenes back in the 70’s and 80’s. But I didn’t and I don’t have a time machine to take me back there. Which is where, to some extent, our heritage railways step in. I have spent many a happy hour at a steam or diesel gala on a preserved railway. Some people like to travel behind their favourite class of locomotive, whereas I like to photograph or video the trains, as I know a lot of other enthusiasts do. I politely suggest photographers – and I am sure there are many who already do – who don’t travel on the trains make a donation to the railway they are using as their canvas. Or use the catering facilities, or buy merchandise. Anything to give something back.
Friday evening (August 12th), as the heat of the day had subsided, Yoshi and I ventured out to our local heritage line, The Swanage Railway, to see their resident Class 33/0 No. D6515 (33012) * ‘Lt Jenny Lewis RN’ hauling the custard and cream dining set on the Friday Bistro train. Although replicating an era prior to my interest in railways, the ensemble looked magnificent catching the last rays of the sun at the end of the day.
D6515 (33012) ‘Lt Jenny Lewis RN’ working Swanage Railways Friday Night Bistro Train 1N08 1930 Swanage to Norden having just departed Corfe Castle station – 12/08/2022D6515 (33012) ‘Lt Jenny Lewis RN’ working Swanage Railways Friday Night Bistro Train 1N09 2010 Norden to Swanage having just departed Norden – 12/08/2022
Class 33 No. D6515 (33012) ‘Lt Jenny Lewis RN’ with Swanage Railways Friday Bistro Train – 12/08/2022
Sister locomotive Class 33/1 No. 33111 experienced difficulties earlier on Friday and has had to be withdrawn from service pending repairs. Hopefully she won’t be out of action for too long. In the meantime, during the steam ban which resulted from the recent spell of dry weather, Swanage are employing their Diesel Multiple Unit set to run services in conjunction with No. D6515 with steam expected to return on Wednesday 17th August 2022.
*A note about British Rail diesel & electric locomotive numbering. Upon introduction as part of the 1950’s “Modernisation Plan”, diesel locomotives carried one to four-digit numbers prefixed with a letter ‘D’, and electric locomotives with a letter ‘E’. With a move to computerisation all locomotives were renumbered so they could be logged on the Total Operating Processing System (TOPS) which recorded the maintenance history of locomotives and rolling stock, along with its allocation to division and depot and duty, its current status, its location etc. Locomotives were numbered in a consecutive series in terms of classification with the first two or three digits used to denote the class of locomotive or multiple unit. Sub-classifications were indicated in the TOPS system with a slash and a subclass number. For example Birmingham R.C.&W. Co Type 3 Bo-Bo No. D6515 became Class 33/0 No. 33012.
Ian Allan were well known for publishing books of locomotive numbers for train spotters who could tick off or underline the examples they had seen. Here is the B.R.C&W Type 3 fleet list as at August 22nd 1966 published in “British Rail Locomotives And Other Motive Power”. As you can see D6502 is missing from this list, having already been withdrawn following an accident in 1964The Class 33’s divided into sub classes as seen from the 1980 edition of Ian Allan’s “British Rail Motive Power Combined Volume”Class 33/0 No. 33016 with a Bristol to Weymouth service at Dorchester West – 25/06/1981Class 33/1’s were modified for push pull operations on the un-electrified Bournemouth to Weymouth line and can be easily identified by their high-level brake pipes and jumper cables. They were originally going to be classified Class 34 under TOPS, but instead sensibly became a Class 33 sub-class. No. 33108 is seen at Norden on the Swanage Railway taking part in the 2013 diesel gala backing onto 4VEP EMU No. 3417 ‘Gordon Pettitt’. Class 31 No. 31466 can be seen in the background. No. 33108 is currently undergoing repairs to bodywork and traction motors at the Severn Valley Railway – 12/05/2013A batch of twelve locomotives were built with narrow bodies to enable working through narrow tunnels between Tunbridge Wells in Kent and Hastings in Sussex. These became Class 33/2 under TOPS and were nicknamed “Slim Jims” by enthusiasts. West Coast Railway Co. No. 33207 ‘Jim Martin’ is photographed in the sidings at Poole – 11/06/2011
I made a quick visit to Top o’ Town car park in Dorchester for The West Country Historic Omnibus & Transport Trust Dorchester Running Day on Sunday 14th August 2022. Although a smaller concern than in pre-covid times, it was still great to see these old vehicles making trips around town or on static display. It was far too hot to take Yoshi with me and he remained at home where it was much cooler for him.
Perhaps my favourite bus / coach is OTT 98 a Bristol/ECW LS6G integral coach. She was delivered to Southern National in 1953 and given the fleet number 1299 for working as part of the Royal Blue fleet from Bournemouth in 1969. I remember her from her Dorset Transport Circle days and associated trips out – 14/08/2022EFJ 92 a Bedford WTB with Heaver C25F body – delivered new to Taylors Central Garage (Exeter) Ltd in June 1938. Sold to Vic’s Tours of St. Mary’s on the Scilly Isles and operated until 1971 when she entered preservation – 14/08/2022WS 4522, a 1935 Scottish Motor Traction Co. (SMT) H110 Cowieson bodied Leyland Tiger TS7 – 14/08/2022FEL 218; Bournemouth Corporation Bedford WTB Duple B25F – 14/08/2022Preserved former Yellow Buses N465 TPR Dennis Dart with East Lancs body and H262 MFX Dennis Dominator with East Lancs body – 14/08/2022“Sea Dog” MSJ 499 a Leyland Atlantean PDR1 with open top Metro-Cammell body was delivered new in 1961 to Devon General and named ‘Admiral Blake’. She reminds me of my time working in Torquay in the mid-1980’s, not that I had much time to enjoy the local area! After she finished carrying passengers around the Devon coast she was sold to Yellow Buses in Bournemouth and used as a tree lopper before entering preservation in 2006 – 14/08/2022X688 XJT an Optare Solo M850 from 2000 in original Wilts & Dorset livery spent some years as a Tesco free bus – 14/08/2022
From The Archive
This week in….
2019: Saturday 10th August 2019, 8 month old Yoshi and I took a trip out to see SR Merchant Navy No. 35028 ‘Clan Line’ working UK Railtours “The Atlantic Coast Express” which originated from London Waterloo and took in Salisbury, Exeter, Bristol and Bath. It was around this time when I really renewed my latent enthusiasm in railways after several years of having only a passing interest.
Clan Line on “The Atlantic Coast Express” 1Z82 0752 London Waterloo to Exeter St Davids and 1Z84 1550 Exeter St Davids to London Waterloo – 10/08/2019
The following day, Sunday 11th August 2019, saw two special excursion trains visit Dorset. We saw “The Northern Belle” top and tailed by WCRC Class 57 No.’s 57601 ‘Windsor Castle’ and 57314 at Dorchester followed by a trip to Holton Heath to see the return working along with a glimpse of Class 73 No.’s 73107 ‘Tracy’ and 73201 ‘Broadlands’ working “The Swanage Sunday Special No.3”.
Thursday 15th August 2019 saw LNER Thompson Class B1 No. 61306 ‘Mayflower’ and WCRC Class 47 No. 47802 working a Steam Dream Rail Company “Cathedrals Express” excursion from West Brompton to Weymouth and return. In between arrival and departure of the special train, Colas Rail Class 37 No. D6757 (37057) also visited the seaside terminal with a Network Rail test train.
2010: The Railway Touring Company ran “The Dorset Coast Express” on Wednesday 11th August 2010. The train departed London Victoria at 0845 and was hauled down to Weymouth by LNER A4 4-6-2 No. 60019 ‘Bittern’ which I saw pass through Bournemouth. The return working to London Waterloo was headed by SR N15 King Arthur Class 4-6-0 No. 30777 ‘Sir Lamiel’ with the A4 providing banking assistance at the rear until Wareham which is where I filmed the ensemble. The A4 was detached and then ran with her support coach to Yeovil Railway Centre at Yeovil Junction.
That brings us to the end of another entry, this week the Railway Dog blog was mostly put together to the sounds of The Who, Lily Williams and Yoshi barking at anyone moving outside. We really appreciate you stopping by and reading the blog and watching the video clips. As always, comments, suggestions and corrections are welcomed and thank you to everyone who has helped out in some way. We look forward to seeing you again next week.
Swanage Railway Class 33 Crompton diesel locomotives were in service from Sunday 7th August 2022 because of the fire risk presented by using steam traction. The driver of No. 33111 hauling the 1030 Norden to Swanage train collects the token to proceed on to Swanage while sister locomotive No. 33012 (D6515) ‘Lt. Jenny Lewis RN’ waits to depart Harmans Cross with the 1030 Swanage service to Norden – 07/08/2022
Ultrasonic Test Train & DBSO’s
Wednesday 3rd August saw a scheduled visit of COLAS Class 37 No. 37099 with an Ultrasonic Test Train visiting the Bournemouth to Weymouth line. Due to pass through Poole around 2315, a late departure from Eastleigh meant the train actually passed at 0009 as it headed to Weymouth. I decided on Poole as my location to see and film the train as a stop of a couple of minutes had been programmed into the schedule and I thought I’d be able to get a couple of quick photographs as well as video. In the event the train sailed straight through the station and to disappoint me even further, the locomotive was at the rear of the train propelling rather than pulling the Network Rail stock.
Class 37 No. 37099 and DBSO No. 9708 working 3Q02 2143 Eastleigh East Yard to Eastleigh East Yard at Poole – 04/08/2022
However, this gives me an opportunity to witter on about the MK2 Driving Brake Second Open (DBSO) coaches currently employed on several test trains which enables a locomotive hauled train to be driven from either end. Famously the Bournemouth to Weymouth route operated a push-pull system for many years following the 1967 electrification of the Waterloo to Bournemouth line with Class 33/1 locomotives paired with unpowered 4-TC units traversing the tracks between Bournemouth to Weymouth. A similar concept was introduced by BR Scottish Region in the late 1970’s / early 1980’s when a number of MK2 brake coaches were modified and fitted with driving cabs, but still retaining their end corridor connections. The motive power was provided by Class 47/7 locomotives which were modified Class 47/4’s to enable push-pull working on Glasgow – Edinburgh services, replacing trains run by top and tailed Class 27 locomotives which were proving costly to run and unreliable.
Push-Pull Class 33/1 No. 33104 propels two 4-TC units away from Dorchester forming the 1533 Weymouth to London Waterloo service. The Class 33 would be removed at Bournemouth and the 4-TC coupled to motorised 4REP units for the onward journey to London Waterloo – 15/04/1983
The DBSO’s were cascaded to the Great Eastern Main Line in the late 1980’s when Glasgow – Edinburgh services began to utilise new Class 158 DMU’s, which doesn’t seem much of an upgrade to me! At this time, the corridor connection was removed enabling a larger cab. They continued to run into the privatisation era becoming part of Anglia Railways and later the One franchise, the last being withdrawn from service by the close of 2006, being replaced by more modern MK3 Driving Van Trailers. At this point Network Rail took ownership of five DBSO vehicles for the purpose of running test trains in push-pull mode.
Class 47/7 No. 47701 ‘St. Andrew’ at Crewe Works – 22/09/1979Scanned from a very dark 110 film negative, Class 47/7 No. 47705 ‘Lothian’ is, er, kick-started at Edinburgh Waverley – 13/08/1980. This locomotive was later converted into Class 57 No. 57303 ( see below )Class 47/7 No. 47707 ‘Holyrood’ at Millerhill depot – 16/08/1982. This locomotive was cut up at CF Booth, Rotherham in February 2010Network Rail DBSO No. 9702 being propelled by COLAS Class 37 No. 37175 into Dorchester West – 16/06/2015Class 37 No. 37175 at the rear of a Network Rail test train at Dorchester West – 16/06/2015DBSO No. 9714 hauled by Class 31 No. 31106 passing through Upwey bound for Weymouth – 17/11/201131106 at the head of a Network Rail test train entering Upwey – 17/11/2011Class 57 No. 57303 ( the former 47705 – see above! ) with One liveried DBSO No. 9710 at Eastleigh – 23/10/2013Another glimpse of Class 37 No. 37099 on the rear of a test train utilising a DBSO passing Upwey – 27/04/2017And here she is again in British Rail days; Class 37 No. 37099 in BR Blue livery seen at Liverpool Street c.1980
The Dorset Coast Explorer
West Coast Railways Class 33/0 No’.s 33029 and 33025 approaches the site of the former Upwey Wishing Well Halt on the climb to Bincombe tunnel with Pathfinder Railtours “The Dorset Explorer” 1Z34 1635 Weymouth to Burton-on-Trent – 06/08/2022
Saturday 6th August saw Pathfinder Tours run a rail tour from Burton-on-Trent to Weymouth via different scenic routes out and back. On the outward run the train made a circular journey through Central Southern England via the Cotswolds, the Vale of White Horse into the Thames Valley and Reading before heading south to Basingstoke, Winchester and Southampton. A run through the New Forest National Park to Bournemouth and Poole followed prior to passing through Dorset heathlands and Dorchester South before arriving at the seaside resort of Weymouth. The return journey went via Dorchester West and through Somerset by way of Yeovil and Castle Cary on to Wiltshire reaching Westbury and the Avon Valley with a stop at Bristol Parkway before heading back Severnside to Cheltenham Spa and the return to Burton-on-Trent. £299 would have gotten you a seat in Premier Dining with a Standard Class ticket costing £125 ( First Class was also available at £185 a seat ). Over the last 20 years or so, Standard Class seating on charter trains has been reduced in favour of more profitable First Class and Premier Dining seating as a result of the changing demographic of passengers.
Displaying the 91 headcode which denoted London Waterloo to Weymouth fast services back in the 1970’s and 1980’s, West Coast Railways Class 33/0 No. 33025 leads classmate No. 33029 on the approach to Wareham with Pathfinder Railtours “The Dorset Explorer” 0545 1Z33 Burton-on-Trent to Weymouth – 06/08/2022
The motive power provided by West Coast Railways of two Class 33/0 locomotives was of particular interest to me as these were a regular sight during my trainspotting days back in the late 1970’s / early 1980’s when 33/1’s hauled everyday passenger services via the South with less frequent visits of 33/0’s and, if extremely lucky Class 33/2’s. Class 33/0’s were regular performers on the Bristol to Weymouth route.
With thanks to @radioc71 and G E Barrett for additional video footageClass 33/0 No. 33025 ‘Sultan’ in BR days approaching Westbury – 23/12/1982Class 33 No. 33025 ‘Sultan’ at Banbury – 19/06/1982Class 33 No. 33029 approaches Dorchester South with an inter-regional service – 20/06/1982
Hamworthy Branch Update
Sadly no video of rail/road vehicles taken from the undergrowth this week, but work continues along the Hamworthy Branch with sleeper renewal, tree clearance and an access gate added to Lake Road.
BR Class 121 ‘Bubble Car’ No. W55028 at the head of the 2100 departure from Corfe Castle. This single car unit replaced one of the driving cars from the three car Class 117 diesel multiple unit which had experienced technical issues – 06/08/2022
Late Saturday afternoon, August 6th, a line side fire broke out on Corfe Common, the smoke of which could be seen from across the harbour in Poole. Consequently it was announced that during the current prolonged spell of dry weather, all Swanage Railway services would be diesel hauled. I was planning on popping down to visit the railway as the resident diesel-multiple unit was running evening trains in conjunction with a fireworks display at Swanage. I was delayed in traffic because emergency services were hard at work extinguishing the fire and damping down, but saw SR Battle of Britain 4-6-2 No. 34072 ‘257 Squadron’ manoeuvring her coaching stock at Swanage after passing the fire damaged area at Corfe prior to the DMU running. Sunday morning, I couldn’t resist seeing the two Swanage Class 33 diesel locos passing each other at Harmans Cross on the first trains of the day.
Video of Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th 2022 at the Swanage Railway SR 4-6-2 Battle of Britain Class No. 34072 ‘257 Squadron’ preparing to move empty coaching stock at Swanage after bringing in the last steam hauled service of the day, and for the foreseeable during the current hot spell – 06/08/2022
Great Train Robbery
Plaque at Crewe Railway Station in memory of driver Jack Mills and second man David Whitby whose Home Depot was Crewe
8th August saw the 59th anniversary of The Great Train Robbery when £2.6 million was stolen from a Glasgow to London mail train. It has always puzzled and frustrated me as to why the gang who perpetrated the crime were often cast as latter day Robin Hood figures and the robbery itself as non-violent and victimless. The assault on driver Jack Mills was brutal and he sustained injuries that he would not recover from, having been beaten over the head with a metal bar. Jack Mills retired from the railways in 1967 and died in 1970 of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia.
Epilogue
Yoshi had a haircut this week, he has really been feeling the heat in the last few days
In other local news, a rail grinder visited Poole in the early hours of Sunday morning top and tailed by GBRf Class 66 locomotives No’s 66776 ‘Joanne’ and 66766 ‘Gail Richardson’. A rail grinder is used to restore the profile and remove irregularities from worn track to extend its life and to improve the ride of trains using the track. No matter how many times I check the schedules on Real Time Trains (RTT) something will invariably sneak through. The train was scheduled to reverse at Hamworthy, but I can’t find any evidence of it having done so, but this isn’t to say it didn’t! To be fair, even I would have probably stayed tucked up in bed at the time this working was scheduled to run.
The RMT strike day called for August 18th ( other strike days / unions are available ) has put paid to another steam hauled rail tour to Weymouth, although the current run of dry weather would have probably done the job. Fingers crossed the September 1st Railway Touring Company organised “Dorset Coast Express” will run – Mick take note!
This weeks The Railway Dog was thrown together while listening to Gerry Beckley, China Crisis, David Bowie and PJ Harvey. Thank you for your kind comments, corrections and updates – I really appreciate them!
Old meets new at North Pier, Blackpool – 13/07/2022
Blackpool
As we mentioned in our last blog entry, Yoshi and I spent a few days in the North West a couple of weeks ago when we took the opportunity to take a trip on a heritage Blackpool Tram. The Blackpool Tramway runs from Blackpool to Fleetwood, originally opening in 1885 and is one of the oldest electric tramways in the world. It is operated by Blackpool Transport (BT) and runs for approximately 11 miles. The last time I visited Blackpool was probably in 2007 when David Tennant, who was at the time playing the Tenth Doctor in BBC TV’s “Doctor Who”, switched on the illuminations. This was just prior to the announcement that the UK Government had agreed to the joint BT and Blackpool Council bid for funding towards the upgrade of the tram track network, with £60.3m coming from Government coffers. The remainder of the £85.3m cost came from Blackpool Council and Lancashire County Council which contributed @ £12.5m each. The Government’s funding allowed the entire tramway to be upgraded with 16 modern and accessible Bombardier Flexity 2 trams being introduced in 2012 replacing the traditional fleet of ageing cars.
A number of the old trams which I was familiar with on my previous visits have been retained with some having been lovingly restored to form a Heritage Fleet and modified, widened Balloon trams as part of the main fleet. The depot at Starr Gate houses the Flexity 2 trams with Rigby Road Depot, near Manchester Square, housing the traditional trams. A great deal of effort has been made to ensure that the traditional trams have a future in Blackpool and I was pleased to see one on a run out as we arrived in Fleetwood for our stay at the North Euston Hotel. Thinking perhaps these only ran at weekends, I asked a driver of one of the modern trams about the heritage fleet and was directed to a website dedicated to Blackpool Heritage Trams. From here, Yoshi and I booked a one hour promenade tour which picked up from North Pier on its way to Bispham before heading back all the way to the Pleasure Beach in the south of Blackpool before turning once more and returning via the Golden Mile, dropping us off where we started. I was delighted to see that the tram car operating our trip was one of the recognisable and iconic Balloon cars, so named because of their rounded streamlined appearance, in traditional Blackpool 1940s “Wartime” green and cream livery.
Yoshi waits to board the tram for his Blackpool promenade tour – 13/07/2022
The Balloon trams were originally called “Luxury Dreadnought” cars and had been commissioned in 1933 by Walter Luff, the controller of the Blackpool network, in a bid to modernise the tramway’s fleet which had been working the tracks since the early years. 27 trams were constructed by English Electric between 1934 and 1935, the first being delivered on 10th December 1934. They were built with central doors and stairs, with a maximum capacity of 94 passengers. Half-drop windows provided ventilation with Art Deco curved glass electric lighting providing illumination. The initial thirteen were open-topped and the remaining fourteen were enclosed, these having sliding roof windows and thermostatically-controlled radiators.
Yoshi after enjoying a snooze on Balloon tram No. 700 – 13/07/2022
Between 2009 and 2012, Balloon car No. 700, which was to provide transportation for our journey, along with sisters 711, 713, 719 and 720 were modernised so that they could continue to operate in service following the refurbishment of the whole tramway to light rail standards. New widened doorways were fitted to allow more accessibility, with driver operated doors which fit to the new platforms built at tram stops for the modern Bombardier trams. Fixed seats and new passenger information displays were also fitted to match the new trams. Speedometers were also retrofitted to the driving consoles, which seems like a very good idea to me!
Yoshi considers driving off in Car No. 700 – 13/07/2022
We really enjoyed our trip on the heritage tram, and thoroughly recommend the experience should you find yourself in Blackpool. You can join us on our tour of Blackpool promenade as well as view some of the Flexity 2 trams in our video below:
Yoshi takes time to check out Flexity 2 tram No. 010 at Fleetwood Ferry – 11/07/2022
For a reminder of what it used to be like, here’s a video of Blackpool Trams from October 1999, featuring a brief glimpse of some of the famous illuminated trams:
Dorset Coast Express
Thursday 21st July saw another steam excursion to Weymouth subjected to alterations, this time because of the dry weather and subsequent risk of line side fires, the planned steam motive power was replaced by two Class 47 diesel locomotives. Fingers crossed all goes to plan for the next scheduled The Railway Touring Company Dorset Coast Express in August!
Class 47 No. 47772 ‘Carnforth TMD’ leads 1Z82 0845 London Victoria to Weymouth past Poole carriage sidings – 21/07/2022Class 47 No. 47813 with the return working of the Dorset Coast Express racing through Hamworthy – 21/07/2022
Around Taunton
Video screen grab of Class 47 No.’s D1935 / 47805 ‘Roger Hosking MA 1925-2013’ and D1944 / 47501 ‘Craftsman’ power the “Cornish Riviera Statesman” rail tour up Whiteball bank – 23/07/2022
Saturday saw Yoshi and I in the Taunton area as we went to see a couple of rail tours and hoped to catch celebrity High Speed Train power car No. 43384 which has been outshopped in a retro livery by CrossCountry Trains. First on our radar was Statesman Rail’s “Cornish Riviera Statesman” working Derby to Penzance and double headed by Brush Type 4 Class 47 No.’s D1935 / 47805 ‘Roger Hosking MA 1925-2013’ and D1944 / 47501 ‘Craftsman’, both resplendent in British Rail two-tone green livery. I just had time to set up for a video capture when the train passed by several minutes ahead of schedule, meaning my camera was still asleep in its bag. Also running ahead of schedule was The Railway Touring Company operated “The West Somerset Express”, which like their tour to Weymouth a couple of days previously had been advertised as being steam hauled, but were deputised with West Coat Railways Class 47 No.’s 47813 and 47772 ‘Carnforth TMD’ again in top and tail formation. This tour originated from London Paddington and was destined for Minehead on the West Somerset Railway (WSR) – the longest heritage railway in the UK. On arrival at Bishops Lydeard, the first WSR station after leaving the main line, the Class 47’s were replaced with a pair of steam locomotives to take the train forward. We saw Great Western Railway (GWR) Inspired 2-6-0 9351 Class WSR Mogul No. 9351 and GWR 7800 Class Manor No. 7822 ‘Foxcote Manor’ hauling the train nearing Crowcombe Heathfield producing some fine acoustics. You can follow our day in the video below, which also includes some CrossCountry Trains and GWR Castle Class HST’s:
CrossCountry Trains (XC) recently outshopped Class 43/3 No. 43384 from Plymouth Laira Depot in a revised High Speed Train livery, known as Intercity Executive, first carried back in the 1980’s. At the time the Intercity yellow and grey livery replaced the original blue and yellow colour scheme that had been used since the introduction of the fleet. CrossCountry has confirmed that the repaint comes as part of marking the 40th anniversary of the introduction of the InterCity 125 by British Rail on to the North East to South West route. Other celebrations include a special Railway Benefit Fund charitable XC HST rail tour on the 27th September 2022 travelling from Leeds to the Severn Valley Railway including a run along the heritage railway itself. An HST power car will be named at Kidderminster to mark the anniversary.
Class 43/3 No. 43384 is seen leading on 1V52 0658 Edinburgh Waverley to Plymouth as it nears Creech St. Michael – 23/07/2022
Eastleigh Grid
Class 56 No. 56081 approaches Shawford working 5O07 1049 Leicester L.I.P. to Eastleigh East Yard hauling Arlington Fleet barrier vehicle’s No. 64664 ‘Liwet’ (Ex Class 508 DMSO from unit 508207) and 64707 ‘Labezerin’ (Ex Class 508 DMSO from unit 508116) ex EMU Barrier coach set T7 – 24/07/2022
Yoshi and I were busy with our chores on Sunday morning when we discovered GBRf Class 56 No. 56081 was on its way from Leicester to Eastleigh with barrier vehicles in order to collect Network Rail’s European Railway Traffic Management System (ERTMS) lab train No. 313121 – this was too good an opportunity to miss and we put down the duster and polish and jumped in the car and set off for Shawford. This is more than likely our final opportunity to see this particular Class 56 in its current form as it has been earmarked for conversion as part of the Class 69 programme.
On our way back home, we had a quick look in at Eastleigh Works and saw the remaining four cars of Wessex Electric Class 442 EMU No. 442412 had been shunted around and were now visible adjacent to the road. Based on the British Rail Mark 3 carriage as used in HST sets, the 442’s were introduced as part of the Bournemouth to Weymouth electrification programme in the late 1980’s and, in my view at least, were the best EMU to have run in the UK.
GBRf Class 73 No. 73141 ‘Charlotte’ at Eastleigh Works – 24/07/2022The remaining four coaches of Class 442 No. 442412 in faded “Express” livery at Eastleigh Works – 24/07/2022
701 On Test
Class 701 No. 701017 passes the site of the former Boscombe railway station working 5Q52 1724 Staines Up Loop to Eastleigh TRSMD via Bournemouth – 25/07/2022
Another week passes by and Class 701’s are still running test trains to Bournemouth and Poole prior to their introduction into revenue earning service. This week we went to take a look at the site of the former railway station at Boscombe which was located between Bournemouth Central and Pokesdown. The station opened in 1897 and served The Royal Victoria Hospital and the shopping area around the Royal Arcade. Boscombe had a goods yard which received traffic for despatch from a large area of Bournemouth along with a coal depot and sidings. The substantial brick built buildings were demolished a few years after closure in 1965. The site now houses business units and threatening signs about unofficial parking. The road bridge which goes over the railway at this point has had footbridges added to each side and these have very high fencing installed for safety reasons.
Access Point Information, Station Approach, Boscombe – July 2022Station Approach, Boscombe – July 2022Station Approach, Boscombe – July 2022
Class 701 No. 701017 was this weeks unit on test as seen in this video – 25/07/2022
Hamworthy Branch
More activity on the mothballed Hamworthy Branch this week as temporary traffic lights were put in place at the crossing on Ashmore Avenue on Tuesday 26th July. Road / rail vehicles were also in evidence along the branch moving ballast. Sleepers and sections of track have also been marked up, possibly for replacement. Network Rail have successfully applied for a road closure permit on Lake Road, presumably to enable work to be carried out on the railway bridge which is located there.
Pressure washing Ashmore Avenue crossing on the Hamworthy Branch – 26/07/2022
We arrived just too late for a decent shot of a road / rail vehicle working on the Hamworthy Branch at Hamworthy station, but we thought we’d share this anyway! 26/07/2022
Weymouth Railway Heritage Trail
In the past week or so, new signage has popped up around Weymouth on the route of the former Weymouth Harbour Tramway which last saw use in 1999 and was dug up by the local council in an act of vandalism in 2020/21 with most of the track being removed at this time. With no sense of irony Weymouth Town Council, Dorset Council and South Western Railway have installed information boards celebrating Weymouth’s unique railway history.
The remodelled station forecourt at Weymouth – July 2022Weymouth Railway Heritage Trail information board ‘The Station’ – July 2022Weymouth Railway Heritage Trail information board ‘The Track’ – July 2022Weymouth Railway Heritage Trail information board ‘The Loop’ – July 2022Weymouth Railway Heritage Trail information board ‘The Quay’ – July 2022
This weeks “The Railway Dog” was mostly written to the sounds of Faeland, Hollow Coves, The Teardrop Explodes and Sibelius Symphony No. 5. Thanks for visiting. Comments and corrections are, as ever, always welcome and we really appreciate it when you point out typos or grammatical errors. We’ll be back next week, we hope you’ll join us.
DB Cargo Class 67 No. 67025 in operation with Transport for Wales waits departure at Crewe with 5K67 0951 Holyhead Car. M.D. Empty Coaching Stock working to Crewe C.S. – 16/07/2022
Fleetwood
The North Euston Hotel, Fleetwood
Yoshi and I spent much of last week in the North West of England as we made The North Euston Hotel in Fleetwood our base. The hotel was commissioned by Sir Peter Hesketh Fleetwood, designed in the Greek classical style by architect Decimus Burton and built between 1839 and 1841 to serve overnight passengers making the journey by rail from London Euston who were destined for steam ships which would provide onward travel to Scotland where after disembarking at Ardrossan they would take the train on to Glasgow. Fleetwood was the northern most station at the time, hence the name “North Euston” for the hotel, and the railway was yet to run over the Shap hills. Queen Victoria made the journey in 1847 and stayed at the hotel, although I’m sure she didn’t stay in our room. The first manager of the hotel, Corsican born Xenon Vantini, had been a courier for Napoleon Bonaparte and was also the first person to open a refreshment room at Wolverhampton railway station. In 1859 following a decline in fortunes, the hotel was sold to the government and was converted into a school of musketry and later, in 1867, an officer’s quarters. The building existed in this form until the 1890’s when it was purchased by a group of London businessmen who converted it back into a hotel. The North Euston is currently owned by local business families. Yoshi very much enjoyed his morning sausage for breakfast and we celebrated our dubious achievement of coming last in the Sunday evening pub quiz which was a lot of fun.
The railway to Fleetwood was opened on 15th July 1840 as the Preston & Wyre railway and was also the vision of Sir Peter Hesketh Fleetwood it being designed to connect the then new port of Fleetwood on the Fylde coast to Preston. The railway was constructed by George and Robert Stephenson with contribution from Joseph Locke. Its glory days lasted only six years until a direct route over Shap was finally achieved. The railway was absorbed into the Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway ( later the London Midland Scottish Railway as part of the Big Four groupings in 1923) and extensions were built to Blackpool and Lytham to cater for the growing number of passengers traveling to the seaside. Fleetwood would become, for a time, one of the largest and most successful fishing ports in the UK but by 1970 the railway from Poulton-le-Fylde to Fleetwood was closed to passenger traffic and later, in 1999, to freight workings.
Thornton Station is located in the heart of Thornton town centre – July 2022Until the late 1980’s a signal box operated the crossing over Station Road, Thornton – July 2022The current station buildings were the first built by the then newly formed London Midland Scottish Railway (LMS) in 1927 – July 2022
In 2006, the Poulton & Wyre Railway Society was formed with the aim of reopening the railway. Since then, much work has been carried out in clearing sections of the line from the ingress of nature and a Class 108 Diesel Multiple Unit was purchased for restoration and use on the line. More recently, the Poulton-Le-Fylde to Fleetwood line was subject to a study as part of the UK Government’s Restoring Your Railway programme. In June 2022 it was announced that the scheme should progress further and Network Rail will receive funding to produce a detailed plan for the revival of services. The Poulton-Le-Fylde & Wyre Railway Society have now turned their attention to developing a heritage railway centre which will eventually house a collection of railway artefacts and memorabilia for public viewing.
Churnet Valley Railway
Having heard that Class 33/1 No. 33102 was hauling trains, Yoshi and I spent Tuesday morning ( 12th July 2022 ) visiting Cheddleton on the Churnet Valley Railway, a preserved heritage line in Staffordshire. I grew up with 33/1’s providing the daily motive power on local passenger services between Bournemouth and Weymouth, and even though No. 33111 lives on at Swanage, our local heritage railway, it was fantastic to hear the Crompton’s Sulzer engine at work hauling a passenger train.
The Churnet Valley railway dates back to 1849 following the formation of The North Staffordshire Railway Company (NSR) in 1845. Falling passenger numbers saw the Beeching Report include the Churnet Valley line and its associated branches which became earmarked for closure with the final section from Leek Brook Junction to Oakamoor quarry lasting out until the late 1980’s as it was used for freight traffic. In 1992 the newly formed Churnet Valley railway (1992) PLC began talks with the Department of Transport with a view to operate the line. Trains currently run between Froghall and Ipstones, but the ambition is to run services into the Staffordshire market town of Leek for the first time since 1965. And they have an eye on the clock to achieve this as the railway needs to run its first passenger train into Leek by 1st December 2022 or lose a £1.4m EU grant. This means all track must be laid on the 0.5 mile extension, with additional resources being provided for a triangle at Leek Brook Junction, and a platform constructed at Leek. It really is a very picturesque railway with extremely friendly volunteers, Yoshi and I were escorted around the workshops to get a closer view of locomotives stabled there, and I wish them every success with their endeavours and look forward to a return visit in the future.
Cheddleton Station which was to be demolished in April 1974 but saved by the actions of local businessman and parish councillor Norman Hancock who parked his car on the level crossing preventing access to bulldozers giving sufficient time for the building to be Grade II listed – July 2022Cheddleton Station – July 2022Time for a cuppa! Yoshi waits for the kettle to boil in the booking hall of Cheddleton Station – July 2022Class 33/1 No. 33102 ‘Sophie’ awaits departure from Cheddleton – 12/07/2022Class 20 No. D8057 (20057) sits outside the repair shed at Cheddleton – 12/07/2022S160 Class 2-8-0 No. 5197 was built by the Lima Locomotive Company in Ohio, USA and exported to China in 1946. The United States Army Transportation Corps Class S160 were designed for heavy freight work across Europe during World War 2 with a total of 2,120 being built they eventually worked all over the world – 12/07/2022Class 25 No. 25322 ‘Tamworth Castle’ was the final Class 25 locomotive to see mainline service with British Rail. She is currently in store at Cheddleton Yard awaiting restoration – 12/07/2022Yoshi inspects Class 33 No. 33021 ‘Eastleigh’ in Post Office Red style livery. This locomotive was amongst the first privately owned diesel locomotives to be used on the mainline – 12/07/2022The Churnet Valley Railway has acquired Class 47 No. 47292 for an initial loan period of five years supplementing Class 33 No.’s 33021 and 33102 for use on passenger trains – 12/07/2022
On our way back to Fleetwood, we stopped off at Acton Bridge for an hour or so, primarily to capture Class 37 No. 37884 which was diagrammed to pass through with 0M58 Kilmarnock Long Lyes T.C. to Derby R.T.C. – which can be seen in the video below:
Southport
On the Wednesday, Yoshi and I took a trip on a heritage Blackpool Tram – more about that adventure next week – but first that we made a brief visit to Southport and Formby. Southport railway station is the terminal of the Southport branch of the Northern Line of the third-rail electric Merseyrail network, and the diesel-operated Manchester to Southport line. The station and services to Liverpool and Hunts Cross are operated by Merseyrail, with Manchester services operated by Northern Trains. The current station opened as Southport Chapel Street on 22 August 1851 and once boasted eleven regular platforms and two excursion platforms. Six truncated platforms are now in use (platforms 1-3 for Liverpool trains and 4-6 for Manchester services), the remainder having been demolished to make way for car parking. In 1970 the former terminal building was replaced with a shopping centre.
New Stadler Class 777 trains are currently being tested, and one was scheduled to visit Southport that morning on test run. Despite the best attempts at numerous roadworks and traffic queues, we made it just in time to see Class 777 No. 777015 arriving. Members of The National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers ( RMT – what these initials mean was one of the pub quiz questions I actually answered correctly! But I digress…. ) Anyway to continue; RMT members recently voted in favour of the proposed crewing plans for the new fleet which brings a five-year dispute to its conclusion. Merseyrail still has to reach agreement with the drivers union, the Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen (ASLEF), but intends to introduce the new Class 777’s into service later this year. Currently, 17 out of the 53 units purchased have been delivered to the UK. The arrival of the Class 777 fleet will see the demise of both the Class 507 and 508 electric-multiple units (EMU’s).
The Class 507’s were built to work on Merseyside, replacing the London Midland Scottish Railway (LMS) built Class 502 units on Northern line services from Liverpool to Southport, Ormskirk and Kirkby. 33 sets were built by British Rail Engineering Limited (BREL) in York from 1978 to 1980 followed by 43 Class 508s constructed between 1979 and 1980. They were the second and fourth variety of BR’s then standard 1972 design for suburban EMU’s, which were derived from the prototype 2PEP and 4PEP EMU’s introduced in 1971 and eventually amassed 755 vehicles across five Classes (313/314/315/507/508). Originally, the Class 508’s were built as 4-car units for the Southern Region of British Rail working out of Waterloo on former London South Western Railway (LSWR) routes. From 1982 to 1984 they were reduced to 3 car units (one of the trailer cars was removed to be incorporated into the Class 455/7 EMU’s) and transferred to Merseyside to replace the former LMS Class 503 units that operated Wirral line services to New Brighton, Rock Ferry and West Kirby. Following rail privatisation the two fleets became interchangeable and work both sides of the Mersey. They are the oldest EMU’s still working in the UK after the Class 313’s.
Yoshi with Merseyrail Class 507 No. 507020, Southport – 13/07/2022Yoshi compares the differences between EMU’s with a study of Merseyrail Class 508 No. 508140, Southport – 13/07/2022Merseyrail Class 777 No. 777015 having arrived with 5T02 0917 Sandhills Reversing Sdg to SouthportSouthport – 13/07/2022Northern Trains Class 769 No.’s 769424 & 769456 Southport – 13/07/2022Northern Trains Class 150 No. 150128 and 150134 Southport – 13/07/2022Merseyrail Class 507 No. 507020 Southport – 13/07/2022Merseyrail Class 507 No. 507020 and Class 508 No. 508131 stand side by side at Southport – 13/07/2022Merseyrail Class 508 No. 508126 at the buffer stops, Southport – 13/07/2022Merseyrail Class 777 No. 777015 awaits departure of 5T03 1008 Southport to Kirkdale C.S. Southport – 13/07/2022
Crewe
After breakfast on Thursday where we spent a few enjoyable hours watching freight movements around Crewe Basford Hall. You can relive this by playing the video below:
We returned to Dorset on Friday, eschewing the opportunity of capturing two Colas Class 37’s at rest in Blackpool North Railway Station which had worked a test train from Carlisle in the early hours. However, the next day; Saturday 16th July, I was back in Crewe, this time without Yoshi, so I could attend the Direct Rail Services (DRS) Open Day at their depot at Gresty Road. Understandably, dogs were not allowed on site, so Yoshi spent the day with his mum, while I endured the heat of the day without my fluffy sidekick. Many thanks to Scott for driving and for his company.
The Open Day coincided with LMS Coronation 4-6-2 No. 6233 ‘Duchess Of Sutherland’ passing through Crewe railway station with the Railway Touring Company’s “Cheshireman” rail tour from London Euston to Chester. (1Z86 0639 London Euston to Chester with Class 47 No. 47813 providing support at the rear). The station was extremely busy with the influx of enthusiasts in the town to visit the DRS site, but I managed to catch a short video clip of this magnificent locomotive departing Crewe. Later that day, SR Merchant Navy 4-6-2 No. 35018 ‘British India Line’ worked into Crewe light engine and support coach as 5Z46 Carnforth Steamtown to Crewe Heritage Centre for servicing ahead of rail tour duties scheduled for the following day:
Crewe 16th July 2022
3,500 people attended Nuclear Transport Solutions’ (NTS) rail division DRS’s open day, the first one to be held for a number of years because of the Covid pandemic. There were two locomotive naming’s at the event – the first saw Class 66 No. 66422 being unveiled as ‘Max Joule’ in tribute to one of DRS’s founders and former Managing Director who died in 1999. The second naming was for Class 66 No. 66424 which was named ‘Driver Paul Scrivens’ who had been a driver with DRS for more than 20 years. An emotional tribute was delivered by colleague Tim Howlett before the new plate was unveiled by Paul’s sister Emma.
The open day raised over £39,000 from sponsorship and donations which is an amazing figure that will go to deserving causes across the UK. It was a fantastic event, and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Because of the hot weather, DRS made bottles of water available at points across the site, which was very welcome.
Locomotives on display were:
Class 37 No. 37218 in retro DRS livery – 16/07/2022Class 37 No. 37401 ‘Mary Queen Of Scots’ – 16/07/2022Class 37 no. 37419 ‘Carl Haviland’ – 16/07/2022Class 37 No. 37425 ‘Concrete Bob’ – 16/07/2022Class 68 No. 68025 ‘Superb’ – 16/07/2022Class 57 No. 57312 – 16/07/2022Class 88 No. 88002 ‘Prometheus’ – 16/07/2022Class 68 No. 68006 ‘Pride of the North’ in special green livery showcasing the environmental benefits of rail freight and how a diesel locomotive can reduce emissions by using Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) fuel – 16/07/2022Class 66 no. 66303 ‘Rail Riders 2020’ – 16/07/2022Class 68 no. 68009 ‘Titan’ – 16/07/2022Class 66 No. 66422 ‘Max Joule 1958-1999’ – 16/07/2022Class 66 No. 66424 awaits its naming ceremony – 16/07/2022Class 57 No. 57304 – 16/07/2022Class 88 No. 88009 ‘Diana’ – 16/07/2022Class 66 No. 66429 – 16/07/2022Class 37 No. 37424/37558 ‘Avro Vulcan XH558’ – 16/07/2022Class 88 No. 88001 ‘Revolution’ – 16/07/2022
On our way to the DRS Open Day, we stopped off at Longport to peer through the fence at Electro-Motive Diesel Limited’s (EMD) site and witnessed some shunting around of locomotives, mainly Class 56 / Class 69 conversions which are ongoing.
With 69006 stencilled on the bodyside, the conversion of 56128 is almost complete. Longport – 16/07/2022The empty shell of Class 56 No. 56032 awaiting a second move to Marcroft Engineering with 69007 ( ex-56037 ) in the background – 16/07/202256038 is being converted into 69008 and is still on accommodation bogies but some of its new innards are in place. An extra hole has been cut in the cab front ends to accommodate an additional connection with this locomotive likely being the first for use by the GBRf Rail Services sector which handles stock movements – 16/07/2022Class 56 No. 56009 sits in the yard at Longport. The locomotive was unofficially renumbered No. 56201 when it was converted for use as an engineering test bed by Brush Traction in order to assess refurbished Paxman engines of sister class members – 16/07/2022Former DB Cargo UK Class 66 No. 66048 rests on accommodation bogies at Longport. The locomotive was damaged when it derailed at Carrbridge in January 2010 and it ended up down an embankment. It was sold to EMD in March 2016 after being initially disposed of for scrap. It’s unclear what the future holds for this Class 66 locomotive – 16/07/2022
On our way home we diverted to Keynsham to refuel the car and restock with drinking water. Fortuitously, Class 37 No.’s 37901 and 37800 were scheduled to pass through top and tailing an Eastleigh Works to Swansea Landore stock move consisting of a Great Central-liveried Mk4 set and an LNER-liveried Mk4 set (5Q79 1826 Eastleigh Arlington to Landore). This made a fantastic epilogue to the day!
Class 37 No. 37901 heads an Eastleigh Works to Swansea Landore stock move consisting of a Great Central-liveried Mk4 set and an LNER-liveried Mk4 set with 37800 on the rear approaches Keynsham station – 16/07/2022.
Dorset NMT
While we were away it was a quiet week on the Bournemouth to Weymouth line, with only the New Measurement Train of particular interest on the main line as far as I’m aware. HST Class 43 power car No.’s 43272 and 43257 were in charge of 1Q18 0719 Derby RTC to Bristol Kingsland Road on Wednesday 13th July 2022.
Class 43 No. 43257 sits in Weymouth station – 13/07/2022. Photograph courtesy of @da_buckley967Class 43 No. 43272 preparing to depart from Weymouth – 13/07/2022. Photograph courtesy of @da_buckley967
My brother popped out to see the NMT return through Dorchester West on its way to Bristol and his video which he captured especially for Yoshi can be seen here:
In other news, Swanage resident Class 33/1 No. 33111 headed off by road to the Mid Hants Railway (MHR) to participate in their 2022 diesel gala. I had considered visiting the MHR on Sunday, but felt it was far too hot for Yoshi to be out and about, so we decided to stay home and catch up on some gardening.
The recent heat wave also resulted in speed restrictions being imposed on main line services by South Western Railways (SWR), including those on the Bournemouth to Weymouth line, with the increased risk of tracks buckling. Reduced services were introduced on Monday 18th and Tuesday 19th July 2022 in a bid to give passengers certainty over which trains would run. There was also a steam ban imposed by many heritage railways and on the main line. This includes the Railway Touring Company’s “Dorset Coast Express” excursion to Weymouth on Thursday 21st July which will now be diesel hauled throughout.
Great Western Railways were under fire in the local press this week, when the Dorset Echo reported chaotic scenes at Weymouth station where passengers were turned away from trains as they tried to return home. The 1728 departure to Bristol Temple Meads from the Dorset seaside town was formed of just two carriages meaning station staff and police had to request some travellers to wait for the next service which was due to leave an hour later. Not so long ago a High Speed Train was regularly employed to run a relief service to Weymouth via the West route on Summer Saturdays in order to cater for anticipated increased passenger numbers.
That’s all for this week – join us next time when we recount our trip on a heritage Blackpool Tram. Many thanks for reading, and for continued contributions, comment and corrections which are very much appreciated!
Class 50 No. 50026 ‘Indomitable’ on a loaded test run as part of mainline certification nears Furzebrook on the Swanage Railway. Class 33 No. 33012 / D6515 ‘Lt Jenny Lewis RN’ takes up the rear – 09/07/2022
Lynton & Lynmouth
We took Wednesday off to visit friends who were holidaying in North Devon near the twin villages of Lynton and Lynmouth. Lynton was built on flat land 500 feet vertically above the beautiful fishing village of Lynmouth. I can never remember which is which, but until Easter Monday 1890 the only way you could travel between the two was via a very steep road. That is until the opening of the water powered funicular railway which had been approve by an Act of Parliament two years previously. Now established as a popular visitor attraction the original role of the cliff railway was to transport passengers and goods between Lynmouth harbour and Lynton. It is the highest and steepest totally water powered railway in the world.
The view from the Lynton terminus of the Lynton and Barnstaple Cliff Railway – 06/07/2022
The project to build the railway was the funded largely by publisher, MP and philanthropist Sir George Newnes who wanted to relieve the burden placed on the horses which laboured up the steep hill. The railway was designed by George Croydon Marks an early pioneer of funicular railways and devotee of Isambard Kingdom Brunel while the actual construction was carried out by local builder Bob Jones whose family are still involved in running the funicular today. The original mechanical design remains substantially unaltered.
The environmentally friendly railway works on a simple balancing principle using water as ballast which has been collected by gravity from the West Lyn River and stored in reservoirs. Each car has a 700 gallon tank mounted between the wheels with a smaller 10 gallons tank for the braking system. The two cars are attached to each other by two hauling cables and two balance cables which run around large pulley wheels at each end of the tracks. When each car is docked with full tanks of water, the cars are balanced and ready for passengers to board. Once the brakes are taken off the lower car discharges water until it is lighter than the top car which descends under the additional weight which causes the lower car to be pulled up the track. Our video of the Lynton and Lynmouth Cliff Railway can be seen below:
In a future railwaydog blog, we’ll be taking a close look at the three Bournemouth Cliff Lifts.
Bournemouth Fisherman’s Walk Cliff Lift, built in 1935, is currently out of action due to a landslide. It links Boscombe and Southbourne with the beach – 13/02/2021
Lynton & Barnstaple Railway
We had fully intended to visit The Lynton and Barnstaple Railway, but we had lots of catching up to do as well as finding ourselves distracted by goats that we decided to save this narrow gauge railway for another visit when we had time to do it justice. As a taste of what to expect, our friends visited on Thursday and sent us the following images to share, for which we are very grateful.
Baldwin 2-4-2 tank No. 762 ‘Lyn’ on the Lynton and Barnstaple Railway – 07/07/2022Baldwin 2-4-2 tank No. 762 ‘Lyn’ on the Lynton and Barnstaple Railway – 07/07/2022
The Lynton and Barnstaple Railway originally opened in 1898 and closed in 1935. The current railway is just the start of a project to rebuild the narrow gauge line and trains currently run between Woody Bay Station and Killington Lane, a round trip of two miles.
Poole Park Railway
Postcard view of Poole Park Railway circa 1970/80’s
The 260mm gauge Poole Park railway was first operated in 1949 by Southern Miniature Railways Ltd. In 2017, Poole Borough Council ended their tenancy agreement with Chris Bullen who had operated the railway since June 2005 and awarded a thirty year concession to Friends Of Poole Park for its operation. However following behind the scenes disputes, walkouts and a derailment in 2018 the concession was withdrawn and a notice to quit issued. Now in the hands of Bournemouth, Christchurch, Poole Council (BCP) and following a successful tendering process, Shropshire based Track Systems UK began work on renewing the infrastructure, traction and rolling stock.
Despite progress on the £480,000 revamp of Poole Park Railway having been made with work completed on the new engine shed and track there has been a delay in the delivery of a fully electric engine for use on the popular attraction. Efforts to source a suitable temporary engine are ongoing. Carriages are currently being constructed off-site which are expected to be delivered shortly. When re-opened the railway will be run by volunteers and BCP environmental team.
Saturday 9th July 2022
Class 33 No. 33012 / D6515 ‘Lt Jenny Lewis RN’ leads Class 50 No. 50026 ‘Indomitable’ through Norden – 09/07/2022
Saturday was far too hot for Yoshi to venture out, so while he stayed home drinking cold mocktails and being well looked after, I headed to Norden to see Class 50 No. 50026 ‘Indomitable’ on a loaded test run as part of its mainline certification on the Swanage Railway. Class 33 No. 33012 / D6515 ‘Lt Jenny Lewis RN’ provided support.
West Coast Railway Companies Class 47 No. 47826 nears Dorchester working the “Weymouth Harbour” 1Z47 0823 Birmingham International to Weymouth – 09/07/2022WCRC Class 47 No. 47804 heads the “Weymouth Harbour” empty coaching stock past Dorchester Junction heading to Yeovil Pen Mill for stabling as there was no room to accommodate the stock at Weymouth – 09/07/2022
There were scenes reminiscent of my misspent childhood Summer Saturday’s as five Class 47 diesel locomotives passed through Dorchester on their way to Weymouth as three rail tours visited Dorset on Saturday July 9th 2022. It could have been the 1980’s if I hadn’t had to fill the car up with fuel. First up was the Northern Belle organised “Weymouth Harbour – The Dorset Coast” which originated from Birmingham International. For £370 you could enjoy all the comforts of the Northern Belle luxury trains welcome Bellini cocktail, a three-course brunch, tea and coffee, oyster tasting with sparkling wine in Weymouth, a champagne reception and a five course dinner which included cheese and biscuits. What’s not to like? Apart from the seafood in my case, obviously. I’m sure cheesy puffs would be an acceptable alternative.
Double-Headed Class 47 No.’s 47853 and 47805 hauling the “Dorset Coast Statesman” heads through Dorchester – 09/07/2022
Statesman Rail provided the “Dorset Coast Statesman” which set out from Norwich in the early hours with passengers able to pick Bournemouth, Poole or Weymouth as their destination. Pullman dining, which also boasted cheese and biscuits, was available from £330 and First Class ( non-dining ) tickets could be purchased from £175.
SR rebuilt Merchant Navy No. 35028 ‘Clan Line’ hurtles through Hamworthy with “The End Of Southern Steam” rail tour – 09/07/2022
Finally The Railway Touring Company brought steam to Dorset with “The End Of Southern Steam” excursion which also provided passengers the opportunity to visit Weymouth for the afternoon. This tour marked 55 years since the end of steam on the Southern Region of BR. On the 9th July 1967 the final regular steam hauled passenger train arrived at London Waterloo, signifying the end of steam in the South. Departure on 9th July 2022 was steam hauled from London Victoria behind SR rebuilt Merchant Navy 4-6-2 No. 35028 ‘Clan Line’ through to Yeovil Junction where the steam locomotive was detached for servicing and turning while the rest of the train continued to Weymouth diesel hauled. ‘Clan Line’ then followed light engine to Weymouth in order to haul the train up Bincombe Bank and back to London via Bournemouth. At the time of writing, I’m not aware if cheese and biscuits were on the menu, however ticket prices ranged from £130 for Standard class, £195 for First class and £295 for Premier Dining.
Class 47 No. 47813 at the rear of “The End Of Southern Steam” rail tour, Hamworthy – 09/07/2022
The afternoon schedule was disrupted by a signalling issue between Dorchester South and Weymouth which resulted in all lines being blocked for a while. This delayed the arrival and departure of “The End Of Southern Steam” (37 minutes late arriving and 48 minutes late departing) and the departure of the “Dorset Coast Statesman” (43 minutes late departing).
A compilation video covering 9th July rail tours to Weymouth is below:
Class 47’s at Dorchester in days gone by:
Class 47 No. 47455 approaches Dorchester South – 29/05/1982Class 47 No. 47152 passes Dorchester Junction Signal Box – 14/07/1980Class 47 No. 47237 heads away from Dorchester West – 20/08/1981
That’s it for this week. Thanks for reading. Comments and corrections welcome. We’ll be back for another round-up soon!
We were being truthful about being distracted by the Lynton goats. Yoshi wisely kept his distance!
Class 47 No. 47593 ‘Galloway Princess’ approaching Campbell Road Bridge, Eastleigh working Saphos Trains 1Z60 0635 Poole to Kingswear “English Riviera Express” – 02/07/2022
Wednesday 29th June - Tuesday 5th July 2022
Saturday Sightings
Three rail tours were scheduled to pass through Dorset territory on Saturday July 2nd 2022. One had seemingly been cancelled a few days prior to its intended departure before reappearing on the schedules, much to Yoshi’s relief. Originally advertised as being steam hauled and later switched to a Class 57 diesel, “The Northern Belle Special: Tribute To The Bournemouth Belle” actually ran with a Class 47 at one end and a Class 57 at the other. Its journey from London Victoria to Bournemouth and return to London Euston via Slough briefly touched the route “The Bournemouth Belle” would have traversed back in the day. The empty coaching stock from this service ran to Norden on the Swanage Railway for servicing.
Class 57 No. 57314 approaching Creech Bottom on The Swanage Railway with The Northern Belle empty coaching stock 5Z68 1256 Bournemouth to Norden – 02/07/2022Class 57 No. 57314 at Creech Bottom on The Swanage Railway with The Northern Belle empty coaching stock 5Z68 1256 Bournemouth to Norden – 02/07/2022Class 57 No. 57314 parked up behind a pair of skips at Norden on The Swanage Railway awaiting servicing of The Northern Belle coaching stock – 02/07/2022Class 47 No. 47804 passes the former Furzebrook LPG site working 5Z69 1640 Norden to Bournemouth Northern Belle ECS – 02/07/2022
Saphos Trains Class 47 top and tailed “English Riviera Express” ran from Poole to Kingswear. BR Standard No. 70000 ‘Britannia’ took over the train from Norton Fitzwarren near Taunton, the diesel locomotives taking back control at the same point on the return leg back to Poole.
Class 47 No. 47810 (D1924) ‘Crewe Diesel Depot’ passes Bournemouth with the Empty Coaching Stock movement 5Z62 0444 Eastleigh Arlington to Poole to form Saphos Trains excursion to Kingswear and return – 02/07/2022
Railway Touring Company organised “The Atlantic Coast Express” took Southern Railway rebuilt Merchant Navy 4-6-2 No. 35028 ‘Clan Line’ from London Waterloo to Exeter St. Davids which traversed the Waterloo – Exeter line on its outward journey. One day I’ll tick off that box of recording a steam hauled train departing from Waterloo, but this week I was content with catching a glimpse of ‘Clan Line’ passing underneath Battledown Flyover at Worting Junction and nearing Sherborne.
SR rebuilt Merchant Navy 4-6-2 No. 35028 ‘Clan Line’ passes nearby Sherborne Old Castle with “The Atlantic Coast Express” 1Z82 0752 London Waterloo to Exeter St. Davids – 02/07/022
We have put together a compilation video of our Saturday below:
Yoshi was so excited to see and hear ‘Clan Line’ whistling as she passed Worting Junction he jumped up against the fence my camera was balanced on top of to see her pass for himself which is why there’s a slight wobble in the footage! I wish I’d have had the presence of mind to film him! We had a really enjoyable day out, despite the early start at Bournemouth and we met some friendly folk on our travels. I really didn’t imagine back in the late 1970’s that I’d be so pleased to see three Class 47’s on one day!
Freightliner Class 66 No. 66529 working 43Z2 0047 Trafford Park F.L.T. to Southampton M.C.T. through Eastleigh – 02/07/2022Direct Rail Services Class 37 No. 37069 which has been authorised for new wheelsets stands at Eastleigh Works – 02/07/2022Class 701 No. 701022 departing Eastleigh depot with 5Q50 0653 Eastleigh TRSMD to Eastleigh TRSMD – 02/07/2022
Class 701
Class 701 No. 701022 snaking its way into Eastleigh with 5Q50 0653 Eastleigh TRSMD to Eastleigh TRSMD – 02/07/2022
Trials with new Class 701 Electric Multiple Units continue. This week we filmed No. 701022 out and about over a few days which we’ve edited together in the video below:
Hamworthy Branch Update
Network Rail team examining the track work at Lake Road Bridge – image by kind permission of Kev Scott Trains
Network Rail were seen examining Lake Road Bridge on the Hamworthy Branch on the morning of Tuesday 5th July. Hopefully work will start soon clearing the site and replacing the existing structure which is rusted and, as was pointed out to me, has as at least one hole in the metal fabric. The replacement frog for the pointwork ready to reconnect the branch to the main line was deposited on the ballast at Hamworthy a few weeks ago.
Lake Road Bridge on the Hamworthy Branch – July 2022Lake Road bridge has sustained a number of hits from road vehicles as can be seen by the damaged brickwork in this view – July 2022
Great British Railways
This week “Snake-oil salesman” and Secretary of State for Transport Grant Shapps announced the shortlist of the most suitable locations for the national headquarters of Great British Railways (GBR), the planned state-owned public body that will oversee the majority of rail transport in Great Britain from 2023.
The closest local authorities to Yoshi HQ which threw their hats in the ring were Southampton and Eastleigh. However, these were both unsuccessful. The shortlist has been confirmed as:
Birmingham
Crewe
Derby
Doncaster
Newcastle upon Tyne
York
We would have visited each of these locations for a cup of tea and a bun, but they’re all too far away from Dorset so instead we’ll share the link where you can vote for your preferred location from the shortlist. The results will be used to measure the level of support for each place and will be considered as part of the final decision making. It’s almost like democracy at work.
Northern Belle: July 2019
A five month old Yoshi examines Class 57 No. 57601 ‘Windsor Castle’ at the buffer stops in Weymouth having worked The Northern Belle into the town for the Seafood Festival – 14/07/2022
In pre-Covid times The Northern Belle visited Weymouth with two special trains bringing passengers in to the seaside town for the annual Seafood Festival. Saturday 13th July saw Class 57 No. 57316 with Pullman Liveried classmate No. 57601 ‘Windsor Castle’ attached to the rear with the rail tour having originated form Cardiff. The following day saw the locomotives swap positions with No. 57601 heading into Weymouth with a tour having originated from Coventry.
Yoshi and Class 57 No. 57316 at Weymouth – 13/07/2019
This week, Yoshi’s blog was written to the sounds of Freya Ridings, A Dog’s Purpose (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack ) and Bear’s Den. Thanks to everyone who helped and provided information for this weeks therailwaydog blog. We’ll be back here in seven days for another update – we hope you’ll be able to join again us then. May your dog go with you.
GBRf Class 66 No. 66734 ‘Platinum Jubilee’ stands adjacent to Eastleigh railway station – 02/06/2022
66734 ‘Platinum Jubilee’
We kicked off our four day Platinum Jubilee Weekend when we popped into Eastleigh to see newly outshopped GBRf EU Class 66 conversion No. 66734. The locomotive, previously No. PB04 when in use in Europe, has taken the identity of Class 66/7 No. 66734, which was written off in a landslide adjacent near Loch Trieg in 2012, and is the 100th member of the class acquired by GBRailfreight.
GBRf Class 66 No. 66734 ‘Platinum Jubilee’ stands adjacent to Eastleigh railway station – 02/06/2022Detail from 66734 ‘Platinum Jubilee’
To mark the Platinum Jubilee of Her Majesty The Queen, the engine has been given a special purple and silver livery, with the Platinum Jubilee logo and Union Flag on the bodyside. The engine has been named ‘Platinum Jubilee’, and although it currently carries vinyl nameplates, these will be replaced by cast versions in time.
Detail from 66734 ‘Platinum Jubilee’Detail from 66734 ‘Platinum Jubilee’GBRf Class 66 No. 66734 ‘Platinum Jubilee’ and Freightliner sister No. 66553 stabled next to Eastleigh railway station – 02/06/2022
Didcot
After our brief visit to Eastleigh, we headed off to Didcot Railway Centre for an evening photographic event run by TimeLine Events who had arranged for Great Western Railway Castle Class 4-6-0 No. 4079 ‘Pendennis Castle’ to be in steam for a number of scenarios around the site. You can read about our earlier visit to Didcot when No. 4079 was relaunched into service here.
TimeLine events specialise in recreating scenes from past eras using convincing re-enactors wearing authentic period dress in credible locations. Joining one of these events has been on my bucket list for a while now. We were a little late on arrival and once we had gained access to the railway centre, we quickly joined in the spirit of things. I really enjoyed the evening and the photographic opportunities and would attend another similar event in the future. I wasn’t totally satisfied with my resulting images and another time I would mount my camera on a tripod and try a variation of settings. As it was, this time around I hand held the DSLR and this certainly shows on shots taken later on in the evening.
Great Western Railway Castle Class 4-6-0 No. 4079 ‘Pendennis Castle’ at DidcotGreat Western Railway Castle Class 4-6-0 No. 4079 ‘Pendennis Castle’in the shed at DidcotGreat Western Railway Castle Class 4-6-0 No. 4079 ‘Pendennis Castle’ at Didcot
Although not the prime reason for attending the evening, I very much enjoyed seeing ‘Pendennis Castle’ in steam as she moved around Didcot and being turned on the turntable. Here’s a video showing a little taste of the evening:
Castle Class 4-6-0 No. 4079 ‘Pendennis Castle’ joins a line up of GWR engines at Didcot
Swanage Railway
Over the weekend Yoshi and I made a couple of visits to our local heritage railway in the Purbecks where dedicated Swanage Railway volunteer, Malcolm Munro, had spent a week crafting two special headboards marking the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. Headboards are carried on trains to denote a special service or working and in the days of steam were a regular sight, including two famous Dorset related examples; The Bournemouth Belle and The Royal Wessex. The silver and red Platinum Jubilee headboards were carried by locomotives operating the Swanage Railway’s steam trains between Thursday 2nd June and Sunday 5th June 2022.
With SR 4-6-2 West Country Class No. 34028 ‘Eddystone’ on holiday at the Gloucestershire & Warwickshire Railway, steam services at Swanage were in the capable hands of SR 2-6-0 U Class No. 31806 and SR 4-6-2 Battle of Britain Class No. 34072 ‘257 Squadron’. Class 33 No. D6515 (33012) ‘Lt Jenny Lewis RN’ was in action on Saturday evening with the dining train.
SR 2-6-0 U Class No. 31806 enters Harman’s Cross – 02/06/2022SR 4-6-2 Battle of Britain Class No. 34072 ‘257 Squadron’ being prepared for departure from Swanage with the first train of the day. The special Platinum Jubilee headboard can be seen clearly – 04/06/2022Class 33 No. D6515 (33012) ‘Lt Jenny Lewis RN’ working the evening Curry Train across Corfe Common – 04/06/2022
Video of trains on the Swanage Railway over the Platinum Jubilee holiday weekend 2022
Mainline Happenings!
I was fully expecting a quiet time with local out of the ordinary main line workings over the bank holiday period and was pleasantly surprised to discover a GBRf route learner had been conjured up when I checked my emails on Saturday morning. So it was a hurried five minutes collecting cameras together and persuading Yoshi to jump in the car before setting off to view Class 66 No. 66755 ‘Tony Berkeley OBE’ working 0Z20 0813 Eastleigh East Yard to Weymouth. Over the weekend there had been several of these driver training workings set up, but in actuality only one ran each day on the Saturday and Sunday
GBRf Class 66 No. 66755 ‘Tony Berkeley OBE’ working light engine through Hamworthy as SWR Class 444 No. 444029 departs with a service bound for London Waterloo – 04/06/2022
Over the course of the Saturday and Sunday runs we managed to catch the light loco in a number of different settings – narrowly avoiding missing a shot once or twice because of passing passenger trains, as can be seen in the video below:
GBRf Class 66 No. 66755 ‘Tony Berkeley OBE’ heads into Poole having cleared the High Street crossing – 05/06/2022GBRf Class 66 No. 66755 ‘Tony Berkeley OBE’ runs down Bincombe bank into Upwey – 05/06/2022
The evening of Monday 6th June 2022 saw a test train and a heritage diesel working pass through the east of our area. The first was BR Green Class 33 No. D6515 from Swanage hauling Network SouthEast Class 50 No. 50026 ‘Indomitable’ heading to Dereham to pick up “slim’ Class 33/2 No. 33202 ‘Dennis G. Robinson’ before onward working to star at The Keighley & Worth Valley Railway diesel gala being held Friday 10th June through to Sunday 12th June 2022.
Class 33 No. D6515 from Swanage hauling Network SouthEast Class 50 No. 50026 ‘Indomitable’ through Hamworthy – 06/06/2022
The Class 33/ Class 50 combo was followed later by the monthly Colas test train top and tailed by Class 73 electro-diesels No.’s 73963 ‘Janice’ and 73962 ‘Dick Mabbutt’ working 1Q51 1115 Derby RTC to Eastleigh east Yard via Weymouth
Class 73 electro-diesels No.’s 73963 ‘Janice’ and 73962 ‘Dick Mabbutt’ working 1Q51 1115 Derby RTC to Eastleigh east Yard via Weymouth pass through Hamworthy – 06/06/2022
Elizabeth Line
We took the opportunity of an airport run to meet Yoshi’s aunty who was flying into London Heathrow to bookend our Platinum Jubilee weekend with a quick visit to see an Elizabeth line train at the T5 railway station. The staff were amazingly friendly, helpful and accommodating allowing us to onto the platform to take photographs of one of the Alstom Class 345 Aventra trains as well as explaining technical and timetable details. The Elizabeth line was officially opened by Her Majesty The Queen accompanied by HRH Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex on May 17th 2022 when a commemorative plaque was unveiled at London Paddington station a week in advance of the route opening to passenger services on May 24th.
Initially know as Crossrail, the Elizabeth line is operated by “MTR Elizabeth Line” as a concession of Transport for London between London Paddington and Abbey Wood. The Class 345’s have already been running between Paddington, Heathrow Airport and Reading in the west and between London Liverpool Street and Sheffield to the east prior to the central core opening for service. There are 70 trains, some seven carriages in length and others with nine carriages which were designed and built by Alstom in Derby. They are maintained by Alstom at Old Oak Common depot in west London. It is planned for the company to maintain the trains for the next 32 years as part of a rolling stock and provision contract.
Yoshi alongside Class 345 No. 345170Yoshi explores the interior of a Class 345 trainYoshi poses next to the Elizabeth line logo
On the day of our visit around 4,000 London Underground station staff were on strike with most services being severely disrupted so the Elizabeth line may have been busier than normal during our visit. The RMT union says it is protecting jobs and the pensions of its members which are being reviewed. TfL says jobs are not under threat. Later this month, more than 40,000 railway workers across 13 railway companies, including South Western Railway and Great Western Railway, will walk out as part of a three day national strike on 21st, 23rd and 25th June after talks about pay and redundancies collapsed.
With the tube not running because of a strike, Yoshi was unable to access the London Underground
That’s all from us at therailwaydog.co.uk for this week. Thanks, as always, for reading. My regular reader ( you know who you are ) will no doubt recall the first Railway Dog blog entry where I shared the first railway photographs I ever took, which to continue the jubilee theme, were from 1977 and show a Silver Jubilee special excursion passing through Dorchester West on its way to Weymouth. You can read more about this and see the images here.
