The Railway Dog

Category: Watercress Line

  • Yoshi Goes To The Mid-Hants

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

    July 12th 2023 to July 19th 2023

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    For the record…

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

    Hamworthy Watch…

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

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

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

  • Mid Hants Steam Gala

    Wednesday October 5th to Tuesday October 11th

    Yoshi takes a break while in Ropley on Handyside Bridge which could previously be found spanning platforms 1 to 8 at London Kings Cross. The Grade I listed structure was built in 1892 by Andrew Handyside & Company and was dismantled and reconstructed at Ropley over a period of 18 months. The bridge featured in films “The Thirty Nine Steps”, “Elizabethan Express” and the “Harry Potter” series.

    Hello! On Saturday 8th October, Yoshi and I found ourselves enjoying the sights, sounds and smells of the Mid Hants Railway, or The Watercress Line if you prefer, who were holding their Autumn Steam Gala. I hadn’t intended on staying long (honest!) but the weather was so good and there were lots of things to see and people to chat to, we remained at the railway until long after it was our scheduled time to be heading for home. As usual, Yoshi received lots of fuss from other visitors to the event and he had the occasional bark at a passing steam locomotive.

    The Mid Hants is a lovely railway, but country line side photographic locations are few as local farmers actively discourage anyone encroaching on their land. I recall back in the 1990’s an enterprising land owner who charged 50p per head for photographers to use his field as a vantage point.

    The gala was a final opportunity for visitors to see and ride behind Southern Railway Schools Class 4-4-0 No. 30925 ‘Cheltenham’ before her boiler certificate expiration. The engine is at the MHR courtesy of the National Railway Museum. The Schools class were the most powerful 4-4-0 type locomotives to operate in this country and were a very successful design, used for passenger and freight duties. They were named after famous public schools within the area then served by the Southern Railway, a publicity masterstroke given the popularity of train spotting with schoolboys at the time!

    Southern Railway Schools Class 4-4-0 No. 30925 ‘Cheltenham’ runs non-stop through Ropley
    Peckett & Sons Works No 1788 Kilmersdon 0-4-0ST gave shunting demonstrations in Ropley yard
    LMS Ivatt No. 41312 running as No. 41294 departs Ropley. No. 41312 was built in May 1952 at Crewe locomotive works and spent its entire working career on the Southern region. Introduced in 1946, the class were nicknamed “Mickey Mouse” tanks due to the placing of route indicator discs either side of the smokebox that then looked like ears. In 1964 she moved to Bournemouth were she worked over the Swanage and Lymington branches. 41312 performed the last steam service on the Lymington branch in April 1967. The last 3 months of her career were spent at Nine Elms acting as a station shunter for Waterloo. She was finally withdrawn from service on the 3rd July 1967.
    No. 53808 working a demonstration freight which included an opportunity for visitors to ride in the brake vans
    Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway 7F 2-8-0 No. 53808 spent much of its working life as a local goods train. She was built in 1925 at the Darlington locomotive works of Robert Stephenson & Co. and is one of only two that survive from the original 11 constructed. The 2-8-0 spent the whole of its life based at one shed, Bath (Green Park). It mainly worked local goods trains between Bath and Evercreech Junction, which involved a stiff climb over the Mendip Hills in both directions, although in the post-war period it was also used to haul some of the many Summer Saturday holiday trains to and from the North, working between Bath and Bournemouth.

    Unfortunately, No. 53808 had to be stopped for investigation and repair on the Saturday, and was substituted by Brush diesel electric locomotive Class 47 No. 47579 ‘James Nightall GC’, which to be fair was welcomed enthusiastically by many of the visiting enthusiasts despite the emphasis on the steam in “steam gala”.

    Class 47 No. 47579 arriving at Ropley. The locomotive was named ‘James Nightall GC’ on 28th September 1981 to remember the brave actions of 22 year old Fireman James Nighthall, who was killed on 2nd June 1944 whilst splitting a burning ammunition train at Soham in Cambridgeshire. Having split the burning wagon from the rest of the train, they made a run for open countryside, but the wagons contents exploded as it passed through the station leaving a massive crater where the station had been and damaging some 800 houses in the town. James Nightall’s actions along with his Driver, Benjamin Gimbert, saved a far greater disaster, and as a result they were two of the very few railwaymen to be awarded the George Cross for their bravery. Sadly the Signalman at Soham, Frank Bridges, was also killed that night whilst assisting Gimbert and Nightall.  He is remembered by a brass plaque on the Signalbox at Alresford.
    No. 506 takes turn on the freight consist
    London & South Western Railway Urie S15 4-6-0 No. 506, designed by Robert Urie for the London & South Western Railway purely as a fast freight engine, working the heavy night express goods trains between Exeter and Nine Elms, and from Southampton to Nine Elms.  Built at Eastleigh Works No. 506 was completed in October 1920, and delivered to Nine Elms shed in Battersea.
    BR Standard Class 4 2-6-0 No. 76017 – formerly based at Eastleigh Shed where she performed on freight, semi fast or all stopping turns to Southampton and Bournemouth. Nicknamed ‘Moguls’, these locomotives were based on an earlier Ivatt LMS design known as ‘flying pigs’. Over 115 of the Standard 4 Moguls were built between 1952 and 1957 at Horwich and Doncaster locomotive works.
    Class 20 No.’s D8059 (20059) & D8188 (20188) in the sidings at Ropley
    Video of our visit to the MHR Autumn Steam Gala 2022

    The Mid Hants line was originally promoted as the “Alton, Alresford & Winchester Railway” receiving its Act of Parliament in 1861. The first chairman of the railway was Edward Knight of Chawton, nephew of author Jane Austen. The line was intended to connect the existing lines at Alton and Winchester providing an alternative route between London and Southampton. A further Act in 1864 renamed the company the “Mid-Hants Railway” and the line opened in October 1865 with train services operated from the start by the London and South Western Railway (LSWR). In 1880 the LSWR took a 999 year lease of the line and in 1884 purchased it outright. The line passed to the Southern Railway in 1923 and to British Railways Southern Region in 1948.

    The Mid-Hants was extensively used as a diversionary route during electrification work on the London to Southampton main line in the 1960’s. Goods traffic ceased in June 1964 and the local passenger service became increasingly run down so much so that in December 1967 closure notices were published. Despite a major local campaign to save the line it eventually closed in February 1973.

    The section between Alresford and Alton was subsequently purchased from British Rail by the Watercress Line with steam trains running once again from Alresford to Ropley on 30th April 1977. Services were extended to Medstead & Four Marks in May 1983 and to Alton in May 1985.

    Over the weekend of 5th/6th February 1994 the Mid Hants Railway held a special event to celebrate 21 years since the line closed under BR. Our video from the Sunday is below:

    Mid Hants Railway celebrate 21 years on from closure in BR days
    Yoshi inspects the refreshed Poole Park Railway’s hired in locomotive

    Local news this week centres on the Poole Park Railway which has been in the media because the company, Track Systems UK, contracted to build and supply the electric locomotive for the re-opened tourist attraction has sadly ceased trading. The Poole Park Railway returned on September 2nd 2022 although within days it suffered a derailment after stones were believed to have been placed on the track. Currently a hired in locomotive is being employed to haul the 32-person capacity, wheelchair accessible and dog friendly railway carriages. An official launch of the service is scheduled to take place at 10am on Saturday, October 15, when the Mayor of Poole, Cllr Tony Trent will officially declare the railway open.

    Yoshi gets comfortable in one of the dog friendly carriages
    Yoshi enjoying the view from the train in Poole Park

    South Western Railway’s Island Line Grade II listed Victorian station at Shanklin, which Yoshi gave his bark of approval when we visited in March of this year, has won the Small Station Of The Year award at the prestigious 2022 National Rail Awards.

    Yoshi visited Shanklin station in March 2022

    The ‘Railway Oscars’ are organised by RAIL Magazine to reward excellence and achievement in the industry. This year’s ceremony took place on Monday 10th October at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel, hosted by BBC presenter Huw Edwards and RAIL Magazine’s Managing Editor Nigel Harris. Congratulations to everyone involved at Shanklin.

    You Tube Channel Of The Week: If you need more railway video action from the south, check out Jamie Smith’s most excellent Going Loco You Tube Channel which has some fabulous sequences from the Mid Hants, Swanage and other heritage lines as well as archive footage from the 90’s.

    Many thanks to the Watercress Line webpage for facts and information about the locomotives engaged in their Autumn Steam Gala and to you, Dear Reader, for taking the time to visit The Railway Dog blog this week. We’ll be back in around seven days and we hope you’ll join us again.

  • Somerset & Dorset ( in Hampshire )

    Yoshi sits patiently like the good boy he is at Alresford station awaiting the departure of S&DJR 7F 2-8-0 locomotive No. 53808 with a special train celebrating the 56th anniversary of the end of services on the Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway

    A Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway themed feel about this weeks blog. It’s like we plan these things instead of throwing everything together at the last minute. Which of course we’d never do.

    Our week in review kicked off last Wednesday, March 2nd 2022, when I noted that the daily booked turn for Class 455 units to journey from Wimbledon to Bournemouth depot actually ran. I normally check Realtime Trains every day for out of the norm movements, but typically on the one day I neglected to look the service was activated. However, I was able to see the return working slightly later on the same day as can be seen in the following video:

    Class 455 units No.’s 455734 and 455708 departing Bournmouth Traction & Rolling Stock depot with 5Y51 1431 service to Wimbledon Depot sidings on Wednesday March 2nd 2022. The video also features Class 444 electric multiple units No.’s 444045 and 444029 at Branksome working 1B25 1235 London Waterloo to Poole.
    The track into Bournemouth depot was originally the route to Bournemouth West, used as the southern terminus of the S&D. Passenger services along this line ceased on October 4th 1965, the station being demolished and part of the land used for the Wessex Way road. In 1966 work commenced on the construction of a carriage shed, an inspection shed and sidings for electric trains about to be introduced for use with the Bournemouth Electrification of 1967.
    The former Bournemouth West Junction signal box was retained to control entry to the depot sidings and is seen pictured here with Class 33 No. 33109 on the 26th March 1988 – the date of the first ever Bournemouth depot open day.

    Sunday March 6th continued the Slow and Dirty theme when Yoshi and I took a trip to the Mid Hants Railway to see a special train hauled by S&D 7F 2-8-0 steam locomotive No. 53808 in remembrance of the 56th anniversary of the last train on the Somerset and Dorset route. Organised by The Somerset & Dorset Railway Trust and primarily for use of Members and Friends of the Trust, this is intended to be an annual event. Having dropped Yoshi’s mum off for a pampering spa day en-route, we arrived in Alresford in time to see the departure of the second and final train of the day.

    The trains ran between Alresford and Alton and on the second return journey it stopped at Ropley where passengers could detrain and observe a run-through of the station at line speed. No. 53808 built in 1925 by Robert Stephenson & Co is owned by The Somerset & Dorset Railway Trust and was purchased for preservation in 1969 returning to service following restoration at the West Somerset Railway in 1987. A second overhaul was completed in February 2016, with the engine emerging in British Railways black livery with the late BR crest. As of autumn 2020 the locomotive is permanently based at the Mid Hants Railway for the remainder of her boiler ticket.

    I was pleased to note that the Watercress Line shop and West Country Buffet at Alresford was open on the day along with the S&DRT museum which contains station signs and memorabilia from the former S&D route to Bath Green Park. I can recommend the cheese and onion pasties from the buffet.

    Yoshi visited Bath last November where he enjoyed a couple of sips of water at the Green Park Brasserie located on the former station terminus and goods yard site which also now contains a Sainsbury’s supermarket and associated car park. Sainsbury’s donated substantially towards the £1.5m cost of the restoration of the Grade 2 station building. The train shed lost its glazing during World War 2 and the glass was not replaced until the early 1980’s refurbishment and the roof now protects shoppers from the elements and provides an area for community activities.

    Our day was rounded off with stops at Eastleigh, the Southampton Maritime Freightliner depot and Totton Yard.

    Network Rail Infrastructure Monitoring Vehicle No. 153385 at Eastleigh
    DB Cargo UK Class 67 No. 67012 retains its unbranded Chiltern Railways livery sits adjacent to Eastleigh railway station
    Withdrawn Class 442 in Gatwick Express livery remains at Eastleigh Works
    DB Cargo UK Class 66 No. 66040 – Eastleigh Works
    Class 07 shunter No. 07007 owned by Knights Rail Services at Eastleigh Works. 14 members of this class were built by Ruston & Hornsby in 1962 and were primarily used in Southampton Docks and Eastleigh Works.
    Multiple Freightliner Class 66 and Class 70 locomotives rest at Southampton Maritime
    GBRf Class 66 No.’s 66799 and 66760 ‘David Gordon Harris’ sit at Totton Yard with a Snow & Ice Treatment Train – 06/03/2022

    Before our visit to Hampshire, a trip to London on Saturday to view an exhibition of Francis Bacon (1909 – 1992) paintings at the Royal Academy meant Yoshi had a sleep over with his cousins Freya and Rosa. There were no paintings of trains at the gallery, indeed I’m not even aware of Bacon’s opinion of railways. I can however imagine a tortured portrait of Gordon the big blue engine from the Rev. W. Awdry’s Railway Series of books screaming into the abyss frustrated at being overlooked as he was an experimental engine and precursor of Gresley’s A3 Pacific’s for the Great Northern Railway and kept a secret. Also he’d be purple.

    There were however, two paintings featuring dogs.

    ‘Man with Dog’ (1953) on the left, and ‘Dog’ (1952)
    Class 444 No. 444036 stands at London Waterloo platform 19 with the 1933 service to Weymouth on 5th March 2022

    Our first archive segment this week comes from 1996 and another visit to The Watercress Line and their S&D Dream Weekend which commemorated the 30th anniversary of the last train to run over the Somerset and Dorset Railway, albeit a month early!

    Advertisement from The Railway Magazine February 1996

    On September 2nd 2006 Kingfisher Railtours ran The Somerset & Dorset Remembered tour using Bulleid West Country Pacific No. 34067 ‘Tangmere’ with EWS Class 67 No. 67006 providing assistance at the rear of the train. If the video is anything to go by, I must have arrived at Wareham to film events just as ‘Tangmere’ arrived with the coaching stock ready for the booked 0620 departure. The route of the tour took passengers from Dorset to Salisbury, Bath and Bristol Temple Meads. Later that same day, after the last passengers were dropped off in Wareham on the return leg, the 67 hauled the empty coaching stock to Weymouth where the locomotive ran round before departing.

    Finally more Mid Hants action with a flashback to their 2021 Spring Steam Gala filmed on 1st May 2021:

    That’s all for this week, thanks for reading. See you next time!