The Railway Dog

Month: August 2023

  • Yoshi Visits Lyme Regis

    Yoshi gets Tangoed! The boy meets Colas class 43 High Speed Train power car No. 43277 ‘Safety Task Force’ during its layover at Gillingham – 24/08/2023

    August 24th 2023 to August 29th 2023

    On Thursday 24th August I made a lunchtime jaunt to North Dorset in order to catch a view of Colas Rail Class 43 High Speed Train (HST) power car No. 43277 which has been on my list of locomotives to see for a few months ever since it was outshopped in an attractive hybrid Colas/Network Rail (NR) livery, incorporating Colas’ deep orange paintwork on the majority of the power car, with NR’s bright yellow colours at the rear, separated by a thick black angled band over the radiator grilles. The major repair and repaint was carried out by South Devon Railway Engineering (SDRE), the contract engineering arm of the South Devon Railway over the course of a year and was the first such contract on an HST carried out by SDRE. As well as the full paint job the overhaul comprised bodywork repairs, underframe attention, electrical cubicle component repairs, mechanical and electrical cab equipment repairs.  The power car returned to service with Colas in March 2023 and named ‘Safety Task Force’ by Network Rail’s Safety Task Force director, Nick Millington MBE.

    No. 43277 was previously in service on the East Coast Main Line with LNER until it was withdrawn when the operator stopped using HST’s on its services at the end of 2019. It was one of a number of power cars transferred for use with East Midlands Railway (EMR) on its HST services and was moved to Barrow Hill for storage. However, it was never revived for use with the Midland Main Line operator, and after EMR also ceased using HST’s, it was subsequently one of five Porterbrook-owned Class 43 power cars along with 43251/257/272/ and 274 to be moved to Arley on the Severn Valley Railway (SVR) in July 2021 for temporary storage. Now one of the power cars employed as part of the New Measurement Train (NMT) it’s been a patient wait for the locomotive to be allocated to a working heading to Dorset. I had originally contemplated an early morning excursion to see the train at Yeovil Junction on its way from Reading to Exeter New Yard but opted to see the return leg as No. 43277 would be leading. As the NMT has a scheduled 16 minute wait at Gillingham for pathing reasons, this was where I decided on seeing it – mostly for the opportunity to photograph the unique liveried Class 43 as it stood at the platform. 

    Of the other formerly stored power cars now in operation with Colas No.’s 43251/257/272 all carry former Virgin Trains East Coast red and grey colours with Colas branding, while 43274 carries the unique East Midlands Railway aubergine livery that was applied for its final weeks in service with EMR in 2021. Colas Rail also operates No.’s 43013/014/062/290 and 299 on behalf of Network Rail on the New Measurement Train.

    Class 43 No. 43277 ‘Safety Task Force’ leads the Network Rail New Measurement Train on the approach to Gillingham working as 1Q23 0556 Reading to Salisbury – 24/08/2023

    The first appearance of the Tangoed Class 43 power car in the region working 1Q23 0556 Reading to Salisbury attracted a number of other rail enthusiasts who came out and see her. Consequently, I was one of a number of photographers at Gillingham but I’m pleased to report everyone was thoughtful and courteous of each other and hopefully we all got the shots we wanted. It was also great to see the railway dog’s North Dorset correspondent, Scott, who had also arrived to see the NMT working. Watching the approach of 1Q23 on the Open Train Times (OTT) website map it appeared that the train was being held outside of Gillingham for no apparent reason, but eventually it arrived at platform 1 just three minutes late. After videoing the arrival from the station footbridge, Yoshi and I headed up the platform to get shots of No. 43277 and nameplate.

    Class 43 No. 43277 ‘Safety Task Force’ leads the Network Rail New Measurement Train enters Gillingham working as 1Q23 0556 Reading to Salisbury – 24/08/2023
    Class 43 No. 43277 ‘Safety Task Force’ with the Network Rail New Measurement Train at Gillingham awaiting the arrival of a down passenger working before departing on the single line track towards Salisbury – 24/08/2023
    Class 43 No. 43299 looking in poor external condition at the rear of the Network Rail New Measurement Train at Gillingham working as 1Q23 0556 Reading to Salisbury – 24/08/2023
    Nameplate detail and crest of Class 43 No. 43277 ‘Safety Task Force’ – 24/08/2023

    As I have previously filmed an NMT departure from the platforms of Gillingham station previously I decided this time I’d try the road bridge which carries the B3081 over the railway line east of the station. A footpath adjacent to track provides pedestrian access from platform 1 up to and from the road bridge and takes a minute or two to walk. There’s also grass and posts and other things for doggo’s to sniff on the way, so if you’re with a canine friend, perhaps allow a little longer! 

    Class 43 No. 43277 ‘Safety Task Force’ leads the Network Rail New Measurement Train out of Gillingham working as 1Q23 0556 Reading to Salisbury – 24/08/2023
    Colas Class 43 No. 43299 at the rear of the Network Rail New Measurement Train having departed Gillingham working as 1Q23 0556 Reading to Salisbury – 24/08/2023
    Video of the Network Rail New Measurement Train at Gillingham 1Q23 0556 Reading to Salisbury – 24/08/2023

    On Sunday we had a day trip to Lyme Regis, which was once the terminus of a branch line from Axminster. Once a small but busy harbour, Lyme had fallen into decline by the 17thCentury as ships grew in size, but the town saw its fortunes reversed in the early 19th Century when it became a holiday destination for the wealthy. Early tourism was boosted by a popular interest in geology and palaeontology. Jane Austen was delighted by the town and in her novel ‘Persuasion’ wrote “a very strange stranger it must be who does not see charms in the immediate environs of Lyme, to make him wish to know it better.” In the 1840’s a line running from Bridgwater to Lyme Regis was proposed but it was not until 1899 that the Axminster & Lyme Regis light railway order was made and Arthur C. Pain appointed as engineer. The branch line ran through the picturesque landscape of the Devon and Dorset border with steep gradients and sharp curves.

    Axminster Railway station where the branch for Lyme Regis originated – 01/06/2013
    The bay for the Lyme Regis branch at Axminster was located on the left of the above image. On departure from Axminster the Lyme branch was carried over the main line by a bridge slightly further west – 01/06/2013

    The route opened on 24th August 1903 with the London & South Western Railway (LSWR) receiving 55% of the revenue due to their financial backing. The LSWR eventually took over the branch on 1st January 1907. The line became part of the Southern Railway on 1st January 1923 and in 1948 part of the Southern Region of British Railways, although it later transferred to the Western Region.  Goods services survived until 3rd February 1964 with passenger trains running until complete closure of services on 29th November 1965. There is no trace of where the railway station was once located in Lyme, although the physical timber building survives at Alresford on the Watercress Line.

    The former wooden Lyme Regis station building was dismantled and rebuilt at Alresford on the Watercress Line in Hampshire. It now houses the station tea rooms and can be seen on the right in the above image – 06/03/2022

    The impressive Cannington Viaduct still stands however and on our way into the town, we took a slight diversion to view the structure, one of the earliest examples of a major concrete construction in the South of England and is comparable to those built by ‘Concrete Bob’ McAlpine, notably Glenfinnan (1901), on the West Highland Railway in Scotland. 

    Cannington Viaduct in 2023 – 27/08/2023
    Issues with subsidence during the construction of Cannington Viaduct, and in particular No. 3 arch, was partially remedied by the building of diaphragm walls of brick – 27/08/2023

    Monday evening saw the monthly run of the Plain Line Pattern Recognition (PLPR) test train running from Derby RTC to Eastleigh East Yard via Weymouth with GBRf Class 73 Electro-Diesel No.’s 73961 ‘Alison’ and 73965 ‘Des O’Brien’… again. For a change we popped into Poole to see the outward run.

    Video screen grab of GBRf Class 73 Electro-Diesel No. 73961 ‘Alison’ leading the Plain Line Pattern Recognition (PLPR) test train 1Q51 1115 Derby RTC to Eastleigh East Yard via Weymouth – 28/08/2023
    Video screen grab of GBRf Class 73 Electro-Diesel No. 73965 ‘Des O’Brien’ at the rear of the Plain Line Pattern Recognition (PLPR) test train at Poole heading to Weymouth – 28/08/2023
    Video of the Class 73 hauled Plain Line Pattern Recognition (PLPR) test train at Poole – 28/08/2023

    For the record, the Network Rail Video Inspection Unit VIU2 formed of Class 153 No. 153376 was in operation in North Dorset on Bank Holiday Monday running as 2Q20 0913 Eastleigh to Reading via Yeovil.

    The Minister of State for Rail and HS2, Huw Merriman MP, made an informal visit to the Swanage Railway, visiting the Dorset heritage line via its trial diesel train service from the main line at Wareham. The Minister was accompanied by South Dorset MP Richard Drax and Dorset Council transport portfolio holder Councillor Ray Bryan.

    The cast bronze Paddington Bear statue in its original location by the escalators at Paddington railway station sculpture was created by Marcus Cornish in 2000.  Paddington now stands on Platform 1 under the station clock – 13/01/2013

    Paddington Bear is to appear on 10 special stamps to mark his 65th anniversary.  Released by the Royal Mail, six of the stamps feature images from animator Ivor Wood’s comic strip cartoons first published in the London Evening News in the 1970’s. The other four stamps capture moments from the BBC television series that Wood designed and directed from 1976.

    2023 Royal Mail Paddington Bear stamps and First Day Cover
    2023 Royal Mail Paddington Bear mini-sheet stamps and First Day Cover

    The Peruvian bear first appeared in 1958 in Michael Bond’s book “A Bear Called Paddington”. It is the first time he has been dedicated his own stamp set having previously featured on stamps in 2014 to celebrate 60 years of children’s television, alongside Peppa Pig, Bob the Builder and Shaun the Sheep and in a stamp set released by Royal Mail in 1994. In the story, Paddington is adopted by the Brown family and named after the London railway station where he was found. More than 35m Paddington books have been sold worldwide, spawning toys and TV programmes. He has gone on to star in films in more recent years, with Ben Whishaw voicing the character. The movie version of the bear also appeared with the late Queen Elizabeth II in a sketch marking her Platinum Jubilee in 2022. Paddington will be seen alongside the profile of King Prince Charles on the new stamps which go on general sale on 5th September 2023.

    Paddington has previously appeared on three other UK stamps over the years
    The Royal Mint issued Paddington Bear 50p coins in 2018/19. Designed by David Knapton the coins show Paddington in front of top landmarks, including The Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, St. Paul’s Cathedral and Paddington Station (Image courtesy of G E Barrett)

    For more information on Ivor Wood’s history with everyone’s favourite ursine refugee, visit here

    There are only a few days left to have your say and give feedback on the closure of 974 ticket offices across England by completing the online form at: https://www.transportfocus.org.uk/ticket-office-consultation/  More than 460,000 responses have been submitted to date. 

    The 29th August 2023 Daily Mirror front page covered the closure of railway ticket offices – 29/08/2023

    It has been reported in the national press that South Western Railway (SWR) admitted the “potential of negative impact of [ticket] machines [as] not accessible for wheelchair users due to the height of the screen and card reader. No audio available so not accessible for visually impaired customers and those with reduced literacy. For customers with visual impairments the contrast on the screen is a challenge. There is a risk that some customers may feel like children if staff have to push buttons for them. Concerns have been raised about those who are in a vulnerable state and wish to end their lives.”

    As part of Heritage Open Days, the Grade II listed former railway goods shed in Wareham is open to the public on Friday 15th September 2023 between 1000 and 1600, no booking is required. Now occupied by Morgan Carey Architects, this is a chance to see a working Architects Practice in full swing and visit their converted railway goods shed studio. For more details see here.

    From the archive:

    A look back to Saturday 15th May 2021 which saw the end of an era for the Midland Mainline, when East Midlands Railway (EMR) ran their final High Speed Train passenger services. 

    For 39 years the Class 43 HST’s dominated the Midland Mainline running services from London St Pancras to destinations such as Leicester, Nottingham, Derby, Sheffield and Leeds, plus occasionally making trips to Lincoln Central, Skegness, York and Scarborough.

    To celebrate the retirement of their HST’s, EMR re-liveried two of their Class 43 power cars in special liveries, No. 43102, one of the two fastest diesel locomotives in the world (alongside No. 43159) being painted into InterCity Swallow livery and named ‘The Journey Shrinker’ with its speed record of 148.5mph noted underneath the nameplate, and No. 43274 which was turned out in East Midlands Railway purple livery, making this the only power car to run in these colours.

    Video screen grab of EMR HST No. 43102 ‘The Journey Shrinker’ working 1F70 2001 London St Pancras International to Leeds via Derby on the approach to Bedford while Class 700 EMU No. 700133 runs parallel – 15/05/2021

    On 15th May 2021 Yoshi and I had journeyed to the Severn Valley Railway for the first post-Covid lockdown diesel gala. Unfortunately the weather was mostly awful, with constant drizzle and despite @dabuckley_967 popping to the nearby Tesco and purchasing towels to dry off a soggy cockapoo, by mid-afternoon we’d had enough and the plan of seeing the final two HST workings on the Midland Mainline began to form. Driving across country through some pretty heavy downpours we arrived at Bedford railway station and after waiting for the skies to clear we were very kindly allowed onto the platforms in time to see the final EMR HST services; 1D63 1834 London St. Pancras International to Leeds via Nottingham with No.’s 43309 & 43272 followed later by No.’s 43102 & 43274 working 1F70 2001 London St. Pancras International to Leeds via Derby. No. 43102 carried a special headboard marking the occasion inscribed “1982 – 2021 The Last HST From London”. Unfortunately for us, our view of the train passing through Bedford was partially blocked by the parallel arrival of a local service in the form of Class 700 EMU No. 700133 – as you can see in the video below – and we failed to get a clear view of No. 43274 at the rear of its train. For some, it is still too soon to talk of this diversion to Bedford.

    The final EMR HST passenger services through Bedford with No.’s 43309 & 43272 – 1D63 1834 London St Pancras International to Leeds via Nottingham
    No.’s 43102 & 43274 – 1F70 2001 London St Pancras International to Leeds via Derby – 15/05/2021

    No. 43102 ‘The Journey Shrinker’ is now preserved at Locomotion Shildon.

    The one we missed at Bedford! Still carrying EMR purple applied to commemorate the final Midland Mainline HST workings but with Colas branding, No. 43274 at the rear of an NMT working at Gillingham – 18/11/2021

    Thank you for reading. Be seeing you!

    During our day out to Lyme Regis, Yoshi was very pleased to find a statue of Mary Anning, one of our local heroes. Mary was born in Lyme Regis in 1799 and went on to become a pioneering palaeontologist. Anning’s discoveries in the early 19th Century helped shape scientific understanding of prehistoric life, but her work was never properly recognised as she was widely snubbed by the scientific community and never fully credited for her discoveries because she was a working-class woman with little formal education.

    The installation of the statue in May 2022 was the result of a four year campaign by the Mary Anning Rocks group started by Evie Swire, then aged 11 and her mother Anya Pearson, which raised more than £100,000 for the bronze statue created by Stoke-on-Trent based sculptor Denise Dutton – 27/08/2023

  • Upwey Wishing Well

    LMS Jubilee 4-6-0 No. 45596 ‘Bahamas’ working the final 2023 Railway Touring Company organised “Dorset Coast Express” 1Z92 0845 London Victoria to Weymouth – 17/08/2023

    August 16th 2023 to August 23rd 2023

    For a long while I’ve been meaning to climb up to the railway line accessed from the old main road between Dorchester and Weymouth, just north of Upwey village, with the aim of photographing passing trains. This was once the site of Upwey Wishing Well Halt, and although the steps survive either side of the railway line, nothing now exists of the platforms which once stood here. Opened by the Great Western Railway (GWR) on 28th May 1905 and served by rail motor trains between Weymouth and Dorchester, the station survived until 7th January 1957 when it was closed. Originally the station was a two platform timber built affair with corrugated iron pagoda style shelters. The nearby tourist attraction of Upwey Wishing Well brought many visitors by rail in the early years of the halt’s existence, but increasing competition from road transport and buses which could deposit their passengers closer to the Well itself saw an ever diminishing use by rail passengers. The last remnants were swept away during the 1988 Bournemouth to Weymouth electrification scheme. Locked gates and fences protect observers from the railway, preventing trespass but affording a good view up to Bincombe tunnel. I chose Thursday 17th August to visit as there were two special excursion trains due to pass in relatively quick succession. Grateful thanks to Jamie for the lift down to Upwey. A few days later I returned to Upwey and the actual Wishing Well to celebrate my mum’s 90th birthday. Happy days.

    Still in South Western Trains livery, South Western Railway Class 444 EMU No. 444045 runs past the site of the former Upwey Wishing Well Halt with 1W21 1035 London Waterloo to Weymouth – 17/08/2023
    Class 57 No. 57601 ‘Windsor Castle’ heads up “The Northern Belle: Weymouth Harbour” 1Z79 0711 Coventry to Weymouth – 17/08/2023
    165137 – 2V68 1328 Weymouth to Gloucester
    LMS Jubilee 4-6-0 No. 45596 ‘Bahamas’ works the final 2023 “Dorset Coast Express” 1Z92 0845 London Victoria to Weymouth coasting down Bincombe Bank – 17/08/2023
    West Coast Railways Class 57 No. 57313 ‘Scarborough Castle’ working 5Z80 1333 Weymouth to Yeovil Pen Mill empty coaching stock movement designed to free up space in Weymouth because of the two excursion trains scheduled for the day works up Upwey Bank towards Bincombe Tunnel – 17/08/2023
    Video from 17th August 2023 including the following:
    444034 – 1W61 1005 London Waterloo to Weymouth and Poole
    444029 – 1W20 1303 Weymouth to London Waterloo
    444045 – 1W21 1035 London Waterloo to Weymouth
    57601/57313 – 1Z79 0711 Coventry to Weymouth
    444034 – 1W62 1320 Weymouth and Poole to London Waterloo
    165137 – 2V68 1328 Weymouth to Gloucester
    45596/ 47802 – 1Z92 0845 London Victoria to Weymouth
    57313/57601 – 5Z80 1333 Weymouth to Yeovil Pen Mill
    47802/45596 – 1Z93 1636 Weymouth to London Victoria
    57601/57313 – 5Z82 1641 Yeovil Pen Mill to Weymouth
    – with thanks to G E Barrett for video clips at Dorchester

    Later on the 17th I headed off to Branksome to see an engineers train pass through bound for Poole. On this occasion the train was worked by GBRf and was top and tailed by class 66 locomotives. On my way home, I popped in at Poole to see the locos and ballast hoppers awaiting deployment.

    GBRf Class 66 No. 66791 6G28 2304 Eastleigh East Yard to Poole – 18/08/2023
    GBRf Class 66 No. 66749 ‘Christopher Hopcroft MBE 60 Years Railway Service’ at the rear of 6G28 2304 Eastleigh East Yard to Poole – 18/08/2023

    The following Tuesday and I was once again setting off for more midnight engineering train shenanigans, this time with DB Cargo class 66’s in charge of a train of new rail which was destined for the Christchurch – Pokesdown area.

    DB Cargo Class 66 No. 66028 at the head of 6N65 2349 Eastleigh East Yard to Christchurch – 23/08/2023
    DB Cargo Class 66 No. 66067 at the rear of 6N65 2349 Eastleigh East Yard to Christchurch having run through the station – 23/08/2023
    Video of Dorset engineers train amongst every day railway movements – August 2023

    Hamworthy Branch Update:

    Out walking Yoshi around Hamworthy and I noticed a planning application notice fastened to the fence close to where the original Poole station once stood. What caught my eye was a variation of conditions quoted within the notice allowing for a “National Rail parking area” as part of a new development on the former James Brothers Site on Station Road.

    Planning application notice – August 2023
    Diagram of redevelopment plans of the former James Brothers Site on Station Road, Hamworthy varied to align with new plan numbers, including a revised drainage strategy, wording changed with amended parking space numbering to allow for a dedicated Network Rail parking area which includes a set of gates to allow access to railway land to the south of the site. As shown by the plans, these will be flood-gates at a minimum height of 3.6m – August 2023

    From The Archive:

    I have to admit to being partial to an engineering train. Every night I lie in bed, the brightest colours fill my head, a million dreams are keeping me awake, I think of what the world could be. No, hang on, that’s from “The Greatest Showman”. Anyway, back in April 2015 there was no need to dream of engineers trains as eleven of them found their way to Upwey on Saturday 11th, following an earlier light engine visit on the 9th which ran as a crew route refresher for Colas. The purpose of this engineering possession was for the relaying of the up line between Upwey station and Bincombe Tunnel. Trains ran in order as follows; No. 66050 top and tailed with No. 66101, No. 70805, No. 66016, No. 70807, No. 70808, No. 66014, No. 66177, No. 66705, No. 70809, No. 66204 and finally train eleven with No.’s 66074 and 66174.

    EWS Class 66 No. 66016 at Upwey – 11/04/2015
    Class 66 Np. 66050 and Class 70 No. 70805 at Weymouth – 11/04/2015
    Class 70 No. 70805 in Weymouth station – 11/04/2015
    Class 66 No. 66016 on the approach to Weymouth – 11/04/2015
    Class 66 No. 66050 departs Weymouth with a train of track panels – 11/04/2015
    GBRf Class 66 No. 66705 arrives at Dorchester South with a train of new ballast – 11/04/2015
    A view over to Upwey railway station with Class 66 No. 66101 in DB red livery – 11/04/2015
    Class 66 No. 66204 near Upwey – 11/04/2015
    Class 70 No. 70809 arrives into Dorchester – 11/04/2015
    A view towards Weymouth looking down to the site of Upwey Wishing Well Halt – 11/04/2015
    Class 70 No. 70807 at rest in Weymouth station – 11/04/2015
    Class 70 No. 70808 between to trains in Weymouth – 11/04/2015
    GBRf Class 60 No. 66705 pokes out of Bincombe Tunnel – 11/04/2015
    Road/rail machines watched by Class 66 No. 66014 near Upwey – 11/04/2015
    Class 66 No. 66177 at Upwey – 11/04/2015
    DB liveried Class 66 No. 66101 at Upwey – 11/04/2015
    Class 66 No. 66174 at a stand on Bincombe Bank- 12/04/2015
    Another view looking towards Weymouth with a track machine where Upwey Wishing Well Halt was once located – 12/04/2015
    Class 66 No. 66074 near to the location of Monkton and Came Halt railway station which opened in 1905 as Came Bridge and closed in 1957 – 12/04/2015

    Starting with No. 66174 which departed Dorchester South mid-afternoon most of the trains returned to Eastleigh on Sunday 12th in reverse order with the last running early on Monday 13th.

    Class 66 No. 66074 at Dorchester South departs for Eastleigh. The Brewery Square development is being built in the background – 12/04/2015

    A continuation of the work was carried out over three successive evenings on 13th, 14th and 15th April, with two engineers trains allocated to this. On the evening of Monday 13th No. 66050 worked train No. 1 followed by top and tail Class 70 No.’s 70808 and 70809, the same loco’s repeated the moves the following day. However on Wednesday 15th No. 66170 turned up with the same Class 70’s remaining on the second train (With thanks to “The Corkscrew” the newsletter of The Wimborne Railway Society for the meticulous notes!)

    That’s us for this week. Thanks, as ever, for reading and for your comments and corrections which are always welcome, except the ones with links to dubious websites obviously (these can, however, be obtained by writing to me on the back of a ten pound note). Be seeing you!

    Yoshi wanting to play ball rather than help compile this weeks blog!

  • Winfrith Cats… again

    A freshly groomed Yoshi checks in at Christchurch railway station ticket office – 10/08/2023

    August 9th 2023 to August 15th 2023

    Yoshi is supporting the campaign to keep railway ticket offices open following the train companies proposals to begin closing 974 booking halls across England. The passenger watchdogs Transport Focus and London Travelwatch are overseeing a public consultation which closes on 1st September 2023. Have your say by completing the online form at: https://www.transportfocus.org.uk/ticket-office-consultation/

    You could also write to your MP. I did. I’ll let you know if I get a response.

    The plan represents the complete depersonalisation of the ticket retail process and another piece in the jigsaw to deter people from using the railways along with, but not limited to, scrapping Wi-Fi on trains and impossible to understand ticket machines. I also miss onboard buffets and / or tea trolleys on South Western Railway.

    We are told that 10% of travellers buy their tickets at a booking office, compared with 80% in the 1990’s when, as I’m sure you will recall, there was no other way in doing so (with the exception of season ticket purchases, granted).  13% of revenue still comes via ticket offices which shows, on average, high-value transactions which may well be too complex for a ticket machine to deal with. 

    Hamworthy ticket office current and proposed opening hours

    Take Hamworthy as an example which has been designated as Category 3 by South Western Railway with the proposed new staffing hours showing the station unstaffed on a Monday, which just seems a deliberate ploy to discourage users. When I commuted daily by rail I always purchased my weekly season ticket on a Monday. On visits to the ticket machine at Hamworthy over the last six months has found it not working or the touch screen smashed.

    Yoshi at Hamworthy ticket office – 11/08/2023

    I also believe the proposals to close ticket offices will have a severe detrimental effect on the disabled and elderly. Staffed ticket offices effect everything from the ability to buy tickets, receive assistance, access site facilities, navigate the station, plan routes, and feeling confident in making journeys. They are one of the most vital accessibility features of railway stations and their closure would only serve to isolate people further.

    The closures would also have negative implications more broadly speaking. Ticket office staff provide assistance not only to disabled and elderly people, but to tourists, passengers with luggage, the unbanked, parents with buggies, and everyone who needs advice or assistance. By potentially stopping so many people from travelling by rail, the closures will also negatively impact spending in local economies, slow economic growth, and prevent people from getting to work.  

    Although these reforms are being flown under the banner of ‘modernisation’, they are anything but. A modern railway is one that works for everybody – one that is accessible, safe, and easy to navigate. To remove ticket offices would therefore be an actively regressive step, making vital infrastructure unusable for millions.

    **********************************************************************

    A visit of the Network Rail New Measurement Train to Weymouth which arrived via Yeovil and Dorchester West took place on Wednesday 9th August. This time the train was sandwiched between a pair of Colas Class 43 High Speed Train power cars No.’s 43251 and 43272 running as 1Z22 0757 Derby RTC (Network Rail) to Bristol Kingland Road. Yoshi had an appointment with the groomer in Broadstone at the same time, so I was unable to see this test train, but happily we can share the following video and photographs:

    Colas Class 43 HST Power Car No. 43272 at Weymouth (@da_bukley967) – 09/08/2023
    Looking in need of some TLC, Colas Class 43 HST Power Car No. 43251 at Weymouth (@da_bukley967) – 09/08/2023
    1Z22 0757 Derby RTC (Network Rail) to Bristol Kingland Road on 9th August 2023 (video courtesy of G E Barrett & @da_buckly967)

    Thursday was an early start for us as Yoshi’s mama was off to Guernsey for the day. After dropping Caroline off at Poole Port for the “vomit comet” ferry service to the Channel Islands, the boy and I headed towards the East of the county to Christchurch in search of a different (for me) photographic location in order to catch the latest Crewe to Winfrith Sidings train. With only a handful of these left to run I’m enjoying seeking out different locations from where to view them. On arrival in Christchurch we had a little time to wander and after visiting the railway station I settled on Barrack Road bridge as my vantage point overlooking the rails. This location, although quite busy from motor traffic affords a view back down to the station for trains heading west. The pavement is also quite wide meaning Yoshi and I wouldn’t be a hindrance to passers by.

    While we were waiting for the Winfrith, we also managed a glimpse of a SWR Class 701 on a mileage accumulation run as No. 701009 paused briefly in the platforms of Christchurch railway station waiting for the service train ahead of it to clear the section.

    SWR Class 701 No. 701009 passes through Christchurch on a mileage accumulation run working as 5Q50 0612 Eastleigh Trsmd to London Waterloo
    – 10/08/2023

    This run from Crewe to Winfrith turned up Direct Rail Services Class 68 No.’s 68034 ‘Rail Riders 2020’ and 68001 ‘Evolution’, both of which had visited Dorset previously, although No. 68034 was un-named at the time. There had been a moment the previous day when it looked like a bi-mode Class 88 had been allocated to the empty wagons scheduled to run from Sellafield to Crewe, but this turned out to be a false hope and as yet a member of the class is yet to visit Dorset. The Class 88 has a pantograph for the collection of electricity from overhead wires, and a Caterpillar diesel engine which provides 500 miles of working when no electric source is available.

    Direct Rail Services Class 68’s No.’s 68034 ‘Rail Riders 2020’ and 68001 ‘Evolution’ with empty PFA wagons bound for Winfrith passing Christchurch – 10/08/2023

    For the return working I opted for a visit to Poole High Street and planted myself on the footbridge by the level crossing which provided a good view from which to see the now loaded train of PFA wagons. Footfall across the bridge was a little busier than I expected but I have to admit to deriving some small pleasure in answering the usual “Is there a special train coming?” question from passers by with imparting the information that a train carrying nuclear waste was imminent.

    DRS Class 68 No. 68001 ‘Evolution’ leads the return Winfrith working across Poole High Street Level Crossing – 10/08/2023
    DRS Class 68 No. 68034 ‘Rail Riders 2020’ at the rear of 6Z95 1551 Winfrith Sdgs to Crewe Coal Sidings (DRS) powers away from Poole – 10/08/2023
    Video from 10th August including:
    1M30 0730 Bournemouth to Manchester Piccadilly – 221129
    1B24 0734 Bournemouth and Weymouth to London Waterloo – 444029
    1W51 0530 London Waterloo to Weymouth – 444024
    5Q50 0612 Eastleigh Trsmd to London Waterloo – 701009
    6Z62 0100 Crewe Coal Sidings (Drs) to Winfrith Sdgs – 68034 / 68001
    1W26 1555 Weymouth to London Waterloo – 444024
    1W29 1430 London Waterloo to Weymouth – 444031
    6Z95 1551 Winfrith Sdgs to Crewe Coal Sidings (Drs) – 68001 / 68034

    Early doors Saturday morning found me and several other enthusiasts waiting on Poole railway station for the empty coaching stock (ecs) which would form the “English Riviera Express” excursion to Kingswear. This was top and tailed by Locomotive Services Limited’s class 47 locomotives No. 47805 assisted by No. 47593 deputising for No. 47828 which had developed a fault and remained at Eastleigh. The ecs ran through Poole out to the storage sidings before heading back into the station to pick up passengers.

    LSL Class 47 No. 47805 erupts working 5Z27 Eastleigh Arlington (ZG) to Poole – 12/08/2023
    LSL Class 47 No. 47593 bringing the ECS in from Poole Storage Sidings into Poole station – 12/08/2023
    Now working as 1Z27 0635 Poole to Kingswear (For Dartmouth) LSL Class 47 No. 47593 prepares for departure – 12/08/2023

    With Yoshi now in tow, we headed off to Somerset to see the same train at Creech St Michael before the planned locomotive changeover to steam traction in the form of LNER A4 4-6-2 No. 60007 ‘Sir Nigel Gresley’ which took place in Taunton.

    Having reversed at Westbury LSL Class 47 No. 47805 is back as the leading locomotive passing Creech St Michael 1Z27 0635 Poole to Kingswear (For Dartmouth) – 12/08/2023
    With only a matter of weeks left in service, CrossCountry HST set with Class 43 power cars No.’s 43366 and 43378 top and tail 1V44 0609 Leeds to Plymouth past Creech St Michael – 12/08/2023

    As there was a good 30 minutes or so in the schedule to enable the changeover from diesel to steam, we drove to the other side of Taunton to see ‘Sir Nigel’ passing Norton Fitzwarren at the head of the Poole to Kingswear excursion train. A location chosen as not long afterwards, LMS Jubilee 4-6-0 No. 45596 ‘Bahamas’ was also due to pass on her way to the West Somerset Railway.

    With Class 47 No. 47805 having been replaced at Taunton by LNER A4 4-6-2 No. 60007 ‘Sir Nigel Gresley’ the English Riviera Express – 1Z27 0635 Poole to Kingswear (For Dartmouth) – passes Norton Fitzwarren. Class 47 No. 47593 remained at the rear of the train for support – 12/08/2023
    The second rail tour of the day through Taunton saw stalwart LMS Jubilee 4-6-0 No. 45596 ‘Bahamas’ hauling “The West Somerset Steam Express” heading off the mainline for the branch leading to the West Somerset Railway – 12/08/2023
    Video from Poole and the Taunton area on 12th August 2023

    After all the steam hauled rail tour excitement which afforded a few barks of approval from Yoshi, we headed for home with a slight diversion via Westbury, which, if I’m honest took far longer than expected! Although ultimately worthwhile as we were lucky enough to see a diverted container train on its way to Southampton as well as Class 67 No. 67027 which has recently reverted to Colas after being briefly part of the GBRf fleet, the intention being for it to be employed on sleeper services in the Scottish Highlands.

    A line up of Colas locos! Class 66 No. 66849 with Class 70’s 70811, 70809 and 70803 await their next turns at Westbury – 12/08/2023
    Freightliner Class 66 No. 66602 and DB Cargo No. 66023 with its special King Prince Charles Coronation livery mostly hidden by wagons at Westbury – 12/08/2023
    Freightliner Class 66 No. 66542 passes through Westbury working the diverted 4O51 1040 Wentloog Freight Terminal Freightliner to Southampton Maritime Container Terminal – 12/08/2023
    66175 ‘Rail Riders Express’ arrives light engine working as 0012 1106 Margam TC to Westbury Down TC – 12/08/2023
    Unique liveried GBRf Class 66 No. 66797 at Westbury – 12/08/2023
    Class 67 No. 67027 outside the Colas Maintenance Facility, also known as The Elephant House for some reason which has, as yet, escaped me – 12/08/2023

    On Monday I found myself once again in Southampton and obviously couldn’t resist a quick look in on Eastleigh!

    GBRf Class 73 No. 73202 still in its unique rebranded Southern livery at Eastleigh East Yard – 14/08/2023
    GBRf Class 73 No. 73107 ‘Tracy’ at Eastleigh Works – 14/08/2023
    Ex-Southern Coastway Class 313 No. 313211 with SWR Class 450 No. 450117 in the shed behind at Eastleigh – 14/08/2023
    LSL Class 47 No. 47828 in retro Inter-City livery at Eastleigh. This loco should have been on the “English Riviera Express” from Poole to Kingswear on Saturday 12th August, but was prevented from doing so after developing a fault – 14/08/2023
    Damaged in recovery attempts of the diesel-multiple units involved in the Salisbury tunnel incident in October 2021, GBRf Class 59 No. 59003 ‘Yeoman Highlander’ looks to be nearing a return to mainline service. Seen here at Eastleigh Arlington. A test run to Westbury scheduled later in the day did not materialise – 14/08/2023
    Arlington Fleet Group Ruston & Hornsby 0-6-0DH shunter No. 01508 built in 1961 with GBRf Class 59 No. 59003 ‘Yeoman Highlander’ and numerous Class 313 EMU’s at Eastleigh Works – 14/08/2023
    GBRf Class 59 No. 59003 ‘Yeoman Highlander’ surrounded by withdrawn Class 313 EMU’s at Eastleigh Works – 14/08/2023
    Eastleigh Class 07 shunter No. 07007 with the London Underground 4TC in the background – 14/08/2023

    Apologies for lateness and brevity of this weeks entry. I’ve been playing with 3D printing, to varied degrees of success! Please do make your thoughts known about the railway ticket office closures. As of 3rd August 315,000 responses had been received as part of the consultation, which shows just how much public interest there is to the Government’s proposals. We’ll be back again soon – be seeing you!

  • Stratford Revisited

    August 2nd 2023 to August 8th 2023

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    From The Archive

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • Yoshi Barks Again

    July 26th 2023 to August 1st 2023

    One highlight from this week was GBRf Class 47 No. 47749 ‘City Of Truro’ on a unit drag from Bournemouth depot – 31/07/2023

    Steam returned on the Bournemouth to Weymouth line this week, when The Railway Touring Company ran one of their summer day trips from London to Weymouth. The steam traction was in the form of LMS Jubilee Class 4-6-0 No. 45596 ‘Bahamas’ with support at the rear of the train from West Coast Railway Class 47 Brush Type 4 diesel locomotive No. 47802.  

    LMS Jubilee Class 4-6-0 No. 45596 ‘Bahamas’ runs through Hamworthy with “The Dorset Coast Express” – 26/07/2023
    WCRC Class 47 No. 47802 assisted ‘Bahamas’ at the rear of “The Dorset Coast Express” 1Z82 0845 London Victoria to Weymouth – 26/07/2023

    The departure from Weymouth was planned to have been hauled by Swanage based Southern Railway U Class 2-6-0 No.31806 but a combination of gauging concerns and politics meant the return leg was instead in the hands of WCRC Class 47 No. 47802. The train reverses at Southampton Central with ‘Bahamas’ once again taking charge for the run to London. 

    Video of “The Dorset Coast Express” from 26th July 2023; 1Z82 0845 London Victoria to Weymouth / 1Z83 1636 Weymouth to London Victoria. With thanks to G E Barrett and @da_buckley967 for additional video!

    ‘Bahamas’ was built in 1935 by the North British Locomotive Company at Queens Park, Glasgow and entered into traffic with the London Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS) as No. 5596 being allocated to Crewe North depot. The “Jubilee” class of locomotives, so called after the first of the class was named ‘Silver Jubilee’ to coincide with celebrations to mark King George V’s 25th anniversary on the throne, was designed by Sir William Stanier on his arrival at the LMS following a review of locomotive requirements. Stanier discovered a requirement for a locomotive capable of hauling fast secondary express passenger services between major cities where his newly built 4-6-2 Pacific Princess Royal class engines were excluded by loading gauge restrictions. The “Jubilees” were derived from an older type of engine known as the “Patriots” which had been designed by his predecessor, Henry Fowler. On introduction to service, they failed to impress the LMS workforce and they initially gained a reputation for being poor steamers. However, after tests and modifications to improve the boiler design they eventually became efficient locomotives and the class survived until within 12 months of the end of steam on British Railways (BR), the last example being withdrawn from traffic in October 1967. 

    One interesting ‘Bahamas’ fact to note is as steam was drawing to a close, BR made one last attempt to improve the performance of its steam locomotives and in 1961 No. 45596 was fitted with a double blastpipe and chimney as an experiment. This was the last modification to a steam locomotive undertaken by BR. ‘Bahamas’ was withdrawn in July 1966 and was put into storage at the back of Stockport Edgeley shed, under cover and forgotten until she was bought directly from BR in January 1967 by the newly formed Bahamas Locomotive Society. The rest, as they say, is history with the loco in great demand for mainline tours.

    Class 59 No. 59205 rubbed down ready for repainting into Freightliner colours at Eastleigh Arlington Works – 27/07/2023
    Repainted and awaiting collection and preparation for UK use; GBRf Class 66 No. 66309 on Eastleigh Works. No. 73964 stands behind the Class 66 – 27/07/2023
    Network Rail Video Inspection Unit VIU2 formed of Class 153 No. 153376 is out and about in the South East and seen here in the sidings adjacent to Eastleigh railway station – 27/07/2023
    GBRf Class 66 No. 66781 ‘Darius Cheskin’ crawls out of Eastleigh East Yard working 4046 0310 Trafford Park Euro TML GBRf to Southampton Western Docks GBRf as South Western Railway Class 444 No.’s 444022 and 444034 pass forming 1T30 0859 Portsmouth harbour to London Waterloo – 27/07/2023

    Saturday was a strike day on South Western Railway, but we saw another run to Weymouth of “The Dorset Coast Statesman”. On the outward run, the train was double-headed by two Class 47 locomotives, but on the return the locos were in top ‘n tail formation. I was enjoying the delights of the Poole Harbour Festival but did manage to watch the return working as it passed Baiter Park during an excellent set by Punk On Your Hits. 

    LSL owned Class 47 No.’s 47805 and 47593 double head the outward leg of “The Dorset Coast Statesman” through Holton Heath – 29/07/2023
    LSL Class 47 No.’s 47805 and 47593 work “The Dorset Coast Statesman”; 1Z93 0550 Shrewsbury to Weymouth / 1Z95 1514 Weymouth to Shrewsbury. With thanks to G E Barrett and @da_buckley967 for additional video!

    Another attempt at taking Class 458 No. 458523 up to Widnes for refurbishment was scheduled for Monday 31st July and this time the unit was successfully hauled out of Bournemouth depot as GBRf Class 69 No. 69008 returned to complete the job, this time with Class 47 No. 47749 ‘City Of Truro’ assisting. The locos and barrier coaches ran as 5Z51 0928 Leicester L.I.P. to Bournemouth T&R.S.M.D, but I didn’t pop out to see this arrive and elected instead to watch the later departure with the EMU.

    GBRF’s Class 69 No. 69008 leads out of Bournemouth depot into Branksome railway station with Class 458 No. 458523 on its way to Widnes Transport Tech for refurbishment – 31/07/2023
    GBRf Class 47 No. 47749 ‘City Of Truro’ at Branksome working 5Q66 1916 Bournemouth T&R.S.M.D to Wembley Receptions 1-7, the first stage of taking the Class 458 to Widnes for refurbishment. The train ran through Branksome station to avoid potential passengers attempting to board the coaching stock – 31/07/2023
    GBRf Class 47 No. 47749 ‘City Of Truro’ at Branksome working 5Q66 1916 Bournemouth T&R.S.M.D to Wembley Receptions 1-7 departing Branksome – 31/07/2023
    Video of 5Q66 1916 Bournemouth T&R.S.M.D to Wembley Receptions 1-7 at Branksome – 31/07/2023

    The same evening Yoshi and I went to see the monthly Plain Line Pattern Recognition (PLPR) test train passing Hamworthy on its way to Weymouth with GBRf Class 73 Electro-Diesel No.’s 73961 ‘Alison’ and 73965 ‘Des O’Brien’ provided from amongst the usual suspects

    Video of 1Q51 1115 Derby R.T.C.(Network Rail) to Eastleigh East Yard. Can you hear Yoshi barking? – 31/07/2023

    From The Archive

    I very much enjoyed seeing No. 47749 ‘City Of Truro’ in Dorset this week. Currently part of the GB Railfreight fleet, this Brush Type 4 locomotive, one of 512 examples built at Brush’s Falcon Works in Loughborough and at BR’s Crewe Works between 1962 and 1968, entered service in February 1965 and numbered D1660. She was initially allocated to Landore shed in Swansea. Named ‘City Of Truro’ by Dr Mabel Andrews the Mayor of Truro at Truro station on 8th June 1965 she carried the then standard livery of two tone green with small yellow warning panels. As part of the TOPS renumbering scheme she became No. 47076 – the number I am most familiar with – in February 1974 and she would have gained her BR Blue livery around the same time.

    In 1984 she was modified to the 47/4 sub-class and renumbered as No. 47625. During the period October 1991 to October 1995 she carried the name ‘Resplendent’ and carried the red Rail Express Systems livery. Further modifications to conform to the 47/7b sub-class meant another renumbering in November 1995 to No. 47749. At the same time came another change of name came as she became ‘Atlantic College’, and she carried these plates until 1999. Under Colas ownership No. 47749 was named ‘Demelza’ and she carried this name from September 2007 through to April 2016 when she was reunited with the ‘City Of Truro’ nameplates.

    No. 47749 ‘City Of Truro’ receives attention at the former Brush Works in Loughborough – 02/04/2023
    In March 2021 Yoshi and I saw GBRf Class 47 No. 47749 ‘City Of Truro’ hauling Class 66 No. 66798 working as 0O66 1353 Doncaster Down Decoy to Eastleigh East Yard passing through Romsey. I had initially driven to Shawford to see this pairing, but due to a fatality between Reading and Basingstoke, the locomotives were diverted through Newbury, Westbury, Romsey and Southampton arriving at their final destination over 90 minutes late.
    No. 47749 in Colas livery and named ‘Demelza’ in Weymouth with an engineers train – 24/12/2012
    Showing she was built by BR at Crewe, 47749 ‘Demelza’ builders plate – 24/12/2012
    47749 ‘Demelza’with an engineers train on the Weymouth Quay branch at town station with Class 66 No. 66847 at the country end – 24/12/2012
    Nameplate detail of No. 47076 ‘City Of Truro’ Reading – 16/06/1979
    Brush Type 4 No. 47076 ‘City Of Truro’ having departed Dorchester South with a summer inter-regional service bound for Weymouth – 18/04/1981

    That’s all from us this week. Thanks for reading and for your kind comments and corrections. We’ll leave you with a photo of Yoshi. Be seeing you!

    Yoshi visited his favourite pub on Monday. The Yachtsman is situated very close to Lake Road Bridge on the Hamworthy Branch – 31/07/2023