The Railway Dog

Month: April 2024

  • Yoshi’s Castleton Adventure

    Yoshi pauses during a walk along the River Stour in Blandford. The two arches behind our boy are all that remain of the original structure that took the Somerset and Dorset Railway across Langton Meadows. The railway closed in 1966 and the Blandford Railway Arches Trust Limited, in partnership with Blandford Town Council are working to conserve the arches – 08/04/2024

    April 1st 2024 to April 13th 2024

    Yoshi visits the Dolphin Centre in Poole – 02/04/2024

    Yoshi was recently quite perturbed on finding out Barclays Bank have been closing branches across Dorset, with both Weymouth and Poole getting the axe. To replace their High Street presence in Poole, the bank have opened a pod within the town’s Dolphin Shopping Centre. The decline of bank branches in the UK has been attributed to banking consumers’ changing habits and technological changes. Yoshi waited patiently in the ever growing queue at the pod when he wanted to transact business ensuring he had enough pocket money in his account to keep him in Beef & Poultry flavour Mini Tasty treats.

    Yoshi supports Basil Brush and his fund raising for the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) – 02/04/2024

    Our first railway themed adventure in April 2024 took place during an overnight trip to the Greater Manchester area. The purpose of our trip was to visit friends, but me being me, I was unable to resist the lure of checking out Real Time Trains and seeing what might be seen on the local tracks. I immediately noticed that regular Class 60 hauled freight trains were scheduled to pass through Rochdale, Lancashire where we were staying the night.

    As we drove along the A664, Edinburgh Way, on the outskirts of Rochdale towards our hotel, we passed under a blue railway bridge with a sign welcoming us to “Rochdale – birthplace of co-operation”. The metropolitan borough in north-west England has long boasted of its association with the 28 mill workers, known as the “Rochdale Pioneers”, who opened their Co-Operative shop in the town on Toad Lane in 1844, devising the “principles” which became the model for cooperatives worldwide.

    It conveniently transpired that our hotel was located a few minutes walk from the railway line running through Rochdale and while out walking Yoshi prior to our heading to bed, we took a stroll just in time to see a Class 60 pass over the A664 blue railway bridge with a Drax Power Station to Liverpool Biomass Terminal train of empty wagons.

    The trains supplying Drax use distinctive state of the art biomass wagons – the largest on UK railways – designed specifically to transport and unload wood pellets.

    The UK Central Electricity Generating Board began building Drax in 1967 to utilise coal from the Selby coalfield, and in 1974 it begins generating electricity for the first time. The power station is officially opened in 1975, with three generators and a total electrical capacity of just under 2 gigawatts (GW). It had the capability to power around two million homes but by 1986, Drax had doubled in size and capacity to just under 4 GW, becoming the largest power station in the UK.

    In 1990, Drax Power Station comes under the ownership of National Power, one of three power generation companies created as part of the privatisation of the electricity industry in England and Wales. Nine years later, the power station is acquired by the US-based AES corporation for £1.87 billion but part ways in 2003 after one of the power station’s major customers goes into administration. As creditors, various financial institutions take control of Drax Power Station. 2005 saw the power station undergoing refinancing and Drax Group plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange.

    In 2012, Drax committed to transforming the business into a mainly biomass-fuelled generator using compressed wood pellets in place of coal by upgrading the three generating units that came online in the early 1970’s to run on 100% sustainable biomass, with no use of coal. The first upgraded generating unit came online in 2013 and ten years later in April 2023 Drax announced the official end of coal-fired generation at Drax Power Station.

    As I previously noted above, there are numerous daily paths to and from Drax which pass through Rochdale. So, in order to catch a view of these workings, I elected to get up early on the Thursday morning and drove the five minute journey to Castleton railway station. On arrival at 0530, in good time to witness 6E36 0205 Liverpool Biomass Tml to Drax AES (GBRf) pass through, the station was in darkness. Luckily for me, the lights flickered into life prior to Class 60 No. 60076 ‘Dunbar’ rumbling through the unstaffed station.

    Screenshot of GBRf Class 60 No. 60076 ‘Dunbar’ running through Castleton working 6E36 0205 Liverpool Biomass Tml to Drax AES (GBRf) – 04/04/2024
    Northern Trains Class 150 No.’s 150120 and 150110 stop at Castleton railway station working 2B89 0551 Rochdale to Blackburn – 04/04/2024

    Stopping train services at Castleton are currently provided by Northern Trains utilising Class 195 and Class 150 diesel multiple units. TransPennine Express train services also pass through the station.

    GBRf Class 60 No. 60096 ‘Impetus’ on the approach to Castleton working 6M34 0545 Drax AES (GBRf) to Tuebrook Sidings (GBRf) – 04/04/2024

    The first station to be opened in Castleton was in 1839, situated on the western side of the Rochdale to Manchester Road bridge and was originally called “Blue Pits for Heywood”. The existing station opened on 1st November 1875, on the eastern side of the road bridge. The Liverpool and Bury Railway from Bolton once joined the main line at a triangular junction just south of the station. This was previously a busy passenger and freight route utilised by trains avoiding Manchester, but was closed to passengers on 5th October 1970. Castleton station was formerly part of the Oldham Loop Line which provided through services to Oldham via Rochdale. This route was closed in 2009 and converted for light rail use by Manchester Metrolink.

    The western portion of this line was retained for freight traffic after passenger trains ceased serving the coal depot at Rawtenstall until 1980, and subsequently to the Powell Duffryn wagon works. It now forms the link with the East Lancashire Railway (ELR) at Heywood. Subject to permission being granted by Network Rail (NR, in the future, the heritage line plans to extend its services along and towards a possible new bay platform – given the proposed name “Castleton Village” – which would be adjacent to the main Castleton station. Passengers could then alight from their ELR train and change station sides directly to Northern Rail services on the national network.

    Video from Castleton – April 2024

    We arrived back in Dorset on Thursday evening in time to see Colas operated Ultrasonic Test Unit (UTU) head towards Weymouth propelled by Class 37 No. 37254 ‘Cardiff Canton’ with DBSO No. 9714 leading on the outward leg of 3Q45 2103 Woking Up Yard Reception to Reading Triangle Sidings.

    Screenshot of Class 37 No. 37254 ‘Cardiff Canton at the rear of Ultrasonic Test Unit (UTU) passing Hamworthy reporting as 3Q45 2103 Woking Up Yard Reception to Reading Triangle Sidings – 05/04/2024
    Video of UTU 3Q45 2103 Woking Up Yard Reception to Reading Triangle Sidings – 05/04/2024

    The following day, Friday 5th April 2024, and we were back at Hamworthy station as Swanage resident Class 33 No. 33012 (D6515) ‘Lt Jenny Lewis RN’ escaped the heritage railway and ventured out onto the mainline as she headed off to Eastleigh to collect preserved Class 50 No. 50026 ‘Indomitable’. The two locomotives returned later in the day. The Class 50 is visiting the Swanage Railway to undertake power testing to ensure it is fit and ready to earn a mainline running certificate. More news on this is expected from the locomotives owners in the next few weeks.

    Class 33 No. 33012 (D6515) ‘Lt Jenny Lewis RN’ runs light engine into Hamworthy as 0Z33 1130 Swanage to Eastleigh Arlington (Zg) – 05/04/2024
    Class 33 No. 33012 (D6515) ‘Lt Jenny Lewis RN’ running light engine passing Hamworthy as 0Z33 1130 Swanage to Eastleigh Arlington (Zg) – 05/04/2024
    Class 33 No. 33012 (D6515) ‘Lt Jenny Lewis RN’ hauling Class 50 No. 50026 ‘Indomitable’ approaching Hamworthy reporting as 0Z50 1430 Eastleigh Arlington (Zg) to Swanage – 05/04/2024 – 05/04/2024
    Class 50 No. 50026 ‘Indomitable’ being hauled by Swanage resident Class 33 No. 33012 (D6515) ‘Lt Jenny Lewis RN’ at Hamworthy – 05/04/2024
    Video of D6515 & 50026 passing Hamworthy – 05/04/2024
    Yoshi after his date with the groomer. We celebrated by popping into the boys’ favourite pub – 05/04/2024

    Hamworthy Branch update

    The new electrical cabinet at Hamworthy Park crossing on Ashmore Avenue has been installed and the old one removed.

    New cabinet at Hamworthy Park level crossing – 05/04/2024

    For The Record

    The New Measurement Train (NMT) visited North Dorset on Thursday April 4th top and tailed by former High Speed Train (HST) Class 43 power cars No.’s 43274 and 43257 which formed 1Q23 0555 Reading to Salisbury via Exeter.

    Saturday 6th April 2024 and North Dorset witnessed the sight of preserved Hasting’s Unit operating “The Cogload Climber” rail tour run by Hastings Diesels Limited. The train passed through Sherborne and Gillingham on its return leg working as 1Z15 1440 Exeter Central to Hastings. Unfortunately, although I had planned to photograph and video the train as it made its way to and from Devon, this just wasn’t meant to be.

    However, good friend of this blog, @smithy.377 has very kindly allowed us to share the following images and video of the tour in Exeter.

    Diesel-Electric Multiple Unit (DEMU) No. 1001 led by Class 202/6L Power Car 60118 ‘Tunbridge Wells’ at Exeter St Davids prior to departure up to Exeter Central working the “Cogload Climber” railtour reporting as 1Z14 0630 Hastings to Exeter Central – 06/04/2024 (Ashley Smith, @smithy.377)

    No. 1001 is a Diesel-Electric Multiple Unit (DEMU) which once worked on the London Charing Cross to Hastings route in British Rail days between 1957 and 1986. Following withdrawal, the train was subsequently preserved by Hastings Diesels Limited (HDL), restored to its former glory and  returned to main-line operation ten years later, in 1996.

    Unit No. 1001 at Exeter Central having arrived with “The Cogload Climber” 1Z14 0630 Hastings to Exeter Central – 06/04/2024 (Ashley Smith/ @smithy.377)
    Unit No. 1001 at Exeter Central having arrived with “The Cogload Climber” 1Z14 0630 Hastings to Exeter Central – 06/04/2024 (Ashley Smith/ @smithy.377)
    Unit No. 1001 Class 202/6L Power Car No. 60116
    ‘Mount­field’ in the bay platform at Exeter Central having arrived with “The Cogload Climber” 1Z14 0630 Hastings to Exeter Central – 06/04/2024 (Ashley Smith/ @smithy.377)
    Unit No. 1001 at Exeter Central working “The Cogload Climber” 1Z14 0630 Hastings to Exeter Central – 06/04/2024 (Ashley Smith/ @smithy.377)
    Unit No. 1001 at Exeter Central forming “The Cogload Climber” railtour. The train departed reporting as 1Z15 1440 Exeter Central to Hastings – 06/04/2024 (Ashley Smith/ @smithy.377)
    “The Cogload Climber” railtour at Exeter – 06/04/2024. Video courtesy of Ashley Smith / @smithy.377

    In other news, Network Rail (NR), who are responsible for UK railway infrastructure, is to spend approximately £2.8billion on protecting railways from extreme weather events over the next 5 years. The government owned organisation will fund measures such as making embankments more resilient, recruiting almost 400 extra drainage engineers, training operational staff to better interpret weather forecasts and installing CCTV at sites with known flood risks.

    Collapsing embankments are causing major disruption to train services, including those which serve Dorset, and measures to prevent these occurring are required in the face of higher than average rainfall. The spending is part of NR’s £45.4billion investment plan for the next five years.

    Weymouth railway station on 8th April when ASLEF industrial action meant no SWR trains were running. Class 444 EMU’s No.’s 444003 and 444005 stand at platform out of use while GWR Class 165 Turbo DMU No. 165101 forms the 2V60 0930 Weymouth to Gloucester service – 08/04/2024

    The train drivers union, ASLEF, launched a new round of industrial action on Friday 5th April 2024 with the commencement of rolling one day strikes across 14 rail companies. In addition, five days of overtime bans caused further cancellations. The dispute has now entered its 22nd month.

    SWR Class 444 No.’s 444036 and 444045 at Weymouth on the ASLEF strike which meant very few SWR services ran – 08/04/2024

    Yoshi and I visited Blandford on the morning of 8th April and took a walk along the River Stour so we could view the “Blandford Railway Arches”, the only physical remaining evidence the Somerset and Dorset Railway once traversed over the river. You can read more about the rise and demise of Blandford’s railway history here.

    A bridge to nowhere… the decision to close the Somerset and Dorset Railway connecting Bath and Bournemouth is one of the great tragedies of the Beeching Era. Yoshi pauses on a walk along the River Stour – 08/04/2024
    For over 100 years the flood arches on Langton Meadows carried the Somerset and Dorset railway over the biodiversity rich Stour flood plain. When the railway closed, most of the infrastructure was demolished, but the arches were left standing, an unlisted but much-loved asset and memorial to the town’s Victorian industrial heritage. When North Dorset District Council considered demolishing them, public opinion in opposition resulted in Blandford Forum Town Council (BFTC) seeking a long-term lease for the structure so that it could be preserved – 08/04/2024

    That brings us to the end of another blog entry. Thank you for reading, your comments and corrections, which are always welcome. Be seeing you!

    End Piece:

    The British Rail Class 165 Networker Turbo is a fleet of suburban Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) passenger trains, originally specified by and built for the British Rail Thames and Chiltern Division of Network South East (NSE). They were built by British Rail Engineering Limited (BREL) York Works between 1990 and 1992. GWR Class 165 No. 165101 forming 2V60 0930 Weymouth to Gloucester – 08/04/2024
    The British Rail Class 166 Networker Turbo Express is a fleet of DMU passenger trains, built by ABB Transportation in York between 1992 and 1993. The trains were designed as a faster, air-conditioned variant of the Class 165 Turbo, intended for longer-distance services, and, like the 165’s, belong to the Networker family. GWR Class 166 No.166216 at Weymouth forming 2V72 1528 Weymouth to Gloucester – 11/04/2024

  • Victorian Weekend

    Adams LSWR 4-4-0 T3 No.563 and SECR 0-6-0 O1 No. 65 passing Corfe Castle during the Swanage Railway’s Victorian Weekend – 23/03/2024

    March 23rd 2024 to March 31st 2024

    As promised last time, in this blog entry, we are going to share our photos and videos from our visit to Swanage Railway’s “Victorian Weekend” event which saw the resident Adams T3 No. 563 in service along with SECR Class O1 No. 65 visiting from the Bluebell Railway. The special gala weekend ran from Friday 22nd to Sunday 24th March. I was sorely tempted to visit for all three days, if only to see the first train of the day which involved both the T3 and O1 double heading from Swanage to Norden. In the event, I only made the journey on the Saturday. I have mixed feelings about my photographs recording the two Victorian locomotives working in tandem.

    But before Yoshi and I went off to Swanage, we had an engineers train to find in the Branksome area. Overnight a GBRf pair of Class 66 locomotives had operated as 6N75 2353 Eastleigh East Yard to Branksome, with the engineering possession in place from just east of Branksome up to Seldown Junction points near Poole High Street Level Crossing. Looking at the live rail maps provided by websites such as Open Time Trains, the train head code was reporting as sitting in Branksome railway station. After a quick look in at the station, we actually found the train sitting the other side of Branksome viaduct, the lead locomotive obscured by trees. However, I managed a record shot of No. 66730 ‘Whitemoor’ which was positioned at the rear of its train before making my way to Corfe Castle on the Swanage Railway.

    GBRf Class 66 No. 66730 ‘Whitemoor’at rest on the rear of engineering train 6G12 2353 Eastleigh East Yard to Branksomeatop bridge E20/23 BML2 Electricity Works between Branksome and Bournemouth – 23/03/2024

    As well as the two Victorian steam locos in action for their Victorian gala, Swanage residents Southern Railway (SR) 4-6-2 West Country Class No. 34028 ‘Eddystone’ and SR 2-6-0 U Class No. 31806 were also hauling trains. All four locomotives were facing boiler first out of Swanage which limited photographic variety somewhat, but that didn’t in any way diminish my enjoyment and the hard work put in by all concerned involved with running the event.

    The first train each morning of the Swanage Railway three day Victorian Weekend gala was double headed by the two Victorian era locomotives; Adams LSWR 4-4-0 T3 No.563 and SECR 0-6-0 O1 No. 65, seen here with Corfe Castle as a backdrop as the duo approach Norden – 23/03/2024
    SR 2-6-0 – U Class No. 31806 approaches Harman’s Cross – 23/03/2024
    A wonderful piece of planning saw No. 563 depart Swanage with her train to Norden as No. 65 backed into the station area – 23/03/2024
    No. 563 gets the token for the single line towards Harman’s Cross and No. 65 runs bak to couple on to her train in the bay platform at Swanage Railway station. – 23/03/2024
    Adams LSWR 4-4-0 T3 Class No.563 makes a fine sight on departure at Swanage – 23/03/2024
    Built in 1896, O1 Class No. 65 is the very last surviving South Eastern Railway (SER) locomotive and was rebuilt in 1908 by the South Eastern and Chatham Railway (SECR). The locomotive was purchased from British Railways in 1963 by the Lewis-Evans family for the scrap value of £850 and has been based at the Bluebell Railway since 1997. The Lewis-Evans family decided to sell No. 65 during the latter part of 2021, the locomotive being purchased by the Bluebell Railway Trust securing the locomotive for the heritage line. No. 65 is seen at Woodhyde on the approach to Afflington Bridge which carries the A351 over the railway – 23/03/2024
    122 locomotives of the O class were built between 1878 and 1899. No. 65 engine was withdrawn by British Railways in 1961, its major claim to fame being the working of the last railtour to run over the Hawkhurst branch in Kent, along with C class No. 31592, which is also preserved at the Bluebell Railway. No. 65 is seen at Woodhyde hauling Swanage Railways Class 117 Diesel Multiple Unit – 23/03/2024
    SR 2-6-0 – U Class No. 31806 nears Townsend Lane bridge – 23/03/2024
    SR 4-6-2 West Country Class No. 34028 ‘Eddystone’ at Woodhyde – 23/03/2024
    One final capture of visiting locomotive SECR 0-6-0 O1 Class No. 65 as she steams up to Corfe Viaduct with a train bound for Norden – 23/03/3034
    Video of Swanage Railway’s Victorian Weekend from 23/03/2024

    Swanage Railway’s ‘Save Your Railway’ appeal, launched in November 2023, has so far successfully raised £120,000 of the £450,000 target. If you would like to help please click here.

    After our Purbeck visit, we popped back to Branksome (of course we did!) so Yoshi could get an update on the maintenance work taking place on the points into the depot at the east end of the railway station. I was pleased the GBRf Class 66’s had moved up with their train which was resting in full sunlight looking very photogenic.

    GBRf Class 66 No. 66749 ‘Christopher Hopcroft MBE 60 Years Railway Service’ with sister loco No. 66730 ‘Whitemoor’ stationary on the approach to Branksome railway station – 23/03/2024
    Work progresses on the points into Bournemouth depot watched by GBRf Class 66 No.’s 66749 ‘Christopher Hopcroft MBE 60 Years Railway Service’ and 66730 ‘Whitemoor’ – 23/03/2024
    A road-rail vehicle at work in Branksome railway station -23/03/2024
    Yoshi took it upon himself to inspect the engineering work taking place at Branksome. Although, he is looking the wrong way in this image – 23/03/2024
    Another view of the activity taking place at Branksome with GBRf Class 66 No. 66749 ‘Christopher Hopcroft MBE 60 Years Railway Service’ – 23/03/2024
    Balfour Beatty’s 08-4X4/4S-RT tamper No. DR73950 ‘Tamper Tantrum’ operating under head code 6Q04 at Seldown, Poole – 24/03/2024
    In October 2021, both of Balfour Beatty’s 08-4X4/4S-RT tampers were named following a competition involving schools. Rather than cast plates, the names are applied in transfers on the main bodyside adjacent to the Balfour Beatty name. The machines also carry details of the first names of the child who selected each respective name, their class year and the name plus the logo of their school. No. DR73950 ‘Tamper Tantrum’ is seen here near Seldown Junction at Poole and was named by Chloe, aged 8, at Rockliffe Manor Primary School. It’s sister machine, No. DR73949 was named ‘Tiny Tamper’ – 24/03/2024

    Monday morning we were up early and popped over to Poole to see the return working of the Branksome engineers train as it made a belated departure to Eastleigh East Yard – delayed by almost 30 minutes because of overrunning engineering work!

    Following the completion of the work at Branksome, the engineering train moved up to Poole Storage Sidings. GBRf Class 66 No. 66730 ‘Whitemoor’ passes through Poole leading on 6G12 0430 Poole to Eastleigh East Yard with No. 66749 ‘Christopher Hopcroft MBE 60 Years Railway Service’. Departure of this train was delayed by, er. over-running engineering works – 25/03/2024
    Video of GBRf Class 66 No.’s 66749 ‘Christopher Hopcroft MBE 60 Years Railway Service’ and 66730 ‘Whitemoor’ working 6G12 0430 Poole to Eastleigh East Yard at Poole -25/03/2024

    Tuesday 26th March 2024 saw further South Western Railway (SWR) Class 458 electric multiple unit (EMU) drags between Widnes Transport Tech and Bournemouth TRSMD taking place. Much excitement on the rail enthusiast grapevine when it was discovered that newly repainted GBRf Class 69 No. 69009 was allocated. This particular locomotive was released into traffic back in October 2023 still in its green primer coat, but has recently received a new paint job at Arlington Fleet Services located at Eastleigh Works, emerging in Class 52 “Western” style livery. This is inspired by the British Rail carriage maroon colours with half yellow warning panels and white window surrounds as carried by 71 of the 74 Class 52 “Western” Diesel-Hydraulic locomotives between 1962 and 1971.

    GBRf Class 69 No. 69009 ‘Western Consort’ at Poole as part of the running around its train exercise whilst working 5Z66 2018 Bournemouth TRSMD to Eastleigh East Yard – 26/03/2024

    The locomotive livery has been completed with the addition of cast number and ‘Western Consort’ name plates in classic “Western” Great Western Railway (GWR) serif lettering. The name was decided upon by GBRf CEO, John Smith, as the original ‘Western Consort’ (No. D1065) was his favourite member of the class.

    We had intended on seeing the train at Branksome, but rush hour traffic queues meant this idea was abandoned, as was the alternative destination Parkstone. Instead, we were able to retrace our steps to Poole and pass the train as it sat in the station before moving out to Poole Storage Sidings where the locomotive would detach and run round before hauling the refurbished Class 458/4 back in the direction of Bournemouth depot.

    GBRf Class 69 No. 69009 ‘Western Consort’ arrives at Poole Storage Sidings with Class 458/4 No. 458422 forming 5Q64 Southampton Down Loop to Bournemouth TRSMD- 26/03/2024
    GBRf Class 69 No. 69009 ‘Western Consort’ at Poole Storage Sidings with Class 458/4 No. 458422. The locomotive is about to detach from the train and will run into Poole station before returning and attaching to the London end of the consist – 26/03/2024
    GBRf Class 69 No. 69009 ‘Western Consort’ light engine at Sterte, Poole as she runs around her train – 26/03/2024

    After watching the maroon Class 69 locomotive head off light engine from our vantage point on the footbridge above Poole Storage Sidings, we decided to move up to Poole railway station in order to watch the train being taken to its final destination once reunited with No. 69009. However, as we, and a few other enthusiasts, gathered under Towngate Bridge at the London end of the down platform to shelter from the rain, we were approached by an officious and extremely rude member of station staff, which for the purposes of this narrative we shall call Dave – because that’s his name – who informed us we were in contravention of the rules and too close to the platform edge. Everyone there was on the correct side of the yellow line, with the exception of the member of railway staff who took great pleasure in blocking our view of the approaching train. There was also nobody standing in the ambiguous hatched area located at the platform end, nor were we past the sign which clearly informs rail users they should not “pass this point”. In this H&S conscious modern era, I have always taken care to observe safety regulations and very much resent being spoken to like a child. I will not be including Dave on my Christmas card list.

    GBRf Class 69 No. 69009 ‘Western Consort’ passing Poole working 5Q64 Southampton Down Loop to Bournemouth TRSMD – 26/03/2024
    GBRf Class 69 No. 69009 ‘Western Consort’ at Poole – 26/03/2024
    Video of GBRf Class 69 No. 69009 ‘Western Consort’ on Class 458 unit drags – 26/03/2024

    I’ve included a few images below of Class 52 “Western” locomotives in preservation which clearly show the inspiration for the livery carried by No. 69009 ‘Western Consort’.

    D1015 ‘Western Champion’ is one of seven preserved Westerns from the original 74 built by BR at Swindon and Crewe. She is seen here at Eastleigh during a Works Open Day – 24/05/2019
    No. D1010 ‘Western Campaigner’ seen at Minehead on the West Somerset Railway (WSR) was built at BR Swindon Works in 1962 and withdrawn on 27/02/1977 at 1630 after completing 1,360,740 miles in BR service – 20/07/2013
    No. D1010 ‘Western Campaigner’ at Blue Anchor in the guise of No. D1035 ‘Western Yeoman’. Following withdrawal from BR, D1010 was sold to Foster Yeoman in July 1977 and moved to their base at Merehead Quarry. The loco was, at that point, repainted into BR Green livery with full yellow ends and was renamed ‘Western Yeoman’ carrying the number D1035 – 20/07/2013
    In January 1993, Foster Yeoman agreed to sell No.D1035 / D1010 to the Diesel and Electric Preservation Group (DEPG) who then replaced the ‘Foster Yeoman’ name and D1035 number with the original D1010 and ‘Western Campaigner’ plates and painted the loco into BR Blue with small yellow warning panels. No. 1035 ‘Western Campaigner’ is seen at Bishops Lydeard running as withdrawn classmate No. D1035 ‘Western Yeoman’
    – 20/07/2013
    A young Yoshi on one of his first railway themed adventures admires Class 52 No. D1010 ‘Western Campaigner’ at Williton shed on the West Somerset Railway. The locomotive had failed at Bishops Lydeard in June 2018 with a seized transmission at the ‘B’ end. The loco was towed to Williton after disconnecting the cardan shaft on ‘B’ transmission. Work continues on fault diagnosis and repair with the hope she will return to service in 2025 – 21/06/2019
    Class 52 No. D1015 ‘Western Champion’ on the approach to Weymouth at the head of Pathfinder Tours “The Western Wessexman” 1Z52 0553 Leicester to Weymouth – 07/09/2013 (John Chappell)
    Class 52 No. D1015 ‘Western Champion’ at Weymouth having arrived with “The Western Wessexman” 1Z52 0553 Leicester to Weymouth rail tour – 07/09/2013 (John Chappell)

    Returning to 2024, and the last special working which visited Dorset in March was Saphos Trains “The Golden Arrow” rail tour to Folkestone and Canterbury which was in the charge of Locomotive Services Limited (LSL) diesel engines; Class 47 No. 47810 (D1924) and Class 57 No. 57311. Later on in the rail tour schedule, outside of Dorset, the Class 57 was replaced by steam traction in the shape of LMS 4-6-0 Royal Scot Class No. 46100 ‘Royal Scot’. The steam locomotive was itself replaced by No. 57311 prior to the tour returning to Dorset metals. This return working operated as 1Z47 1559 Canterbury West to Poole, which arrived back at its final destination 20 minutes late at 0018 on the 31st March 2024 before forming the balancing Empty Coaching Stock (ECS) movement 5Z50 0004 Poole to Eastleigh Works BRML Head Quarters departing 19 minutes behind schedule at 0023 via Poole Storage Sidings. Yoshi and I were happily tucked up in bed at this point after our early start!

    Locomotive Services Limited Class 47 No. 47810 (D1924) ‘Crewe Diesel Depot’ arrives at Poole leading on the Empty Coaching Stock movement Saphos Trains “Golden Arrow” reporting as 3Z45 0406 Eastleigh Works to Poole – 30/03/2024
    LSL Class 57 No. 57311 in lined black livery in readiness for departure from Poole hauling Saphos Trains “Golden Arrow” 1Z46 0553 Poole to Canterbury West – 30/03/2024
    Video of Class 47 No. 47810 (D1924) and Class 57 No. 57311 at Poole – 30/03/2024

    That brings us to the end of another blog entry. Thanks, as always, for reading, your comments and corrections. These are always welcome. Until next time, Be Seeing You!

    Postscript

    We ended March attending another gig at the O2 Academy where we nostalgically remembered years gone by in the company of Stereo MC’s, Inspiral Carpets and Happy Mondays as they brought “The Been There Done That” tour to Bournemouth – 31/03/2024