An early morning start for Yoshi and I to see a piece of history as Class 45 No. 45118 ‘The Royal Artilleryman’ is the first member of its class to haul a mainline passenger train in 17 years as she prepares to depart Bristol Temple Meads with “The Diamond Jubilee Express” 1Z45 0703 Bristol Temple Meads to York – 27/07/2024
Backtracking….
On Saturday 27th July 2024 I had the mad notion of leaving home in the early hours in order to arrive at Bristol Temple Meads in time to see Locomotive Services Limited’s (LSL) newly restored Sulzer Type 4 Class 45 diesel locomotive No. 45118 ‘The Royal Artilleryman’ passing through the station with the empty coaching stock (ecs) ahead of her departure proper working inaugural railtour “The Diamond Jubilee Express” 1Z45 0703 Bristol Temple Meads to York. I should have had an extra hour in bed, as the day before the “Peak”, while on her way South, had to be rescued by stablemate Class 47 No. D1924 (47810) ‘Crewe Diesel Depot’. As insurance it was decided that the Class 47 would remain on the train for the Saturday in case of further trouble with the Class 45. This of course meant that the ecs move through Temple Meads was no longer required in advance of 1Z45’s departure as the Class 47 was able to pull the train into the station with no requirement for the Class 45 to run around the carriages for her to be at the correct end ready for setting off on the journey to York. This hadn’t crossed my mind until I was well on my way to Bristol – d’oh!
A last minute platform change meant a mad dash over to platform 15 – possibly the least desirable location for the train to depart in the morning light. By the time Yoshi and I had made our way over from platform 7, the “Peak” and carriages had already arrived.
I was pleased to discover this image posted by Jack William on Facebook which shows me attempting to get Yoshi to pose for a photograph with Class 45 No. 45118 ‘The Royal Artilleryman’ at Bristol Temple Meads. Many thanks to @smithy.377 and the member of station staff who assisted in persuading the boy to deign to look in my direction – 27/07/2024 (With kind permission of Jack William)
No. 45118 was built in 1962 and allocated to Derby shed numbered D67. She was fitted with electric train heating (ETH) in December 1973 and renumbered under the TOPS system. Withdrawn in May 1987 she was put in storage at March Whitemoor Yard from where she was purchased by David Young who moved her to the Northampton Steam Railway in September 1990. Unfortunately the locomotive suffered from vandalism by metal thieves and she subsequently found a new home at Rail Vehicle Engineering Limited based at the Derby Railway Technical Centre (RTC) in August 2009. LSL purchased the “Peak” in 2018 and contracted Harry Needle Railroad Company (HNRC) for her restoration at Barrow Hill. No. 45118 is currently the only main line-certified Class 45 on the UK network and follows in the steps of previous “Peak” locomotives; Pete Waterman’s No. D172 (46035) ‘Ixion’ and No. 45112.
The 27th July charter was originally scheduled to run as far as Chesterfield but was extended to York, where the train arrived two minutes early despite leaving Bristol Temple Meads nine minutes late.
Class 45 No. 45118 ‘The Royal Artilleryman’ made a fine sight as she leaves Bristol Temple Meads bound for York – 27/07/2024
No. 45118 ‘The Royal Artilleryman’ at the head of “The Diamond Jubilee Express” 1Z45 0703 Bristol Temple Meads to York departing Bristol – 27/07/2024 (Additional video by kind permission of @smithy.377)
After seeing No. 45118 off, it was time for Yoshi and I to enjoy breakfast. As luck would have it, on our way to chosen fast food eatery, I passed Bristol St. Phillips Marsh and was able to take a quick photo of Colas Rail Freight Class 56 No. 56049 ‘Robin of Templecombe’ which had arrived earlier the same morning having worked in on 0Z60 0635 Westbury Down TC to St Phillips Marsh HSTD.
Breakfast bonus of Colas Rail Freight Class 56 No. 56049 ‘Robin of Templecombe 1938-2013’ stabled on St Phillips Marsh. The locomotive had arrived earlier that morning having worked in on 0Z60 0635 Westbury Down TC to St Phillips Marsh HSTD. No. 56049 is unique in having alternate cabs following damage sustained to the number two end – 27/07/2024If you’re wanting to compare the two ends, here’s Yoshi train spotting on the end of Westbury station with Colas Class 56 No. 56049 ‘Robin of Templecombe 1938 – 2013’ in the background showing the number one end cab design with the larger front horn grille cover – 03/09/2022
Instead of heading home after breakfast, I turned the car around and drove off to Kemble in the company of @smithy.377 as another example of Sulzer heritage traction; Swanage Railway resident Class 33 No. D6515 (33012) ‘Lt. Jenny Lewis RN’ – one of my favourite locomotives back in the day – was scheduled to pass through with the London Underground 4-TC set on their way to the Forest of Dean Railway with a UK Railtours special working.
Preserved Class 33 No. D6515 (33012) ‘Lt. Jenny Lewis RN’ approaching Kemble railway station with the London Transport 4-TC set forming a UK Raitours’ special train to the Dean Forest Railway. The outward leg ran as 1Z65 0744 Basingstoke to Lydney Junction and was routed via Woking, Herne Hill, Virginia Water to Reading through to Swindon and the Golden Valley – 27/07/2024Another shot of Swanage Railway resident Class 33 No. D6515 (33012) ‘Lt. Jenny Lewis RN’ at Kemble, but this time closer to the camera – 27/07/2024
Class 33 No. D6515 (33012) ‘Lt. Jenny Lewis RN’ passes Kemble bound for the Dean Forest Railway – 27/07/2024
From The Archive:
Let’s take a breather and look back at some shots of No. 33012 when she was in British Rail service and sported a rather unique livery for a Class 33!
An unsuccessful attempt at night photography in a bid to capture Class 33 No. 33012’s unique livery with full yellow ends carried by large BR logo locomotives of the period. The locomotive is at Dorchester West with a Weymouth to Bristol Temple Meads service – 09/02/1981New Years Day 1982 and the alert went out that unique liveried Class 33 No.33012 was in Weymouth. I don’t recall if I got the train from Dorchester or managed to get a lift, but I was pleased to see the loco in daylight, even if my photos were left wanting – 01/01/1982Another view of unique liveried Class 33 No.33012 standing in the once extensive Jubilee sidings at Weymouth – 01/01/1982
Class 45 No. 45112 ‘The Royal Army Ordnance Corps’ has the distinction of making it into preservation and operated on the mainline on heritage railtours. Long before those days, here a couple of photos I took on my Kodak 110 film camera in 1977:
Class 45 No.’s 45104 ‘The Royal Warwickshire Fusiliers’ and 45112 ‘The Royal Army Ordnance Corps’ at St Pancras railway station, London. No. 45112 was delivered to Derby in March 1962 spending most of its working life attached to London Midland Region (LMR) depots. No. 45112 was named at Derby Works on September 14th 1965. She received a general/refurbish at Derby Works during May 1980, transfer to Tinsley came in November 1986 and remained in service until May 7th 1987. She was rescued for preservation and had a period of mainline use. She is currently in store at Nemesis Rail, Burton-on-Trent. No. 45104 would not be so lucky. Introduced into service in February 1962, her working days ended on April 13th 1988, condemned with collision damage. She would linger for four more years until broken up at MC Metals, Glasgow in February 1992 – July 1977Class 45 No. 45112 ‘The Royal Army Ordnance Corps’ is seen at St Pancras in the company of an unidentified stablemate (possibly No. 45040 ‘King’s Shropshire Light Infantry’). On the 8th April 2004, No. 45112 had the honour of hauling the last loco-hauled train from St. Pancras before the station was closed prior to being rebuilt as the London Eurostar terminal – July 1977
Bristol Temple Meads was a regular haunt for “Peaks” hauling passenger trains when I visited in early 1980’s, as can be seen in the three images below:
Class 45 No. 45134 departs Bristol Temple Meads. Originally numbered as D126 she was built at Crewe works and entered traffic in November 1961, allocated to Derby MPD. In 1973 the Midland Main Line services started to migrate from steam heating to electric heating of the coaching stock and No. D126 was one of fifty class 45 locomotives selected to have its Stone Vapour steam heating boiler replaced with ETH equipment and emerged from Derby works in the Autumn of 1974 as No. 45134. She would survive in service until withdrawal in September 1987. Eventually towed to MC Metals in Glasgow in 1991 where she was broken up in November of that year. – 12/06/1983Class 45 No. 45023 ‘The Royal Pioneer Corps’ approaches Bristol Temple Meads. No. 45023 was delivered to Derby during September 1962 and would spend most of her time allocated to LMR depots. She was named at St Pancras on November 14th 1963. No. 45023 was loaned to the Central Electricity Generating Board (CEGB) at Willington Power Station during October 1968 to substitute for an exciter under repair, running for 340 hours non-stop. Her only time away from LMR depots was when on allocation to Tinsley from February 1979 to January 1982. In June 1980 the locomotive survived a visit to Swindon Works for electrical repairs, but succumbed at Derby Works in September 1984 with worn tyres, after twenty two years in service and languished at Derby Works before being dragged to Vic Berry’s in Leicester for breaking up during December 1986. A crest carried by this locomotive sold for £1,500 at auction in January 2002 – 06/06/1981Class 45 No. 45121 at Bristol Temple Meads. No. 45121 (formerly No. D18 having entered traffic in December 1960) was one of two Class 45/1s (the other being No. 45110) that received white body side stripes and red buffer beams at Toton Depot in 1980. The loco carried these in service until a Heavy General Overhaul at Derby Works in 1981. She made a final visit to the works for generator repairs in June 1986, being one of the last Class 45’s to receive repairs there. The loco was scheduled to be withdrawn in May 1987, but received a reprieve due to other locos being in worse condition. The reprieve was cut short when the loco derailed at Healey Mills in October 1987 and was deemed beyond economical repair, being withdrawn on 19/11/1987. No. 45121 was then sent to Derby Etches Park for Carriage Heating duties a task the locomotive never actually performed. In 1993, No. 45121 by now unoffically named ‘Pegasus’ suffered the ignominy of being rammed by a Class 158 DMU as part of a crashworthiness test for the then new units. The Peak was sold for scrap soon afterwards to Thomas Hill scrap merchants and cut up on site at Crewe Works in March 1993 – 06/06/1981
And finally a video from the archives featuring the third main line “Peak” in preservation, No. D172 (46035) ‘Ixion’:
Class 46 No. D172 (46035) ‘Ixion’ rounds the curve at Penrith railway station on 16th December 1995 with Pathfinder Tours 1Z27 0500 Cardiff Central to Carlisle “Festive Cumbrian Mountain Express” railtour. The return working utilised the unique British Railways Standard 8P 4-6-2 No. 71000 ‘Duke of Gloucester’ which hauled the train over the Settle & Carlisle line. We see the train at Culgaith, Aisgill and Garsdale – 16/12/1995
Dorset Special Workings; 01/08/2024 to 14/08/2024
5th August – 0Z12 1443 Eastleigh Arlington (ZG) to Swanage LMD (GBRf)
August kicked off with the return of Class 33 No. D6515 (33012) ‘Lt. Jenny Lewis RN’ to the Swanage Railway following on from her recent rail tour duties the Forest of Dean.
Class 33 No. D6515 (33012) ‘Lt. Jenny Lewis RN’ crosses Upton Viaduct on the Holes Bay Causeway as she heads home following a prolonged stay in Hampshire post railtour duties working 0Z12 1443 Eastleigh Arlington (ZG) to Swanage LMD (GBRf) – 05/08/2024
7th August – Statesman Rail “Dorset Coast Statesman”
LSL Class 47 No. 47593 ‘Galloway Princess’ opens up as she powers into Hamworthy railway station at the head of Statesman Rail “Dorset Coast Statesman” 1Z21 0604 Peterborough to Weymouth – 07/08/2024Video screenshot of LSL Class 47 No. D1924 (47810) ‘Crewe Diesel Depot’ climbs the incline through Parkstone with the return “Dorset Coast Statesman” 1Z24 1638 Weymouth to Peterborough – 07/08/2024
13th August – Class 458 EMU drag to & from Bournemouth T&RSMD
Another Class 458 unit drag into and out of Bournemouth Traction & Rolling Stock Maintenance Depot took place, again with maroon liveried GB Railfreight Class 69 No. 69009 ‘Western Consort’. The locomotive arrived hauling refurbished Class 458 Electric Multiple Unit (EMU) No. 458409 which had worked its way down from Widnes Transport Tech.
The balancing working back up to Widnes saw No. 69009 taking Class 458 EMU No. 458506 away for conversion. As usual, the train departed Bournemouth Traincare Depot and headed for Poole Storage Sidings where the locomotive ran around its train before heading back east as 5Z66 2018 Bournemouth T&RSMD to Eastleigh East Yard. Transit to Cheshire continued the following day.
Screenshot GBRf Class 69 No. 69009 ‘Western Consort’ hauls Class 458 EMU No. 458506 through Poole forming 5Z66 2018 Bournemouth T&RSMD to Eastleigh East Yard – 13/08/2024Screenshot GBRf Class 69 No. 69009 ‘Western Consort’ running light engine into platform 2 at Poole – 13/08/2024Screenshot GBRf Class 69 No. 69009 ‘Western Consort’ having reattached to its train heads east back through Poole working 5Z66 2018 Bournemouth T&RSMD to Eastleigh East Yard – 13/08/2024
Special workings in Dorset August 1st to August 13th 2024 (Additional video content courtesy of Gerry Barrett)
Western Memory
Much disappointment when Pathfinder Railtours announced their planned 14th August 2024 excursion to Weymouth employing Class 52 Western Diesel-Hydraulic locomotive No. D1015 ‘Western Champion’ was unable to run because of pathing issues.
Statement from Pathfinder Railtours – August 2024
No. D1015 did however work at the helm of a UK Railtours special to the East Somerset Railway in July, the first charter from the mainline to arrive at Cranmore since 2019. I had originally planned to see the “Westbury Wizzo” at Westbury, but plans changed and I found myself in the Midlands for the weekend of 6th/7th July 2024. With No. D1015 starting and finishing her tour at East Midlands Parkway I took the opportunity to see the train arrive here on its return leg.
Screenshot Class 52 No. D1015 ‘Western Champion’ arrives at East Midlands Parkway after a late platform change working the return “Westbury Wizzo” 1Z79 1515 Cranmore to East Midlands Parkway – 06/07/2024Class 52 No. D1015 ‘Western Champion’ preparing to depart East Midlands Parkway with the tour ecs forming 5Z80 East Midlands Parkway to Burton On Trent Wetmore Sidings – 06/07/2024
The stock then ran empty to Nemesis Rail at Burton On Trent, where I was able to catch ‘Champion’ the following day as she returned to her home base on the Severn Valley Railway.
Class 52 No. D1015 ‘Western Champion’ at Nemesis Rail having just started up prior to working light engine back home to the Severn Valley Railway – 07/07/2024Class 52 No. D1015 ‘Western Champion’ in the sidings at Nemesis Rail, Burton On Trent – 07/07/2024Class 52 No. D1015 ‘Western Champion’ slowly moves out towards the mainline having stabled overnight at Nemesis Rail – 07/07/2024Class 52 No. D1015 ‘Western Champion’ opens up running as 0Z52 1400 Burton Wetmore Sidings to Kidderminster SVR – 07/07/2024
D1015 ‘Western Champion’ arrives at East Midlands Parkway and runs light engine from Burton-On-Trent – July 2024
Having been left to my own devices for most of the weekend, as well as seeing No. D1015 strut its stuff, I fulfilled a long held ambition of re-visiting Doncaster, with the objective of getting a photograph of Class 47 No. 47714 which has been stabled alongside the mainline for a number of years.
Class 47 No. 47714 hopefully has a new lease of life following the announcement from the Wensleydale Railway saying she has been purchased from The Harry Needle Railroad Company. She has been at Doncaster for the last three years. Tim Williamson, director and member of the General Management Group at Wensleydale Railway PLC, said: “The purchase of this locomotive improves our operational capabilities. It has electric train-heating capacity which will allow us to heat our carriages during the cold winter months, and particularly when operating our Polar Express Christmas train services.” Originally withdrawn by English Welsh & Scottish Railways in 1996, No. 47714 was subsequently sold to Cotswold Rail, which revived her with a return to main line duties. A subsequent hire to Anglia Railways between 2002 and 2007 saw her as the only Class 47 to be painted in the distinctive turquoise and white colours of the now-defunct train operating company – 06/07/2024Class 47 No.’s 47714 in Anglia livery and 47703 in faded Fragonset livery stabled within Doncaster Wabtec, taken from Frenchgate car park. The pair have been used as train supply locomotives for carriage testing – 06/07/2024
As mentioned above, rail enthusiasts often have favourite locomotives and this particular Brush Type 4 was another one of mine in an earlier guise as No. 47511 ‘Thames’
In a previous life, No. 47714 was BR Class 47 No. 47511 ‘Thames’ seen here at Swindon – 13/05/1979LNER Class 91 No. 91101 ‘Flying Scotsman’ winds her way into Doncaster hauling 1D18 1435 London Kings Cross to Leeds – 06/07/2024Another view of LNER Class 91 No. 91101 ‘Flying Scotsman’ arriving at Doncaster working 1D18 1435 London Kings Cross to Leeds – 06/07/2024
After spending 15 minutes or so at the top of Frenchgate shopping centre car park one looking Doncaster railway station and a great vantage point to see No.’s 47714 and 47703, Yoshi and I took a stroll through the bus station and onto the railway station where we we able to get photographs of stabled freight locomotives and bark at the occasional Northern Rail Class 150 arriving or departing.
Also at Doncaster the first of three Class 56 locomotives I spied was Colas Rail Freight No. 56302 ‘PECO 70 Years’ styled adjacent to the former Doncaster Works buildings – 06/07/2024The second Class 56 of the day; Colas Rail Freight Class 56 No. 56090 passes Doncaster working 0Z51 1705 Doncaster Colas Sidings to Bescot Up Engineers Sidings – 06/07/2024And the third Grid is… you can just about make out the roof No. 56051 tucked behind Colas Rail Freight Class 70 No. 70807 which rests alongside Freightliner class mate No. 70009 at Doncaster – 06/07/2024TransPennine Class 185 No. 185114 leaves Doncaster forming 1B85 1524 Cleethorpes to Liverpool Lime Street – 06/07/2024Northern Rail Class 150 DMU No. 150270 on the approach to Doncaster working 2R44 1605 Sheffield to Adwick – 06/07/2024
After my couple of hours visiting Doncaster, of which I have very fond memories of seeing Class 55 “Deltic” locomotives in the early 1980’s, I had time to make a detour to see a steam hauled special working which was returning to Birmingham after spending the day in Scarborough before Yoshi and I checked into our hotel and headed out to see the “Westbury Wizzo” arrive at East Midlands Parkway.
Great Western Railway (GWR) Castle 4-6-0 No. 7029 ‘Clun Castle’ makes attracted much attention as she stormed through Sherburn-in-Elmet railway station working Vintage Trains “White Rose” tour 1Z57 1647 Scarborough to Birmingham New Street – 06/07/2024The Tyseley collection’s main line diesel locomotive No. D1755 (47773) was built at the Brush Falcon Works, Loughborough, entering into service in August 1964 at Swansea. In November 1974 she was renumbered into TOPS as No. 47541. On 20th October 1982, she was named ‘The Queen Mother’ by HRH The Queen Mother at Aberdeen, named ‘Reservist’ and renumbered 47773 in August 1994 at Preston Royal Mail terminal and then renamed with her original title, in August 2002; possibly the only locomotive to have been given the same name twice! Withdrawn from service in March 2004, she was then purchased for preservation at Tyseley in March 2007. No. D1755 was at the rear of Vintage Trains “White Rose” tour 1Z57 1647 Scarborough to Birmingham New Street and is seen here having passed through Sherburn-in-Elmet – 06/07/2024Because of a water stop to replenish GWR Castle 4-6-0 No. 7029 ‘Clun Castle’, I was able to see her working Vintage Trains “White Rose” tour 1Z57 1647 Scarborough to Birmingham New Street for a second shot, this time at Moorthorpe – 06/07/2024
Video snippets of Class 56 No. 56090 at Doncaster and Vintage Trains “White Rose” charter train – 06/07/2024
That’s it for this time. I must admit I’ve been sitting on this blog entry for over a week now, trying to find an hour or so to tidy it up and finish it off. But here we are! If you’d like to keep up to date with our latest videos capturing special workings in Dorset, and sometimes beyond, our You Tube channel with new items added is now accessible here. Thanks as always to my reader for corrections to text, grammar and information – it is much appreciated. Until next time – be seeing you!
Postscript
One last photo for this instalment. A Class 55 Deltic at Doncaster in times past. Twenty-two production “Deltics” were built for British Rail in the 1960’s and they ran up and down the East Coast Main Line until the early 1980’s. They are my favourite class of diesel locomotive and I wish I’d been able to see more of them back in the day!
Class 55 No. 55011 ‘The Royal Northumberland Fusiliers’ departs Doncaster – 12/08/1981
Yoshi Inspection Unit K9 took a trip to Bournemouth to check out Network Rail’s Video Inspection Unit (VIU2) Class 153 Dogbox No. 153376 working 2Q10 0952 Eastleigh East Yard to Eastleigh East Yard – 22/07/2024
Time flies and here we are. At the time of writing it is the beginning of August 2024 still playing catch up. So with little ceremony or narrative, what follows is a run through of notable railway comings and goings into Dorset territory during July 2024.
Monday 1st July –
Video screenshot of GBRf Class 73 Electro-Diesel locomotives No.’s 73962 ‘Dick Mabbutt’ & 73965 ‘Des O’Brien’ top and tailing test train 1Q51 1115 Derby RTC to Eastleigh East Yard through Poole on the return leg after reversing at Weymouth – 01/07/2024
73962 ‘Dick Mabbutt’ & 73965 ‘Des O’Brien’: 1Q51 1115 Derby RTC to Eastleigh East Yard
Tuesday 2nd July –
GBRf Class 69 No. 69011 at Poole at the head of 5Q64 1531 Southampton Central to Bournemouth TRSMD which involved moving refurbished SWR Class 458 No. 458426 from Widnes Transport Tech to Bournemouth depot – 02/07/2024
69011 & 458426: 5Q64 1531 Southampton Central to Bournemouth TRSMD
GBRf Class 69 No. 69011 returns to Poole, this time dragging SWR Class 458 No. 458510, forming 5Z66 2018 Bournemouth TRSMD to Eastleigh East Yard passes SWR Class 444 No. 444010 on empty coaching stock movement 5B56 2032 Poole to Bournemouth TRSMD – 02/07/2024After running around SWR Class 458 No. 458510 utilising Poole Storage Sidings, GBRf Class 69 No. 69011 heads east at the head of 5Z66 2018 Bournemouth TRSMD to Eastleigh East Yard – 02/07/2024
69011 & 458510: 5Z66 2018 Bournemouth TRSMD to Eastleigh East Yard
Wednesday 3rd July –
West Coast Railway Company (WCRC) Class 47 No. 47812 worked 0Z47 Southall WCR to Swanage on 3rd July in advance of collecting LMS Black Five 4-6-0 No. 44871 which had been marooned on the Swanage Railway since 26th June following lineside fires earlier in the day at Brockenhurst attributed to the Class 5 steam locomotive. The locomotive is seen here in the sidings at Swanage in the company of Class 33 No. 33111 the following morning – 04/07/2024
47812: 0Z47 Southall WCR to Swanage
Thursday 4th July –
LMS Black Five 4-6-0 No. 44871 in light steam in Swanage with support coach awaiting collection by diesel motive power – 04/07/2024WCRC Class 47 No. 47812 heads into the Swanage station area to collect LMS Class 5 4-6-0 No. 44871 – 04/07/2024WCRC Class 47 No. 47812 leads away from Swanage with LMS Class 5 No. 44871 forming 5Z71 0820 Swanage to Crewe Heritage Centre – 04/07/2024After a brief stop adjacent to Class 33 No. 33111, WCRC Class 47 No. 47812 and LMS Class 5 No. 44871 set off for the mainline as 5Z71 0820 Swanage to Crewe Heritage Centre – 04/07/2024WCRC Class 47 No. 47812 towing LMS Class 5 No. 44871 and support coach stands at Wareham working 5Z71 0820 Swanage to Crewe Heritage Centre – 04/07/2024
47812 & 44871: 5Z71 0820 Swanage to Crewe Heritage Centre
For the record: 37219 3Q07 2031 Exeter Riverside NY to Exeter Riverside NY
Saturday 6th July –
Locomotive Services Ltd (LSL) Class 47 No. 47712 ‘Lady Diana Spencer’ at the head of 1Z47 0545 Nantwich to Weymouth “The Dorset Statesman” powers towards Radley, Oxfordshire – 06/07/2024LSL Class 57 No. 57311 passing through Radley at the rear of 1Z47 0545 Nantwich to Weymouth – 06/07/2024
47712 ‘Lady Diana Spencer’ & 57311: 1Z47 0545 Nantwich to Weymouth and 1Z48 1535 Weymouth to Nantwich
Tuesday 9th July –
35028 ‘Clan Line’ & 47812: 1Z94 0846 London Victoria to Yeovil Junction Heritage Platform
WCRC Class 47 No. 47812 at Upwey with “The End of Southern Steam” anniversary railtour reporting as 1Z95 1350 Yeovil Junction Heritage Platform to Weymouth – 09/07/2024
47812: 1Z95 1350 Yeovil Junction Heritage Platform to Weymouth
Having been turned and serviced at the Yeovil Railway Centre, Somerset Southern Railway Merchant Navy 4-6-2 No. 35028 ‘Clan Line’ runs tender first with support coach an hour or so behind the main train reporting as 5Z84 1436 Yeovil Junction Heritage Platform to Weymouth Jersey Siding – 09/07/2024
35028 ‘Clan Line’: 5Z84 1436 Yeovil Junction Heritage Platform to Weymouth Jersey Siding
Reunited with the rake of coaches, SR Merchant Navy 4-6-2 No. 35028 ‘Clan Line’ storms through Hamworthy working 1Z96 1736 Weymouth to London Waterloo. Class 47 No. 47812 provided support from the rear of the train – 09/07/2024
35028 ‘Clan Line’ & 47812: 1Z96 1736 Weymouth to London Waterloo
Monday 15th July –
Back on 15th June, while in the consist of a “Dorset Coast Statesman” outing, it was identified that MK3 coach No. 11082 was not permitted to run on third rail tracks because it is fitted with long swinglink bogies which could under certain circumstances touch the live rail. Such vehicles should be fitted with short swinglink bogies instead and the coach was removed from the train and deposited in the tamper sidings at Poole. After a month of negotiations, LSL dispatched Class 47 No. D1924 (47810) ‘Crewe Diesel Depot’ to retrieve the MK3 working light engine as 0Z45 1025 Southall Locomotive Services Ltd to Poole Storage Sidings – 15/07/2024 (Image by kind permission of Tony Henley / Hentis Rail)LSL Class 47 No. D1924 (47810) ‘Crewe Diesel Depot’ removes carriage No. 11082 from the tamper sidings at Poole, before taking it to Southall working as 5Z44 1614 Poole Storage Sidings to Southall Locomotive Services Ltd – 15/07/2024 (Image by kind permission of Tony Henley / Hentis Rail)
D1924 (47810) ‘Crewe Diesel Depot’ : 0Z45 1025 Southall Locomotive Services Ltd to Poole Storage Sidings / 5Z44 1614 Poole Storage Sidings to Southall Locomotive Services Ltd
Tuesday 16th July –
GBRf Class 69 No. 69010 brings refurbished Class 458 No. 458408 from Widnes to Dorset. On the final leg reporting as 5Q64 1531 Southampton Central to Bournemouth TRSMD the ensemble passes through Poole – 16/07/2024Having run round the Class 458 EMU, GBRf Class 69 No. 69010 with 458408 heads back east working 5Q64 1531 Southampton Central to Bournemouth TRSMD – 16/07/2024
69010 & 458408: 5Q64 1531 Southampton Central to Bournemouth TRSMD
Later that day, GBRf Class 69 No. 69010 hauling unrefurbished Class 458 No. 458509 on the first leg of its journey to Widnes Transport Tech runs down Parkstone Bank reporting as 5Z66 2018 Bournemouth TRSMD to Eastleigh East Yard – 16/07/2024Having changed ends of the consist at Poole, GBRf Class 69 No. 69010 heads back through Parkstone with SWR Class 458 No. 458509 in tow as 5Z66 2018 Bournemouth TRSMD to Eastleigh East Yard – 16/07/2024
69010 & 458509 : 5Z66 2018 Bournemouth TRSMD to Eastleigh East Yard
Monday 22nd July –
Class 153 “Dogbox” No.153376, also known as Network Rail’s Video Inspection Unit (VIU2), in Bournemouth Middle Sidings working 2Q10 0952 Eastleigh East Yard to Eastleigh East Yard – 22/07/2024
153376: 2Q10 0952 Eastleigh East Yard to Eastleigh East Yard
Wednesday 24th July –
Seen passing Hamworthy, Railway Touring Company organised “The Dorset Coast Express” rail tour utilises WCRC Class 47 No. 47812 working 1Z91 0845 London Victoria to Weymouth. This particular tour ran with the diesel up front on the run between Southampton Central and Weymouth instead of the usual steam traction – 24/07/2024 With the steam locomotive unusually attached to the rear of the “The Dorset Coast Express”, LMS Class 5 4-6-0 No. 44871 in light steam passes Hamworthy – 24/07/2024
47812 & 44871: 1Z91 0845 London Victoria to Weymouth
With steam traction on the front for the return run of the “The Dorset Coast Express”, LMS Class 5 4-6-0 No. 44871 makes a fine sight at Hamworthy working 1Z96 1736 Weymouth to London Waterloo – 24/07/2024 By having the steam locomotive work the departure from Weymouth, passengers onboard would be able to enjoy the steam locomotive working hard climbing both Bincombe and Parkstone Bank. However, LMS Class 5 4-6-0 No. 44871 looked pretty impressive storming through Hamworthy just before the rain at the head of 1Z96 1736 Weymouth to London Waterloo – 24/07/2024
44871 & 47812: 1Z96 1736 Weymouth to London Waterloo
Thursday 25th July –
North Dorset New Measurement Train (NMT) was formed of Network Rail Class 43 High Speed Train Class 43 Power Cars No.’s 43062 ‘John Armitt’ and 43013 ‘Mark Carne OBE’. The train is seen at Barford St Martin, Wiltshire reporting as 1Q23 0552 Reading to Salisbury – 25/07/2024Network Rail Class 43 High Speed Train Class 43 Power Cars No. 43013 ‘Mark Carne OBE’ at the rear of 1Q23 0552 Reading to Salisbury – 25/07/2024The NMT is famously nicknamed “The Flying Banana” earned because of its original all yellow livery. In this form, Network Rail Class 43 High Speed Train Class 43 Power Car No.’s 43062 ‘John Armitt’ leads on 1Q23 0552 Reading to Salisbury with No. 43013 ‘Mark Carne OBE’ at the rear as the train nears Wylye, Wiltshire – 25/07/2024
With a UK Railtours outing to the Forest of Dean scheduled the following day, Swanage resident Class 33 diesel No. D6515 (33012) ‘Lt Jenny Lewis RN’ is seen on the approach to Hamworthy running light engine as 0Z65 0935 Swanage to Eastleigh Arlington (ZG) – 26/07/2024
D6515 (33012) ‘Lt Jenny Lewis RN’: 0Z65 0935 Swanage to Eastleigh Arlington (ZG)
Monday 29th July –
For the second time in July the Class 73 hauled plain line pattern recognition (PLPR) system test train ran to Weymouth. The train uses a series of lasers and cameras to detect faulty track components as the train passes over them. Image analysis software uses an algorithm to compare what the cameras see with an image of how the track should look. GBRf Class 73 No.’s 73965 ‘Des O’Brien’ and 73963 ‘Janice’ pass through Hamworthy with 1Q51 1115 Derby RTC to Eastleigh East Yard pass through Hamworthy – (Video screenshot) 29/07/2024
73965 ‘Des O’Brien’ & 73963 ‘Janice’: 1Q51 1115 Derby RTC to Eastleigh East Yard
Tuesday 30th July –
The third refurbished SWR Class 458 unit drag of the month arrived in Poole some 108 minutes late after an enforced stay at Brockenhurst due to a points failure. However, things continued to go wrong as during the exercise where the locomotive changes ends in order to take the train back towards Bournemouth, relay issues caused further delays as the Class 69 failed to respond to its controls. Eventually No. 69009 made it back to Poole Storage Sidings to be reunited with its train – 30/07/2024GBRF Class 69 No. 69009 ‘Western Consort’ hauls SWR Class 458 No. 458410 through Poole some 168 minutes late working 5Q64 1531 Southampton Central to Bournemouth TRSMD – Video screenshot – 30/07/2024 (Many thanks to Tony Henley / Hentis Rail for the updates)
69009 ‘Western Consort’ & 458410: 5Q64 1531 Southampton Central to Bournemouth TRSMD
Wednesday 31st July –
Because of the late arrival in Bournemouth depot the scheduled Tuesday evening return working didn’t run. Instead GBRF Class 69 No. 69009 ‘Western Consort’ took the next Class 458 to be refurbished on the Wednesday afternoon. The locomotive is seen here with No. 458518 pulling into Poole Storage Sidings forming 5Z66 1530 Bournemouth TRSMD to Eastleigh East Yard – 31/07/2024On arrival at Poole Storage Sidings, GBRf Class 69 No. 69009 ‘Western Consort’ is detached from its train – 31/07/2024Once detached from its train the locomotive runs into Poole station before attaching to the London end of the consist – 31/07/2024Once more reunited with Class 458/5 No. 458518 and barrier coaches, GBRf Class 69 No. 69009 ‘Western Consort’ departs Poole hauling 5Z66 1530 Bournemouth TRSMD to Eastleigh East Yard. The train will later transit to Widnes Transport Tech where the EMU will undergo conversion to a Class 458/4, the locomotive returning to Leicester LIP – (Video screenshot) 31/07/2024
69009 ‘Western Consort’ & 458518: 5Z66 1530 Bournemouth TRSMD to Eastleigh East Yard
Video of the majority of Dorset and Dorset bound locomotive workings – July 2024 (additional video courtesy of G E Barrett – with thanks)
FROM THE ARCHIVE
To celebrate the return of Southern Railway Bulleid Pacific Merchant Navy Class No. 35028 ‘Clan Line’ to Dorset metals, here’s a brief look back at this iconic locomotive.
No. 35028 was built with airstream casing at Eastleigh in 1948 and was a regular on prestige named express trains such as the “Golden Arrow” and “Night Ferry”. She was rebuilt in 1959 with her streamlined casing removed and continued to be utilised on famous trains in the South of England, namely the “Bournemouth Belle” and the “Atlantic Coast Express”
SR Merchant Navy No. 35028 stripped of her ‘Clan Line’ name plates sits at Bournemouth Central. A month from this photograph being taken, she was withdrawn from British Railways operational service having hauled a farewell special from London Waterloo to Bournemouth and back on 2nd July 1967 – 03/06/1967 (The Railway Dog Collection – Photographer Unknown)
Following withdrawal, ‘Clan Line’ was purchased by the Merchant Navy Locomotive Society (MNLPS) from British Railways for the princely sum of £3,850. She was one of the first preserved steam locomotives to run on British Rail hauling the “Return to Steam on Southern” railtour from Basingstoke to Westbury and return on 27th April 1974.
Double spread on the return of ‘Clan Line’ to the main line from the July 1974 edition of “The Railway Magazine”Editorial comment on the first “Return to Steam on Southern” tour from the June 1974 edition of “The Railway Magazine”
In 1994, ‘Clan Line’ was the first preserved mainline steam locomotive to be fitted with air brakes. This was in view of the diminishing number of vacuum-braked stock still being maintained on the railways in the UK. Air brakes provide shorter braking distances. In order to not disfigure the locomotive, a large section of the tender was cut out to accommodate the required air pump. This modification reduced the water capacity of the tender by 300 gallons to 5,700 but alterations to the coal space increased capacity here to eight tons. The first public special train the locomotive operated following modification ran on 15th October 1994 and took ‘Clan Line’ back to the former London & South Western main line. Promoted by the Merchant Navy Locomotive Society (MNLPS) the steam locomotive worked the train from London Waterloo to Yeovil Junction with a water stop planned for Andover. No. 35028 would be turned and serviced at Yeovil Junction before running light engine with support coach to Weymouth to rejoin her train which had gone on ahead having been diesel hauled by Class 47 No. 47741 via Dorchester West. “The Wessex Venturer” was steam hauled from Weymouth to London Waterloo with water stops scheduled for Wareham and Eastleigh. The coaching stock employed on the rail tour was the maroon Flying Scotsman Services (FSS) BN91 set. Tickets cost £39.50 standard, £49.50 first and £89.50 premier – 15/10/1994SR Merchant Navy 4-6-2 No. 35028 ‘Clan Line’ sits on the turntable at Swanage having worked onto the heritage railway with UK Railtours “The Royal Wessex” 1Z97 0845 London Victoria to Swanage. This was reported as being the first time a Merchant Navy class locomotive had worked a through train from Wareham to Swanage, as they were too heavy for the branch line during British Railways days – 27/04/2012 (John Chappell)
On 10th August 2019, No. 35028 ‘Clan Line’ headed up the Atlantic Coast Express rail tour 1Z82 0752 London Waterloo to Exeter St Davids- 10/08/2024
When we started “The Railway Dog” blog back in November 2021, it was my intention that it would be a repository for my photographs and videos from the 1970’s, 1980’s and 1990’s. It hasn’t quite turned out like that, and we have tended to record contemporary locomotive hauled railway movements in the County of Dorset as well as featuring mine and Yoshi’s adventures. We’ve fallen a little behind in recent months, but we are now up to date (for the end of July 2024 at least) with our record of exceptional local workings. We’ll be occasionally backtracking in order to feature some of the things we have been up to in the last few months, as well as attempting to keep up with all rail things Dorset as our valued reader seems to like it! Our thanks to everyone who has kindly contributed with photos, videos, news, information, corrections and speculation over the years. It’s been fun. So, until next time – be seeing you!
