In this, the fourth episode of The Railway Dogcast, @Hentis, Yoshi and I are joined by Australian YouTuber Paul Pavlinovich @trainsimulatordriver where we talk about his Grand Tour, cats and wombat poop!

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Trailer for the fourth episode of The Railway Dogcast where @Hentis, Yoshi and I are joined by Australian YouTuber Paul Pavlinovich @trainsimulatordriver where we talk about his Grand Tour, cats and wombat poop! Coming Soon!

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GBRf Class 66 No. 66748 ‘St Michael’s Mount’ leads as classmate No. 66744 ‘Heart of Wales’ brings up the rear on the “Britannic Explorer” stock as the train approaches Shawford on its way back to Eastleigh running as ECS. Door locking issues resulted in the Belmond run luxury train being cancelled at Bedford St John’s en-route to the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway on Friday 1st August. Issues with the doors have blighted the “Britannic Explorer” since its inception. This working reported as 5J03 0900 Wellingborough Neilson Sdg to Eastleigh East Yard

Caroline, Yoshi & I enjoyed lunch at Marco’s Platform 1 – the Shawford Station Community Cafe – while we waited for the sheds to pass. The Three Rivers CRP (a subsidiary of the Hampshire CRP), worked with partners South Western Railway, the Railway Heritage Trust, Winchester City Council, Cross Country Trains, building contractors Avon Construction, and specialist architects EP projects. The former booking hall has been converted into a community café, which opened in early 2023. This is run by Marco Bertacchini, who also runs Platform 2 situated at Romsey station.

Shawford station is located 69 miles from London Waterloo on the South Western Main Line to Bournemouth and Weymouth. It was originally named “Shawford and Twyford” and opened on 1st September 1882.

We can well recommended a visit to Platform 1!! – 04/08/2025

Dorset Test Trains and Jenny returns home – August 2025

An interesting couple of days with The Heart Of Wessex seeing two test trains visit.

First the Plain Line Pattern Recognition train in the care of former HST class 43 power cars ran on Wednesday 6th August with the Ultrasonic Test Train running the following day top and tailed by Colas Class 37 locomotives.

In between these, Swanage Railway resident Class 33 No. D6515 (33012) returned home following her appearance at The Great Gathering.

A glimpse of the 2025 Hornby “One:One Collection” Open Weekend locomotives, rolling stock & vehicles

On Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th August 2025, Hornby Hobbies held an Open Weekend at their HQ in Margate, Kent, enabling visitors a first glimpse of “The One:One Collection” – a unique selection of historic locomotives, rolling stock and maintenance vehicles which has been taking shape since 2018 within some of Hornby’s original warehouses – 09/08/2025

Trains @ Worle – inc. DRS Class 68’s on a flask working

A snapshot of trains at Worle on 11th August 2025 as Yoshi and I waited for the Nuclear Flask train to pass through top and tailed by Direct Rail Services (DRS) Class 68 locomotives No.’s 68016 ‘Fearless’ + 68001 ‘Evolution’ reporting as 6M63 1200 Bridgwater F.D to Crewe Coal Sidings (DRS) – 11/08/2025

Class 33 No. 33053 working on the Swanage Railway

Class 33 No. 33053 is visiting the Swanage Railway while resident locomotive No. 33111 is undergoing restoration. Bark along with Yoshi as he takes a ride behind the Crompton and watches the loco in action along the branch – August 2025

Trains @Ashford International & a glimpse of Southeastern’s Ashford Train Maintenance Depot Open Day

To celebrate 200 years of the passenger railway in the UK; Southeastern opened the doors to their train maintenance centre in Ashford for one very special day. This unique event, hosted by the Southeastern engineering team, enabled train enthusiasts of all ages to look behind the scenes of one of the largest railway depots in the region. A really well organised event and a family atmosphere resulted in a great visit to the facility. We hope this glimpse of trains at Ashford International railway station and a walkthrough the Train Maintenance Centre gives a flavour of the day – 24/08/2025

DB Class 66’s perform shunting duties at Eastleigh Arlington

DB Class 66 No.’s 66082 & 66199 run light engine into Eastleigh Works to collect seven Ermewa flat covered wagon shimmns. This covered freight wagon is used for the transportation of cold steel coils placed in special cradles. The coils are protected against environmental conditions by a tarpaulin, which can be opened at both wagon ends. Ermewa is one the leading European freight wagon rental companies, operating in 14 countries.

The workings were: 0Z14 1840 Eastleigh TRSMD to Eastleigh Arlington (ZG) 6Z14 1932 Eastleigh Arlington (ZG) to Margam T.C. – 24/08/2025

A visit to the Crich Tramway Village in August 2025

All Aboard Vintage Trains “The Shakespeare Express”

A wonderful afternoon travelling on Vintage Trains “The Shakespeare Express” lunchtime service from Stratford Upon Avon to Birmingham Snow Hill and return hauled by GWR design Castle Class 4-6-0 locomotive No. 7029 ‘Clun Castle’ supported by Brush Type 4 Class 47 diesel electric loco No. D1755 (47773) – 31/08/2025

As part the Railway 200 celebrations, Alstom’s historic Derby Litchurch Lane Works played host to the world’s largest-ever gathering of historic and modern trains and rail-related exhibits at “The Greatest Gathering” – between Friday 1st and Sunday 3rd August 2025.

This video is a snapshot of my time at Litchurch Lane. We had such a great time exploring and taking part in the various activities available. The organisation of the event was well planned and the atmosphere was fantastic. At one point I admit to finding the experience quite overwhelming, such was the vastness of the site and the number and variety of exhibits on show.

The festival featured over 100 iconic locomotives and vehicles from the past, present and future of the railways and marked the first time in almost 50 years that the train factory had been open to the public.

Derby Litchurch Lane is one of the world’s largest rolling stock factories, and the only UK facility that designs, engineers, builds and tests trains for domestic and export markets. The factory was opened by the Midland Railway in 1876 and the city of Derby has been building trains since 1839.

As part of Alstom’s “The Great Gathering” a number of special charter trains were organised to carry visitors to and from Derby. This video includes a selection of these workings at Derby railway station alongside regular passenger trains – 01/08 & 02/08/2025

“The Greatest Gathering” was a once in a lifetime event, and Alstom and the organisers are to be congratulated on pulling off such a well run festival. The atmosphere was by and large friendly and enthusiastic – in fact, over the two days I attended, I only came across one grumpy person (and no, it wasn’t me!)

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Be Seeing You!

Swanage Railway’s resident Class 33 No. D6515 (33012) ‘Lt. Jenny Lewis RN’ was employed by Hanson + Hall for mainline work in July 2025. The locomotive is seen passing Hamworthy on her outward and return journeys and is also seen at Worting Junction near Basingstoke on a freight working (09/07/2025).

Other freight and passenger trains can be seen at Worting Junction and Eastleigh in the video below:

The Heart of Wessex PLPR test train With former HST Class 43 power cars No.’s 43272 & 43357 ran to Weymouth via Dorchester West on 9th July 2025 as 1Q22 0746 Derby R.T.C.(Network Rail) to Bristol Kingsland Road.

Saturday 19th July 2025; I visited the Midland Railway – Butterley for their “Ale on the Rails 200” event which featured steam and diesel locomotives from the home fleet alongside visiting locomotives celebrating 200 years of railway development. DB Cargo provided several of their locomotives from Toton Traction Maintenance Depot which hauled passenger trains alongside being on display in Swanwick Junction yard.

Visiting DB Cargo locomotives: 67005 ‘Kings Messenger’, 67007, 66023, 66026, 66032, 66091 ‘Accurascale’, 66175 ‘RailRiders Express’, 66200 in Rail 200 livery, 66652 and 92011. Also visiting was BR Class 44 “Peak”No. D8 ‘Penyghent’ courtesy of the North Notts Loco Group & Peak Rail. The Home fleet consisted of: 3F Jinty No. 16440 and No15 ‘Eustace Forth’, Class 44 No. 44004 ‘Great Gable’, Class 45 No. 45108 and Class 31 No. 31108.

It rained most of the day, but this didn’t dampen spirits for an enjoyable event!

On 23rd July 2025, The Railway Touring Company “Dorset Coast Express” ran from London Victoria to Weymouth. The first leg of the rail tour from London to Southampton was steam hauled by LMS Black 5 No. 45212. The train reversed direction of travel at Southampton and continued towards Weymouth, diesel hauled by Class 47 No. 47812, with the steam locomotive on the rear. We saw the train powering through Christchurch some 38 minutes behind schedule.

The return from Weymouth was intended to have been steam hauled for the entire return journey to London Waterloo with the Black 5 leading. However, problems with a hot box on the locomotive’s tender meant No. 45212 was removed from the train and left in the siding at Weymouth leaving No. 47812 to work the train alone – 23/07/2025

The monthly North Dorset test train along the Salisbury – Exeter route ran on 24th July 2025. Reporting as 1Q23 0553 Reading to Salisbury, we caught the train as it passed through Gillingham, Dorset on the outward leg with former High Speed Train Class 43 power cars No.’s 43062 ‘John Armitt’ + 43013 ‘Mark Carne CBE’ sandwiched between South Western Railway commuter services – 24/07/2025

Views of LMS Black 5 No. 45212 in Jubilee Siding, Weymouth following repairs after her failure on the recent “Dorset Coast Express”. Then approaching Upwey and Dorchester with support coach forming 5Z29 1423 Jubilee Sidings to St Philips Marsh. The locomotive subsequently pulled into the yard at Yeovil Pen Mill as further attention was required to remedy the hot box issue on the tender – 26/07/2025

The Belmond “Britannic Explorer” stock broke cover on a run from Eastleigh to London Victoria utilising GBRf Class 66 locomotive No. 66305 ‘Embsay and Bolton Abbey Steam Railway’ top & tailed with No. 66762. The consist stopped on the approach to Shawford due to a report of smoke from under one of the coaches. The driver of the train was requested to take a line block in order to carry out an inspection to a possible dragging brake. It’s believed a parking brake has been left on and once rectified the train, reporting as 3Z10 1106 Eastleigh Arlington (ZG) to London Victoria, was able to proceed – 27/07/2025

The regular Plain Line Pattern Recognition (PLPR) test train along the South West Main Line to Weymouth ran on Monday 28th July 2025. Reporting as 1Q51 1115 Derby R.T.C.(Network Rail) to Eastleigh East Yard the PLPR was in the charge of GBRf Class 73/9 electro-diesel locomotives No.’s 73962 ‘Dick Mabbutt’ & 73964 ‘Jeanette ’. This time we saw the train arrive at Weymouth just as the first of the seaside resorts summer fireworks events kicked off. The train reverses here and continues back to Eastleigh – 28/07/2025

Colas Class 37 No. 37219 worked the North Dorset Ultrasonic Test Train (3Q07 2031 Exeter Riverside N.Y. to Exeter Riverside N.Y.) on Thursday 31st July.

Hamworthy Branch Update

I recently wrote to Network Rail asking about the future of the Hamworthy Branch – this is the reply I received today:

Dear Andrew,

Thanks for getting in touch about – Re-opening the Hamworthy Branch, Dorset

I have spoken with our Freight team who have provided an update for you below which i hope you find useful in the interim. 

The latest update from the freight operator is that traffic is now likely to start early 2026 but we are still making positive progress. They are currently at the stage of making commercial agreements and securing licences.

We’re still waiting to carry out a full inspection of the line using the track maintenance train and for our engineering colleagues to write up a report from a walkout, a lot of this is determined by when the customer(freight operator) is looking to run the trains.

This is all the information i have available at the moment Andrew but do feel free to get back in touch at the start of 2026 and i can check to find out the latest information for you. 

Thanks again Andrew, and all the best,

Community Relations, Wessex route

Thanks for reading – the best way to keep up to date with our latest videos is via the Railway Dog YouTube Channel – why not subscribe today! Or you can catch random witterings and photos via the Railway Dog Facebook group or via Instagram.

Be Seeing You!