November 18th 2023 to November 23rd 2023

I may have mentioned previously that I have a list of locomotives or unit trains I would very much like to photograph. These include named examples to livery variations. One such loco is GB Railfreight’s (GBRf) Class 66 No. 66743 which can be usually found North of The Border operating the luxury Belmond Royal Scotsman train along with sister locomotive No. 66746. GBRf took over the running of these excursion trains from West Coast Railways (WCR) in 2016. Outside the Scottish railtour season, the Royal Scotsman locos have to earn their keep on more mundane tasks, and last week No. 66743 was shuttling backwards and forwards from Scunthorpe or Doncaster to Eastleigh East Yard on freight or engineers related workings. At least until the weekend when she ended up on one of the engineering trains involved in the 16 day closure of the railway line between Salisbury and Yeovil Junction. This, I observed, meant she was stabled at Eastleigh East Yard on Sunday following her outing to Wiltshire. So with hopeful abandon, off I set at 0730 thinking the locomotive might well be parked in an advantageous position for a photo. Unfortunately, this was not to be the case with No. 66743 being somewhat obscured by a row wagons. It’s like that, this hobby, you win some and you lose some. The trick is not to be disheartened because next time, things may well go your way.

While I was in Eastleigh I took advantage of the lull in between rain showers to walk Yoshi and photograph other trains parked up.

Eschewing a FatMacs breakfast (I’m on a diet, don’t you know), I decided to press on and drive over to Tonbridge in the hope that the Rail Head Treatment Trains (RHTT) based there would be engaged in leaf clearing as runs were scheduled across the day to and from Tonbridge West Yard. These are dependant on requirements and don’t always run however. Coincidentally, we started this blog two years ago on November 22nd 2021 with a brief clip of a steam hauled Belmond British Pullman tour through Tonbridge taken the previous day. I’d forgotten just how short those early blog entries were – something to be mindful of now, perhaps! We made another visit to Tonbridge on 12th November 2022, so this is becoming rather like an annual tradition. I felt the visit this year was one of diminishing returns, although we were able to capture an assortment of Class 57’s and Class 73’s!

On leaving Tonbridge, Yoshi and I had planned on seeing one more RHTT, this time passing through at Edenbridge Town Station as it was in the direction of home.

We parked up in the station car park and checked Real Time Trains (RTT) to see that the train; 3W90 0715 Tonbridge West Yard to Tonbridge West Yard via the South East of England, top and tailed by GBRf Class 73 No.’s 73107 and 73213, was at Uckfield and had been for 20 minutes or so beyond its scheduled departure time. Passenger trains into Uckfield (which is a terminus station) were being turned around at Crowborough as the line beyond was effectively blocked.

I hung around in Edenbridge for a little while, but soon came to the conclusion that this RHTT was not going to be heading our way while there was still a decent amount of daylight left to photograph it. I briefly contemplated driving to Uckfield, but Google Maps informed me it was at least a 30 minute drive away and would substantially delay my arrival home, so instead made the decision to head for Dorset. Had I known there would be delays on the M25 caused by pedestrians “being loose on the carriageway”, I might well have taken the Uckfield option and returned home via the South Coast route!

Monday 20th November saw another attempt to collect South Western Railway (SWR) Class 458 Electric Multiple Unit (EMU) No. 458524 for onward transit to Alstom Widnes Transport Tech where it is to undergo refurbishment. Our regular reader may recall an abortive attempt a couple of weeks ago when the brakes on the EMU curtailed the train in Christchurch station. With the associated locomotives and barrier coaches due to arrive at Bournemouth depot mid-morning, I chose to head out to see the train pass through Bournemouth railway station as I felt I’d photographed and videoed these workings at Branksome where they reverse into the depot many times, so was looking for something different. The change of location was well rewarded as Class 56 No. 56081, leading on 5O58 0520 Leicester L.I.P. to Bournemouth T&R.S.M.D, made a fine sight and sound as she opened up passing through the station with the sound of her 3,250 brake horsepower (bhp) Ruston-Paxman power unit echoing around the glass roofed building.  

I had also planned on seeing the return working from Branksome, due to arrive at 1715 running as 5Q58 17:11 Bournemouth Traction & Rolling Stock Maintenance Depot to Widnes Transport Tech. However, unbeknown to me – and most of the other local rail enthusiasts –  the train left the depot, unheralded, at around 1300. You win some….. 

While I was in Bournemouth, I took the opportunity of capturing some images and video of everyday operations, which I mostly forget to do.

Later Monday evening the regular monthly Colas test train from Derby RTC to Eastleigh East Yard via Weymouth ran as 1Q51 1115 Derby R.T.C.(Network Rail) to Eastleigh East Yard employing the usual traction of GBRf Class 73 locomotives. This time is was the turn of No.’s 73963 ‘Janice’ and 73965 ‘Des O’Brien’ – two locomotives we had seen the previous day departing Tonbridge bound for Derby. 

The railway bridge over Lake Road on the Hamworthy Branch was subject to an inspection this week. A small group of Highway Maintenance engineers were on site for a few hours from 2100 on Tuesday 21st November.

The guy we spoke to from the team was very enamoured with Yoshi, but wasn’t able to give us an inside scoop of what might happen at the bridge in the future. Further road closures described as “Works for Rail Purposes” are scheduled at the location in January 2024.

For The Record:

The Weymouth Station Gateway project (WSP), designed to create a more welcoming and user-friendly space for residents, businesses, and visitors to Weymouth railway station has won two trophies at the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) South West Civil Engineering Awards 2023. The £1.2m project led by Dorset Coast Forum in partnership with Dorset Council, using funding from South Western Railway, was designed by WSP to open up the layout of the station forecourt, promoting sustainable transport options and reducing anti-social behaviour. The scheme also involved the creation of Pocket Park from a disused section of track on the former Weymouth Harbour Branch.  As well as being presented with the Community Award, Weymouth Station Gateway was also given the Judges’ Special Award. The judging panel was impressed with the collaborative, respectful partnership behind the scheme, bringing together the local community, the rail company and the transport authority to improve the public realm. The judges described the project as an outstanding example of infrastructure that unites communities and improves people’s daily lives.

Ten project awards and two individual trophies were presented at the ICE South West Civil Engineering Awards in association with Kier BAM on Friday 10th November 2023 at a gala ceremony in Bristol hosted by TV presenter, Rob Bell. The awards are held annually to recognise achievement among regional engineers and project teams.

…. and relax. Thanks for visiting our page and for your comments and corrections, which are always gratefully received! We’ll be back next week all being well! Be seeing you!