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) – 09/08/2023Looking 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 – 10/08/2023DRS 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 – 12/08/2023LSL Class 47 No. 47593 bringing the ECS in from Poole Storage Sidings into Poole station – 12/08/2023Now 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) – 12/08/2023With 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 – 12/08/2023The 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 – 12/08/2023Freightliner Class 66 No. 66602 and DB Cargo No. 66023 with its special King Prince Charles Coronation livery mostly hidden by wagons at Westbury – 12/08/2023Freightliner Class 66 No. 66542 passes through Westbury working the diverted 4O51 1040 Wentloog Freight Terminal Freightliner to Southampton Maritime Container Terminal – 12/08/202366175 ‘Rail Riders Express’ arrives light engine working as 0012 1106 Margam TC to Westbury Down TC – 12/08/2023Unique liveried GBRf Class 66 No. 66797 at Westbury – 12/08/2023Class 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 – 14/08/2023GBRf Class 73 No. 73107 ‘Tracy’ at Eastleigh Works – 14/08/2023Ex-Southern Coastway Class 313 No. 313211 with SWR Class 450 No. 450117 in the shed behind at Eastleigh – 14/08/2023LSL 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 – 14/08/2023Damaged 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 – 14/08/2023Arlington 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 – 14/08/2023GBRf Class 59 No. 59003 ‘Yeoman Highlander’ surrounded by withdrawn Class 313 EMU’s at Eastleigh Works – 14/08/2023Eastleigh 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!
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 – 03/08/2023GBRf’s Class 66 No. 66723 ‘Chinook’ with class mate No. 66791 at the rear top and tail the milling machine at Eastleigh – 03/08/2023GBRf 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 – 03/08/2023Three 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 – 11/07/1981Class 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 – 11/07/1981Class 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 – 11/07/1981Class 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. – 11/07/1981Class 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 – 11/07/1981English 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 – 11/07/1981Class 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 – 11/07/1981Class 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 – 11/07/1981Class 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 – 11/07/1981Class 40 No. 40092 at Stratford. This loco was disposed of at BREL Swindon in March 1986 – 09/07/1983Class 31 No.’s 31126 and 31179 at Stratford – 09/07/1983Only two months old Class 58 No. 58002 on display at Stratford. This locomotive was cut up at Eastleigh in December 2013 – 09/07/1983Peak Class 46 No. 46010 in Stratford Works. The locomotive is currently privately preserved – 09/07/1983Class 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 – 09/07/1983Class 47 No. 47122 at Stratford. This locomotive was introduced into service in January 1964 and scrapped at Springburn in October 1989 – 09/07/1983Class 37 No. 37118 at Stratford. The loco was broken up at Carnforth in 2005 – 09/07/1983Class 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 – 09/07/1983With 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 – 21/11/201166064 leads on a Rail Head Treatment Train towards Stratford – 21/11/2011Class 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 – 21/11/2011Class 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 – 21/11/2011Class 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 – 21/11/2011Class 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. – 21/11/2011Freightliner Class 66 No. 66956 heads through Stratford – 21/11/2011Class 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 – 21/11/2011An unusual form of transportation materialised at Stratford in November 2011 – 21/11/2011Celebrating 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 2001A 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
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” – 26/07/2023WCRC 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 – 27/07/2023Repainted and awaiting collection and preparation for UK use; GBRf Class 66 No. 66309 on Eastleigh Works. No. 73964 stands behind the Class 66 – 27/07/2023Network 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 – 27/07/2023GBRf 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 – 31/07/2023GBRf 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 – 31/07/2023GBRf 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 – 24/12/2012Showing she was built by BR at Crewe, 47749 ‘Demelza’ builders plate – 24/12/201247749 ‘Demelza’with an engineers train on the Weymouth Quay branch at town station with Class 66 No. 66847 at the country end – 24/12/2012Nameplate detail of No. 47076 ‘City Of Truro’ Reading – 16/06/1979Brush 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
This last few days have been rather quiet on our patch. However, there was a replay of last Tuesday / Wednesday when another South Western Railway (SWR) Class 458/4 electric multiple unit was moved from Widnes Transport Technology Centre, run by Alstom, down to Bournemouth Traction & Rolling Stock Maintenance Depot complete with feelings of déjà vu as delays were again caused by paperwork gauging issues. Originally scheduled to arrive at the depot near Branksome railway station at 1426 as 5Q65 0903 Wembley Receptions 1-7 to Bournemouth T&RSMD, the train was held at Woking for several hours before being allowed to proceed with a new headcode denoting it was ‘out of gauge’ running as 5X65 1405 Woking to Bournemouth T&R.S.M.D. Arrival into Branksome was at 1609, around an hour earlier than the scheduled revised path.
Making their second visit in a matter of days, GBRf Class 56 No. 56081 top and tail with converted Class 56 and now Class 69 No. 69008 arrive at Branksome working 5X65 1405 Woking to Bournemouth T&RSMD – 21/07/2023SWR Class 458/4 No. 458407 awaiting reversal of the train on its way into Bournemouth depot stands in the consist at Branksome – 21/07/2023Class 69 No. 69008 at Branksome at the head of 5F66 1955 Bournemouth T&RSMD to Leicester LIP running in the earlier, original slot 5Q66 1750 Bournemouth T&RSMD to Widnes Transport Tech which should have seen another Class 458 EMU heading north. Instead the 56/69 combo left with the barrier coaches only – 21/08/2023
Monday July 24th saw the return of Swanage Railway based Class 33/0 No. D6515 (33012) ‘Lt. Jenny Lewis RN’ from her trip to the Watercress Line. It so happened that I was in the Southampton area as ‘Jenny’ was hauling the London Underground 4-TC unit into Eastleigh Arlington works. I wasn’t quite prepared for this working to be running 45 minutes ahead of schedule and my planned photographic opportunity at Shawford had to be abandoned in favour of the popular Campbell Road bridge situated next to the railway works and, as it was, the train was already passing through the station as I arrived at my second choice vantage point.
Returning from her stay on the Watercress Line, Class 33/0 No. No. D6515 (33012) ‘Lt. Jenny Lewis RN’ hauling the London Underground 4TC set passes Eastleigh with the early running 5Z40 0940 Alton to Eastleigh Works GBRf on her way home to the Swanage Railway – 24/07/2023Having worked light engine to Eastleigh Arlington to collect a Pullman coach, DB operated Class 67 No. 67006 ‘Royal Sovereign’ in Royal Claret livery awaits clearance to return to Stewarts Lane forming 5Z25 1302 Eastleigh Arlington (ZG) to Stewarts Lane T&RSMD. In the event this move was cancelled as the coach was not yet ready to go and the Class 67 with the Pullman car eventually ran the following day. This Class 67 is one of the locomotives used to haul the Royal Train as required – 24/07/2023Class 66 No. 66791 operates 6V41 1450 Eastleigh East Yard to Westbury Down TC – 24/07/2023Freightliner Class 70 No. 70004 ‘The Coal Industry Society’ on the approach to Eastleigh railway station working 4O90 0604 Leeds Freightliner Terminal to Southampton Maritime Container Terminal as the 1M50 1245 Bournemouth to Manchester Piccadilly CrossCountry service formed of Voyager set No.’s 220008 and 221127 pass on the Up Fast – 24/07/2023Class 66 No. 66781 ‘Darius Cheskin’ stops for a crew change at Eastleigh working 4M46 1424 Southampton Western Docks (GBRF) to Trafford Park Euro TML GBRF – 24/07/2023Not many SWR Desiro units remain in the colours of former operator South West Trains (SWT). Class 450 No. 450082 awaits the “Off” at Eastleigh forming 2B48 1302 Bournemouth to Winchester – 24/07/2023Still in the original South Western Railway livery which has light grey stripes in the white part of the bodyside, Class 450 No. 450111 departs Eastleigh with 2B35 1349 Winchester to Southampton Central – 24/07/2023Another old SWT livery variation is seen on Class 158 DMU No. 158882 on the “Romsey Rocket” service 2R62 1656 Salisbury to Romsey – 24/07/2023Newly repainted and with silver buffers DB Cargo Class 66 No. 66190 ‘Martin House Children’s Hospice’ on the early running 4V39 1736 Southampton Eastern Docks to Morris Cowley MAT – 24/07/2023
Further afield we were interested to learn that the famous “Jacobite” steam train service operated by West Coast Railways (WCR), which runs from Fort William to Mallaig and return, are currently suspended. The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) has released a statement regarding the issues of concern found with the train. Things first went awry on Friday 9th June 2023 when a safety inspector visited “The Jacobite” service, and found failings which were considered a breach of Health and Safety. The ORR issued West Coast Railways with a prohibition notice that came into effect on the 15th June and prevented them running “The Jacobite” until the ORR was satisfied that the issues were rectified.
More recently, on 14th July a further inspection found failings that breached the earlier prohibition notice and the conditions in WCR’s Railway Safety Regulation Exemption Certificate in relation to the management of the hinged door rolling stock employed on the service. The train operates on the main line under an exemption, granted by the ORR, that allows the continued use of heritage rolling stock without central door locking.
The ORR says it is working with WCR to make sure robust safety arrangements are in place which will allow the use of heritage carriages on “The Jacobite” in the near future, and in the mean time, WCRC can use alternative carriages to operate “The Jacobite”.
The full statement from the ORR reads:
“A safety inspector from the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) visited the Jacobite service run by West Coast Railway Company Limited (WCRCL) on Friday 9 June 2023. This inspection found safety failings which ORR considered breached Health and Safety Legislation and accordingly ORR issued WCRCL with a prohibition notice which came into effect at 00:01 on 15 June 2023 and which prevented it from running until WCRCL was satisfied that it could rectify the issues raised in that notice. The prohibition notice is published at P/KB/14062023 West Coast Railway Company Ltd prohibition notice (windows.net). The Jacobite service recommenced on 15 June 2023.
Safety inspectors from ORR subsequently visited the Jacobite service run by WCRCL on Friday 14 July. This inspection found safety failings which ORR considered breached the earlier prohibition notice and the conditions contained in WCRCL’s Railway Safety Regulation Exemption Certificate. This type of exemption certificate is required for all train operators who want to use carriages without central door locking fitted – ordinarily heritage carriages of the type used on the Jacobite service. Due to the safety issues identified, ORR has revoked WCRCL’s Exemption Certificate. WCRCL will continue to be able to use carriages without central door locking fitted on its other services in accordance with the conditions of a new Exemption Certificate.
ORR is working with WCRCL to ensure robust safety arrangements are in place to allow WCRCL to use heritage carriages on the Jacobite line in the near future. In the interim, it is open to WCRCL to use alternative carriages to operate the Jacobite service.”
It’s one of my favourite railway journeys and I have been lucky enough to travel between Fort William and Malliag a few times over the years, most recently in 2020.
Our 2021 “Jacobite” experience
“The Jacobite” at Fort William in September 2019
“The Jacobite” commences its journey at Fort William, the largest town in the Highlands and is situated at the southern end of the Great Glen, in the shadow of Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in Britain. This area is a great location to use as a base when discovering the West Highlands. One of the highlights on the journey is crossing the 21-arched Glenfinnan viaduct (a location made famous in the Harry Potter films) which overlooks Loch Shiel and the Jacobite monument.
Yoshi and I at Fort William with LNER K1 No. 62005. We could both do with a haircut! – 11/09/2019LNER Thompson/Peppercorn K1 Class No. 62005 was designed by the London and North Eastern Railway, built by the North British Locomotive Company in their Queen’s Park Works, Glasgow as NBL no 26609 and delivered to the fledgling British Railways in June 1949. She has been used for several seasons on “The Jacobite” service. She is currently undergoing an overhaul – 11/09/2019Yoshi and I at Fort William with LMS Stanier Class 5 4-6-0 No. 44871. The locomotive was one of four engines chosen to take part in the famous “Fifteen Guinea Special”, the last scheduled mainline passenger train to be hauled by steam locomotives over British Rail metals which took place on 11th August 1968 – 22/06/2021LMS Stanier Class 5 4-6-0 No. 45212 crosses Glenfinnan viaduct with the morning “Jacobite” service – 23/06/2023
The end of the line, Mallaig was founded during the 1840’s when the owner of the North Morar Estate, Lord Lovat, divided up the farm on the coast here into parcels of land and encouraged his tenants living around Loch Morar and Loch Nevis to resettle in what became Mallaig and establish a fishing village. Today Mallaig is a busy fishing port and ferry terminal with services to Skye and the Small Isles.
LMS Stanier Class 5 4-6-0 No. 44871 at Mallaig shunting stock for the return “Jacobite” working to Fort William – 22/06/2021
“The Jacobite” filmed between Fort William and Mallaig in 1995. The final shot of this compilation is where my 8MM camcorder sighed and died. I didn’t think the footage was recoverable, but here we are!
Scenes of “The Jacobite” from July 1996
I have not mentioned the UK government plan to close railway station ticket offices at the majority of stations under the guise of changes proposed to bring station staff closer to customers because of the ridiculous short period of time given for the consultation process which was originally set to run for 21 days from 5th to 26th July. However this process has now been extended to end on 1st September 2023. Much of the covergae in the press focussed on the plan being an initiative driven by the Train Operating Companies wanting to cut costs and boost profits. This myth was perpetuated by the Rail Delivery Group (RDG) taking ownership of the announcement, but there can be no doubt that this is an initiative from the Department For Transport (DaFT) under pressure from the Treasury and most likely the helicopter loving incumbent of No. 10.
This is a bad and impractical idea. As a user of the railways it is clear that ticket vending machines do not offer the full range of available ticketing and, by my experience, are often out of order. There is also a valid argument that ticket machines are not fully accesible.
Yoshi on the platform at Ropley on the Mid-Hants Railway with Class 20 No.’s D8059 (20059) and D8188 (20188) awaiting departure with a train bound for Alton – 15/07/2023
July 12th 2023 to July 19th 2023
I have a not so long list of locomotives or trains which I would like to photograph. This is distinct from my train spotting days when I wanted to see everything! This past week has been a good one in my efforts at ticking off a few items from the list, starting on Wednesday 12th July as I took the train to Birmingham for a work meeting.
South Western Railway Class 444 No. 444028 having arrived as an empty coaching stock movement from Bournemouth T&RSMD before forming the 1B14 0500 departure from Poole to London Waterloo – 12/07/2023
My journey began at 0430 when I left home for Poole Railway Station in order to catch the 0500 train towards London. Reports of over-running engineering work in the Solent area gave me unnecessary cause for concern as we were not substantially delayed by these. I was scheduled to change at Southampton Parkway onto a CrossCountry service, but on checking the train providers website I found that due to a shortage of train drivers, my scheduled train would instead start from Winchester further up the line. This was not a bad thing as it meant I had time to grab a caramel latte at Winchester (although they forgot to add the caramel syrup – bah!) before the allotted Class 221 Voyager diesel-multiple unit arrived to pick up passengers, despite being announced and signed as “not stopping” at this station. This announcement left many on the platform bemused and confused and there was no follow up advice via the station tannoy in an attempt to rectify things. This could have been a bad thing.
CrossCountry Voyager Class 221 DMU No. 221124 stands at Winchester platform 1 working the 1M22 0633 service to Manchester Piccadilly – 12/07/2023
The train was quite lightly loaded from Winchester, and after taking a quick snap of the train, on boarding I discovered there was only one other passenger in my coach. Frustratingly they had decided to sit in my reserved seat. To be fair the seat reservations took a few minutes to show up on the little electronic display panels, and things were soon resolved and we both set off in our allocated seats.
CrossCountry Voyager Class 221 DMU No. 221124 having deposited me at Birmingham New Street – 12/07/2023
On arrival at Birmingham it was a quick seven minute walk to Snow Hill where the work office is located. The meeting room situated on the 17th floor provides a panoramic view over the city and a vantage point looking down upon Birmingham Snow Hill railway station.
An unidentified West Midlands Trains Class 172/3 Turbostar DMU working 2S29 0854 Kidderminster to Stratford-Upon-Avon into Birmingham Snow Hill – 12/07/2023
The meeting over, I scurried back to Birmingham New Street as there was a train on my list I was hoping to see which was diagrammed to work through the station, stopping only to grab few pics of a passing tram.
West Midlands Metro was launched on 30th May 1999 as Midland Metro partly utilising the disused Birmingham Snow Hill to Wolverhampton low level route. CAF Urbos 3 Tram No. 38 passes Snow Hill – 12/07/2023 The same tram as in the previous image, No. 38, just beat me down the hill to the Grand Central stop just outside New Street station – 12/07/2023Another tick as in Regional Railways retro livery Class 323 No. 323221 stands at Birmingham New Street with the 2P37 1436 service to Lichfield. No. 323215 is the second unit in standard West Midlands Trains colours – 12/07/2023
Regional Railways retro livery Class 323 No. 323221 working 2P37 1436 Birmingham New Street to Lichfield at Birmingham New Street – 12/07/2023CrossCountry Voyager Class 221 DMU No. 221119 works through Birmingham New Street with 1O20 1325 Manchester Piccadilly to Bournemouth which I eschewed for a Pendolino service to London Euston – 12/07/2023My Avanti West Coast Pendo Class 390 No. 390135 ‘City of Lancaster’ sits amidst the hustle and bustle at Birmingham New Street. 53 of these train sets were ordered by Virgin West Coast in 1999. They were built by Alstom in Italy and fitted out in Washwood Heath near Birmingham – 12/07/2023Nameplate detail of Class 390 No. 390135 ‘City of Lancaster’ – 12/07/2023
My return journey to Dorset was via London which gave me the opportunity to travel on an Avanti West Coast Pendolino train. I wish I hadn’t bothered to be honest, as my reserved seat didn’t match up with a window and my view was quite a slight one but required looking towards the window in the seating in front of me, but at least it provided some sort of view as we sped down the west Coast Main Line (WCML). The preceding service to London Euston ahead of my departure had been cancelled which meant increased numbers of customers travelling on my train. Because the Class 390 Pendolino trains have a tilting capability they have to be quite snug to fit into the UK loading gauge but I found this did not make for comfortable seating arrangements. But I found it fascinating to see the masts for the overhead catenary seemingly at 45 degree angles as we passed by on sections of curved track as otherwise I don’t think you’d know the train was tilting in order to smooth out the bends.
My journey’s end with Class 390 No. 390135 ‘City of Lancaster’ at the buffer stops of platform 7 of London Euston having worked the 1B50 1547 service from Birmingham New Street – 12/07/2023
On arrival in London I took the opportunity to pop into King’s Cross station as Class 91 No. 91111 ‘For The Fallen’ was scheduled to arrive with empty coaching stock forming a later service to Leeds which gave me time to take a few mobile phone photographs before I needed to get the tube over to London Waterloo and my final train home.
While waiting at London Kings Cross I made use of the pub located in the original Great Northern Railway parcels office dating back to 1852 with a view overlooking the platforms – 12/07/2023One from my list; much hoped for Class 91 No. 91111 ‘For The Fallen’ rests at platform 4 having arrived with empty coaching stock movement 5D29 Ferme Park Reception Sidings to London Kings Cross – 12/07/2023LNER Azuma Class 801 No. 801105 arrives at its final destination with 1Y88 1602 York to London Kings Cross – 12/07/2023Another study of LNER InterCity 225 Class 91 No. 91111 ‘For The Fallen’ which will haul 1D29 1903 London Kings Cross to Leeds – 12/07/2023Homeward bound courtesy of the South Western Railway 1W79 1903 London Waterloo to Weymouth service formed of Class 444 No.’s 444035 at the rear and 444041 out of sight at the head of platform 15. The train split at Southampton Central, the front five coaches running a fast service to Weymouth whilst the rear section performs a stopping service to Poole – 12/07/2023
The weekend of 14th to 16th July saw the Watercress Line / Mid-Hants Railway holding their diesel gala. Yoshi and I took the opportunity to visit on the Saturday. As usual, we purchased a gala day ticket and because of the wet weather forecast quite intended to use it! In the event, the rain held off for the most part, but I decided that it might make a pleasant change to enjoy some locomotive haulage along line and opted to ride in the London Underground 4TC unit which was visiting for the event. We were hauled by two visiting locomotives; Class 66 No. 66502 ‘Basford Hall Centenary 2001’ and Class 33/0 No. D6515 (33012) ‘Lt. Jenny Lewis RN’.
Home fleet Class 47 47579 “James Nightall GC” approaches Ropley – 15/07/2023Class 20 No.’s D8188 (20188) and D8059 (20059) arrive at Ropley with a train from Alresford – 15/07/2023The driver of “Teddy Bear” Class 14 No. 9551, visiting from the Severn Valley Railway courtesy of the SVR Class 14 Company Ltd, exchanges tokens at Ropley – 15/07/2023On static display on Ropley Shed; Class 08 No. 08032 – 15/07/2023Class 08 No. D3462 (08377) at Ropley shed awaiting a trip to Alresford – 15/07/2023 Class 11 No. D12082 was running driver experience opportunities up and down the yard at Ropley – 15/07/2023Class 08 No. 08288 ‘Phoenix’ on shed having worked a train up from Alresford – 15/07/2023Class 33/0 No. D6515 (33012) ‘Lt. Jenny Lewis RN’ appeared courtesy of the 71A Locomotive Group and is, of course, usually found at the Swanage Railway. She is seen here at Ropley – 15/07/2023Another view of Class 33/0 No. D6515 (33012) ‘Lt. Jenny Lewis RN’ this time taken from the footbridge at Ropley – 15/07/2023For many the star attraction, Class 66 No. 66502 ‘Basford Hall Centenary 2001’, courtesy of Freightliner on the approach to Ropley – 15/07/2023Freightliner Class 66 No. 66502 ‘Basford Hall Centenary 2001’ awaits the road at Ropley hauling the London Underground 4TC set No. 428 – 15/07/2023Freightliner Class 66 No. 66502 ‘Basford Hall Centenary 2001’ and the London Underground 4TC set No. 428 at Alresford – 15/07/2023Nameplate of Freightliner Class 66 No. 66502 ‘Basford Hall Centenary 2001’ – 15/07/2023Yoshi takes a ride onboard London Underground 4TC set No. 428 – 15/07/2023London Underground 4TC set No. 428 stands at Alton while No. 33012 runs around out of sho – 15/07/2023Having run round the 4TC coaching stock Class 33/0 No. D6515 (33012) ‘Lt. Jenny Lewis RN’ awaits departure time from Alton – 15/07/2023Alton is also a mainline station and is shared with SWR. Class 450 No. 450005 is ready for departure with the 1A50 1515 service to London Waterloo – 15/07/2023While we were getting off the train at Ropley, Yoshi had to say hello to train guard gone freight train driver, author, illustrator, columnist, fundraiser and lover of all dogs; Bessie Matthews. Bessie has written and illustrated railway safety book “Arlo’s Adventures There and Back” which follows Arlo the badger as he makes his first ever solo trip on the train to see his friends Duskie and Moss, who live a couple of stops away. The reader helps the trio stay safe by turning to the page they think is the best choice featuring real world scenarios such as level crossings and station platforms, as well including a child-friendly glossary of railway terms – 15/07/2023Resident Class 50 No. 50027 ‘Lion’ on static display at Ropley shed – 15/07/2023Always love seeing dog related railway images, and this is one of our faves. Seen at Ropley – 15/07/2023Yoshi didn’t look too pleased when I tried to recreate a railway poster in 2021. Maybe I’ll have another go when I have time on my hands!
Our snapshot video of the Mid-Hants Diesel Gala 2023
Before and after our visit to the Watercress Line, we popped into Eastleigh. In the morning I was looking to get a photograph of Direct Rail Services Class 68 No. 68034 which although had visited Dorset on a Winfrith run in recent months had in the meantime been named ‘Railriders 2000’ at Crewe Heritage Centre on 10th June 2023. The name had been previously carried by Class 66 No. 66303 having received the nameplates on 7thJuly 2021. However the Class 66 was moved to become part of the GBRf fleet in 2022 and the decision to transfer the name was taken.
Prior to seeing the DRS Class 68 move from Eastleigh to Crewe, we did our usual and parked up on Campbell Road for a view of the works. I was pleased to see Class 07 shunter No. 07007. This class of locomotive was originally built to replace USA steam tank engines at work on Southampton Docks back in the early 1960’s – 15/07/2023Eastleigh Works is currently the graveyard of Class 313 EMU’s which await their turn under the cutter’s torch – 15/07/2023More Class 313’s in store at Eastleigh – 15/07/2023While we were walking around Campbell Road to get a view of Eastleigh Works, we heard Class 47 No. 47727 ‘Edinburgh Castle’ fire up. She is seen here on the left of the image adjacent to still stored SWR Class 701 units – 15/07/2023The law of the jungle; the elderly Brush Type 4 has not eaten for days and is slowly stalking its prey, a much younger Stadler Rail cat as she manoeuvres out into the open.. DRS Class 68 No. 68034 ‘Rail Riders 2020’ hauls two PFA wagons as 6Z32 0845 Eastleigh Arlington (Zg) to Crewe Coal Sidings (DRS) while GBRf Class 47 No. 47727 ‘Edinburgh Castle’ is running light engine working OF47 0900 Eastleigh Trsmd to Leicester L.I. P. – 15/07/2023Nameplate detail of Class 68 No. 68034 ‘Rail Riders 2020’ – 15/07/2023A busy scene at Eastleigh as DRS Class 68 No. 68034 ‘Rail Riders 2020’ passes through working 6Z32 0845 Eastleigh Arlington (Zg) to Crewe Coal Sidings (DRS) – 15/07/2023
Following the Class 68 departing Eastleigh Arlington, GBRf Class 47 No. 47727 ‘Edinburgh Castle’ was booked to run to Leicester light engine.
GBRf Class 47 No. 47727 ‘Edinburgh Castle’ running light engine on the approach to Eastleigh railway station working as OF47 0900 Eastleigh Trsmd to Leicester L.I. P. – 15/07/2023
We also ticked another locomotive off the wanted list in the shape of GBRf Class 66 No. 66723 ‘Chinook’ which we saw pass through Eastleigh in the morning whilst waiting for the Class 68 move. The Class 66 carries the distinctive outline of a chinook helicopter on its bodyside and with the aid of a step ladder was able to get mobile phone images through the ever rampant buddlea as the locomotive was stabled on Eastleigh East Yard in the afternoon.
GBRf Class 66 No. 66723 ‘Chinook’ stabled on Eastleigh East Yard – 15/07/2023Bodyside detail of GBRf Class 66 No. 66723 ‘Chinook’ stabled on Eastleigh East Yard – 15/07/2023Nameplate of GBRf Class 66 No. 66723 ‘Chinook’ stabled on Eastleigh East Yard – 15/07/2023GBRf Class 66 locomotives no.’s 66301 and 66717 ‘Good Old Boy’ parked up at Eastleigh East Yard – 15/07/2023
A short video from Eastleigh – 15/07/2023
Much excitement on Tuesday evening as the first of South Western Railway’s Class 458/4 electric-multiple units was scheduled to arrive at Bournemouth depot. An attempt to run the train the previous week had been cancelled so when the associated workings to Widnes Transport Tech to retrieve the unit went ahead it was a sure sign that we would see it in Dorset.
The 30 original 4-car Class 458 EMU’s were built by Alstom at Eastwood Heath, Birmingham between 1998 and 2002 for South West Trains (SWT) and are part of the Coradia Juniper type of trains. Between 2013 and 2016, the class was merged with the mechanically similar Class 460 units and extensively rebuilt to form a fleet of 36 5-car units which were designated as Class 458/5’s. The trains were operated by South Western Railway (SWR) following SWT’s loss of the South Western franchise.
In March 2021 SWR announced it would be refurbishing 28 Class 458 units, the work being carried out by Alstom at Widnes in Cheshire at a cost of £25 million. Work will involve returning each unit to its original 4-car formation by removing the Class 460 vehicles, restoring the original maximum speed of 100 mph, and reconfiguration of the passenger saloons. These “new” units will be reclassified and renumbered as Class 458/4’s. They will be leased from rolling stock company Porterbrook until at least 2027 and are to be based at Bournemouth Traction & Rolling Stock Maintenance Depot (T&RSMD). The first two units to be sent for refurbishment, No.’s 458507 and 458517, arrived at Widnes in August 2022. Now, finally, it is time for their return to SWR metals.
The real excitement was generated over the locomotives which had been allocated to dragging the first Class 458/4 to its new home; GBRf Class 56 No. 56081 and Class 69 No. 69008. Both unusual traction for Dorset. So it was no surprise to find Branksome railway station a very popular location for railway enthusiasts on Tuesday evening, all hopeful at getting a glimpse of the special working. The train was scheduled to arrive at Branksome for reversal into Bournemouth depot at around 1840. But it was soon clear that things were not going quite to plan when, looking at the live map on Open Time Trains (OTT), the train appeared stalled at Southampton Central. Many theories were passed around, but it would seem that there were concerns over the dampers or shock absorbers on the refurbished unit. And although not actually out of gauge west of Southampton, there was no paperwork to confirm this which resulted in the train being halted in platform 3 of Southampton Central. At first many commentators were of the opinion that the consist would be moved back to Eastleigh awaiting clearance for it to proceed to Bournemouth the following day. Being a pedant, I kept a close view on OTT and was rewarded by the notification of the train moving towards its intended destination. I was also thankful for the texts and messages from friends who were also observing what was happening. So after walking Yoshi, I returned to Branksome in time to see Class 56 No. 56081 rounding the curve into the station 264 minutes late. It was disappointing that I hadn’t seen the train in daylight as anticipated, but it was great to see anyway.
GBRf Class 56081 runs through Branksome hauling 5Q65 1435 Wembley Terminal Complex Wheel Lathe to Bournemouth Traction & Rolling Stock Maintenance Depot – 18/07/2023GBRf Class 69 No. 69008 at the rear of 5Q65 1435 Wembley Terminal Complex Wheel Lathe to Bournemouth Traction & Rolling Stock Maintenance Depot as the crew prepare to reverse into the depot – 18/07/2023
Obviously, by this time, the return working consisting of the locomotives and barrier coaches had missed the 2100 departure for Eastleigh, but I quite expected them to return that night, but I for one, wasn’t going to hang around to confirm this. On checking the Real Time Trains schedules the following morning I was quietly pleased to have been proven wrong as a path had been put in the system for a return working at 0900 taking the train to Eastleigh. So off I went to get those daylight shots I had missed the previous day.
Knowing I had to be back at home for 1000, I was getting a little perturbed when there was no sign of movement at the appointed hour or indeed for several minutes afterwards. Eventually the train headcode turned up on the OTT map, which is always a promising sign, followed by the sweet sound of the point motor shifting allowing trains access out of the depot onto the main line. I was very pleased, once again, to see No. 56081 approaching Branksome, this time giving a steam locomotive a run for its money with all the clag it was emitting. Clag can be defined as “dust, dried up oil and other associated bits of junk that have collected in the exhaust manifold being blowing out of the roof with a white to black colouration, in thick opaque clouds” and No. 56081 was certainly living up to that description! And that ticks another thing off my list – a Class 56 locomotive working on the mainline in Dorset.
A view I never though I’d see as Class 56 No. 56081 departs Bournemouth depot working 5M50 0900 Bournemouth Traction & Rolling Stock Maintenance Depot to Eastleigh East Yard – 19/07/2023Top and tailed by GBRf Class 56 No. 56081 and Class 69 No. 69008 5M50 0900 Bournemouth Traction & Rolling Stock Maintenance Depot to Eastleigh East Yard eases towards the mainline – 19/07/2023GBRf Class 69 No. 69008 (converted from Class 56 No. 56038), the first of six members of the class to be fitted with Dellner couplers for use on multiple unit stock movements awaits departure from Branksome working 5M50 0900 Bournemouth Traction & Rolling Stock Maintenance Depot to Eastleigh East Yard – 19/07/2023 With No. 69008 leading, 5M50 0900 Bournemouth Traction & Rolling Stock Maintenance Depot to Eastleigh East Yard powers away from Branksome with Class 56 No. 56081 at the rear with Mk1 barrier coaches No.’s ADB975974 ‘Paschar’, ADB975978 ‘Perpetel’, 6376 & 6377 – 19/07/2023
Video of unit stock movement and associated working to Bournemouth 18th & 19th July 2023
The arrival of Tuesday’s unit drag felt like it had taken as long as the time it is taking for the SWR Class 701’s to enter revenue earning service. It’s been a while since I ventured out to see one on a mileage accumulation run, but on July 13th I did just that and was lucky enough to see No. 701054 running through Poole with a brief stop to open and close its doors. Which was nice.
SWR Class 444 No. 444037 awaits departure time at Poole working 2W62 1400 service to London Waterloo as Class 701 No. 701054 passes with 5Q51 1115 London Waterloo to Staines Up Loop – 13/07/2023
The 701 mileage accumulation continues via Poole – 13/07/2023
For the record…
While I was in Birmingham on 12th July, Swanage based Class 33/0 No. 33012 ‘Lt. Jenny Lewis RN’ ran from her Isle of Purbeck home to Eastleigh to collect the LU 4TC set before an onward move to Alton in readiness for the Mid-Hants Diesel Gala. On the same day, via “the West”, Class 37 No.’s 37610 and 37612 ran to Weymouth with the New Measurement Train working as 1Z22 0757 Derby RTC to Bristol Kingsland Road.
Hamworthy Watch…
Work has been carried out at Ashmore crossing on the Hamworthy branch with the warning lights to the right of the above image being repaired after sustaining damage from a vehicle hit several weeks ago. Further vegetation clearance has also been observed along this section – 16/07/2023Roadworks have been scheduled to be in place overnight of 21st/22nd November 2023 at Lake Road Bridge on the Hamworthy branch. There has been concerns over the safety of the bridge structure at this point of the line and although there has been previous work to replace rotten timbers it looks as if more does need to be done before trains can pass over this section
Thank you so much for visiting. We really appreciate your feedback. Be seeing you!
Virgin Trains Super Voyager Class 221 No. 221106 ‘Willem Barents’ celebrates the “The Prisoner” as it carries advertising for “Festival No.6” which is held at Portmeirion, North Wales, the filming location for 1960’s cult TV series. Seen at London Euston on 22/02/2016
In between showers of rain, Yoshi takes a look at Hastings Unit No. 1001 at Weymouth following its arrival with “The Jurassic Coast Explorer” railtour – 08/07/2023
July 5th 2023 to July 11th 2023
This time around we were lucky enough to see two separate railtours grace our patch. But before that on Wednesday 5th July, the Ultrasonic Test Unit (UTU) reached Weymouth via Bournemouth working as 3Q02 2140 Eastleigh East Yard to Eastleigh East Yard via Weymouth Signal DR194. As the name of the UTU suggests, ultrasonic equipment – the same technology used in medical practices – is employed to detect minute flaws in the track as the train passes over it. Hauled by Colas Class 37 No. 37175 the ensemble was in much use in the South and visited Weymouth once again on Sunday 9th July (although running around two hours late) as 3Q14 1517 Westbury to Westbury via Weymouth. UTU’s inspect around 64,000 miles of track all over the UK using four trains over 750 shifts annually.
Ultrasonic Test Unit (UTU) in Dorset – July 2023 (Additional video by kind permission of G E Barrett)
Ultrasonic Testing Unit trains usually have 1 locomotive at one end, and a DBSO (Driving Brake Standard Open) at the other. The DBSO controls the locomotive at the other end whilst it is leading the formation. UTU trains have ground-penetrating radar systems to detect voids and deformations up to 2 meters into the ballast and earth. Similarly to Plain Line Pattern Recognition test trains (on which more below), UTU trains use rail profile scanners to help identify problems or degradation in track profile, comparing it to a template of an ideal track.
Hastings Unit No. 1001 at Weymouth having arrived with “The Jurassic Coast Explorer” – 08/07/2023
The first railtour over the weekend was Hastings Diesels Limited’s (HDL) “The Jurassic Coast Explorer” which ran on Saturday July 8th 2023 employing their Hastings Diesel-Electric Multiple-Unit (DEMU), one of a class of trains built during 1957 and 1958 to replace steam-hauled stock operating between London and Hastings via Tunbridge Wells. The six-coach units, incorporating diesel generators at each end, were unique in having specially narrow bodies which enabled them to pass through the unusually narrow tunnels on the Hastings line. When the line was electrified in 1986, these “Hastings” diesel units were withdrawn (and the tunnels single-tracked to solve the width problem). The preserved example, certified for mainline running, is numbered Unit No. 1001 but actually includes vehicles from several different units and trains including a buffet car from a 4-BIG electric multiple unit (EMU) and a Trailer Second (TSO) from a 4-CEP EMU which unlike the other stock are built to standard UK loading gauge.
Hastings Unit No. 1001 speeds past Winfrith working 1Z70 0651 Hastings to Weymouth “The Jurassic Coast Explorer” – 08/07/2023Hastings Unit No. 1001 at rest in Weymouth whilst working “The Jurassic Coast Explorer” – 08/07/2023Hastings Unit DEMU nameplate detail ‘Mountfield’ – 08/07/2023Hastings Unit DEMU nameplate detail ‘Tunbridge Wells’ – 08/07/2023Hastings Unit No. 1001 powers up through Upwey whilst working the return “The Jurassic Coast Explorer” 1Z72 1538 Weymouth to Hastings – 08/07/2023 (With thanks to G E Barrett for Dorchester images)
Video of Hastings Unit No. 1001 railtour “The Jurassic Coast Explorer” – 08/07/2023
The following day, Sunday July 9th the seemingly annual tour celebrating “The End Of Southern Steam” reached Weymouth. The last day of regular steam haulage across the British Railways (BR) Southern Region took place on July 9th 1967. 56 years later and Southern Railway Bullied Pacific No. 35018 ‘British India Line’ returned to the metals she would have travelled over back in her working BR days. Starting out from London Victoria the passengers were hauled by No. 35018 to Yeovil Junction via Salisbury where the steam locomotive was removed from the train for turning and servicing, the tour advancing to Weymouth behind West Coast Railway Company (WCRC) owned Class 47 No. 47802 which had been on the rear of the train since its London departure.
I left home thinking I had lots of time to find a location to photograph the train near Gillingham, and was surprised to see on Real Time Trains the tour had in fact gained five minutes by the time it had reached Dorset. So a change of plan was instigated and I diverted off to Sherborne where I was caught out by the train approaching my over bridge vantage point wrong line.
Southern Railway Bullied Pacific No. 35018 ‘British India Line’ working wrong line at Sherborne as 1Z82 London Victoria to Yeovil Junction Down Main Platform – 09/07/2023WCRC Class 47 No. 47802 resides departure with 1Z83 1344 Yeovil Junction Down Main Platform to Weymouth which left Yeovil 20 minutes late – 09/07/2023Yoshi meets Southern Railway Bullied Pacific No. 35018 ‘British India Line’ at Yeovil Junction which was being serviced at the Yeovil Railway Centre – 09/07/2023Nameplate detail for Bullied Pacific No. 35018 ‘British India Line’ – 09/07/2023Southern Railway Bullied Pacific No. 35018 ‘British India Line’ having been turned on the Yeovil Railway Centre turntable – 09/07/2023
Having been refreshed by the team at the Yeovil Railway Centre, No. 35018 worked light engine down to Weymouth where she re-joined the railtour for a spirited late afternoon departure bound for London Waterloo. I waited for the light locomotive at Evershot, but my view was obscured by steam. I then got ahead of No. 35018 and saw her again very close to the former Monkton and Came Halt which had been opened by the Great Western Railway in 1905 as part of their ambitions to combat road based transport. The station served the nearby Came Golf Links and visitors to Maiden Castle. This ultimately failed and the Halt was closed in 1957. Some remains of the platforms can still be seen.
Running tender first to Weymouth as 0Z84 1523 Yeovil Junction Down Main Platform to Weymouth Jersey Siding to rejoin the main train Southern Railway Bullied Pacific No. 35018 ‘British India Line’ passes Monkton – 09/07/2023Making a spirited climb towards Bincombe summit Southern Railway Bullied Pacific No. 35018 ‘British India Line’ hauling Railway Touring Company’s “End of Southern Steam” 1Z84 1724 Weymouth to London Waterloo tour advances towards Upwey – 09/07/2023
Southern Railway Bullied Pacific No. 35018 ‘British India Line’ the “End of Southern Steam” tour – 09/07/2023 (With grateful thanks to @da_buckley967 for the departure from Weymouth and G E Barrett for Dorchester footage)
Co-incidentally two days later, London Waterloo celebrated its 175th anniversary which included the unveiling of a plaque commemorating the landmark birthday, a joint Network Rail and South Western Railway choir treated visitors to iconic ‘Waterloo’ songs such as ABBA’s “Waterloo” and The Kinks’ “Waterloo Sunset” as well of a preview of Class 701 “Arterio” EMU No. 701043 on platform 19 which was also adorned with a celebratory London Waterloo 175 roundel . The fleet of 90 Class 701 trains are over two years late at being introduced on Reading, Windsor and South West London suburban routes. In addition, fittingly situated under the famous Waterloo clock on the station concourse, a fascinating 40-panel history exhibition was put on display for a limited time.
Celebrating Waterloo 175 logo – 12/07/2023An exhibition celebrating Waterloo 175 stood for a few days on the concourse of the Southern Terminus – 12/07/2023
Delayed by a week, Monday 10th July saw the monthly 1Q51 Plain Line Pattern Recognition (PLPR) test train head to Weymouth, as usual top and tailed by GBRf Class 73 electro-diesel locomotives, but this time in daylight. The train usually runs on our patch in in the late evenings but the rescheduled working was scheduled for a lunchtime turn around at Weymouth.
GBRf Class 73 No. 73962 ‘Dick Mabbutt’ leading the outward leg of 1Q51 1008 Woking Up Yard Reception to Woking Up Yard Reception via Weymouth Plain Line Pattern Recognition (PLPR) test train passing Hamworthy – 10/07/2023GBRf Class 73 No. 73961 ‘Alison’ at the rear of 1Q51 Woking to Woking via Weymouth passing Hamworthy – 10/07/2023
Plain Line Pattern Recognition uses a variety of tools to measure and detect defects and potential problems that might arise in track condition. PLPR uses equipment such as: 4 foot camera used to check the track condition, thermal imaging to check rail temperature, fasteners are checked with diagonal and top down cameras. The various cameras used store HD laser scanned images which show different angles and planes of the track and rails. PLPR was initially rolled out on the NMT measurement train, but has since been fitted to Network Rail’s coaches and can be seen across the UK rail network. The coaches on the PLPR may also by fitted with Radio Survey equipment, for testing of NRN, CSR and GSM-R communication systems.
Video of 1Q51 Plain Line Pattern Recognition (PLPR) Test Train – 10/07/2023 (With thanks to G E Barrett for Dorchester video)
From the Archive…
In contrast to how SR Bullied Pacific No. 35018 ‘British India Line’ looked on her recent visit to Weymouth, below are three images of the locomotive and tender when she left storage on Portland taken by John Chappell.
No. 35018 ‘British India Line’ was the first Merchant Navy locomotive to have the original air-smoothed casing removed as part of a rebuild of the class and emerged from Eastleigh Works in her new form during February 1956. She was withdrawn from service with British Railways in August 1964 and despatched to Barry Scrapyard for disposal. However, after languishing in South Wales for 15 years, she was purchased for preservation by Richard Heather and John Bunch, and in March 1980 the engine was moved to the Mid Hants Railway (MHR) where it was planned for her to be restored to full working order. In the event little work was undertaken on the locomotive during this time and she was later moved to a site in Portland but following little work again being undertaken on restoring the engine she moved once again, in 2012, to Carnforth in Lancashire having been purchased by David Smith. She finally underwent a thorough restoration to running order for mainline standards.
SR Bullied Pacific No. 35018 ‘British India Line’ departs storage on Portland – 24/04/2012 (Image: John Chappell)SR Bullied Pacific No. 35018 ‘British India Line’ is manoeuvred out of storage on Portland – 24/04/2012 (Image: John Chappell)Tender for SR Bullied Pacific No. 35018 ‘British India Line’ departs storage on Portland – 24/04/2012 (Image: John Chappell)
Hastings Unit No. 1001 was privately chartered for the Any Piper Memorial Railtour from Hastings to London Waterloo, Bournemouth and Poole in conjunction with Network rail and GBRf – 08/08/2010
“The Dorset Diadem” rail tour took Hastings Unit No. 1001 to Bournemouth and Swanage were she was scheduled to arrive at 1320 and giving passengers just under three hours at the seaside town.
Hastings Unit DEMU No. 1001 “The Dorset Diadem” at Wareham – 25/06/2011 (Image: John Chappell)No. 1001 forming the “The Dorset Diadem” railtour to Swanage rests at Wareham – 25/06/2011 (Image: John Chappell)
Hastings Diesel Limited’s 57th public rail tour the “Weymouth Envoy” ran from Hastings to Weymouth via London Waterloo therefore running the entire length of the LSWR main line.
At Weymouth No. 1001 was shunted to Jersey Sidings and is seen here pulling forward on the return to Weymouth Railway Station to pick up passengers passing Great Western Railway Class 150 No. 150927 – 20/07/2012 (Image: John Chappell)Hastings Unit No. 1001 awaits 1632 departure working as 1Z31 Weymouth to Hastings – 20/07/2012 (Image: John Chappell)Back in July 2015, Colas Class 37 No. 37175 was again in charge of the Ultrasonic Test Unit, seen here at Dorchester West propelling to Weymouth – 16/07/2015
Thank you for stopping by. Your comments, corrections, contributions are most welcome. Be seeing you.
Yoshi and I in front of Hudswell Clarke & Co Ltd 0-6-0 ST No. 31 at Fawley Hill Museum – 25/06/2023
We eased into a busy few days by popping over to Hamworthy on Friday 23rd June 2023 to see a Freightliner Class 66 locomotive on a route learner from Southampton Maritime to Weymouth and back. No idea if this means there may be some engineering trains heading our way in the future or just a refresher for the crew. Either way, it was good to see.
Freightliner Class 66 No. 66551 passes Hamworthy on a route learner running as 0W45 0902 Southampton MCT to Weymouth – 23/06/2023Freightliner Class 66 No. 66551 having passed through Hamworthy station working 0W45 0902 Southampton MCT to Weymouth – 23/06/2023
On the return trip back to Southampton Maritime, I sought a location I have not used previously. A footbridge across the railway afforded a nice view of the mainline on the approaches west of Hamworthy. I had not, however, taken into the account that the bridge was surrounded by mesh which made photography very difficult. It was also very bouncy when being walked across, so I was very relieved nobody passed at the same time as the light Class 66 trundled by underneath!
Freightliner Class 66 No. 66551 passes Hamworthy on the return route learner running as 0W46 1041 Weymouth to Southampton MCT – 23/06/2023
Class 66 No. 66551 on route learning duties – 23/06/2023
On Saturday, Yoshi’s mama had planned an all female picnic meet-up with friends, which left the boy and I free to go and see some trains during the day! I’d noted on the rail tour calendar that double-headed Class 69’s were scheduled to run down to Cornwall, so this became my objective of the day. In fact there were four tours scheduled to pass through Taunton that same day, with one changing diesel traction for steam in the station, so this was probably a good choice of location.
Cornish Mazey Day Statesman – 1Z64 0522 Solihull to Penzance
LSL Class 47 No.’s 47805 and 47614 flying through Creech St. Michael with the “Cornish Mazey Day Statesman” 1Z64 0522 Solihull to Penzance – 24/06/2023
Operated by: Statesman Rail
Motive power: 2 x LSL Class 47 No.’s 47805 and 47614
The Pathfinder Mazey Day Special – 1Z69 0544 Tame Bridge Parkway to Penzance
GBRf Class 69 No.’s 69005 and 69006 on the approach to Creech St. Michael working “The Pathfinder Mazey Day Special” 1Z69 0544 Tame Bridge Parkway to Penzance – 24/06/2023GBRf Class 69 No.’s 69005 and 69006 on the approach to Creech St. Michael working “The Pathfinder Mazey Day Special” 1Z69 0544 Tame Bridge Parkway to Penzance – 24/06/2023
Operated by: Pathfinder Tours
Motive power: 2 x GBRf Class 69 No.’s 69005 and 69006
At a ceremony in Gloucester on Friday 23rd June 2023, No. 69006 was named ‘Pathfinder Railtours – Peter Watts 50 Years Service 1973-2023’. After the naming No.’s 69006 and 69005 ran light engines to Burton to collect the tour stock for the following day.
English Riviera Express – 1Z27 0550 Shrewbury to Kingswear (For Dartmouth)
LSL Class 37 No.’s 37521 and 37688 with Class 47 No. 47828 at the rear hauling the diesel leg of the “English Riviera Express” 1Z27 0550 Shrewbury to Kingswear (For Dartmouth) at Creech St. Michael – 24/06/2023LSL Class 47 No. 47828 at the rear of the “English Riviera Express” 1Z27 0550 Shrewbury to Kingswear (For Dartmouth) at Creech St. Michael – 24/06/2023Having changed locomotives in Taunton railway station and now with LNER A4 4-6-2 No. 60007 ‘Sir Nigel Gresley’ in charge “English Riviera Express” 1Z27 0550 Shrewbury to Kingswear (For Dartmouth) passes Fairwater Yard, Taunton – 24/06/2023LNER A4 4-6-2 No. 60007 ‘Sir Nigel Gresley’ heads up the “English Riviera Express” 1Z27 0550 Shrewbury to Kingswear (For Dartmouth) with Class 47 No. 47828 at the rear passing Fairwater Yard, Taunton – 24/06/2023LNER A4 4-6-2 No. 60007 ‘Sir Nigel Gresley’ heads up the “English Riviera Express” 1Z27 0550 Shrewbury to Kingswear (For Dartmouth) at Silk Mills, Taunton – 24/06/2023
Operated by: Saphos Trains
Motive power: 2 x LSL Class 37 No.’s 37521 and 37688 with Class 47 No. 47828 at the rear. At Taunton the Class 37’s were taken off the train and substituted by LNER A4 4-6-2 No. 60007 ‘Sir Nigel Gresley’. The Class 47 remained to provide assistance at the rear.
The Whistling Ghost – 1Z10 0608 Birmingham Snow Hill to Bishops Lydeard
With Silk Mills bridge in the background, GWR Castle 4-6-0 No. 7029 ‘Clun Castle’ hauling “The Whistling Ghost” 1Z10 0608 Birmingham Snow Hill to Bishops Lydeard wending its way across the GW mainline onto the branch which leads to the West Somerset Railway – 24/06/2023GWR Castle 4-6-0 No. 7029 ‘Clun Castle’ hauling “The Whistling Ghost” 1Z10 0608 Birmingham Snow Hill to Bishops Lydeard pulls onto the branch which leads to the West Somerset Railway – 24/06/2023GWR Castle 4-6-0 No. 7029 ‘Clun Castle’ at the head of “The Whistling Ghost” 1Z10 0608 Birmingham Snow Hill to Bishops Lydeard at Norton Fitzwarren. The Tysley collection’s Class 47 No. 47773 at the rear – 24/06/2023
Operated by: Vintage Trains
Motive power: GWR Castle 4-6-0 No. 7029 ‘Clun Castle’ with support from Class 47 No. 47773. Originally planned to run on 20th May 2023, the tour was rescheduled to June. On the WSR the train was taken from Bishops Lydeard to Minehead by 2 x GWR Manor Class 4-6-0 locomotives No.’s 7828 and 7812. Good friend of therailwaydog.co.uk, @smithy.377 kindly allowed us to share the following photos and video from the West Somerset leg of the tour.
GWR Manor Class 4-6-0 locomotives No.’s 7828 ‘Odney Manor’ and 7812 ‘Erlestoke Manor’ await the arrival of “The Whistling Ghost” tour at Bishops Lydeard (image by kind permission of @smithy.377) – 24/06/2023
Video from @smithy.377 as No.’s 7828 ‘Odney Manor’ and 7812 ‘Erlestoke Manor’ pass No. 7029 ‘Clun Castle’ at Bishops Lydeard – 24/06/2023 Having substituted for No. 7029 ‘Clun Castle’, No.’s 7828 ‘Odney Manor’ and 7812 ‘Erlestoke Manor’ await departure from Bishops Lydeard with “The Whistling Ghost” tour (image by kind permission of @smithy.377) – 24/06/2023GWR Manor Class 4-6-0 locomotives No.’s 7828 ‘Odney Manor’ and 7812 ‘Erlestoke Manor’ depart Bishops Lydeard with “The Whistling Ghost” bound for Minehead (image by kind permission of @smithy.377) – 24/06/2023
It was another hot day and for the most part Yoshi was able to find shade or at least a cooling breeze. We had toyed with the idea of heading to Bristol as two Class 20 locomotives were reported to be stabled at Bristol Kingsland Road (more on these later). But ultimately, it was far too hot for the boy to be out in the sun for any prolonged period so we waited a little while to see an interesting Class 43 HST power car move from Plymouth to Doncaster and then headed home in good time to pick up Caroline after the picnic.
Inter-City liveried Class 43 No. 43184 with No. 43285 at the rear working 5E23 1036 Laira T&RSMD to Doncaster Works Wagon Shops seen passing Norton Fitzwarren – 24/06/2023HST Class 43 power car No. 43285 tailing No. 43184 and two MK3 coaches as 5E23 1036 Laira T&RSMD to Doncaster Works Wagon Shops at Norton Fitzwarren – 24/06/2023
Trains around Taunton the morning of 24th June 2023
On Sunday 25th June, Yoshi, Caroline and I had been invited to Fawley Hill Museum and Railway Running Day. It sounds very grand to be invited. In reality, because the museum and railway are open on a limited number of days per year, admission is by prior application and invitation only as space is limited. Fawley Hill is a private museum established in the 1960’s by the late Sir William McAlpine at his estate near Henley on Thames. It hosts a fine collection of memorabilia and models relating to railways together with a working standard gauge railway operating on the steepest gradient in the country. Since its inception the site has grown steadily with a wide range of interesting artefacts and buildings arriving from all over the country. Many items of architecture have been rescued and reassembled at Fawley Hill to save them from demolition, creating a unique urban landscape in a country estate. The park also contains a variety of animals including many species of deer.
Deer at Fawley Hill – 25/06/2023
There is a strict “No Photography” rule on visitors inside the Museum, although in reality we found limited photography was acceptable as long as no images are posted on the internet in any way. Which unfortunately includes blogs about railways. So, you’re going to have to take my word for it – the museum is fascinating and holds over 6,000 objects. My favourite sections were a display on the artist Terrence Cuneo, and an area dedicated to LNER A3 No. 60103 ‘Flying Scotsman’ which was saved for the nation by Sir William McAlpine, the Museum’s founder. There are some amazing models including a very clever diorama of Swindon Works employing use of reflections to force a longer perspective.
On the day of our visit, Class 03 No.D2120 was running trains, and we took a ride in Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway half-coach ‘Judy’. Yoshi was allowed to sit with us on the wooden seating and he watched out of the window as we meandered around the estate’s railway system.
Class 03 0-6-0 Diesel Mechanical Shunter No. D2120 climbs the slope to Somersham Station at Fawley Hill pulling Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway half-coach ‘Judy’ – 25/06/2023
230 Class 03 diesel shunter locomotives were constructed by BR at Swindon and Doncaster Works between 1957 and 1962. No. D2120 was built at Swindon and entered service in October 1959. She was first allocated to Dangraig Depot and spent her entire career in the Swansea area of South Wales.
In March 1972 whilst undergoing an overhaul, No. D2120 was converted to Burry Port & Gwendraeth Valley Railway (BPGVR) loading gauge. Eventually a total of 11 Class 03’s were converted in this way. The BPGVR had a severe height restriction and this conversion involved reducing the cab height by 4½ inches, and the fitting of a headlight in front of the exhaust stack, and another at the rear of the cab, for use when locomotives crossed unprotected level crossings. The converted locomotives were also fitted for multiple working with a second locomotive of the same class. During the mid 1970’s British Rail adopted a locomotive five figure computer numbering methodology under the Total Operations Processing System (TOPS) used for managing railway locomotives and rolling stock and No. D2120 was renumbered No. 03120 in March 1974.
In 1978, No. 03120 spent three months (August – October) in store at Swindon, being re-introduced into service in November. She was given a final general overhaul at Swindon in May 1983 and retained as a standby loco, allocated to Landore Depot, Swansea. She was finally withdrawn by BR in February 1986 and released for sale. Purchased by Sir William McAlpine, No. 03120 arrived at Fawley in December 1986, wearing the standard fleet livery of BR rail blue with ‘wasp’ yellow and black painted warning ends. Since arriving at Fawley, she has been repainted into early BR Green as No. D2120, the wasp stripes at each end of the locomotive were restored in 2019. D2120 wears loco shed allocation plate 87C (Danygraig).
Class 03 0-6-0 Diesel Mechanical Shunter No. D2120 backs onto a GWR plank open wagon and a guards van to increase passenger capacity on the train rides at Fawley Hill – 25/06/2023Class 03 0-6-0 Diesel Mechanical Shunter No. D2120 working visitor train rides at Fawley Hill – 25/06/2023Class 03 0-6-0 Diesel Mechanical Shunter No. D2120 passes under the footbridge which was originally located at Brading Station on the Isle of Wight where it spanned the Ryde to Shanklin line before moving to Fawley Hill in March 2000 (CLS) – 25/06/2023
Hudswell Clarke & Co Ltd 0-6-0 ST No. 31 at Fawley Hill Museum. This locomotive was ordered from Hudswell Clarke & Co Ltd in November 1912 by the Ministry of Fuel and Power, and built at their Hunslet, Leeds works. She was allocated builder’s number 1026, and completed in April 1913, at a total cost of £1485. Delivered new to Robert McAlpine & Sons, Cuffley on 14 April 1913, No 31 was allocated Plant Number 2581 in 1931. She was outshopped in Caledonian Blue, a colour she kept throughout her time at the McAlpine company even though the corporate colour was green. No 31 is the only surviving locomotive to have been owned by Sir Robert McAlpine & Sons for the whole of its working life. She worked on a number of building contracts including Wembley Stadium (1923-1924), RAF Boscombe Down (1944) and Llanwern Steelworks (1960-1961). The locomotive was rebuilt by Hudswell Clarke & Co in 1938. No 31 went into storage at McAlpine’s yard at Hayes in 1961 and remained there until she was identified for scrapping in 1965. At this point, Sir William decided to give No 31 a new life in retirement and purchased the locomotive. No 31 arrived at Fawley in September 1965 and was subsequently repainted in GWR Brunswick green livery. Above the smokebox door is carried loco shed plate 81M – a code unique to Fawley – 25/06/2023One of two Planet 0-4-0 Diesel Mechanical locomotives at Fawley, No. 3894 ‘Ernie’ in Fawley station yard with Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway half-coach ‘Judy’ – 25/06/2023Somersham Station, previously to be found on the St. Ives to March line. The station was opened by the Eastern Counties Railway (ECR) in 1848. The line was closed to all rail traffic in 1967. The waiting room survived until 1977 when it was moved to Fawley – 25/06/2023Shobnall Maltings Signal Box is a Midland Railway (Type 3a) signal box dating from 1905. It was the first building to arrive for use on the Fawley railway in 1969 and was originally built at Swadlincote East near Burton-on-Trent. It was moved to operate at the Bass, Ratcliff & Gretton Ltd brewery and renamed Shobnall Maltings – 25/06/2023 These tyres from ‘Flying Scotsman’ were removed from the driving wheels of the famous LNER Class A3 4-6-2 prior to her journey to Australia in September 1988 – 25/06/2023Blackfriars Bridge Capital taken from the old Blackfriars Bridge across the River Thames in London. The bridge opened in June 1864 and demolished in the 1960’s. The bridge abutments remained until the mid-1980’s when the one on the north side of the river was removed along with its decorative cast iron capital or pediment. This example arrived at Fawley in 1984 whilst the remaining two are still in situ in London – 25/06/2023The columns of the old Blackfriars railway bridge standing next to the current bridge – 26/08/2022The southern abutment and LC&DR insignia have been restored – 26/08/2022Our visit coincided with the arrival of some Austin-Healey sports cars… – 25/06/2023…and some Morris Minor cars and vans! – 25/06/2023
Doggos are not permitted inside the museum buildings at Fawley Hill, so Caroline and I took it in turns to enjoy the delights on display while the other sat with Yoshi in a cool spot which obviously happened to be situated just by the toilets. It was during my time at this spot that I checked email on my phone and although the 4G coverage was barely existant, I discovered the Class 20’s I mentioned earlier and at that time believed to be in Bristol were in actual fact stabled at Didcot just 18 miles up the road from our current location and more or less in the correct direction for our drive back to Dorset. So after a cup of tea and an excellent piece of raspberry and coconut slice, we took a few final photographs and set off towards home.
On arrival in Didcot, we parked up and I took a stroll over to the railway station. The Class 20’s were conveniently parked adjacent to the platforms and were getting a fair bit of attention from other rail enthusiasts, much to the puzzlement of waiting passengers. The locomotives, currently part of the Harry Needle Rail Company (HNRC) fleet but still carrying the remnant livery of their previous owners; GBRf, are on hire to Rail Operations Group (ROG).
Class 20 No.’s 20905 and 20901 with SIM14 ‘Sentinel’ (No. 99 84 0362 006-0) at Didcot – 25/06/2023Class 20 No.’s 20901 and 20905 at Didcot – 25/06/2023Class 20 No. 20901 at Didcot. Contrast the differences in nose end detail with the following image of classmate No. 20905 – 25/06/2023No. 20905 at Didcot. Contrast and compare with the image above of classmate No. 20901 – 25/06/2023
The locos, rare visitors to west, are currently working in tandem with one of seven Eurailscout Switch Inspection Machines (SIM). I’m more used to switches being called points, but accept this “Americanism” as it quite an explanatory term. The points are the movable rails which guide the wheels towards either the straight or the diverging track allowing a train to switch tracks if required. They’re quite complex really and require a fair amount of maintenance to ensure they are in a safe and usable condition. SIM14 ‘Sentinel’ (No. 99 84 0362 006-0) arrived at Didcot by road from Holland at the start of June 2023 and was subsequently moved to Bristol Kingsland Road by a single Class 20 locomotive. It spent several nights working in the Bristol area doing exactly what the name suggests – inspecting various switches and junctions in the vicinity of Temple Meads, East Junction and West Junction. After spending the weekend at Didcot again, it was moved to Southall yard on the 12th June for further overnight inspections in the Paddington area. More recently the single Class 20 was joined by its classmate and on the 20th June returned to the Bristol area, moving back to Didcot on the morning of the 23rd despite the TOPS reporting they were still 77 miles further west.
Close up of Eurailscout SIM14 ‘Sentinel’ (No. 99 84 0362 006-0) at Didcot – 25/06/2023
Eurailscout says the following about the Swith Inspection Machines: “About 50% of all track disruptions are caused by faulty switches, with timely maintenance being needed in order to prevent these disruptions. We use a SIM wagon to measure and inspect the geometry and rail profiles of your switches under day-to-day operating conditions. A single locomotive can push or pull the SIM wagon, which means it can be shunted around quickly between the normal rail traffic. Since we also record high-quality video images during this work, you can make a visual inspection of the switch without having to put it out of service for the inspection and without your staff having to walk on the track themselves.”
Also stabled at Didcot were Class 66 No.’s 66136 and 66083 – 25/06/2023Class 66 No.’s 66051 ‘Maritime Intermodal Four’ and 66129, Didcot Yard – 25/06/2023
Monday and Tuesday saw some stock movements run around at Poole Storage Sidings as they either went to or from Bournemouth T&RSMD. First up on June 26th was ROG Class 37 No. 37884 ‘Cepheus’ hauling a Class 455 electric multiple unit No. 455863 from Wimbledon to Bournemouth for repair of a failed motor alternator. We saw the Cass 37 and empty coaching stock unit pass through Poole station on the way to the sidings. The locomotive detached from the front of the unit and ran back into Poole station and reversed back out again to attach itself to the other end of the empty stock before passing back through the station on the way to Bournemouth depot.
ROG Class 37 No. 37884 ‘Cepheus’ hauling broken Class 455 electric multiple unit No. 455863 through Poole as 5Q86 1246 Wimbledon Park CSD to Bournemouth T&RSMD – 26/06/2023Class 455 No. 455863 being towed into Poole Storage Sidings as 5Q86 1246 Wimbledon Park CSD to Bournemouth T&RSMD. Class 37 No. 37884 ‘Cepheus’ will run around the EMU to haul it back to Bournemouth depot – 26/06/2023Class 37 No. 37884 ‘Cepheus’ at Poole running around 5Q86 1246 Wimbledon Park CSD to Bournemouth T&RSMD – 26/06/2023Class 37 No. 37884 ‘Cepheus’ and No. 455863 work 5Q86 1246 Wimbledon Park CSD to Bournemouth T&RSMD – 26/06/2023
5Q86 1246 Wimbledon Park CSD to Bournemouth T&RSMD at Poole – 26/06/2023
The following day it was the turn of Class 47 No. 47727 ‘Edinburgh Castle’ to arrive at Bournemouth T&RSMD to collect a stored ten-car Class 701 unit and take it off to Wimbledon for a further priod of storage. Regular readers may recall that the Class 701’s are yet to enter revenue earning service with South Western Railway and are currently undergoing testing and running in mileage accumulation runs. In fact, if you have a length of track able to accommodate one of these units, I’m sure Network Rail would love to hear from you as sidings all over the country are being filled up with these trains. Scheduled to depart Bournemouth at 1235, I was very much caught out when I discovered that the train had left 66 minutes early. I was very kindly picked up by our friend Jamie who deposited me at Poole station. Unfortunately, there were no free parking spaces available and as Jamie drove off in search of one, the Class 47 and unit hove into view.
Class 47 No. 47727 ‘Edinburgh Castle’ powers up at Poole hauling Class 701 EMU No. 701042 working 5Q86 1235 Bournemouth T&RSMD to Wimbledon Park Depot Sidings – 27/06/2023Class 701 No. 701042 being hauled to Wimbledon having passed through Poole behind Class 47 No. 47727 ‘Edinburgh Castle’ – 27/06/2023
5Q86 1235 Bournemouth T&RSMD to Wimbledon Park Depot Sidings departing Poole – 27/06/2023
Later the same day, Southern Railway West Country Class 4-6-2 No. 34046 ‘Braunton’ visited Weymouth with a Steam Dreams excursion originating from London Victoria. The tour ran to Yeovil Junction where the steam locomotive came off the train for servicing and turning at the Yeovil Railway Centre whilst Class 47 No. 47614 took the train onto Weymouth.
A lineside fire at Upwey got most of us thinking that the cause was ‘Braunton’, but in fact the steam locomotive hadn’t even passed through the area when the line to Weymouth was closed. Thankfully it wasn’t long until everything was sorted and the track between Upwey and Weymouth reopened at around 1800. This enabled the light steam locomotive to complete its run down to rejoin the stock with no delay to the departure of the tour which was scheduled to return to London via the Bournemouth route.
Jamie was again kind enough to allow me to join him at Parkstone to see the train pass through. Unfortunately, ‘Braunton’ was running an impressive 8 minutes early as she stormed the bank at Parkstone, just as a London Waterloo to Poole service in the form of SWR Class 444 No. 444004 pulled in on platform 2, obscuring the view for many of those waiting to photograph or video the steam passing through on the Up line. So, my sincere apologies to Jamie who had his view blocked by the service train. I don’t think he’ll be asking me to accompany him on any future outings at this rate!
Southern Railway West Country Class 4-6-2 No. 34046 ‘Braunton’ storms the bank at Parkstone working 1Z72 1836 Weymouth to London Victoria – 27/06/2023Class 47 No. 47614 shrouded in steam at the rear of 1Z72 1836 Weymouth to London Victoria having passed through Parkstone – 27/06/2023
Steam Dreams “Weymouth” rail tour (Dorchester video by kind permission of GE Barrett)- 27/06/2023
I was pleased to learn one of my favourite railway stations, Wemyss Bay in Scotland, has won this year’s World Cup of Stations competition following a five day contest across 11 geographical regions in England, Scotland and Wales. Supported by the Rail Delivery Group and the Community Rail Network over 70,000 votes were cast. 48 stations were chosen by TV presenter Tim Dunn and pitched against each other in 16 rounds to whittle down the final few. Wemyss Bay came in at first place with 8,403 votes in the last round, beating second place Denmark Hill on 7,441 votes and third place runner up Leamington Spa with 3,271 votes.
Wemyss Bay Railway station exterior. The station was designed by James Miller (1860-1947) in 1903 for the Caledonian Railway and is a Category A listed building – 23/06/2021 The station is a terminus on the Inverclyde Line, located 26 miles west of Glasgow Central. The station incorporates the Caledonian MacBrayne ferry terminal connecting mainland Scotland to Rothesay on the Isle of Bute and was designed to move passengers from train to ferry in five minutes via a curved covered way while luggage was moved on trolleys by a separate route – 23/06/2021The centrepiece of Wemyss Bay Station is a semi-circular ticket office, your eyes drawn upwards… – 23/06/2021…. towards curving roofs with a remarkable use of glass and steel curves. Platforms bend in one direction and the ramp down to the pier in another – 23/06/2023 ‘MV Argyle’ or ‘Earra-Ghaidheal’ in Gaelic pictured here, alongside her sister ship, ‘MV Bute’, operate sailings between Wemyss Bay and Rothesay on the Isle of Bute – 23/06/2021
And there we have it! We’ve reached the end of another blog entry. Thank you for your time in visiting us and for your comments, encouragement, corrections and contributions! We’ll be seeing you.
Postscript
Fawley Hill’s Cut-down cab Class 03 No. D2120 in BR blue days as No. 03120 at Landore depot, Swansea – 27/08/1981
We went to Shaftesbury on Sunday to see old buses. Caroline and I visited a pub or three and Yoshi took a liking to Gold Hill. Famous as the location for the 1973 Hovis bread TV advert directed by Ridley Scott. Still the same today as its always been – 18/06/2023
Wednesday 14th June 2023 saw Colas test train 1Q18 Derby RTC to Bristol Kingsland Road visit Dorset in the capable charge of top and tailed Class 37 locomotives No.’s 37612 and 37254. I was in the east of the county hoping to capture a Class 701 drag from Bournemouth to Eastleigh which didn’t materialise. It’s been quite a month for unusual movements being cancelled here; a Class 69 hauled Weedkiller to Weymouth, a Class 37 test train via the West and a Class 455 drag with a Rail Operations Group (ROG) Class 37 to Bournemouth T&RSMD to mention a few.
Class 37 No. 37612 leads 1Q18 Derby RTC to Bristol Kingsland Road via Weymouth into Dorchester West (video screen grab courtesy of G E Barrett) – 14/06/2023Class 37 No. 37254 leads out of Weymouth where 1Q18 Derby RTC to Bristol Kingsland Road has reversed for the run to Bristol (video screen grab courtesy of @da_buckley967) – 14/06/2023
Video of Class 37 No.s 37612 and 37254 working 1Q18 Derby RTC to Bristol Kingsland Road courtesy of @da_buckley967 and G E Barrett – 14/06/2023
On Saturday, I popped over to the Southampton area for a brief evening visit to see LNER A3 4-6-2 Pacific No. 60103 ‘Flying Scotsman’. I don’t understand the scorn poured on this locomotive by a certain section of the railway enthusiast fraternity. I think it’s great Scotsman captures the imagination of the general public and it was delightful to hear a lot of chatter on our local radio station before and after the locomotive visited Portsmouth. I was interested to see if No. 60103 retained her white roof which she had gained the previous week in advance of hauling the Royal Train carrying King Prince Charles over the North Yorkshire Moors Railway on Monday 12th June, and I was very pleased to see she had! I was able to observe the “Portsmouth Flyer” rail tour on its way back to London Victoria from the overbridge leading to Dock Gate 20 at Millbrook. It’s also an excellent vantage point to see the locomotives being stabled at Freightliner Maritime depot. I thought the location would be quite popular with onlookers, but in the event it was just myself and another photographer there to see the “People’s Locomotive” steam by. It was quite pleasant passing the time having a friendly chat about railways of today and years gone.
Freightliner Class 08 shunter No. 08785 at Southampton Maritime – 17/06/2023Class 66 No. 66594 at Southampton Maritime – 17/06/2023A line up of Class 70’s at Southampton Maritime, including No.’s 70003,70007 and 70014 with Class 66 No.’s 66565, 66594 and 66504 also visible- 17/06/2023Class 66 No. 66529 receives attention at Southampton Maritime – 17/06/2023CrossCountry Voyager No. 220011 nears Redbridge working 1020 1325 Manchester Piccadilly to Bournemouth – 17/06/2023LNER A3 Pacific No. 60103 ‘Flying Scotsman’ at Millbrook working the return “The Portsmouth Flyer” 1Z73 1606 Portsmouth Harbour to London Victoria – 17/06/2023The white cab roof applied to LNER A3 Pacific No. 60103 ‘Flying Scotsman’ can be seen clearly in this view of the locomotive as she works the return “The Portsmouth Flyer” 1Z73 1606 Portsmouth Harbour to London Victoria on the approach to Redbridge – 17/06/2023West Coast Railway Company Class 47 No. 47802 at the rear of “The Portsmouth Flyer” 1Z73 1606 Portsmouth Harbour to London Victoria approaching Redbridge – 17/06/2023
After seeing ‘Flying Scotsman’ I had just enough time to pop over to Eastleigh to get a photo of the Network Rail Class 153 Inspection Train. I was also able to see UK Railtours “The Magic Carpet” on its way from Exeter to London Victoria. This was hauled by two GBRf Class 73 Electro-diesels of the type we normally get here on a test train the first Monday of every month.
GBRf Class 66 No. 66726 ‘Sheffield Wednesday’ in Eastleigh East Yard in preparation for working 7C03 2302 to Clapham Junction Windsor Lines civil engineering train later in the day along with No. 66846 – 17/06/2023A view over Eastleigh East Yard with GBRf Class 66 No. 66726 ‘Sheffield Wednesday’ and Colas Rail Class 66 No. 66846 in the foreground – 17/06/2023DB Cargo Class 66 No. 66100 ‘Armistice 100 1918 – 2018’ in the sidings adjacent Eastleigh railway station – 17/06/2023Nameplate detail of Class 66 No. 66100 ‘Armistice 100 1918 – 2018’ – 17/06/2023Still carrying EWS Livery, DB Cargo Class 66 No. 66083 partners No. 66100 ‘Armistice 100 1918 – 2018’ at Eastleigh – 17/06/2023Network Rail Video Inspection Unit No. 2 (VIU2) No. 153376 rests at Eastleigh. Network Rail employs three Class 153 DMU’s for video assessment of track and points – 17/06/2023GBRf Class 66 No. 66701 having just reversed onto wagons ready to form 6G13 1952 Eastleigh East Yard to Cheam engineers train – 17/06/2023Maritime Blue liveried Class 66 No. 66051 ‘Maritime Intermodal Four’ passing through Eastleigh heading up 4V44 1824 Southampton Eastern Docks to Morris Cowley MAT – 17/06/2023GBRf Class 73/9 No.’s 73964 ‘Jeanette’ and 73962 ‘Dick Mabbutt’ hauling UK Railtours “The Magic Carpet” one the approach to Eastleigh – 17/06/2023GBRf Class 73/9 No.’s 73964 ‘Jeanette’ and 73962 ‘Dick Mabbutt’ hauling UK Railtours “The Magic Carpet” 1Z62 1533 Exeter St Davids to London Victoria on the approach to Eastleigh – 17/06/2023On the rear of “The Magic Carpet” 1Z62 1533 Exeter St Davids to London Victoria GBRf Class 66 No. 66768 – 17/06/2023In 2011, leasing company Akiem acquired seven unused JT42CWRM locomotives, which would originally enter service for Veolia Cargo SAS (77501-77503) as order 20078941 and Crossrail Benelux (77504-77507) as 20078920. On 20 June 2011, all seven locos were delivered with train protection systems for Germany, Belgium and France. After being delivered to Akiem, they were immediately leased to VFLI. Purchased and imported by GBRf Class 66 No.’s 66308 (ex-77503) and 66307 (ex-77502) are seen at Eastleigh Arlington Works having been repainted into standard GBRf livery following sizing modifications for the UK rail loading gauge carried out at Doncaster – 17/06/2023Class 313’s continue to arrive at Eastleigh Arlington for component recovery and scrapping. No.’s 313206, 313201, 313207 and 313208 can be identified in this view. An appeal to fund maintenance and storage costs of blue liveried No. 313201 has been launched – 17/06/2023No.’s 313206, 313201, 313217, 313207 and 313208 await their fate at Eastleigh Arlington – 17/06/2023These Class 313 EMU’s at Eastleigh Arlington have had their numbers cut out. We can identify No. 313202, closest to the camera, from the coach number 62530 – 17/06/2023
“The Magic Carpet” passed through Dorset and our North Dorset correspondent was on hand to capture the train at Gillingham:
GBRf Class 73/9 No.’s 73964 ‘Jeanette’ and 73962 ‘Dick Mabbutt’ head up UK Railtours “The Magic Carpet” at Gillingham on the return leg (photo courtesy of Scott Lewis) – 17/06/2023
This past weekend the 2023 “Royal Blue Run” saw the return of preserved and restored coaches to roads across the West Country, showcasing these fine specimens in authentic settings across the country recreating lost scenes. This year the Royal Blue & Associated Motorways run saw the privately owned vehicles recreate an age of bygone travel on the open roads through Wiltshire, Somerset, Devon and Cornwall reaching Penzance in the far south west. The specific routes chosen were drawn from Royal Blue timetables from different eras. Sometimes segments of express services are followed, or in other cases seasonal variants are used (e.g. summer Saturdays only or winter season routing). Every stretch has to be pre-driven to ensure the original roads remain suitable for coaches to pass even with modern parking practices or traffic management schemes. The coaches set out from Salisbury bus station on Friday 16th June and we chose to see them passing through Shaftesbury on their return final stage run up the A30, as used by the ‘stopping’ Penzance to London services, to Salisbury.
Burlingham C33F AEC Regal Reg No. CFK 340 in the livery of operator Burnham built 1948 at Shaftesbury – 18/06/2023Royal Blue ECW Bristol MW6G Fleet No. 2267 Reg No. 56 GUO built 1961 at Shaftesbury – 18/06/202Wilts & Dorset Beadle C32R Bristol L6B Fleet No. 279 Reg. EMW284, built 1947 at Shaftesbury – 18/06/202
The Thames Valley & Great Western Omnibus Trust (TV&GWOT) website provides more information on the Royal Blue Runs which “were established in 2002 so that owners and their passengers can relive the pleasures of long distance luxury coach travel for which their carefully preserved vehicles were originally intended. The aim is to follow original Royal Blue routes as closely as possible and to travel at a leisurely pace redolent of the times. The runs also create a wonderful spectacle for innocent bystanders and dedicated photographers alike, thanks to the hard work and resources the owners have devoted to restoring and maintaining their fine coaches.
A lot of work goes into planning the runs from selecting routes from the extensive Royal Blue network and researching the original drivers’ instructions and passenger timetables, preparing maps and outline routing, driving the routes to develop detailed instructions allowing for modern day features and constraints, organising refreshment stops, obtaining parking permissions, to identifying potential accommodation for a dozen or more coaches and their passengers. Despite all the preparations, final timings are hard to judge whether due to roadworks or things that might pique the interest of crews along the way. The coaches do not travel in close convoy so as not to inconvenience other road users. Some drivers have also been known on occasion to deviate from the intended route (unintentionally!).
Overall the focus is on education and enjoyment and we hope that however you take part you share in the pleasure.”
Western National Fleet No. 3307 Reg AFJ 727T Plaxton Supreme DP41F Bristol LH6L built in 1979 at Shaftesbury – 18/06/202A long way from home, Crossville Fleet No. CRG106 Reg AFM 106G ECW C49F Bristol RELH built in 1969 at Shaftesbury – 18/06/202Royal Blue Fleet No. 1286 Reg MOD 973 ECW Bristol LS6G C39F built in 1952 at Shaftesbury – 18/06/202Royal Blue (Western National) Fleet No. 1250 Reg. LTA 729 Duple Bristol LL6B C37F built in 1951 at Shaftesbury – 18/06/202
A very short video of Royal Blue Run buses passing through Shaftesbury – 18/06/2023
I certainly derived much pleasure from seeing the coaches which were running around thirty minutes behind schedule when they passed us. Not bad timing in my humble opinion! I previously saw the 2016 Royal Blue Run which having started at London Victoria Coach Station ran to Bristol on Day One. The following day was designed to commemorate 50 years since the final train on the Somerset & Dorset Railway, a much loved and mourned route that ran through Royal Blue heartland from Bath to Bournemouth. The route intertwined with several famous S&D locations, recreating in part the former rail replacement service that was created when the line closed in 1966. Day Three was an excursion from Bournemouth to Lulworth Cove, followed by a trip across the New Forest to Lyndhurst. It was Lulworth Cove where I decided to see the buses as they grouped together in the car park before once again taking to the open road where I took the opportunity to see them passing through Lulworth village and Wareham.
Royal Blue Bristol MW6G Fleet No. 2246 Reg. 625 DDV built 1960 enters the car park at Lulworth Cove – 19/06/2016Western National Bristol MW6G ECW C39F Fleet No. 1423 Reg. EDV 505D built in 1966 and entered service in Plymouth seen at Lulworth Cove – 19/06/2016A Royal Blue line up at Lulworth Cove – 19/06/2016Royal Blue ECW Bristol MW6G Fleet No. 2267 Reg No. 56 GUO built 1961 passing through Lulworth – 19/06/2016Wilts & Dorset Beadle bodied Bristol L6B Fleet No. 279 Reg. EMW284, built 1947 at Lulworth – 19/06/2016Royal Blue Fleet No. 1299 Reg. OTT 98 1953 Bristol LS6G with ECW C39F coachwork at Lulworth village – 19/06/2016Royal Blue express services Fleet No. 2351 Reg. 837 SUO Bristol RELH6G ECW passing through Wareham – 19/06/2016
From The Archives:
Mention of Penzance as part of the Royal Blue Run this year reminded me that I was going to look for a photograph of the Pullman Camping Coaches which used to stand at Marazion and I mentioned as much in our blog entry “Yoshi Goes To Cornwall”. As luck would have it, I was looking for some paperwork the other day and came across the following images:
For many years Marazion was home to six old Pullman coaches that were employed as camping coaches; holiday accommodation offered by the railway containing sleeping and living space designed to encourage people to travel by train to the stations where they were situated – March 1993British Rail Parcels Sector liveried Class 47 No. 47462 ‘Cambridge Traction & Rolling Stock Depot’ at Penzance – March 1993 Class 47 No. 47463 (with her pre-TOPS number D1586 marked between her head code lights) in BR Standard Monastral Blue livery, which she retained to the end, stands at Penzance. The locomotive entered service in May 1964 and was cut up in November 1996 by MRJ Phillips at Crewe Works – March 1993Class 47 No. 47462 ‘Cambridge Traction & Rolling Stock Depot’ at Penzance. The locomotive was built at Crewe and entered traffic on May 16th 1964 as D1582. Named at Cambridge Open Day held on 29th September 1990 by Jack Firman a retired workshop supervisor, the nameplates were removed in December 1993 and later transferred to No. 47736 – March 1993Class 47 No. 47462 at Penzance. The locomotive was cut up at Toton by Harry Needle Rail Co in March 2003 – March 1993
Alongside the Cornwall photographs above, the same box of documents contained, amongst other things, a Blake’s 7 ‘Liberator’ model and an old diary. I’ve not been one for keeping a diary, but for six months in 1982, I seemed to have managed it. Tucked inside the diary was a piece of paper from a rail tour I took from London Paddington to the Severn Valley Railway on Saturday 19th June 1982.
Great Western Society Limited “The Salopian II” information sheet – 19/06/1982Great Western Society Limited “The Salopian II” information sheet – 19/06/1982
This must have been my first visit to the SVR, and I don’t really remember much about the day if I’m honest. So from the pages of a diary not opened in years, here, extracted from amongst references to exams, my sister’s wedding, the Falklands War and working part-time at Bere Regis Motors in Dorchester, is my record of the Great Western Society Limited’s “The Salopian II”:
Thursday June 10th 1982
Rail tour tickets for the 19th arrived today. Going with Tony S. Adam Ant is number one with ‘Goody Two Shoes’
Friday June 18th 1982
At 2245 Tony and I boarded the mail train at Dorchester South. Jon H was there as well, but he’s going off somewhere else when we get to London.
There was talk about the mail train being taken off soon. If so, we will have problems if we want an overnight jaunt to connect with rail tours departing London in the future.
Saturday June 19th 1982
The locomotive which hauled the mail train from Dorchester, 33118, came off at Eastleigh where it was replaced by 73122. We arrived at London Waterloo right-time and then, together, Jon, Tony and I took a black cab across to Euston. At 0600 we went our separate ways with Jon heading to Kings Cross while Tony and I undertook the two and a half mile stroll to Paddington railway station. The weather was dismal , but at least it didn’t pour down with rain.
At Paddington, we were due to depart at 0740 but at the appointed time we were surprised to see our train loco; 47532, being taken off the stock at 0725 and taken away.
Class 47 No. 47532 at the head of “The Salopian II” rail tour at London Paddington prior to being removed from the train. HST Class 43 Power Car No. 43145 is on the adjacent track – 19/06/1982
We eventually left at 0757 with the class 47 having been replaced by 50012.
Class 50 No. 50012 ‘Benbow’ approaches London Paddington to take over “The Salopian II” rail tour. The locomotive would be withdrawn from service in January 1989 and cut up by Vic Berry in Leicester by July of that year – 19/06/1982
By the time we arrived at Didcot we were 27 minutes down on schedule. But a quick locomotive changeover meant this was reduced to 16 minutes when we left behind 7029 ‘Clun Castle’.
GWR 4073 Class 4-6-0 No. 7029 ‘Clun Castle’ backs onto “The Salopian II” at Didcot – 19/06/1982GWR 4073 Class 4-6-0 No. 7029 ‘Clun Castle’ at Didcot – 19/06/1982GWR 4073 Class 4-6-0 No. 7029 ‘Clun Castle’ at Didcot – 19/06/1982GWR 4073 Class 4-6-0 No. 7029 ‘Clun Castle’ stopped at Banbury for a water stop – 19/06/1982Class 33 No. 33025 ‘Sultan’ in the bay platform at Banbury as No. 7029 ‘Clun Castle’, having drawn forward from the previous image, takes on water – 19/06/1982
By the time of our next locomotive changeover the ‘Castle’ had managed to make up the deficit and we arrived bang on time allowing 20165 and 20167 to take us forward to Bewdley on the Severn Valley Railway where we still managed to arrive 20 minutes late!
GWR 4073 Class 4-6-0 No. 7029 ‘Clun Castle’ alongside Class 20 No.’s 20165 and 20167 which took over “The Salopian II” at Dorridge – 19/06/1982Class 20 No.’s 20165 and 20167 backing onto “The Salopian II” at Dorridge – 19/06/1982
On the SVR we were hauled by 43106 from Bewdley to Dorridge and return. We had a couple of hours to look around the shed at Bridgnorth and get refreshments.
While on Severn Valley Railway metals our train was hauled by LMS Ivan Class 4 No. 43106, the only surviving member of the class. Seen here at Bridgnorth – 19/06/1982GWR 7800 Class 4-6-0 No. 7812 ‘Erlestoke Manor’ at Bridgnorth – 19/06/1982LMS Stanier Class 5 4-6-0 No. 5000 at Bridgnorth. No. 5000 is part of the National Collection and is currently on static display at the Shildon Locomotion Museum in County Durham – 19/06/1982Longmoor Military Railway No. 600 ‘Gordon’ (named after General Gordon of Khartoum) was. built in 1943 for the War Department and is seen here at Bridgnorth. In 1957, during the Suez Crisis, ‘Gordon’ worked highly secretive trains between Longmoor Military Base and Southampton. The locomotive is currently on static display on the SVR at The Engine House, Highley – 19/06/1982GWR 7800 Class 4-6-0 No. 7812 ‘Erlestoke Manor’ at Bridgnorth – 19/06/1982GWR 7800 Class 4-6-0 No. 7812 ‘Erlestoke Manor’ at Bridgnorth – 19/06/1982
I managed to get a piece of smut in my in my eye from 4930 ’Hagley Hall’ which I just couldn’t get out. [2023 note: I’m thinking No. 4930 may have hauled us one way on the SVR, but my diary says No. 43106 worked the train in both directions]
GWR Collett 4-6-0 Hall Class No. 4930 ‘Hagley Hall’ at Bridgnorth. She was built in 1929 at Swindon Works and originally allocated to Wolverhampton Stafford Road – 19/06/1982GWR Collett 5700 Class 0-60PT “Pannier Tank” No. 5764 entered service at London’s Old Oak Common in 1929 and was later one of a number of the class sold to London Transport following withdrawal from British Rail in 1960. She is currently on static display in London Transport guise, numbered L95, at The Engine House, Highley. She is seen here in GWR livery at Bridgnorth – 19/06/1982
Returning to Bewdley, the 20’s took control of our train once again and regained all lost time and even gained 15 minutes. But despite these efforts, the quarter hour and more was lost due to a number of signal stops. In my opinion the star of the day; 92220 ‘Evening Star’, to be precise, replaced the diesel power at Saltley and despite working hard we arrived back at Didcot some 16 minutes down.
BR Standard Class 9F No. 92220 ‘Evening Star’ during a water stop at Banbury. No. 92220 was the last steam locomotive to be built at for British Railways and was earmarked for preservation before she entered service in March 1960. She hauled the last Pines Express on the Somerset & Dorset line on 8th September 1962. ‘Evening Star’ had a working life of five years before being withdrawn from service in March 1965 after sustaining damage in a shunting incident at Cardiff Docks. She was overhauled and restored at Crewe Works following withdrawal working in preservation until the late 1980’s. She is now on static display at the Railway Museum in York and one of nine existing locomotives of a class which numbered 251- 19/06/1982
50040 took us forward to Reading where Tony and I de-trained for our connection down to Basingstoke and home.
Sunday June 20th 1982
The down Mail arrived into Basingstoke at Midnight. We were extremely lucky to have made it as our connecting service train from Reading should have left at 2300 and “The Salopian II” arrived at 2302. We met Paul E and Mark B, two rail enthusiasts from Charminster who had been part of the group who went to Plymouth Laira with us in April. This time they had been to Calais with Mark’s parents. A class 73 took us from Basingstoke to Eastleigh where 33010 came on to bring us into Dorchester South just after 0300 where we all said our good-byes and headed home to our beds.
I was up again at 0900 in order to see some excursion trains.
Class 33 No. 33029 approaching Dorchester South – 20/06/1982Class 47 No. 47526 at Dorchester West – 20/06/1982
The piece of smut in my eye from ‘Hagley Hall’ was still there, so I called on [my brother], who was out. Anyway, he appeared at half four and spent an hour moving the smut from the blue bit of my eye to the edge and finally relief!
GBRf Class 73 No.’s 73964 ‘Jeanette’ and 73961 ‘Alison’ were out on a GB Railfreight staff special the “Tonbridge Trailblazer” in June 2016 running from Ashford International to Weston-super-Mare. The ED’s are seen here at Bath Spa on the return leg working 1Z63 1725 Weston-super-Mare to Ashford International – 18/06/2016
Postscript:
Longmoor Military Railway No. 600 ‘Gordon’ as seen in 2023 at The Engine House, Highley – 20/05/2023London Transport No. L95 (the former GWR Collett 5700 Class 0-60PT “Pannier Tank” No. 5764) as seen in 2023 at The Engine House, Highley – 20/05/2023It’s goodbye from me, and a goodbye from Yoshi! Thanks for reading. We appreciate your comments, contributions, updates and corrections. See you soon!
Yoshi at Minehead on the West Somerset Railway with Class 33 Crompton No. D6575 (33057) – 09/06/2023
This week we had the first Class 69’s to Dorchester and the second ever Class 40 to visit Weymouth, the first occasion being Forty years ago. So that’s quite appropriate!
Setting the alarm for stupid o’clock on Friday morning I was in Dorchester in good time to see GBRf Class 69 No.’s 69004 and 69003 ‘The Railway Observer’ working 3Q00 2355 Exeter Riverside N.Y. to Exeter Riverside N.Y. weedkiller which was scheduled to reverse at Dorchester Junction at 0221 – 0229. I had a bit of a longer wait than planned at Dorchester West as the train arrived 37 minutes down on schedule. The vegetation control set was scheduled to visit Weymouth via Dorchester South on Monday 12th June with the train having moved to Eastleigh over the weekend. Unfortunately a tragic incident between Poole and Bournemouth caused disruption to services and the train was cancelled.
In its retro Railway Technical Centre livery, GBRf Class 69 No. 69004 crosses the road bridge at Dorchester West working 3Q00 2355 Exeter Riverside New Yard to Exeter Riverside New Yard – 09/06/2023Class 69 No. 69003 ‘The Railway Observer’ at the rear of 3Q00 2355 Exeter Riverside New Yard to Exeter Riverside New Yard passing through Dorchester West – 09/06/2023The Weedkilling train passed through Dorchester West and reversed at Dorchester Junction. Class 69 No. 69003 ‘The Railway Observer’ now heads up 3Q00 2355 Exeter Riverside New Yard to Exeter Riverside New Yard on the return journey to Devon – 09/06/2023GBRf Class 69 No. 69004 at Dorchester West working 3Q00 2355 Exeter Riverside New Yard to Exeter Riverside New Yard – 09/06/2023
The first Class 69’s to Dorchester – 09/06/2023
Later the same Friday, Yoshi and I headed over the county border to the West Somerset Railway for the second day of their 2023 diesel gala.
The West Somerset Railway (WSR) is a 22 miles in length and is the longest standard gauge heritage railway in the UK. It originally opened in 1862 between Taunton and Watchet. In 1874 it was extended from Watchet to Minehead by the Minehead Railway. At first the railway was a single track line with improvements required in the first half of the 20th century to cater for the increase in tourism to the Somerset coast. The line was closed by British Rail in 1971 and reopened in 1976 as a heritage line.
Interestingly, Wikipedia notes: “In 1845, when the Bristol and Exeter Railway (B&ER) had recently completed its main line, there were proposals for a number of different and competitive railway schemes in west Somerset. A Bristol and English Channels Direct Junction Railway was proposed as a link from Watchet through Stogumber and Bishops Lydeard to Bridport on the south coast, which would be an alternative to ships taking a long and dangerous passage around Land’s End. This prompted the promotion of a connecting line from Williton to Minehead and Porlock, a line designed to attract tourists to Exmoor. Shortly afterwards, a Bristol and English Channels Connection Railway was suggested from Stolford to Bridport which would have passed through the Quantock Hills near Crowcombe. Alternatively, the Bridgwater and Minehead Junction Railway would link with the B&ER at Bridgwater and run through Williton to Minehead with a branch to Watchet and a connecting Minehead and Central Devon Junction Railway would provide a line to Exeter. An alternative link to South Devon was proposed by the Exeter, Tiverton and Minehead Direct Railway through Dunster and offered an extension to Ilfracombe.” Of course, none of these schemes came to fruition, but it is interesting to speculate on the possible developments of Bridport and West Bay.
Unfortunately one of the planned 2023 gala highlights, a double headed Class 35 Hymek hauled train, didn’t transpire on the day I visited as both available examples of the class were deemed out of order. We saw the Hymeks on the diesel depot at Williton and it was good to see that the dedicated band of volunteers and engineers were working hard on getting at least one example operational for the following day.
At Williton depot Class 35 Hymek No. D7017 was being worked on in order to return the locomotive to service. D7017 has been running trains on the West Somerset Railway since 1977. The loco was first moved to Taunton on leaving BR service in 1975, before being moved up to Minehead in 1976 – 09/07/2023
Introduced into service between 1961 and 1964, the Hymek’s were intended as a medium power mixed traffic locomotive, but were often rostered to deputise for some of BR Western Region’s largest steam locos on 13 and 14-coach trains in their early years. A total of 101 locos were built and were allocated all over the West of England. They settled down to become a successful and capable fleet and weee regular visitors to Weymouth via the route from Yeovil. However the Hymek’s careers were cut short by BR’s standardisation of diesel-electric locomotives. The first withdrawals came in 1971, with some locos scrapped being less than nine years old. Full withdrawal of the fleet was planned for 1973 and a farewell tour, “The Hymek Swansong”, ran in the September of that year. Due to loco shortages, ten Hymek’s lasted until 1975 when they were finally withdrawn. Of these, four examples have survived into preservation; the two WSR based Diesel & Electric Preservation Group (D&EPG) Hymek’s No.’s D7017 and D7018; No. D7029 with the Diesel Traction Group based at the Severn Valley Railway currently undergoing restoration having been out of service since 1987, and No. D7076 with the Bury Hydraulic Group and is set to return to traffic at the East Lancs Railway 2023 Diesel Gala.
Also not working on the day of our visit was Class 35 No. D7018. Following withdrawal from British Rail in 1975, D7018 was first located at Didcot Railway Centre for a number of years before moving to Williton to join sister locomotive D7017 – 09/06/2023 Class 52 Western Diesel-Hydraulic No. D1010 ‘Western Campaigner’ seen at Williton. She is currently non-operational pending work on transmission and bodywork repair. No. D1010 was stored outside Merehead quarry for a number of years before being preserved by The Diesel & Electric Preservation Group, firstly at Didcot and then moving to the West Somerset Railway. The Western locomotives were the Western Region’s diesel-hydraulic flagship. Designed for express passenger work, they were equally at home on heavy freight. D1010 is one of 74 locos built at either Swindon or Crewe works between 1961 and 1963. All locos were named, each name beginning with the word ‘Western’. They were the last of the Diesel-Hydraulic classes to be withdrawn from service, after being classified as non-standard, the final operational members of the class being withdrawn in 1977 . Seven locomotives of the 74 built were saved for preservation – 09/06/2023
The other big draw for the WSR 2023 diesel gala was Class 55 Deltic diesel locomotive No. 55009 ‘Alycidon’ which sounded on fine form. Owned by the Deltic Preservation Society (DPS) the loco has been restored as a main line runner, and hopefully we’ll get to see and hear the magnificent Napier engine sound in Dorset at some point. Named at Doncaster Works on July 21st 1961 before introduction to traffic, the as then No. D9009 maintained the ‘racehorse’ tradition of the London North Eastern Railway (LNER) by commemorating the winner of the 1949 Ascot Gold Cup. In May 1981, she moved to York after the closure of Finsbury Park depot and was one of four Deltics prepared to work a series of farewell railtours during their final six months of operation. Withdrawn on 2nd January 1982 ‘Alycidon’ was sold to the DPS for £16,550.09 in May of the same year.
Deltic Preservation Society’s Class 55 No. 55009 ‘Alycidon’ arrives at Wiliton – 09/06/2023Class 55 No. 55009 ‘Alycidon’ approaches Watchet – 09/06/2023Class 55 No. 55009 ‘Alycidon’ arrives at Wiliton with a service bound for Bishops Lydeard – 09/06/2023
We made sure that Yoshi had plenty of water to drink and shade was available for him while watching the trains. Other locomotives in action at the West Somerset Railway on the Friday were:
Waterman Railway Heritage Trust’s Class 25 No. D7659 (25309). The locomotive was delivered new to was new to London Midland (Midland) Lines on July 21st 1966 and was the last member of the batch built by Beyer Peacock at Gorton Works in Manchester and the last new Class 25 to be delivered in green livery. She was withdrawn from BR service on September 13th 1986 – 09/06/2023Class 25 No. D7659 (25309) on the turntable at Minehead. This locomotive returned to service during the latter part of 2021 for the first time in more than 23 years following a comprehensive restoration that effectively saw the loco rebuilt – 09/06/2023 Class 14 “Teddy Bear” No. D9526 prepares to leave Minehead. No. D9526 was one of 56 locos of this class built by BR at Swindon Works in 1964-5. Intended for pick-up and branch line freights, they were made redundant almost immediately by closure of many secondary lines in the late 1960’s. Almost the entire fleet was sold for use in industry, with 23 going to Stewarts and Lloyds huge iron ore mines railway system around Corby and 19 going to the NCB’s North East Area. No. D9526 was an exception and was sold to Blue Circle Cement at Westbury, where it worked until suffering serious engine problems in 1977. It was donated to the Diesel and Electric Preservation Group (D&EPG) by Blue Circle and moved to Williton in 1980. After repairs and restoration work, D9526 made its preservation debut in 1984 – 09/06/2023Class 33 No. 33002 ‘Sea King’ sits on the turntable at Minehead awaiting her next turn. The loco, originally D6501 is the oldest surviving Crompton, having been delivered new to 73C Hither Green Depot in 1959. No. 33002 was stored serviceable on 5th September 1996 at Stewarts Lane. In the privatisation years, the locomotive enjoyed stints with the Harry Needle Railroad Co. and Direct Rail Services. The locomotive was purchased by South Devon Diesel Traction in December 2004 and operates on the South Devon Railway – 09/06/2023D6566 (33048) approaches the crossing at Watchet heading towards Minehead. No. D6566 was withdrawn from BR service in 1995 and after a two year period in store, was condemned as surplus to requirements in 1997. Acquired almost immediately by one of the D&EPG founder members, the locomotive arrived at Williton in May 1997 and worked her first train on the WSR in October of that year, marking the first use of a Class 33/0 in preservation. No. D6566 was stopped for overhaul in 2013 after 16 years of service on the WSR. The overhaul included engine work and major bodywork repairs and the locomotive returned to service in 2018 – 09/06/2023Type 3 Diesel-Electric Class 33 No. D6575 (33057) is one of two West Somerset Railway resident Crompton’s of which originally 98 were built by the Birmingham Railway Carriage & Wagon Company (BRC&W) in Smethwick, West Midlands between 1960 and 1962. She is seen at Minehead after arriving with a train from Bishops Lydeard. She worked mixed traffic on the Southern Region of BR for 35 years until withdrawal in 1996 following a bogie fire that damaged No. 2 traction motor and the electrical wiring at No.1 cab end. The loco passed through several owners during the following nine years before being acquired by the owner of D6566 (33048) as a source of spares, arriving at Williton in September 2005 in a dilapidated state. However, following appraisal at Williton, the loco was deemed repairable. Following much painstaking work, she returned to action on the WSR in 2012 – 09/06/2023Class 03 No. D2133 at Minehead. The locomotive wasn’t an active participant of the diesel gala. The Class 03 locomotive was one of British Railways most successful 0-6-0 diesel-mechanical shunters with 230 built at Doncaster and Swindon works between 1957 and 1962. No. D2133 is a Swindon Works example, built in 1960 and withdrawn from BR in July 1969 and therefore was never renumbered under the Total Operations Processing System (TOPS) scheme of the early 1970’s. As was the case with many ex-BR shunters No. D2133 carried on working in private hands at the British Cellophane factory in nearby Taunton until 1994 when she was presented to the WSR – 09/06/2023
Video of our visit to the West Somerset Railway 2023 Diesel Gala
Saturday saw some preserved diesel action much closer to home as Class Forty Preservation Society owned Class 40 No. D345 (40145) hauled Pathfinder Railtours 50th Anniversary charter train which ran from Burton-on-Trent to Weymouth. The tour celebrated the 10th June 1973 railtour, co-organised by Pathfinder’s Peter Watts, which departed Gloucester Eastgate heading for Pwllheli all those years ago. I have very fond memories of Peter Watts Publishing railway books in the 1970’s and 1980’s. Peter is stepping away from management at Pathfinder tours but was very much involved with the organisation of the 50th Anniversary Tour. An added bonus was the use of MK1 coaches and could well be the last mainline use of such stock.
Class Forty Preservation Society owned Class 40 No. D345 (40145) nears Parkstone at the head of Pathfinder Railtours 50th Anniversary charter train 1Z40 0701 Burton-on-Trent to Weymouth – 10/06/2023No. D345 in Jubilee Siding at Weymouth. Class 47 No. 47815 ‘Great Western’ is engaged in empty coaching stock movements behind – 10/06/2023Class 47 No. 47815 ‘Great Western’ prepares to move the empty coaching stock from the sidings back into Weymouth station as 5Z41 1346 Weymouth to Weymouth – 10/06/2023No. D345 in Jubilee Siding at Weymouth – 10/06/2023No. D345 prepares to run light engine into Weymouth station – 10/06/2023At the head of the rake of MK1 coaches, No.D345 awaits departure of 1Z41 1636 Weymouth to Burton-on-Trent. The tour returned via Dorchester West and Yeovil – 10/06/2023Pathfinder photoshoot at Weymouth ahead of the departure of the 50th Anniversary charter train – 10/06/2023No. D345 powers towards the site of the former Radipole Halt with 1Z41 1636 Weymouth to Burton-on-Trent – 10/06/2023No. D345 having departed Weymouth with 1Z41 1636 Weymouth to Burton-on-Trent – 10/06/2023
Our video of D345 hauling Pathfinder Railtours 50th Anniversary charter train 1Z40 0701 Burton-on-Trent to Weymouth (with thanks to my brother for the Dorchester footage) – 10/06/2023
The Class Forty Preservation Society said this of the climb out of Weymouth: “Those who were on the train to hear 40145 lift the equivalent of 14 coaches unassisted up the 1 in 50 summit of Bincombe bank leaving Weymouth will know what I mean when I say I will take the memory to my grave. Truly a high point of 20 years of mainline running. Even the Lickey later in the day was an anti-climax after that!”. Yoshi’s pal Jamie was at Bincombe to record the ascent.
No. D345/ 40145 was the first locomotive of the final batch of deliveries of the type and was built with centre-headcode panels. Along with 180 others of the 200-strong fleet, the loco was built by English Electric at Vulcan Foundry, entering service on 17th May 1961. D345 was one of four (D345 to D348) which were allocated to 55H Neville Hill, and used to upgrade the short-lived “Queen of Scots Pullman” running between Leeds and Edinburgh / Glasgow, replacing LNER Pacific steam power. Allocated to numerous depots during her British Rail career, her final allocation was to Longsight in May 1978 where she was based until withdrawal on 10th June 1983 after sustaining derailment damage in Stourton Yard, Leeds. However, she was one of the final Class 40’s to receive a General Overhaul at Crewe Works in November 1980 and was purchased by The Class Forty Preservation Society and delivered to Bury in February 1984, the first of the class to enter preservation.
The last (and only) Class 40 to make it to Weymouth previously was No. 40001 on 21st May 1983 which I remember well!
The Westbury to Weymouth leg of “The Wessex Whistler” was entrusted to Class 33/1 No.’s 33113 and 33118. The pair are seen passing through Dorchester West – 21/05/1983Following light engine No. 40001 opens up as she passes through Dorchester West on the way to Weymouth – 21/05/1983Class 40 No. 40001 at Weymouth with the return Severn Valley Railway Association rail tour “The Wessex Whistler” the first time a member of the class had made it to Weymouth. The tour originated in York and ran under the head code 1Z25 throughout – 21/05/1983Class 40 No. 40001 at Weymouth with the Severn Valley Railway Association rail tour “The Wessex Whistler” – 21/05/1983Class 40 No. 40001 at Weymouth awaits departure from Weymouth with the return Severn Valley Railway Association rail tour “The Wessex Whistler” – 21/05/1983
Thanks for reading! We’ll see you soon.
End Piece:
Back in 2019, both West Somerset Hymeks were working during the diesel gala as evidenced here as No.’s D7018 and D7017 arrive at Crowcombe Heathfield – 21/06/2019
Yoshi took a liking to RailAdventure Class 43 No.’s 43465 and 43484 which only hauled trains on the Friday of the 2023 Severn Valley Diesel Gala and seen here on display the following day at Kidderminster – 20/05/2023
Last week we were enjoying the sun in Cornwall, so our report on our visit to the 2023 Severn Valley Diesel Gala ( which took place 18th – 21st May) is slightly delayed until now. We hope you found our mini blog about Promenade Plantée in Paris interesting and a bit different last week, but for now let us catch up with events at the Severn Valley.
Saturday was my chosen day to visit the SVR as I was heading to the West Country the following day. The timetable for the gala was a packed affair with a large roster of resident and visiting locomotives scheduled to run, many of which were provided by freight and passenger operating companies. Indeed, the SVR event was undoubtably the biggest diesel gathering in the UK calendar for 2023, with its planned four-day extravaganza intended as a celebration of 50 years of diesel preservation. An early departure from home was required in the hope of seeing everything running. A few missed turnings and a closed motorway junction delayed our arrival time but in the event we arrived at Highley just in time to see sole-surviving Clayton Class 17 No. D8568 arrive with the first train of the day from Bridgnorth. Unfortunately there were no available parking spaces at the station, so we reversed out and headed up out of the car park to find alternative facilities. Although I later managed to capture a short video clip of the Clayton running light engine within the Highley station area, the locomotive avoided my camera lens for a still photo opportunity. As this particular diesel had been at Swanage the previous weekend, I didn’t mind too much!
They even made a special badge to celebrate 50 years of Diesel Preservation!
We had however trooped back down to Highley station in time to see Class 31 No. 31270, quite suiting her Regional Railways livery, arriving with the 0845 departure from Kidderminster. Although the first two trains on the Saturday were spot on for their time-keeping, it didn’t take too long for the timetable to go awry and things became progressively more delayed as the day went on.
Peak Rail’s Brush Type 2 Class 31 A1A-A1A No. 31270 ‘Athena’ in British Rail (BR) Regional Railways sector livery approaches Highley. No. 31270 was built by Brush Ltd in Loughborough in 1961 and carried the pre-TOPS number D5800. She was withdrawn from traffic on 26th May 2000. She never carried this livery or the nameplate while in BR service – 20/05/2023Colas Rail Freight Class 56 No. 56051 ‘Survival’, built in 1978, on the approach to Highley with the Locomotive Service Ltd (LSL) restored ScotRail MK3 carriages that reproduce the push-pull stock used between Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen in the 1980’s – 20/05/2023Scottish Push-Pull Class 47 No. 47712 ‘Lady Diana Spencer’ prepares to depart Highley. This locomotive and rake of air braked push-pull stock was paired with different visiting locomotives throughout the gala, top and tailing between Kidderminster and Highley. I thought it was a shame the loco and stock didn’t perform at least one run a day in push-pull mode as it had reportedly done on the Thursday – 20/05/2023Class 47 No. 47712 ‘Lady Diana Spencer’ nameplate – 20/05/2023Diesel- Hydraulic Western Class 52 No. D1062 ‘Western Courier’ departs Highley. This locomotive was built at Crewe Works and entered service at London’s Old Oak Common shed on 6 May 1963. She was withdrawn by British Rail on 23 August 1974 after 1,096,000 miles in service. Courier was an early withdrawal but was lucky enough to share “mascot” duties with Class 42 Warship No. D818 ‘Glory’, being placed on the turntable at Swindon works and given a repaint by the apprentices – 20/05/2023Class 37 No. 37263 displaying departmental grey livery approaches Highley. No. 37263 was introduced into traffic in 1965 and is visiting from the Telford Steam Railway – 20/05/2023
The weather was extremely warm and I made the decision to stay on the viewing balcony at Highley as this ensured Yoshi was able to stay in the shade and not get over heated. He also seems to like it there as he gets lots of fuss from passers by and doesn’t seem too bothered by the trains passing below. It’s also close to the cafe, so despite issues with the new coffee machine, what could be better? On the downside, of course, it means that my photographs and video from Highley are from much the same two angles, but I’ll take this provided our boy is comfortable.
Yoshi takes to the shade at Highley – 20/05/2023DB Cargo provided Class 60 No. 60062 ‘Sonia’ in her striking fiery Steel On Steel livery. Class 47 No. 47712 is on the rear – 20/05/2023Class 60 No. 60062 ‘Sonia’ approaches Highley – 20/05/2023Close up of Class 60 No. 60062 ‘Sonia’. The locomotive carries this special livery to celebrate the important role DB Cargo UK plays in supporting the UK’s metal transportation market. One full train load of steel coil can produce over 1,000 new cars or 60,000 white goods – 20/05/2023Class 50 No. 50035 ‘Ark Royal’ departs Highley with a Kidderminster bound train. There are several Class 50’s based on the Severn Valley but only one example was in operation over the gala as the GBRf pair No.’s 50007 and 50035 were undergoing some maintenance between mainline outings, while No.’s 50033 and 50044 were in the Traction Maintenance Depot and No. 50031 is currently minus a fuel tank – 20/05/2023Maybach Music as Class 52 No. D1015 ‘Western Champion’ arrives at Highley. No. D1015 is one of seven preserved Western locomotives from the original 74 built by BR at Swindon and Crewe – 20/05/2023 Push-Pull fitted Class 33 No. 33108 in revised departmental “Dutch” livery (so named because of the similarity to the Dutch State Railway colours later adopted by the BR engineers sector) was in service following an overhaul – 20/05/2023Resident Class 31 No. 31466 in English Welsh Scottish (EWS) livery on the approach to Highley. The Class 31 locomotives received a number of derogatory nicknames over their years in mainline operation including Goyles (short for “gargoyles” in reference to the perceived ugliness of the design), Peds (short for “pedal cars” in reference to their speed and pulling power) and Gurglers, after the noise they made. 26 members of the class have been preserved – 23/05/2023Yoshi relaxes at Highley – 20/05/2023
At some point we knew we had to move on from our balcony position, essentially to get photos of locomotives which were not planned to make it to Highley. Our original plan was to journey to Bewdley and then onto Kidderminster. As Bewdley can be somewhat busy on an average day and with this being the busiest I’d ever seen the Severn Valley, I opted instead to head straight for Kidderminster. This would mean we’d miss seeing the visiting Class 20 locomotives (No.’s 20048 and 20189) heading to Bridgnorth, but these were scheduled to return later. Unfortunately, things didn’t go quite to plan and one of the Class 20’s, No. 20048 failed and was removed from the train on reaching Bridgnorth and didn’t make the return outing. Another Class 20, No. 20142 in red London Transport livery was in attendance for the gala, but was not in use, or indeed visible, on the day of our visit.
Direct Rail Services (DRS) Class 88 No. 88004 ‘Pandora’ awaits her turn while Class 33 No. 33108 prepares for departure form Kidderminster – 20/05/2023DRS) Class 88 No. 88004 ‘Pandora’ and Class 33 No. 33108 at Kidderminster – 20/05/2023Line up of No.’s 88004, 33108 and 57307 at Kidderminster – 20/05/2023Colas Freight Class 56 No. 56051 ‘Survivor’ passes DRS Class 88 No. 88004 ‘Pandora’ at Kidderminster – 20/05/2023Direct Rail Services (DRS) Class 57 No. 57307 ‘Lady Penelope’ awaits action in the sidings at Kidderminster – 20/05/2023DRS pair Class 88 No. 88004 ‘Pandora’ and Class 57 No. 57307 ‘Lady Penelope’ at Kidderminster – 20/05/2023Class 88 No. 88004 ‘Pandora’ at the head of the ScotRail stock in Kidderminster. Ten Class 88 locomotives were built in 2015/16 by Stadler Rail Valencia. They are dual-mode locomotives that are fitted both with a pantograph to collect electricity from overhead wires, and a Caterpillar diesel engine. They are the first dual-mode locomotive in the UK to use the 25 kV AC electrification – 20/05/2023Class 50 No. 50035 ‘Ark Royal’ runs light engine out of Kidderminster. No. 50035 was the first BR Class 50 diesel locomotive to enter preservation The locomotive was built at English Electric’s Vulcan Foundry at Newton-le-Willows and entered BR service as No. D435 at Crewe in August 1968, being given the number 50035 in March 1974 under the TOPS scheme. She was withdrawn from service on 5th August 1990 – 20/05/2023RailAdventure Class 43 No.’s 43465 and 43484 on static display at Kidderminster. The pairing hauled trains on the Friday only – 20/05/2023RailAdventure Class 43 No.’s 43484 and 43465 at Kidderminster. RailAdventure signed a partnership deal with Hanson & Hall Rail Services in April 2021 having purchased eight Class 43 power cars, which will run back to back to operate domestic services. RailAdventure is based in Munich and has been involved in delivering new trains from Europe to the UK, such as the new Merseyrail Class 777 trains – 20/05/2023Network Rail Class 73 “Minions” No.’s 73951 ‘Malcom Brided’ and 73952 ‘Janis Kong’ were on display at Kidderminster over the gala. The two locomotives were withdrawn from service in mid-May. The pair were rebuilt by Loram in 2011/2015 with their English Electric engines being replaced by two newer, more powerful and lower emission Cummins QSK19 engines each rated at 750hp. Their acceptance into traffic was heavily delayed until 2016 and endured initial teething problems which were resolved and they became well liked by crews. They were used mostly on infrastructure monitoring trains. They are, however, non-standard locomotives and have limited crews trained to work on them. Network Rail currently lease five MTU-engined Class 73/9’s so the “Minions” are surplus to requirement – 20/05/2023Electro-Diesel Class 73 No.’s 73951 and 73952. The locomotives are scheduled to depart for warm storage, possibly at Peak Rail, by road – 20/05/2023
The new footbridge across the railway line just outside of Kidderminster station has been rebuilt after an absence of a year or two, so following a brief sojourn looking at the static exhibits, sales stands and taking a few photographs of departing trains we marched round to see what the view was like from the bridge and spent most of the rest of our visit here.
Class 50 No. 50035 ‘Ark Royal’ has lost her central headlight (a later addition to the class in service) and is seen departing Kidderminster – 20/05/2023Class 37 No. 37263 catches the afternoon sun at Kidderminster. The locomotive is scheduled for a prolonged stay on the SVR over the summer months – 20/05/2023DRS Thunderbird rescue locomotive Class 57 No. 57307 ‘Lady Penelope’ runs out of Kidderminster light engine in readiness to attach to a train bound for Highley – 20/05/2023Yoshi watches as Warship No. D821 ‘Greyhound’ starts up on Kidderminster TMD – 20/05/2023Class 52 No. D1015 ‘Western Champion’ carried the identity of lost classmate D1039 ‘Western King’ on one side (to celebrate the coronation of King Charles III), seen approaching Kidderminster – 20/05/2023Great Western Railway HST Castle set formed of Class 43 power car No.’s 43186 ‘Taunton Castle’ and 43188 ‘Newport Castle’ ran shuttles between Kidderminster and Arley on all four days of the gala – 20/05/2023Class 43 No. 43188 ‘Newport Castle’ which also carries decals reading: ‘Y Cymro – The Welshman’ and a Welsh Dragon leads the GWR Castle HST set out of Kidderminster – 20/05/2023D821 ‘Greyhound’ makes a fine sight as she runs towards Kidderminster station. D821 is one of two preserved Warship locomotives from the original 38 built by BR at Swindon Works. Sadly none of the 33 built by the North British Locomotive Company in Glasgow were saved for preservation. D821 has returned to service following an extensive overhaul – 20/05/2023Class 47 No. 47712 ‘Lady Diana Spencer’ leads into Kidderminster with a shuttle from Highley – 20/05/2023Diesel Traction Group’s Warship No. D821 ‘Greyhound’ resplendent in British Rail monastral blue livery to celebrate 50 years in preservation. No. D821 was the first main line diesel to be preserved by a private group having being acquired from BR in May 1973 – 20/05/2023Class 52 No. D1015 ‘Western Champion’ as D1039 ‘Western King’ runs to the Traction Maintenance Depot at Kidderminster – 20/05/2023Class 52 Western No.’s D1015 ‘Western Champion’ and D1062 ‘Western Courier’ between duties at Kidderminster – 20/05/2023Two Western Diesel Hydraulics on to the Kidderminster turntable – 20/05/2023SVR Home fleet loco Class 31 No. 31466 on the entry to Kidderminster – 20/05/2023A study of Class 40 No. 40106 ‘Atlantic Conveyor’ running light engine into Kidderminster station. The loco was named ‘Atlantic Conveyor’ on 11th August 1984 in memory of the Cunard cargo ship and those on board who lost their lives in the 1982 Falklands war – 20/05/2023Class 40 No. 40106 ‘Atlantic Conveyor’ carries “The Caledonian” headboard as she awaits departure form Kidderminster. The locomotive was built at Robert Stephenson and Hawthorns factory in Darlington. The loco features the original four disc headcode system along with interconnecting gangway doors seen on various classes of BR diesels but ultimately under used – 20/05/2023Resident Class 40 No. 40106 ‘Atlantic Conveyor’ departs Kidderminster. The locomotive entered into BR service as No. D306, later becoming No. 40106 under the TOPS system in the 1970s. During her last works overhaul at Crewe in September 1978, No. 40106 was repainted into Dark Brunswick green with full yellow ends, thus becoming a firm favourite loco on railtours and other special passenger workings for several years. I fondly remember the cover of the 1979 Locoshed book which featured this loco – 20/05/202320189 Ltd’s Class 20 Bo-Bo diesel-electric No. 20189 worked to Kidderminster solo, nose first, following the failure of classmate 20048 at Bridgnorth. 228 examples of these locomotives were built between 1957 and 1968. Each weighed 73 tonnes and delivered 1,000 hp, they were used to haul mixed freight traffic – often in tandem positioned nose to nose. – 20/05/2023Eastfield Scotty Dog depot plaque carried by Class 20 No. 20189 – 20/05/2023Last shot of the day; Western Class 52 No. D1062 ‘Western Courier’ prepares to depart Kidderminster. D1062 was bought from BR by the Western Locomotive Association on 4th November 1976, becoming the first Class 52 Western to be preserved – 20/05/2023
With 22 locomotives in traffic across the four day event, trains were very busy with the SVR reporting in excess of 4,000 pre-booked tickets sold and with pay on the day passengers a new record was set at over 6,500 visitors across the gala. This will certainly help with the SVR’s current £1.5 million appeal. It was certainly an interesting day, although I have to admit to feeling rather overwhelmed by the number of locomotives involved and my OCD in attempting to catch ’em all! Well done to all involved in the organisation and daily support of the railway.
Video of our day at the Severn Valley Diesel Gala 2023
For the record…
While Yoshi and I were enjoying the delights of the Severn Valley on May 20th, two rail tours visited Dorset. Firstly, Class 47 No.’s 47828 and 47593 headed to Weymouth with the “Dorset Coast Statesman”. Next, LMS Jubilee No. 45596 ‘Bahamas’ journeyed from London Waterloo to Exeter via Sherborne and Yeovil Junction hauling the “Atlantic Coast Express”.
The Swanage Railway Diesel Multiple Unit service to and from Wareham was cancelled on 23rd May 2023 because of an electrical fault on the unit discovered during a routine inspection. Repairs and testing meant the service resumed the following day.
Lake Road Bridge on the Hamworthy Branch – 29/05/2023
The damaged access gate to the Hamworthy Branch at Lake Road Bridge has been repaired. Rumour is that metalwork on the bridge needs further attention before any trains can cross it.
Warship
D821 ‘Greyhound’
D821 ‘Greyhound’ celebrated 50 years in preservation during the Severn Valley Diesel Gala. The locomotive had been procured from British Rail by Colin Massingham, owner of model rail white metal kit company Modern Traction Kits (MTK) and Chris Reid a customer at Colin’s shop in Slough. Along with other financial supporters the pair had hoped to purchase North British Class 22 No. D6319 but a misunderstanding meant this loco was cut up at Swindon. Instead, the pick of the remaining Class 42 “Warship” locomotives which had recently been withdrawn at Plymouth Laira was offered. No. D821 was chosen as she was virtually complete.
D821 ‘Greyhound’ in Swindon. I was usually very good at keeping a record of dates, but a whole films worth of photos have no details recorded with them – 1980D821 ‘Greyhound’ in Swindon – 1980D821 ‘Greyhound’ in Kidderminster during the 2021 Severn Valley Railway Diesel Gala – 15/05/2021
The “Warship” diesel-hydraulic B-B locomotives were based on the West German V200 design, 38 examples being constructed at Swindon between 1958 and 1961. Each locomotive bore a name with all except D800 and D812 being named after Royal Navy vessels, thus the “Warship” moniker used to refer to the class. They were later designated as Class 42’s. The “Warships” took over from “Castle” and “King” Great Western steam locomotives on Top Link work but were deemed non-standard and all were withdrawn by 1972.
No. D832 ‘Onslaught’ at Bishops Lydeard on the West Somerset Railway – 09/06/2013Nameplate of No. D832 ‘Onslaught’ showing the “Warship Class” designation carried under the locomotive name – 09/06/2013No. D832 ‘Onslaught’ was guest loco at the 2016 Swanage Diesel Gala and is seen here departing Corfe Castle – 08/05/2016No. D832 ‘Onslaught’ at Bishops Lydeard – 09/06/2013
No. D821 was not the only member of the class to make it to preservation as No. D832 ‘Onslaught’ was also saved after being moved to the Railway Technical Centre (RTC) in Derby following withdrawal from service where it was used for various research purposes. However, a third member of the class, No. D818 ‘Glory’ wasn’t so lucky and, despite being kept at Swindon as a “pet” of the employees and for BR apprentices to work on, was cut up before the works was closed in 1985.
“The one that got away”; No. D818 ‘Glory’ at Swindon – 06/06/1981
Thanks for reading and your comments! Next week we’ll tell you all about our trip to Cornwall in search of Sleeper trains, pasties and semaphore signals!
That 1979 Locoshed Book featuring Class 40 No. 40106 on the cover at a “New Lower Price of 40p!”
