The Railway Dog

Tag: railways

  • Blackpool Redux

    Wednesday 20th July to Tuesday 26th July 2022

    Old meets new at North Pier, Blackpool – 13/07/2022

    Blackpool

    As we mentioned in our last blog entry, Yoshi and I spent a few days in the North West a couple of weeks ago when we took the opportunity to take a trip on a heritage Blackpool Tram. The Blackpool Tramway runs from Blackpool to Fleetwood, originally opening in 1885 and is one of the oldest electric tramways in the world. It is operated by Blackpool Transport (BT) and runs for approximately 11 miles. The last time I visited Blackpool was probably in 2007 when David Tennant, who was at the time playing the Tenth Doctor in BBC TV’s “Doctor Who”, switched on the illuminations. This was just prior to the announcement that the UK Government had agreed to the joint BT and Blackpool Council bid for funding towards the upgrade of the tram track network, with £60.3m coming from Government coffers. The remainder of the £85.3m cost came from Blackpool Council and Lancashire County Council which contributed @ £12.5m each. The Government’s funding allowed the entire tramway to be upgraded with 16 modern and accessible Bombardier Flexity 2 trams being introduced in 2012 replacing the traditional fleet of ageing cars.

    A number of the old trams which I was familiar with on my previous visits have been retained with some having been lovingly restored to form a Heritage Fleet and modified, widened Balloon trams as part of the main fleet. The depot at Starr Gate houses the Flexity 2 trams with Rigby Road Depot, near Manchester Square, housing the traditional trams. A great deal of effort has been made to ensure that the traditional trams have a future in Blackpool and I was pleased to see one on a run out as we arrived in Fleetwood for our stay at the North Euston Hotel. Thinking perhaps these only ran at weekends, I asked a driver of one of the modern trams about the heritage fleet and was directed to a website dedicated to Blackpool Heritage Trams. From here, Yoshi and I booked a one hour promenade tour which picked up from North Pier on its way to Bispham before heading back all the way to the Pleasure Beach in the south of Blackpool before turning once more and returning via the Golden Mile, dropping us off where we started. I was delighted to see that the tram car operating our trip was one of the recognisable and iconic Balloon cars, so named because of their rounded streamlined appearance, in traditional Blackpool 1940s “Wartime” green and cream livery.

    Yoshi waits to board the tram for his Blackpool promenade tour – 13/07/2022

    The Balloon trams were originally called “Luxury Dreadnought” cars and had been commissioned in 1933 by Walter Luff, the controller of the Blackpool network, in a bid to modernise the tramway’s fleet which had been working the tracks since the early years. 27 trams were constructed by English Electric between 1934 and 1935, the first being delivered on 10th December 1934. They were built with central doors and stairs, with a maximum capacity of 94 passengers. Half-drop windows provided ventilation with Art Deco curved glass electric lighting providing illumination. The initial thirteen were open-topped and the remaining fourteen were enclosed, these having sliding roof windows and thermostatically-controlled radiators.

    Yoshi after enjoying a snooze on Balloon tram No. 700 – 13/07/2022

    Between 2009 and 2012, Balloon car No. 700, which was to provide transportation for our journey, along with sisters 711, 713, 719 and 720 were modernised so that they could continue to operate in service following the refurbishment of the whole tramway to light rail standards. New widened doorways were fitted to allow more accessibility, with driver operated doors which fit to the new platforms built at tram stops for the modern Bombardier trams. Fixed seats and new passenger information displays were also fitted to match the new trams. Speedometers were also retrofitted to the driving consoles, which seems like a very good idea to me!

    Yoshi considers driving off in Car No. 700 – 13/07/2022

    We really enjoyed our trip on the heritage tram, and thoroughly recommend the experience should you find yourself in Blackpool. You can join us on our tour of Blackpool promenade as well as view some of the Flexity 2 trams in our video below:

    Yoshi takes time to check out Flexity 2 tram No. 010 at Fleetwood Ferry – 11/07/2022

    For a reminder of what it used to be like, here’s a video of Blackpool Trams from October 1999, featuring a brief glimpse of some of the famous illuminated trams:

    Dorset Coast Express

    Thursday 21st July saw another steam excursion to Weymouth subjected to alterations, this time because of the dry weather and subsequent risk of line side fires, the planned steam motive power was replaced by two Class 47 diesel locomotives. Fingers crossed all goes to plan for the next scheduled The Railway Touring Company Dorset Coast Express in August!

    Class 47 No. 47772 ‘Carnforth TMD’ leads 1Z82 0845 London Victoria to Weymouth past Poole carriage sidings – 21/07/2022
    Class 47 No. 47813 with the return working of the Dorset Coast Express racing through Hamworthy – 21/07/2022

    Around Taunton

    Video screen grab of Class 47 No.’s D1935 / 47805 ‘Roger Hosking MA 1925-2013’ and D1944 / 47501 ‘Craftsman’ power the “Cornish Riviera Statesman” rail tour up Whiteball bank – 23/07/2022

    Saturday saw Yoshi and I in the Taunton area as we went to see a couple of rail tours and hoped to catch celebrity High Speed Train power car No. 43384 which has been outshopped in a retro livery by CrossCountry Trains. First on our radar was Statesman Rail’s “Cornish Riviera Statesman” working Derby to Penzance and double headed by Brush Type 4 Class 47 No.’s D1935 / 47805 ‘Roger Hosking MA 1925-2013’ and D1944 / 47501 ‘Craftsman’, both resplendent in British Rail two-tone green livery. I just had time to set up for a video capture when the train passed by several minutes ahead of schedule, meaning my camera was still asleep in its bag. Also running ahead of schedule was The Railway Touring Company operated “The West Somerset Express”, which like their tour to Weymouth a couple of days previously had been advertised as being steam hauled, but were deputised with West Coat Railways Class 47 No.’s 47813 and 47772 ‘Carnforth TMD’ again in top and tail formation. This tour originated from London Paddington and was destined for Minehead on the West Somerset Railway (WSR) – the longest heritage railway in the UK. On arrival at Bishops Lydeard, the first WSR station after leaving the main line, the Class 47’s were replaced with a pair of steam locomotives to take the train forward. We saw Great Western Railway (GWR) Inspired 2-6-0 9351 Class WSR Mogul No. 9351 and GWR 7800 Class Manor No. 7822 ‘Foxcote Manor’ hauling the train nearing Crowcombe Heathfield producing some fine acoustics. You can follow our day in the video below, which also includes some CrossCountry Trains and GWR Castle Class HST’s:

    CrossCountry Trains (XC) recently outshopped Class 43/3 No. 43384 from Plymouth Laira Depot in a revised High Speed Train livery, known as Intercity Executive, first carried back in the 1980’s. At the time the Intercity yellow and grey livery replaced the original blue and yellow colour scheme that had been used since the introduction of the fleet. CrossCountry has confirmed that the repaint comes as part of marking the 40th anniversary of the introduction of the InterCity 125 by British Rail on to the North East to South West route. Other celebrations include a special Railway Benefit Fund charitable XC HST rail tour on the 27th September 2022 travelling from Leeds to the Severn Valley Railway including a run along the heritage railway itself. An HST power car will be named at Kidderminster to mark the anniversary.

    Class 43/3 No. 43384 is seen leading on 1V52 0658 Edinburgh Waverley to Plymouth as it nears Creech St. Michael – 23/07/2022

    Eastleigh Grid

    Class 56 No. 56081 approaches Shawford working 5O07 1049 Leicester L.I.P. to Eastleigh East Yard hauling Arlington Fleet barrier vehicle’s No. 64664 ‘Liwet’ (Ex Class 508 DMSO from unit 508207) and 64707
    ‘Labezerin’ (Ex Class 508 DMSO from unit 508116) ex EMU Barrier coach set T7 – 24/07/2022

    Yoshi and I were busy with our chores on Sunday morning when we discovered GBRf Class 56 No. 56081 was on its way from Leicester to Eastleigh with barrier vehicles in order to collect Network Rail’s European Railway Traffic Management System (ERTMS) lab train No. 313121 – this was too good an opportunity to miss and we put down the duster and polish and jumped in the car and set off for Shawford. This is more than likely our final opportunity to see this particular Class 56 in its current form as it has been earmarked for conversion as part of the Class 69 programme.

    On our way back home, we had a quick look in at Eastleigh Works and saw the remaining four cars of Wessex Electric Class 442 EMU No. 442412 had been shunted around and were now visible adjacent to the road. Based on the British Rail Mark 3 carriage as used in HST sets, the 442’s were introduced as part of the Bournemouth to Weymouth electrification programme in the late 1980’s and, in my view at least, were the best EMU to have run in the UK.

    GBRf Class 73 No. 73141 ‘Charlotte’ at Eastleigh Works – 24/07/2022
    The remaining four coaches of Class 442 No. 442412 in faded “Express” livery at Eastleigh Works – 24/07/2022

    701 On Test

    Class 701 No. 701017 passes the site of the former Boscombe railway station working 5Q52 1724 Staines Up Loop to Eastleigh TRSMD via Bournemouth – 25/07/2022

    Another week passes by and Class 701’s are still running test trains to Bournemouth and Poole prior to their introduction into revenue earning service. This week we went to take a look at the site of the former railway station at Boscombe which was located between Bournemouth Central and Pokesdown. The station opened in 1897 and served The Royal Victoria Hospital and the shopping area around the Royal Arcade. Boscombe had a goods yard which received traffic for despatch from a large area of Bournemouth along with a coal depot and sidings. The substantial brick built buildings were demolished a few years after closure in 1965. The site now houses business units and threatening signs about unofficial parking. The road bridge which goes over the railway at this point has had footbridges added to each side and these have very high fencing installed for safety reasons.

    Access Point Information, Station Approach, Boscombe – July 2022
    Station Approach, Boscombe – July 2022
    Station Approach, Boscombe – July 2022
    Class 701 No. 701017 was this weeks unit on test as seen in this video – 25/07/2022

    Hamworthy Branch

    More activity on the mothballed Hamworthy Branch this week as temporary traffic lights were put in place at the crossing on Ashmore Avenue on Tuesday 26th July. Road / rail vehicles were also in evidence along the branch moving ballast. Sleepers and sections of track have also been marked up, possibly for replacement. Network Rail have successfully applied for a road closure permit on Lake Road, presumably to enable work to be carried out on the railway bridge which is located there.

    Pressure washing Ashmore Avenue crossing on the Hamworthy Branch – 26/07/2022
    We arrived just too late for a decent shot of a road / rail vehicle working on the Hamworthy Branch at Hamworthy station, but we thought we’d share this anyway! 26/07/2022

    Weymouth Railway Heritage Trail

    In the past week or so, new signage has popped up around Weymouth on the route of the former Weymouth Harbour Tramway which last saw use in 1999 and was dug up by the local council in an act of vandalism in 2020/21 with most of the track being removed at this time. With no sense of irony Weymouth Town Council, Dorset Council and South Western Railway have installed information boards celebrating Weymouth’s unique railway history.

    The remodelled station forecourt at Weymouth – July 2022
    Weymouth Railway Heritage Trail information board ‘The Station’ – July 2022
    Weymouth Railway Heritage Trail information board ‘The Track’ – July 2022
    Weymouth Railway Heritage Trail information board ‘The Loop’ – July 2022
    Weymouth Railway Heritage Trail information board ‘The Quay’ – July 2022

    This weeks “The Railway Dog” was mostly written to the sounds of Faeland, Hollow Coves, The Teardrop Explodes and Sibelius Symphony No. 5. Thanks for visiting. Comments and corrections are, as ever, always welcome and we really appreciate it when you point out typos or grammatical errors. We’ll be back next week, we hope you’ll join us.

  • Northward Bound

    Tuesday 12th July to Tuesday 19th July

    DB Cargo Class 67 No. 67025 in operation with Transport for Wales waits departure at Crewe with 5K67 0951 Holyhead Car. M.D. Empty Coaching Stock working to Crewe C.S. – 16/07/2022

    Fleetwood

    The North Euston Hotel, Fleetwood

    Yoshi and I spent much of last week in the North West of England as we made The North Euston Hotel in Fleetwood our base. The hotel was commissioned by Sir Peter Hesketh Fleetwood, designed in the Greek classical style by architect Decimus Burton and built between 1839 and 1841 to serve overnight passengers making the journey by rail from London Euston who were destined for steam ships which would provide onward travel to Scotland where after disembarking at Ardrossan they would take the train on to Glasgow. Fleetwood was the northern most station at the time, hence the name “North Euston” for the hotel, and the railway was yet to run over the Shap hills. Queen Victoria made the journey in 1847 and stayed at the hotel, although I’m sure she didn’t stay in our room. The first manager of the hotel, Corsican born Xenon Vantini, had been a courier for Napoleon Bonaparte and was also the first person to open a refreshment room at Wolverhampton railway station. In 1859 following a decline in fortunes, the hotel was sold to the government and was converted into a school of musketry and later, in 1867, an officer’s quarters. The building existed in this form until the 1890’s when it was purchased by a group of London businessmen who converted it back into a hotel. The North Euston is currently owned by local business families. Yoshi very much enjoyed his morning sausage for breakfast and we celebrated our dubious achievement of coming last in the Sunday evening pub quiz which was a lot of fun.

    The railway to Fleetwood was opened on 15th July 1840 as the Preston & Wyre railway and was also the vision of Sir Peter Hesketh Fleetwood it being designed to connect the then new port of Fleetwood on the Fylde coast to Preston. The railway was constructed by George and Robert Stephenson with contribution from Joseph Locke. Its glory days lasted only six years until a direct route over Shap was finally achieved. The railway was absorbed into the Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway ( later the London Midland Scottish Railway as part of the Big Four groupings in 1923) and extensions were built to Blackpool and Lytham to cater for the growing number of passengers traveling to the seaside. Fleetwood would become, for a time, one of the largest and most successful fishing ports in the UK but by 1970 the railway from Poulton-le-Fylde to Fleetwood was closed to passenger traffic and later, in 1999, to freight workings.

    Thornton Station is located in the heart of Thornton town centre – July 2022
    Until the late 1980’s a signal box operated the crossing over Station Road, Thornton – July 2022
    The current station buildings were the first built by the then newly formed London Midland Scottish Railway (LMS) in 1927 – July 2022

    In 2006, the Poulton & Wyre Railway Society was formed with the aim of reopening the railway. Since then, much work has been carried out in clearing sections of the line from the ingress of nature and a Class 108 Diesel Multiple Unit was purchased for restoration and use on the line. More recently, the Poulton-Le-Fylde to Fleetwood line was subject to a study as part of the UK Government’s Restoring Your Railway programme. In June 2022 it was announced that the scheme should progress further and Network Rail will receive funding to produce a detailed plan for the revival of services. The Poulton-Le-Fylde & Wyre Railway Society have now turned their attention to developing a heritage railway centre which will eventually house a collection of railway artefacts and memorabilia for public viewing.

    Churnet Valley Railway

    Having heard that Class 33/1 No. 33102 was hauling trains, Yoshi and I spent Tuesday morning ( 12th July 2022 ) visiting Cheddleton on the Churnet Valley Railway, a preserved heritage line in Staffordshire. I grew up with 33/1’s providing the daily motive power on local passenger services between Bournemouth and Weymouth, and even though No. 33111 lives on at Swanage, our local heritage railway, it was fantastic to hear the Crompton’s Sulzer engine at work hauling a passenger train.

    The Churnet Valley railway dates back to 1849 following the formation of The North Staffordshire Railway Company (NSR) in 1845. Falling passenger numbers saw the Beeching Report include the Churnet Valley line and its associated branches which became earmarked for closure with the final section from Leek Brook Junction to Oakamoor quarry lasting out until the late 1980’s as it was used for freight traffic. In 1992 the newly formed Churnet Valley railway (1992) PLC began talks with the Department of Transport with a view to operate the line. Trains currently run between Froghall and Ipstones, but the ambition is to run services into the Staffordshire market town of Leek for the first time since 1965. And they have an eye on the clock to achieve this as the railway needs to run its first passenger train into Leek by 1st December 2022 or lose a £1.4m EU grant. This means all track must be laid on the 0.5 mile extension, with additional resources being provided for a triangle at Leek Brook Junction, and a platform constructed at Leek. It really is a very picturesque railway with extremely friendly volunteers, Yoshi and I were escorted around the workshops to get a closer view of locomotives stabled there, and I wish them every success with their endeavours and look forward to a return visit in the future.

    Cheddleton Station which was to be demolished in April 1974 but saved by the actions of local businessman and parish councillor Norman Hancock who parked his car on the level crossing preventing access to bulldozers giving sufficient time for the building to be Grade II listed – July 2022
    Cheddleton Station – July 2022
    Time for a cuppa! Yoshi waits for the kettle to boil in the booking hall of Cheddleton Station – July 2022
    Class 33/1 No. 33102 ‘Sophie’ awaits departure from Cheddleton – 12/07/2022
    Class 20 No. D8057 (20057) sits outside the repair shed at Cheddleton – 12/07/2022
    S160 Class 2-8-0 No. 5197 was built by the Lima Locomotive Company in Ohio, USA and exported to China in 1946. The United States Army Transportation Corps Class S160 were designed for heavy freight work across Europe during World War 2 with a total of 2,120 being built they eventually worked all over the world – 12/07/2022
    Class 25 No. 25322 ‘Tamworth Castle’ was the final Class 25 locomotive to see mainline service with British Rail. She is currently in store at Cheddleton Yard awaiting restoration – 12/07/2022
    Yoshi inspects Class 33 No. 33021 ‘Eastleigh’ in Post Office Red style livery. This locomotive was amongst the first privately owned diesel locomotives to be used on the mainline – 12/07/2022
    The Churnet Valley Railway has acquired Class 47 No. 47292 for an initial loan period of five years supplementing Class 33 No.’s 33021 and 33102 for use on passenger trains – 12/07/2022

    On our way back to Fleetwood, we stopped off at Acton Bridge for an hour or so, primarily to capture Class 37 No. 37884 which was diagrammed to pass through with 0M58 Kilmarnock Long Lyes T.C. to Derby R.T.C. – which can be seen in the video below:

    Southport

    On the Wednesday, Yoshi and I took a trip on a heritage Blackpool Tram – more about that adventure next week – but first that we made a brief visit to Southport and Formby. Southport railway station is the terminal of the Southport branch of the Northern Line of the third-rail electric Merseyrail network, and the diesel-operated Manchester to Southport line. The station and services to Liverpool and Hunts Cross are operated by Merseyrail, with Manchester services operated by Northern Trains. The current station opened as Southport Chapel Street on 22 August 1851 and once boasted eleven regular platforms and two excursion platforms. Six truncated platforms are now in use (platforms 1-3 for Liverpool trains and 4-6 for Manchester services), the remainder having been demolished to make way for car parking. In 1970 the former terminal building was replaced with a shopping centre.

    New Stadler Class 777 trains are currently being tested, and one was scheduled to visit Southport that morning on test run. Despite the best attempts at numerous roadworks and traffic queues, we made it just in time to see Class 777 No. 777015 arriving. Members of The National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers ( RMT – what these initials mean was one of the pub quiz questions I actually answered correctly! But I digress…. ) Anyway to continue; RMT members recently voted in favour of the proposed crewing plans for the new fleet which brings a five-year dispute to its conclusion. Merseyrail still has to reach agreement with the drivers union, the Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen (ASLEF), but intends to introduce the new Class 777’s into service later this year. Currently, 17 out of the 53 units purchased have been delivered to the UK. The arrival of the Class 777 fleet will see the demise of both the Class 507 and 508 electric-multiple units (EMU’s).

    The Class 507’s were built to work on Merseyside, replacing the London Midland Scottish Railway (LMS) built Class 502 units on Northern line services from Liverpool to Southport, Ormskirk and Kirkby. 33 sets were built by British Rail Engineering Limited (BREL) in York from 1978 to 1980 followed by 43 Class 508s constructed between 1979 and 1980. They were the second and fourth variety of BR’s then standard 1972 design for suburban EMU’s, which were derived from the prototype 2PEP and 4PEP EMU’s introduced in 1971 and eventually amassed 755 vehicles across five Classes (313/314/315/507/508). Originally, the Class 508’s were built as 4-car units for the Southern Region of British Rail working out of Waterloo on former London South Western Railway (LSWR) routes. From 1982 to 1984 they were reduced to 3 car units (one of the trailer cars was removed to be incorporated into the Class 455/7 EMU’s) and transferred to Merseyside to replace the former LMS Class 503 units that operated Wirral line services to New Brighton, Rock Ferry and West Kirby. Following rail privatisation the two fleets became interchangeable and work both sides of the Mersey. They are the oldest EMU’s still working in the UK after the Class 313’s.

    Yoshi with Merseyrail Class 507 No. 507020, Southport – 13/07/2022
    Yoshi compares the differences between EMU’s with a study of Merseyrail Class 508 No. 508140, Southport – 13/07/2022
    Merseyrail Class 777 No. 777015 having arrived with 5T02 0917 Sandhills Reversing Sdg to SouthportSouthport – 13/07/2022
    Northern Trains Class 769 No.’s 769424 & 769456 Southport – 13/07/2022
    Northern Trains Class 150 No. 150128 and 150134 Southport – 13/07/2022
    Merseyrail Class 507 No. 507020 Southport – 13/07/2022
    Merseyrail Class 507 No. 507020 and Class 508 No. 508131 stand side by side at Southport – 13/07/2022
    Merseyrail Class 508 No. 508126 at the buffer stops, Southport – 13/07/2022
    Merseyrail Class 777 No. 777015 awaits departure of 5T03 1008 Southport to Kirkdale C.S. Southport – 13/07/2022

    Crewe

    After breakfast on Thursday where we spent a few enjoyable hours watching freight movements around Crewe Basford Hall. You can relive this by playing the video below:

    We returned to Dorset on Friday, eschewing the opportunity of capturing two Colas Class 37’s at rest in Blackpool North Railway Station which had worked a test train from Carlisle in the early hours. However, the next day; Saturday 16th July, I was back in Crewe, this time without Yoshi, so I could attend the Direct Rail Services (DRS) Open Day at their depot at Gresty Road. Understandably, dogs were not allowed on site, so Yoshi spent the day with his mum, while I endured the heat of the day without my fluffy sidekick. Many thanks to Scott for driving and for his company.

    The Open Day coincided with LMS Coronation 4-6-2 No. 6233 ‘Duchess Of Sutherland’ passing through Crewe railway station with the Railway Touring Company’s “Cheshireman” rail tour from London Euston to Chester. (1Z86 0639 London Euston to Chester with Class 47 No. 47813 providing support at the rear). The station was extremely busy with the influx of enthusiasts in the town to visit the DRS site, but I managed to catch a short video clip of this magnificent locomotive departing Crewe. Later that day, SR Merchant Navy 4-6-2 No. 35018 ‘British India Line’ worked into Crewe light engine and support coach as 5Z46 Carnforth Steamtown to Crewe Heritage Centre for servicing ahead of rail tour duties scheduled for the following day:

    Crewe 16th July 2022

    3,500 people attended Nuclear Transport Solutions’ (NTS) rail division DRS’s open day, the first one to be held for a number of years because of the Covid pandemic. There were two locomotive naming’s at the event – the first saw Class 66 No. 66422 being unveiled as ‘Max Joule’ in tribute to one of DRS’s founders and former Managing Director who died in 1999. The second naming was for Class 66 No. 66424 which was named ‘Driver Paul Scrivens’ who had been a driver with DRS for more than 20 years. An emotional tribute was delivered by colleague Tim Howlett before the new plate was unveiled by Paul’s sister Emma.

    The open day raised over £39,000 from sponsorship and donations which is an amazing figure that will go to deserving causes across the UK. It was a fantastic event, and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Because of the hot weather, DRS made bottles of water available at points across the site, which was very welcome.

    Locomotives on display were:

    Class 37 No. 37218 in retro DRS livery – 16/07/2022
    Class 37 No. 37401 ‘Mary Queen Of Scots’ – 16/07/2022
    Class 37 no. 37419 ‘Carl Haviland’ – 16/07/2022
    Class 37 No. 37425 ‘Concrete Bob’ – 16/07/2022
    Class 68 No. 68025 ‘Superb’ – 16/07/2022
    Class 57 No. 57312 – 16/07/2022
    Class 88 No. 88002 ‘Prometheus’ – 16/07/2022
    Class 68 No. 68006 ‘Pride of the North’ in special green livery showcasing the environmental benefits of rail freight and how a diesel locomotive can reduce emissions by using Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) fuel – 16/07/2022
    Class 66 no. 66303 ‘Rail Riders 2020’ – 16/07/2022
    Class 68 no. 68009 ‘Titan’ – 16/07/2022
    Class 66 No. 66422 ‘Max Joule 1958-1999’ – 16/07/2022
    Class 66 No. 66424 awaits its naming ceremony – 16/07/2022
    Class 57 No. 57304 – 16/07/2022
    Class 88 No. 88009 ‘Diana’ – 16/07/2022
    Class 66 No. 66429 – 16/07/2022
    Class 37 No. 37424/37558 ‘Avro Vulcan XH558’ – 16/07/2022
    Class 88 No. 88001 ‘Revolution’ – 16/07/2022

    On our way to the DRS Open Day, we stopped off at Longport to peer through the fence at Electro-Motive Diesel Limited’s (EMD) site and witnessed some shunting around of locomotives, mainly Class 56 / Class 69 conversions which are ongoing.

    With 69006 stencilled on the bodyside, the conversion of 56128 is almost complete. Longport – 16/07/2022
    The empty shell of Class 56 No. 56032 awaiting a second move to Marcroft Engineering with 69007 ( ex-56037 ) in the background – 16/07/2022
    56038 is being converted into 69008 and is still on accommodation bogies but some of its new innards are in place. An extra hole has been cut in the cab front ends to accommodate an additional connection with this locomotive likely being the first for use by the GBRf Rail Services sector which handles stock movements – 16/07/2022
    Class 56 No. 56009 sits in the yard at Longport. The locomotive was unofficially renumbered No. 56201 when it was converted for use as an engineering test bed by Brush Traction in order to assess refurbished Paxman engines of sister class members – 16/07/2022
    Former DB Cargo UK Class 66 No. 66048 rests on accommodation bogies at Longport. The locomotive was damaged when it derailed at Carrbridge in January 2010 and it ended up down an embankment. It was sold to EMD in March 2016 after being initially disposed of for scrap. It’s unclear what the future holds for this Class 66 locomotive – 16/07/2022

    On our way home we diverted to Keynsham to refuel the car and restock with drinking water. Fortuitously, Class 37 No.’s 37901 and 37800 were scheduled to pass through top and tailing an Eastleigh Works to Swansea Landore stock move consisting of a Great Central-liveried Mk4 set and an LNER-liveried Mk4 set (5Q79 1826 Eastleigh Arlington to Landore). This made a fantastic epilogue to the day!

    Class 37 No. 37901 heads an Eastleigh Works to Swansea Landore stock move consisting of a Great Central-liveried Mk4 set and an LNER-liveried Mk4 set with 37800 on the rear approaches Keynsham station – 16/07/2022.

    Dorset NMT

    While we were away it was a quiet week on the Bournemouth to Weymouth line, with only the New Measurement Train of particular interest on the main line as far as I’m aware. HST Class 43 power car No.’s 43272 and 43257 were in charge of 1Q18 0719 Derby RTC to Bristol Kingsland Road on Wednesday 13th July 2022.

    Class 43 No. 43257 sits in Weymouth station – 13/07/2022. Photograph courtesy of @da_buckley967
    Class 43 No. 43272 preparing to depart from Weymouth – 13/07/2022. Photograph courtesy of @da_buckley967

    My brother popped out to see the NMT return through Dorchester West on its way to Bristol and his video which he captured especially for Yoshi can be seen here:

    In other news, Swanage resident Class 33/1 No. 33111 headed off by road to the Mid Hants Railway (MHR) to participate in their 2022 diesel gala. I had considered visiting the MHR on Sunday, but felt it was far too hot for Yoshi to be out and about, so we decided to stay home and catch up on some gardening.

    The recent heat wave also resulted in speed restrictions being imposed on main line services by South Western Railways (SWR), including those on the Bournemouth to Weymouth line, with the increased risk of tracks buckling. Reduced services were introduced on Monday 18th and Tuesday 19th July 2022 in a bid to give passengers certainty over which trains would run. There was also a steam ban imposed by many heritage railways and on the main line. This includes the Railway Touring Company’s “Dorset Coast Express” excursion to Weymouth on Thursday 21st July which will now be diesel hauled throughout.

    Great Western Railways were under fire in the local press this week, when the Dorset Echo reported chaotic scenes at Weymouth station where passengers were turned away from trains as they tried to return home. The 1728 departure to Bristol Temple Meads from the Dorset seaside town was formed of just two carriages meaning station staff and police had to request some travellers to wait for the next service which was due to leave an hour later. Not so long ago a High Speed Train was regularly employed to run a relief service to Weymouth via the West route on Summer Saturdays in order to cater for anticipated increased passenger numbers.

    That’s all for this week – join us next time when we recount our trip on a heritage Blackpool Tram. Many thanks for reading, and for continued contributions, comment and corrections which are very much appreciated!

  • Class 47 Heaven

    Wednesday 6th July to Monday 11th July

    Class 50 No. 50026 ‘Indomitable’ on a loaded test run as part of mainline certification nears Furzebrook on the Swanage Railway. Class 33 No. 33012 / D6515 ‘Lt Jenny Lewis RN’ takes up the rear – 09/07/2022

    Lynton & Lynmouth

    We took Wednesday off to visit friends who were holidaying in North Devon near the twin villages of Lynton and Lynmouth. Lynton was built on flat land 500 feet vertically above the beautiful fishing village of Lynmouth. I can never remember which is which, but until Easter Monday 1890 the only way you could travel between the two was via a very steep road. That is until the opening of the water powered funicular railway which had been approve by an Act of Parliament two years previously. Now established as a popular visitor attraction the original role of the cliff railway was to transport passengers and goods between Lynmouth harbour and Lynton. It is the highest and steepest totally water powered railway in the world.

    The view from the Lynton terminus of the Lynton and Barnstaple Cliff Railway – 06/07/2022

    The project to build the railway was the funded largely by publisher, MP and philanthropist Sir George Newnes who wanted to relieve the burden placed on the horses which laboured up the steep hill. The railway was designed by George Croydon Marks an early pioneer of funicular railways and devotee of Isambard Kingdom Brunel while the actual construction was carried out by local builder Bob Jones whose family are still involved in running the funicular today. The original mechanical design remains substantially unaltered.

    The environmentally friendly railway works on a simple balancing principle using water as ballast which has been collected by gravity from the West Lyn River and stored in reservoirs. Each car has a 700 gallon tank mounted between the wheels with a smaller 10 gallons tank for the braking system. The two cars are attached to each other by two hauling cables and two balance cables which run around large pulley wheels at each end of the tracks. When each car is docked with full tanks of water, the cars are balanced and ready for passengers to board. Once the brakes are taken off the lower car discharges water until it is lighter than the top car which descends under the additional weight which causes the lower car to be pulled up the track. Our video of the Lynton and Lynmouth Cliff Railway can be seen below:

    In a future railwaydog blog, we’ll be taking a close look at the three Bournemouth Cliff Lifts.

    Bournemouth Fisherman’s Walk Cliff Lift, built in 1935, is currently out of action due to a landslide. It links Boscombe and Southbourne with the beach – 13/02/2021

    Lynton & Barnstaple Railway

    We had fully intended to visit The Lynton and Barnstaple Railway, but we had lots of catching up to do as well as finding ourselves distracted by goats that we decided to save this narrow gauge railway for another visit when we had time to do it justice. As a taste of what to expect, our friends visited on Thursday and sent us the following images to share, for which we are very grateful.

    Baldwin 2-4-2 tank No. 762 ‘Lyn’ on the Lynton and Barnstaple Railway – 07/07/2022
    Baldwin 2-4-2 tank No. 762 ‘Lyn’ on the Lynton and Barnstaple Railway – 07/07/2022

    The Lynton and Barnstaple Railway originally opened in 1898 and closed in 1935. The current railway is just the start of a project to rebuild the narrow gauge line and trains currently run between Woody Bay Station and Killington Lane, a round trip of two miles.

    Poole Park Railway

    Postcard view of Poole Park Railway circa 1970/80’s

    The 260mm gauge Poole Park railway was first operated in 1949 by Southern Miniature Railways Ltd. In 2017, Poole Borough Council ended their tenancy agreement with Chris Bullen who had operated the railway since June 2005 and awarded a thirty year concession to Friends Of Poole Park for its operation. However following behind the scenes disputes, walkouts and a derailment in 2018 the concession was withdrawn and a notice to quit issued. Now in the hands of Bournemouth, Christchurch, Poole Council (BCP) and following a successful tendering process, Shropshire based Track Systems UK began work on renewing the infrastructure, traction and rolling stock.

    Despite progress on the £480,000 revamp of Poole Park Railway having been made with work completed on the new engine shed and track there has been a delay in the delivery of a fully electric engine for use on the popular attraction. Efforts to source a suitable temporary engine are ongoing. Carriages are currently being constructed off-site which are expected to be delivered shortly. When re-opened the railway will be run by volunteers and BCP environmental team.

    Saturday 9th July 2022

    Class 33 No. 33012 / D6515 ‘Lt Jenny Lewis RN’ leads Class 50 No. 50026 ‘Indomitable’ through Norden – 09/07/2022

    Saturday was far too hot for Yoshi to venture out, so while he stayed home drinking cold mocktails and being well looked after, I headed to Norden to see Class 50 No. 50026 ‘Indomitable’ on a loaded test run as part of its mainline certification on the Swanage Railway. Class 33 No. 33012 / D6515 ‘Lt Jenny Lewis RN’ provided support.

    West Coast Railway Companies Class 47 No. 47826 nears Dorchester working the “Weymouth Harbour” 1Z47 0823 Birmingham International to Weymouth – 09/07/2022
    WCRC Class 47 No. 47804 heads the “Weymouth Harbour” empty coaching stock past Dorchester Junction heading to Yeovil Pen Mill for stabling as there was no room to accommodate the stock at Weymouth – 09/07/2022

    There were scenes reminiscent of my misspent childhood Summer Saturday’s as five Class 47 diesel locomotives passed through Dorchester on their way to Weymouth as three rail tours visited Dorset on Saturday July 9th 2022. It could have been the 1980’s if I hadn’t had to fill the car up with fuel. First up was the Northern Belle organised “Weymouth Harbour – The Dorset Coast” which originated from Birmingham International. For £370 you could enjoy all the comforts of the Northern Belle luxury trains welcome Bellini cocktail, a three-course brunch, tea and coffee, oyster tasting with sparkling wine in Weymouth, a champagne reception and a five course dinner which included cheese and biscuits. What’s not to like? Apart from the seafood in my case, obviously. I’m sure cheesy puffs would be an acceptable alternative.

    Double-Headed Class 47 No.’s 47853 and 47805 hauling the “Dorset Coast Statesman” heads through Dorchester – 09/07/2022

    Statesman Rail provided the “Dorset Coast Statesman” which set out from Norwich in the early hours with passengers able to pick Bournemouth, Poole or Weymouth as their destination. Pullman dining, which also boasted cheese and biscuits, was available from £330 and First Class ( non-dining ) tickets could be purchased from £175.

    SR rebuilt Merchant Navy No. 35028 ‘Clan Line’ hurtles through Hamworthy with “The End Of Southern Steam” rail tour – 09/07/2022

    Finally The Railway Touring Company brought steam to Dorset with “The End Of Southern Steam” excursion which also provided passengers the opportunity to visit Weymouth for the afternoon. This tour marked 55 years since the end of steam on the Southern Region of BR. On the 9th July 1967 the final regular steam hauled passenger train arrived at London Waterloo, signifying the end of steam in the South. Departure on 9th July 2022 was steam hauled from London Victoria behind SR rebuilt Merchant Navy 4-6-2 No. 35028 ‘Clan Line’ through to Yeovil Junction where the steam locomotive was detached for servicing and turning while the rest of the train continued to Weymouth diesel hauled. ‘Clan Line’ then followed light engine to Weymouth in order to haul the train up Bincombe Bank and back to London via Bournemouth. At the time of writing, I’m not aware if cheese and biscuits were on the menu, however ticket prices ranged from £130 for Standard class, £195 for First class and £295 for Premier Dining.

    Class 47 No. 47813 at the rear of “The End Of Southern Steam” rail tour, Hamworthy – 09/07/2022

    The afternoon schedule was disrupted by a signalling issue between Dorchester South and Weymouth which resulted in all lines being blocked for a while. This delayed the arrival and departure of “The End Of Southern Steam” (37 minutes late arriving and 48 minutes late departing) and the departure of the “Dorset Coast Statesman” (43 minutes late departing).

    A compilation video covering 9th July rail tours to Weymouth is below:

    Class 47’s at Dorchester in days gone by:

    Class 47 No. 47455 approaches Dorchester South – 29/05/1982
    Class 47 No. 47152 passes Dorchester Junction Signal Box – 14/07/1980
    Class 47 No. 47237 heads away from Dorchester West – 20/08/1981

    That’s it for this week. Thanks for reading. Comments and corrections welcome. We’ll be back for another round-up soon!

    We were being truthful about being distracted by the Lynton goats. Yoshi wisely kept his distance!

  • Belles & Whistles

    Class 47 No. 47593 ‘Galloway Princess’ approaching Campbell Road Bridge, Eastleigh working Saphos Trains 1Z60 0635 Poole to Kingswear “English Riviera Express” – 02/07/2022
    Wednesday 29th June - Tuesday 5th July 2022

    Saturday Sightings

    Three rail tours were scheduled to pass through Dorset territory on Saturday July 2nd 2022. One had seemingly been cancelled a few days prior to its intended departure before reappearing on the schedules, much to Yoshi’s relief. Originally advertised as being steam hauled and later switched to a Class 57 diesel, “The Northern Belle Special: Tribute To The Bournemouth Belle” actually ran with a Class 47 at one end and a Class 57 at the other. Its journey from London Victoria to Bournemouth and return to London Euston via Slough briefly touched the route “The Bournemouth Belle” would have traversed back in the day. The empty coaching stock from this service ran to Norden on the Swanage Railway for servicing.

    Class 57 No. 57314 approaching Creech Bottom on The Swanage Railway with The Northern Belle empty coaching stock 5Z68 1256 Bournemouth to Norden – 02/07/2022
    Class 57 No. 57314 at Creech Bottom on The Swanage Railway with The Northern Belle empty coaching stock 5Z68 1256 Bournemouth to Norden – 02/07/2022
    Class 57 No. 57314 parked up behind a pair of skips at Norden on The Swanage Railway awaiting servicing of The Northern Belle coaching stock – 02/07/2022
    Class 47 No. 47804 passes the former Furzebrook LPG site working 5Z69 1640 Norden to Bournemouth Northern Belle ECS – 02/07/2022

    Saphos Trains Class 47 top and tailed “English Riviera Express” ran from Poole to Kingswear. BR Standard No. 70000 ‘Britannia’ took over the train from Norton Fitzwarren near Taunton, the diesel locomotives taking back control at the same point on the return leg back to Poole.

    Class 47 No. 47810 (D1924) ‘Crewe Diesel Depot’ passes Bournemouth with the Empty Coaching Stock movement 5Z62 0444 Eastleigh Arlington to Poole to form Saphos Trains excursion to Kingswear and return – 02/07/2022

    Railway Touring Company organised “The Atlantic Coast Express” took Southern Railway rebuilt Merchant Navy 4-6-2 No. 35028 ‘Clan Line’ from London Waterloo to Exeter St. Davids which traversed the Waterloo – Exeter line on its outward journey. One day I’ll tick off that box of recording a steam hauled train departing from Waterloo, but this week I was content with catching a glimpse of ‘Clan Line’ passing underneath Battledown Flyover at Worting Junction and nearing Sherborne.

    SR rebuilt Merchant Navy 4-6-2 No. 35028 ‘Clan Line’ passes nearby Sherborne Old Castle with “The Atlantic Coast Express” 1Z82 0752 London Waterloo to Exeter St. Davids – 02/07/022

    We have put together a compilation video of our Saturday below:

    Yoshi was so excited to see and hear ‘Clan Line’ whistling as she passed Worting Junction he jumped up against the fence my camera was balanced on top of to see her pass for himself which is why there’s a slight wobble in the footage! I wish I’d have had the presence of mind to film him! We had a really enjoyable day out, despite the early start at Bournemouth and we met some friendly folk on our travels. I really didn’t imagine back in the late 1970’s that I’d be so pleased to see three Class 47’s on one day!

    Freightliner Class 66 No. 66529 working 43Z2 0047 Trafford Park F.L.T. to Southampton M.C.T. through Eastleigh – 02/07/2022
    Direct Rail Services Class 37 No. 37069 which has been authorised for new wheelsets stands at Eastleigh Works – 02/07/2022
    Class 701 No. 701022 departing Eastleigh depot with 5Q50 0653 Eastleigh TRSMD to Eastleigh TRSMD – 02/07/2022

    Class 701

    Class 701 No. 701022 snaking its way into Eastleigh with 5Q50 0653 Eastleigh TRSMD to Eastleigh TRSMD – 02/07/2022

    Trials with new Class 701 Electric Multiple Units continue. This week we filmed No. 701022 out and about over a few days which we’ve edited together in the video below:

    Hamworthy Branch Update

    Network Rail team examining the track work at Lake Road Bridge – image by kind permission of Kev Scott Trains

    Network Rail were seen examining Lake Road Bridge on the Hamworthy Branch on the morning of Tuesday 5th July. Hopefully work will start soon clearing the site and replacing the existing structure which is rusted and, as was pointed out to me, has as at least one hole in the metal fabric. The replacement frog for the pointwork ready to reconnect the branch to the main line was deposited on the ballast at Hamworthy a few weeks ago.

    Lake Road Bridge on the Hamworthy Branch – July 2022
    Lake Road bridge has sustained a number of hits from road vehicles as can be seen by the damaged brickwork in this view – July 2022

    Great British Railways

    This week “Snake-oil salesman” and Secretary of State for Transport Grant Shapps announced the shortlist of the most suitable locations for the national headquarters of Great British Railways (GBR), the planned state-owned public body that will oversee the majority of rail transport in Great Britain from 2023.

    The closest local authorities to Yoshi HQ which threw their hats in the ring were Southampton and Eastleigh. However, these were both unsuccessful. The shortlist has been confirmed as:

    • Birmingham
    • Crewe
    • Derby
    • Doncaster
    • Newcastle upon Tyne
    • York

    We would have visited each of these locations for a cup of tea and a bun, but they’re all too far away from Dorset so instead we’ll share the link where you can vote for your preferred location from the shortlist. The results will be used to measure the level of support for each place and will be considered as part of the final decision making. It’s almost like democracy at work.

    Northern Belle: July 2019

    A five month old Yoshi examines Class 57 No. 57601 ‘Windsor Castle’ at the buffer stops in Weymouth having worked The Northern Belle into the town for the Seafood Festival – 14/07/2022

    In pre-Covid times The Northern Belle visited Weymouth with two special trains bringing passengers in to the seaside town for the annual Seafood Festival. Saturday 13th July saw Class 57 No. 57316 with Pullman Liveried classmate No. 57601 ‘Windsor Castle’ attached to the rear with the rail tour having originated form Cardiff. The following day saw the locomotives swap positions with No. 57601 heading into Weymouth with a tour having originated from Coventry.

    Yoshi and Class 57 No. 57316 at Weymouth – 13/07/2019

    This week, Yoshi’s blog was written to the sounds of Freya Ridings, A Dog’s Purpose (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack ) and Bear’s Den. Thanks to everyone who helped and provided information for this weeks therailwaydog blog. We’ll be back here in seven days for another update – we hope you’ll be able to join again us then. May your dog go with you.

  • 20/20 Vision

    We visited the Swanage Railway “Roads to Rail” event at Norden on 25th June 2022 and Yoshi is seen here striking a pose next to 5 Nominal Horse Power (NHP) Showman’s Engine No. 4028 ‘Supreme’. Built by Charles Burrell & Sons in 1925 for Halls of Derby and given the registration number RL 1978 she was saved for preservation in 1952

    This week saw the second and third days of the RMT national rail strike and with them further disruption across the network. I hope that both sides can see their way to finding a solution. Locally we saw the cancellation of a steam hauled rail tour to Bournemouth and Weymouth on Thursday 23rd June 2022. In addition, Yoshi and I had our eyes on photographing a couple of excursion trains in the West Country on Saturday 24th June 2022. One of them, scheduled to have been hauled by a pair of Class 20’s diesels from Birmingham Snow Hill to Bishops Lydeard for the Weston Air Show and the West Somerset Railway, was of particular interest.

    Yoshi took a look at his copy of The Ladybird Book Of British Railway Locomotives to learn all about the Class 20, or English Electric Type 1 as they would have been known as when the book was first published in 1958.

    Pioneer Class 20 No. D8000 is now preserved as part of the National Collection as is the DELTIC prototype – images from The Ladybird Book Of British Railway Locomotives

    The English Electric Type 1, later to become Class 20, was introduced by British Railways between 1957 and 1968 and were one of the pioneering diesel locomotive types built for the BR Modernisation Plan of 1955. 228 members of the class were constructed intended for light passenger train work and freight haulage. Their construction was split between the English Electric Vulcan Foundry in Newton-Le-Willows and RSH in Newcastle. The design was similar to other locomotives found around the world with a single cab at one end and a long bonnet containing the power unit and electrical equipment. The class were initially employed in Scotland, London, South Yorkshire and Derbyshire. Issues around driver visibility and lack of work for smaller types of locomotives like the Class 20’s resulted in the locos running in pairs, coupled nose to nose with both cabs facing outwards. Most Class 20’s eventually transferred to work heavy coal trains in Scotland and Northern England.

    Class 20 No.’s No.s 20092 and 20010 working a freight through Retford – 20/07/1981
    Class 20 No. 20208 alongside Class 47 No. 47372 inside Barrow Hill Roundhouse – 12/02/1983
    Class 20 No. 20013 at Millerhill – 18/08/1982
    Class 20 No.’s 20055 and 20026 at Barrow Hill in British rail days – 12/02/1983
    Class 20 No.’s 20165 and 20167 at Dorridge about to back onto a rail tour which ran from London Paddington to the Severn Valley Railway – 19/06/1982
    Class 20 No.’s 20137 and 20122 at Motherwell – 20/03/1982
    Class 20 No.’s 20048 and 20030 at Swindon – 06/06/1981
    Class 20 No.20225 at Eastfield Depot – 20/03/1981

    By the 1980’s the Class 20’s found themselves being replaced on coal trains by newer and more powerful freight locomotives such as the Class 56 and Class 58 resulting in many withdrawals from service, although some found work on passenger services to seaside destinations, Channel Tunnel construction trains, weed killing trains whilst four were sold to a private operator in France. Later, following railway privatisation in the UK, Direct Rail Services (DRS) employed Class 20’s on their workings for a number of years. Private operators have continued to use examples of the class for Rail Head Treatment Trains (RHTT) and in transferring rolling stock around the country.

    Class 20 No. D8056 (20056) at Barrow Hill in preservation days – 13/11/2005
    Class 20 No. 20205 paired with classmate No. 20142 enter Corfe Castle while Class 50 No. 50035 ‘Ark Royal’ waits to depart for Norden – 07/05/2016
    Class 20 No. 20189 in London Underground red livery. You can just about see an Eastfield depot plaque on the bodyside behind the cab window. Over a ten year period ending in 2019 a number of Class 20’s from the Harry Needle Railroad Company (HNRC) were used to deliver new LU S-Stock from Derby to Neasden or West Ruislip for commissioning. The locomotive is seen at Swanage – 12/05/2013
    The last Class 20 to be built No. 20227 has been used extensively on the London Underground network. To mark the LU 150 celebrations she was painted in a special ‘modern’ LUL livery. Seen here at Swanage – 12/05/2013

    If you’re wondering what a pair of Class 20 diesels on a passenger train would look like, here’s a short video clip of Class 20 locomotives No.’s 20096 and 20107 ‘Jocelyn Fielding 1940 – 2020’ top and tailing with Class 37 No. 37667 (running as D6851) ‘Flopsie’ while working 1Z36 The Jolly Slateman rail tour on 20th November 2021. The tour, run by Intercity, took the 20’s from Derby to Blaenau Ffestiniog and Llandudno Junction and return.

    The Jolly Slateman rail tour passes through Chester on 20th November 2021

    Going back in time, here’s a video clip of another Class 20 hauled rail tour from 2008 when DRS Class 20’s No’s 20307 and 20310, with Class 57 No. 57601 at the rear of the train to provide Electric Train Heating (ETH), travelled from Crewe to Weymouth with Spitfire Railtours organised “The Way-farer” excursion train on April 19th 2008. I can remember planning on filming the return leg of the tour from the footbridge at Upwey, but on arrival I was politely asked if I wouldn’t mind joining a gallery of photographers at the London end of the down platform as they wished to use the footbridge to frame the train and didn’t want some idiot ruining their shot. I was happy to oblige, and think that actually it’s resulted in a better view of the train running through the station. On the same day the Chester Model Railway Club and the Ffestiniog Railway ( Dee & Mersey Group) hired Wrexham and Shropshire liveried Class 67 No’s 67014 and 67015 to top and tail The Dorset Coat Express from Hooton to Poole and return.

    Dorset trains filmed on 19th April 2008

    Returning to 2022 and last Saturday, I spent the morning making an effort with clearing an old water tank and other accumulated rubbish from our loft to free up space for an often talked about model railway layout. Yoshi isn’t happy climbing the loft ladder and sits at the bottom of it looking up and making the occasional comment of disapproval.

    Despite being a rail strike day, on Saturday afternoon, as a change from another visit to the recycling centre, I thought I would pop over to the Southampton area to photograph GBRf Class 69 No. 69001, not realising it had departed Southampton Western Docks 158 minutes ahead of schedule. Instead I saw Freightliner Class 66 No.’s 66415 ‘You Are Never Alone’ and 66957 ‘Stephenson Locomotive Society 1909 -2009’ double heading on 4Z21 0918 Trafford Park FLT to Southampton MCT and GBRf Biffa liveried Class 66 No. 66783 working 4Z04 1036 Trafford Park to Southampton Western Docks.

    GBRf Biffa liveried Class 66 No. 66783 working 4Z04 1036 Trafford Park to Southampton Western Docks
    Video of a couple of Solent freights – 25/06/2022

    We also had a quick look in at Freightliner’s Southampton Maritime depot and Eastleigh.

    Freightliner Class 66 No. 66514 in the foreground at Southampton Maritime Container Terminal with Class 70 No.’s 70001 & 70008 and Class 66 No.’s 66566, 66553, 66529, 66547 & 66506 ‘Crewe Regeneration’ – 25/06/2022
    A full house at Southampton M.C.T. with Class 70 No.’s 70001 & 70008 and Class 66 No.’s 66566, 66553, 66529, 66547 & 66506 ‘Crewe Regeneration’ with recently arrived Class 66 No. 66957 ‘Stephenson Locomotive Society 1909 -2009’ and G&W orange liveried Class 66 No. 66415 ‘You Are Never Alone’ in the background, with Class 70 No. 70015 behind – 25/06/2022
    Freightliner Class 66529, 66547 & 66506 ‘Crewe Regeneration’ with Class 66 No. 66957 ‘Stephenson Locomotive Society 1909 -2009’ and G&W orange liveried Class 66 No. 66415 ‘You Are Never Alone’ in the background at Southampton M.C.T. – 25/06/2022
    Freightliner Class 70 No. 70015 – 22/06/2022
    Colas Class 66 No. 66846 on the stabling point adjacent to Eastleigh Railway Station – 25/06/2022
    A Colas trio of Class 66 No. 66850 ‘David Maidment OBE’ and Class 70 No.’s 70809 and 70813 at Eastleigh East Yard – 25/06/2022
    LSL Midland Pullman liveried Class 43 No. 43047 showing off a fresh look after emerging from the paint facility at Eastleigh Works – 25/06/2022
    Transmart Trains Class 73 No. 73133 stands in the yard at Eastleigh Works with a Rail Adventure Class 43 power car behind – 25/06/2022
    GWR Class 769 Bi-Mode Multiple Unit (BMU) No. 769947 at Eastleigh Works. GBRf Class 59 No. 59003 which was received damage to its traction motors, wheel sets and power unit attempting to extract a Class 159 DMU from the site of the October 2021 Salisbury train crash. Also in evidence are Class 43 HST power cars – 25/06/2022
    Class 59 No. 59205 stands on Eastleigh Works after the completion of repairs required following a derailment at Eastleigh which occurred on March 6th 2022. The locomotive returned to service on Monday 27th June 2022 – 25/06/2022

    Swanage Roads to Rail

    Saturday evening saw us visiting Norden where the Swanage Railway were holding their Roads to Rail event which included working traction engines, road rollers, showman’s engines and SR 2-6-0 U Class No. 31806 alongside vintage fairground fun, live music and plenty of refreshments. Yoshi didn’t much care for the steam traction engines with all their whistling, hissing and clunking so we decided that we wouldn’t stay too late. We managed to grab the following photos in between eating and drinking.

    Aveling & Porter Road Locomotive No. 8471 ‘Clyde’ Registration AF 4478 Built 1914
    Foden Wagon No. 11414 ‘Freddie’ Registration TA 9891 Built 1924
    Fowler Road Roller No. 9005 ‘Lord Kitchener’ Registration HR 3582 Built 1901 and Aveling & Porter Road Roller No. 14001 ‘Dick Turpin’ Registration KR 478 Built 1929
    Fowler Road Roller No. 9005 ‘Lord Kitchener’ Registration HR 3582 Built 1901
    A pair of Robey & Company General Purpose Traction Engines with No. 29450 ‘King George V’ Limited Registration AB 9453 Built 1910 on the left and No. 29333 ‘Wally’ Registration AD 9899 Built 1910 on the right
    Foreground: Wallis & Steevens Road Roller No. 8100 Registration BAA 432 Built 1936 with Wallis & Steevens Tractor No. 2656 ‘Little Olga’ Registration HO 5834 Built 1903 / McLaren Road Locomotive No. 1332 ‘Gigantic’ Registration DS 7128 Built 1912 / Foden Tractor No. 13454 ‘Samantha’ Registration KX 3340 Built 1929 in the background
    Foden Tractor No. 13454 ‘Samantha’ Registration KX 3340 Built 1929
    Burrell Showmans Tractor No. 3497 ‘May Queen’ Registration AH 0150 Built 1913
    SR 2-6-0 U Class No. 31806 was on static display as part of the Roads to Rail event giving visitors access to the footplate during the day sessions
    Swanage Railways’ 1960 built BR three-car Class 117 diesel multiple unit ran evening services from Norden to Swanage
    Yoshi and Me – photo by @radioc71

    Thanks for joining us this week – we’ll be back in seven days with more witterings!

  • 175 And Not Out…

    33111 pauses after departing Norden on the Swanage Railway Friday evening dining train – 10/06/2022

    Swanage Railway

    Friday evening was gloriously sunny, so Yoshi and I made the most of the light and took a drive to Swanage to see resident Class 33 No. 33111 in charge of the dining train which made two return trips between Swanage and Norden enabling diners ample time to enjoy dinner while taking in the beautiful Purbeck countryside. Class 33/1’s were part of the regular scene in my train spotting days back in the late 1970’s/ early 1980’s. On my way to school in the morning I would time my walk to coincide with the arrival of the ‘school train’ from Weymouth to Dorchester South which was regularly hauled by a 33/1 diesel locomotive hauling the passenger stock from the overnight mail train which would have arrived at the seaside terminus several hours previously. Well, that’s my recollection anyway! No. 33111 was the last locomotive of the 19 strong sub-class that I needed to ‘spot’, and therefore holds a special memory for me. I’m very pleased she survived into preservation locally.

    Class 33 No. 33111 heads towards Norden – 10/06/2022
    Yoshi with Class 33 No. 33111 – so as not to upset anyone of a nervous disposition, I digitally removed the fence behind Yoshi which separated him from the lineside.

    On Tuesday 14th June, 71A Locomotive Group’s green liveried Class 33 No. D6515 (33012) ‘Lt Jenny Lewis RN’ along with Network Southeast liveried Class 50 No. 50026 ‘Indomitable’ returned to Swanage after their outing to guest at the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway diesel gala over the weekend. It was too hot for Yoshi to be hanging around for old diesels, so I headed off to Wareham alone. The 33/50 combo arrived around ten minutes late and a passing up service almost rendered photographic opportunities useless, but I managed to get a few snaps of the event. There’s a video below too, featuring the locomotives at Wareham on the main line and at Norden Crossing on the Swanage Railway.

    71A Locomotive Group’s green liveried Class 33 No. D6515 (33012) ‘Lt Jenny Lewis RN’ along with Network Southeast liveried Class 50 No. 50026 ‘Indomitable’ pause at Wareham for a crew change working as 0Z23 0700 Dereham U.K.F. to Swanage – 14/06/2022

    Portsmouth Harbour

    On Saturday while Yoshi was enjoying spending a day with friends and socialising with other doggos, I was off on a family jaunt to the Portsmouth Historic Dockyards to visit The Mary Rose and to hit my head several times onboard HMS Victory. It was a lovely day, apart from the bashing my head on the low beams inside Victory bit obviously, made even better by taking the train to Portsmouth Harbour.

    Portsmouth Harbour railway station first opened on the 2nd October 1876 as the terminus of Portsmouth and Ryde Joint Railway Chief Engineer Frederick Banister’s Portsmouth Waterside Extension to the Portsmouth Direct Line which runs to London Waterloo. The construction of the station replaced an earlier pier on the site called the Albert Pier that was used for passenger steamships in the mid-Victorian era. The Portsmouth and Ryde Joint Railway was a group of three railway lines in Southern England that were jointly owned and operated by the London & South Western Railway (LSWR) and the London, Brighton & South Coast Railway (LB&SCR). The main line was between Cosham and Portsmouth Harbour. There was a branch from Fratton to East Southsea; and a line between Ryde Pier Head and Ryde St John’s Road. The last-named section was isolated from the others, being on the Isle of Wight. The first section of line opened in 1847 and the last in 1885; the Southsea branch closed in 1914 but all of the other routes have since been electrified and remain open.

    Portsmouth Harbour railway station was rebuilt in 1937 when the route was electrified but was almost totally destroyed during World War 2 by fire after German bombing. The station was rebuilt again after the war.

    Train services to and from Portsmouth Harbour are operated by South Western Railway (SWR), Southern and Great Western Railway (GWR) – here are a selection of images taken on Saturday 11th June 2022:

    GWR Class 166 No. 166210 at Portsmouth Harbour having arrived with the 1F05 0629 Cardiff Central to Portsmouth Harbour service – 11/06/2022
    Southern Class 377 EMU No. 377129 working 1S27 1529 Portsmouth Harbour to Brighton – 11/06/2022
    Class 444 No. 444018 leads fellow unit 444040 on 1P54 1545 Portsmouth Harbour to London Waterloo – 11/06/2022
    Portsmouth Harbour signal box was opened by the Southern Railway on the 1st June 1946. It was built to the Southern Railway Type 13 design and was fitted with a 47 lever Westinghouse ‘L’ frame.

    It replaced two boxes, Portsmouth Harbour signal box which was destroyed by aerial bombing in 1941 but was not officially closed and Portsmouth Harbour signal box, a temporary box opened on 21st August 1941 to replace the bomb damaged box.
    Portsmouth Harbour signal box was closed on 21st April 1968 and was used as an office and a relay room for Portsmouth power signal box. After closure the lever frame was moved to the school of signalling at Clapham Junction. The building was retained as a relay room for the 1968 Portsmouth NX signalling scheme which was operational until December 2006. Network rail re-commissioned Portsmouth Harbour signal box on February 4th 2007, following serious problems with the 2006 Portsmouth re-signalling scheme. It was closed for the second time at the end of 2007 when Havant ASC was eventually commissioned.
    The Spinnaker Tower forms a backdrop to the entrance to Portsmouth Harbour railway station – 11/06/2022
    The steps leading up to the entrance of Portsmouth Harbour railway station – 11/06/2022
    SWR Class 450 No.’s 450053 forming the 1P56 1615 departure to London Waterloo and 450126 having worked in on the 1P43 1430 London Waterloo service at the buffer stops, Portsmouth Harbour – 11/06/2022
    GWR Class 166 No. 166220 waits to depart with F26 1623 Portsmouth Harbour to Cardiff Central – 11/06/2022

    On 6th August 1981, Class 33 No. 33025 was named ‘Sultan’ during a ceremony at Portsmouth Harbour by Captain Austin Lockyer of HMS Sultan. The crests for 33025 were presented by The Royal Navy. I remember it being a wet day, not unusual for a British summer by the seaside I suppose! Here are some scans of my colour slides and black and white negatives of the day, including a couple shots taken at Southampton Central on the way to/ from the naming ceremony.

    33025 ‘Sultan’ Portsmouth Harbour – 06/08/1981
    33025 ‘Sultan’ Portsmouth Harbour – 06/08/1981
    33025 ‘Sultan’ Portsmouth Harbour – 06/08/1981
    33025 ‘Sultan’ Portsmouth Harbour – 06/08/1981
    33025 ‘Sultan’ Portsmouth Harbour – 06/08/1981
    33025 ‘Sultan’ Portsmouth Harbour – 06/08/1981
    BR Class 33 No. 33001 at Portsmouth Harbour – 06/08/1981
    Class 33 No. 33116 arrives at Portsmouth Harbour – 06/08/2022
    Brush Type 4 Class 47 No. 47064 pauses at Southampton Central – 06/08/1981
    Class 33 No. 33057 gets the road at Southampton Central – 06/08/1981

    Southampton – Dorchester 175

    June 2022 marks the 175th Anniversary of the Southampton to Dorchester line opening in 1847. The main driving force behind this line was Wimborne solicitor, Charles Castleman who first proposed a route by way of Brockenhurst, Wimborne, Poole and Wareham. Interestingly, one town which was not included was Bournemouth which in the early 1840’s had a population of around 200, none of whom appeared to care greatly about the new era of rail transportation. Politics of the day meant the supporters of the line courted interest from both the LSW and GW railway companies as both had interest in gaining a foothold in each others territories. The LSW to Exeter and GWR to Southampton. Weymouth was not initially included because of the projected expense of tunnelling which would be required between Dorchester and the seaside town. Eventually the GWR proposed a Wilts, Somerset and Weymouth line and it was agreed that when built the LSW should work the line between Southampton and Dorchester and the GWR from Dorchester to Weymouth.

    Castleman had suggested early on that the Southampton to Dorchester route should be extended west from Dorchester through to Exeter, but in the event this didn’t happen. In part because the LSW eventually preferred to extend its Salisbury line. The Southampton and Dorchester Railway received Royal Assent on 21st July 1845 and engineer Samuel Peto was hired to construct the line, work commencing in August 1845. Castleman’s route was anything but direct, but was designed to take in most of the larger settlements on the way. This twisting route earned the nickname of Castleman’s Corkscrew.

    The Illustrated London News w/e 5th June 1847 edition

    The first section to be completed was between Dorchester and Ringwood but trains did not start running until the section through the New Forest was ready. Problems with the construction of a tunnel to carry the line under Southampton causing earthslips and subsidence prevented the running of through trains on opening day; 1st June 1847 and trains ran between Dorchester and Blechynden which was immediately west of the tunnel and stood further east than the present Southampton Central station.

    There were originally thirteen stations on the 60.5 mile line, plus one other for Poole which was accommodated by a 1.75 mile branch and was actually located in Hamworthy. The chief engineer, William Moorson, appointed architect Sancton Wood to design a station building which could be replicated across all locations these being Blechynden, Redbridge, Lyndhurst, Beaulieu, Brockenhurst, Christchurch Road, Ringwood, Wimborne, Poole Junction (later Hamworthy Junction ), Wareham, Wool, Moreton and Dorchester.

    The 1960’s saw the ‘old road’ from Brockenhurst through Ringwood and Wimborne fall under the blade of the Beeching cuts with passenger services assigned closure on 2nd May 1964, although Wimborne remained open for freight until 1977. I’m quite grumpy about not having seen any workings on this route. The last passenger to actually use Wimborne station was Her Majesty The Queen in July 1969. It is ironic that today the towns on the route of Castleman’s Corkscrew are growing conurbations and the railway would have had great potential as a commuter line. The population was already increasing when the line was closed, such is the short sightedness of planners and politicians and we are now left with the cycle and walking Castleman’s Trailway which Yoshi and I have explored in part.

    An £180,000 improvement scheme has recently been completed to upgrade surfaces and access making the Trailway more accessible to a wider range of users. Drainage has been improved and much of the route has been widened. Barriers have been replaced by bollards, new signage and benches will be installed soon and verges seeded with wildflowers.

    There were activities ranging from cake to dancing held at a number of stations on the Southampton to Dorchester route over the last weekend to celebrate the 175th Anniversary. Certainly something worth celebrating.

    That’s just about all for from us for this week. Last weekend was also the occasion of the 2022 West Somerset Railway Diesel Gala. Because of lovely family plans we were unable to visit this year, but we’ll leave you with a couple of glimpses of one of our previous visits to the line. This was in 2019 and was coincidentally Yoshi’s first heritage railway outing!

    Class 25 D7535 at Crowcombe Heathfield – 21/06/2019
    Yoshi meets D1010 ‘Western Campaigner’ at Williton – 21/06/2019

    Thanks for reading – until next week, take care!

  • Platinum Jubilee Weekend

    GBRf Class 66 No. 66734 ‘Platinum Jubilee’ stands adjacent to Eastleigh railway station – 02/06/2022

    66734 ‘Platinum Jubilee’

    We kicked off our four day Platinum Jubilee Weekend when we popped into Eastleigh to see newly outshopped GBRf EU Class 66 conversion No. 66734. The locomotive, previously No. PB04 when in use in Europe, has taken the identity of Class 66/7 No. 66734, which was written off in a landslide adjacent near Loch Trieg in 2012, and is the 100th member of the class acquired by GBRailfreight.

    GBRf Class 66 No. 66734 ‘Platinum Jubilee’ stands adjacent to Eastleigh railway station – 02/06/2022
    Detail from 66734 ‘Platinum Jubilee’

    To mark the Platinum Jubilee of Her Majesty The Queen, the engine has been given a special purple and silver livery, with the Platinum Jubilee logo and Union Flag on the bodyside. The engine has been named ‘Platinum Jubilee’, and although it currently carries vinyl nameplates, these will be replaced by cast versions in time.

    Detail from 66734 ‘Platinum Jubilee’
    Detail from 66734 ‘Platinum Jubilee’
    GBRf Class 66 No. 66734 ‘Platinum Jubilee’ and Freightliner sister No. 66553 stabled next to Eastleigh railway station – 02/06/2022

    Didcot

    After our brief visit to Eastleigh, we headed off to Didcot Railway Centre for an evening photographic event run by TimeLine Events who had arranged for Great Western Railway Castle Class 4-6-0 No. 4079 ‘Pendennis Castle’ to be in steam for a number of scenarios around the site. You can read about our earlier visit to Didcot when No. 4079 was relaunched into service here.

    TimeLine events specialise in recreating scenes from past eras using convincing re-enactors wearing authentic period dress in credible locations. Joining one of these events has been on my bucket list for a while now. We were a little late on arrival and once we had gained access to the railway centre, we quickly joined in the spirit of things. I really enjoyed the evening and the photographic opportunities and would attend another similar event in the future. I wasn’t totally satisfied with my resulting images and another time I would mount my camera on a tripod and try a variation of settings. As it was, this time around I hand held the DSLR and this certainly shows on shots taken later on in the evening.

    Great Western Railway Castle Class 4-6-0 No. 4079 ‘Pendennis Castle’ at Didcot
    Great Western Railway Castle Class 4-6-0 No. 4079 ‘Pendennis Castle’in the shed at Didcot
    Great Western Railway Castle Class 4-6-0 No. 4079 ‘Pendennis Castle’ at Didcot

    Although not the prime reason for attending the evening, I very much enjoyed seeing ‘Pendennis Castle’ in steam as she moved around Didcot and being turned on the turntable. Here’s a video showing a little taste of the evening:

    Castle Class 4-6-0 No. 4079 ‘Pendennis Castle’ joins a line up of GWR engines at Didcot

    Swanage Railway

    Over the weekend Yoshi and I made a couple of visits to our local heritage railway in the Purbecks where dedicated Swanage Railway volunteer, Malcolm Munro, had spent a week crafting two special headboards marking the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. Headboards are carried on trains to denote a special service or working and in the days of steam were a regular sight, including two famous Dorset related examples; The Bournemouth Belle and The Royal Wessex. The silver and red Platinum Jubilee headboards were carried by locomotives operating the Swanage Railway’s steam trains between Thursday 2nd June and Sunday 5th June 2022.

    With SR 4-6-2 West Country Class No. 34028 ‘Eddystone’ on holiday at the Gloucestershire & Warwickshire Railway, steam services at Swanage were in the capable hands of SR 2-6-0 U Class No. 31806 and SR 4-6-2 Battle of Britain Class No. 34072 ‘257 Squadron’. Class 33 No. D6515 (33012) ‘Lt Jenny Lewis RN’ was in action on Saturday evening with the dining train.

    SR 2-6-0 U Class No. 31806 enters Harman’s Cross – 02/06/2022
    SR 4-6-2 Battle of Britain Class No. 34072 ‘257 Squadron’ being prepared for departure from Swanage with the first train of the day. The special Platinum Jubilee headboard can be seen clearly – 04/06/2022
    Class 33 No. D6515 (33012) ‘Lt Jenny Lewis RN’ working the evening Curry Train across Corfe Common – 04/06/2022
    Video of trains on the Swanage Railway over the Platinum Jubilee holiday weekend 2022

    Mainline Happenings!

    I was fully expecting a quiet time with local out of the ordinary main line workings over the bank holiday period and was pleasantly surprised to discover a GBRf route learner had been conjured up when I checked my emails on Saturday morning. So it was a hurried five minutes collecting cameras together and persuading Yoshi to jump in the car before setting off to view Class 66 No. 66755 ‘Tony Berkeley OBE’ working 0Z20 0813 Eastleigh East Yard to Weymouth. Over the weekend there had been several of these driver training workings set up, but in actuality only one ran each day on the Saturday and Sunday

    GBRf Class 66 No. 66755 ‘Tony Berkeley OBE’ working light engine through Hamworthy as SWR Class 444 No. 444029 departs with a service bound for London Waterloo – 04/06/2022

    Over the course of the Saturday and Sunday runs we managed to catch the light loco in a number of different settings – narrowly avoiding missing a shot once or twice because of passing passenger trains, as can be seen in the video below:

    GBRf Class 66 No. 66755 ‘Tony Berkeley OBE’ heads into Poole having cleared the High Street crossing – 05/06/2022
    GBRf Class 66 No. 66755 ‘Tony Berkeley OBE’ runs down Bincombe bank into Upwey – 05/06/2022

    The evening of Monday 6th June 2022 saw a test train and a heritage diesel working pass through the east of our area. The first was BR Green Class 33 No. D6515 from Swanage hauling Network SouthEast Class 50 No. 50026 ‘Indomitable’ heading to Dereham to pick up “slim’ Class 33/2 No. 33202 ‘Dennis G. Robinson’ before onward working to star at The Keighley & Worth Valley Railway diesel gala being held Friday 10th June through to Sunday 12th June 2022.

    Class 33 No. D6515 from Swanage hauling Network SouthEast Class 50 No. 50026 ‘Indomitable’ through Hamworthy – 06/06/2022

    The Class 33/ Class 50 combo was followed later by the monthly Colas test train top and tailed by Class 73 electro-diesels No.’s 73963 ‘Janice’ and 73962 ‘Dick Mabbutt’ working 1Q51 1115 Derby RTC to Eastleigh east Yard via Weymouth

    Class 73 electro-diesels No.’s 73963 ‘Janice’ and 73962 ‘Dick Mabbutt’ working 1Q51 1115 Derby RTC to Eastleigh east Yard via Weymouth pass through Hamworthy – 06/06/2022

    Elizabeth Line

    We took the opportunity of an airport run to meet Yoshi’s aunty who was flying into London Heathrow to bookend our Platinum Jubilee weekend with a quick visit to see an Elizabeth line train at the T5 railway station. The staff were amazingly friendly, helpful and accommodating allowing us to onto the platform to take photographs of one of the Alstom Class 345 Aventra trains as well as explaining technical and timetable details. The Elizabeth line was officially opened by Her Majesty The Queen accompanied by HRH Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex on May 17th 2022 when a commemorative plaque was unveiled at London Paddington station a week in advance of the route opening to passenger services on May 24th.

    Initially know as Crossrail, the Elizabeth line is operated by “MTR Elizabeth Line” as a concession of Transport for London between London Paddington and Abbey Wood. The Class 345’s have already been running between Paddington, Heathrow Airport and Reading in the west and between London Liverpool Street and Sheffield to the east prior to the central core opening for service. There are 70 trains, some seven carriages in length and others with nine carriages which were designed and built by Alstom in Derby. They are maintained by Alstom at Old Oak Common depot in west London. It is planned for the company to maintain the trains for the next 32 years as part of a rolling stock and provision contract.

    Yoshi alongside Class 345 No. 345170
    Yoshi explores the interior of a Class 345 train
    Yoshi poses next to the Elizabeth line logo

    On the day of our visit around 4,000 London Underground station staff were on strike with most services being severely disrupted so the Elizabeth line may have been busier than normal during our visit. The RMT union says it is protecting jobs and the pensions of its members which are being reviewed. TfL says jobs are not under threat. Later this month, more than 40,000 railway workers across 13 railway companies, including South Western Railway and Great Western Railway, will walk out as part of a three day national strike on 21st, 23rd and 25th June after talks about pay and redundancies collapsed.

    With the tube not running because of a strike, Yoshi was unable to access the London Underground

    That’s all from us at therailwaydog.co.uk for this week. Thanks, as always, for reading. My regular reader ( you know who you are ) will no doubt recall the first Railway Dog blog entry where I shared the first railway photographs I ever took, which to continue the jubilee theme, were from 1977 and show a Silver Jubilee special excursion passing through Dorchester West on its way to Weymouth. You can read more about this and see the images here.

  • Winfrith Cats 2

    DRS Class 68 no.’s 68018 ‘Vigilant’ and 68016 ‘Fearless’ are seen just after departing Winfrith on 26/05/2022

    Just taking a break from binge watching ‘Mare of Easttown’ to put together this weeks update. I’m well behind the times in catching up on the Kate Winslet TV drama, but convinced <redacted> is the guilty party. I’ll let you know if I’m correct next time. Anyway, on with the trains where this week we were surprised to be informed about the listing on Realtime Trains which revealed timings for the second run to Winfrith for the purposes of removing low level nuclear waste, the first such move which we featured here . I wasn’t expecting this to run until June given information received, but I’m assuming blocks of waste to be transported were available quicker than planned.

    Yoshi and I saw the double headed train of ten empty PFA wagons hauled by DRS Class 68’s No.’s 68016 ‘Fearless’ and 68018 ‘Vigilant’ crossing Holes Bay at Poole as they headed towards Winfrith. Unfortunately the sun wasn’t shining on us that morning and it was a very dull pass.

    DRS Class 68’s No.’s 68016 ‘Fearless’ and 68018 ‘Vigilant’ crossing Holes Bay – 26/05/2022

    In the afternoon, we popped over to Winfrith just in time to see the loaded train, this time top and tailed by the DRS Class 68 locomotives, depart the sidings for the run to Dorchester South where the consist reversed for its onward journey to Crewe. While the train was doing this, we had enough time to scoot off to Poole in order to see the train pass us for a second camera shot.

    DRS Class 68 no.’s 68018 ‘Vigilant’ and 68016 ‘Fearless’ nearing Poole – 26/05/2022

    Here’s a short video of the train to accompany the above images. Many thanks to my brother for the clips near Dorchester:

    On Saturday May 28th 2022 we took a trip to Dawlish to see their black swans. As luck would have it, Stanier Coronation Pacific No. 6233 ‘Duchess Of Sutherland’ was also having a day out hauling a section of the Railway Touring Company organised ‘The South Devon Explorer’ rail tour which had commenced at Woking and was destined for Plymouth. The Duchess hauled the train between Bristol Temple Meads and Plymouth on the outward leg. Yoshi was quite annoyed with me for not checking the settings on my DSLR camera as after the event I learned these needed correcting before use and the resulting images are nowhere near as sharp as they should be.

    6233 ‘Duchess of Sutherland’ approaches Dawlish – 28/05/2022

    The South Devon Railway was mapped out by Isambard Kingdom Brunel in 1846 and included a sea wall between Dawlish and Teignmouth. The section along Marine Parade, Dawlish was constructed in 1846. A new wall faced in limestone with granite detailing was built against this original structure between 1902 and 1905. In February 2014, a devastating storm struck Dawlish washing away the foundations of the sea wall and leaving the railway track swinging in the air. The South West peninsula was cut off from the rest of the UK rail network with millions of pounds required to put things right. Remarkably 300 Network Rail staff and contractors managed to restore the rail link in just eight weeks by repairing the sea wall and replacing the track and foundations at with 6,000 tonnes of concrete and 150 tonnes of steel. But a more longterm solution was required and a new £80million sea wall is being built. The first phase, which runs for approximately 400m from Colonnade underpass, west of Dawlish station, to Boat Cove has been completed, ensuring that this section of railway is more resilient for future generations. Work began on the second section, which runs for 415m between Coastguards and Colonnade breakwaters, in November 2020 with construction expected to finish in late summer 2022. A new accessible footbridge with lifts is due to be built at Dawlish station in 2023, subject to prior approval from Teignbridge District Council. 

    Stanier Coronation Pacific No. 6233 ‘Duchess Of Sutherland’ heading up The South Devon Explorer operated by The Railway Touring Company passes Marine Parade, Dawlish – 28/05/2022

    Here’s our video of HST’s and the Duchess passing through Dawlish:

    Trains at Dawlish including No. 6233 ‘Duchess Of Sutherland’ working The South Devon Explorer – 28/05/2022

    From 2010, and for comparison of how the sea wall has changed, the following video shows GWR HST’s filmed from almost the same location as the previous footage above. The clip culminates in a shot of GWR steam locomotives No. 6024 ‘King Edward I’ and 5029 ‘Nunney Castle’ double heading Steam Dreams The Cornish Riviera excursion which ran from London Paddington to Penzance. Steaming problems with No. 6024 and a fire on the generator car at Colthorpe near Theale meant the tour was running almost 40 minutes late by the time it passed me.

    HST’s and steam at Dawlish – 26th June 2010

    Some images of Dawlish prior to the 2014 storm:

    LMS Royal Scot Class No. 6100 ‘Royal Scot’ working the return The Torbay Express rail tour emerges from Kennaway Tunnel – 3rd July 2016
    LMS Royal Scot Class No. 6100 ‘Royal Scot’ nears Dawlish railway station on her way from Kingswear to Bristol Temple Meads – 3rd July 2016
    GWR Class 153 No. 153329 takes a battering from the sea, Dawlish – 9th June 2013
    LNER A4 No. 60009 ‘Union of South Africa’ working Par to Bristol Temple Meads with the Railway Touring Company’s ‘The Royal Duchy’ – 9th June 2013. The A4 has now been retired from mainline duties and is on show at the Bury Transport Museum.

    By the way, you can find more about No. 6233 ‘Duchess of Sutherland’ on a previous railway dog blog entry by clicking here.

    With Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee bank holiday weekend taking place this week, we’re sharing a video of the Royal Train when it passed through Dorchester in October 2002 as well as some royal related train images:

    The Royal Train visits Dorchester on the 3rd October 2002 in charge of Class 47798 ‘Prince William’
    No. 47798 is a British Rail Brush Type 4 Class 47 diesel locomotive, built in 1965 and originally given the number D1656. Following the introduction of the TOPS numbering system, the loco became 47072 in 1974. Its steam heating boiler was replaced by electric train heating in 1984 and renumbered 47609. The following year it was given the name ‘Fire Fly’ to commemorate an historic Great Western Railway steam locomotive and was further renmubered to 47834 in 1989. In 1995 the locomotive was renumbered once more, this time to 47798 and the name changed to ‘Prince William’ and repainted in a plum colour was allocated as one of the locomotives rostered to pull the Royal Train as required. Withdrawn in February 2004, ‘Prince William’ is now preserved at The Railway Museum in York where these images were taken – 31/10/2010
    Class 67 No. 67006 ‘Royal Sovereign’ with The Royal Train approaches Parkstone with HM The Queen onboard following her visit to Poundbury for the purposes of unveiling a statue of The Qureen Mother – 27/10/2016
    Class 67 No. 67005 ‘Queen’s Messenger’ at the rear of The Royal Train passing through Parkstone railway station – 27/10/2016. 67005 and 67006 are painted in Royal Claret livery for hauling the Royal Train
    For The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012 various locomotives were given special liveries, one being GWR HST power car No. 43186 which is seen here at Newport, South Wales – 07/05/2013

    Thanks to a suggestion, we hope that all images on this page pop out into a Lightbox when clicked on (even the fuzzy Duchess shots!). I’ll be retrospectively going back over all the older pages when time allows and updating the image links. I’ve also noticed some of the older galleries have images missing, so I’ll hopefully deal with that issue at the same time. Suggestions for updates, corrections or enhancements to Yoshi’s Adventures are always welcome! If you’re in the UK, enjoy the long Jubilee weekend if you’re able and we’ll hopefully see you back in here in seven days.

  • Bristol Harbour Railway

    Yoshi sits near Howard Lock, Bristol with the Clifton Suspension Bridge in the background

    At the weekend, Yoshi visited Bristol by train from Dorset. He was a very good boy on the trains to and from the city. It was perhaps a little too hot for him during the day, but we made sure he had lots of water and opportunity to rest in the shade. He also enjoyed a boat trip.

    Bristol Temple Meads – May 2022

    We arrived in the city via Bristol Temple Meads railway station which is currently undergoing a massive transformation programme managed by Network Rail. Having completed a major track and signalling upgrade in 2021, the station roof is currently being grit-blasted to remove layers of old colouring before receiving a protective new coat of paint. New glazing is also being installed with the project due for completion in the summer of 2024.

    GWR Castle Class HST power car No. 43005 ‘St. Michaels Mount’ stands at the rear of the 0820 Taunton to Cardiff Central service. The scaffolding for the safety deck to facilitate roof repairs can clearly be seen.
    Watch a couple of HST’s at Bristol – 14/05/2022

    The original Temple Meads, designed by famed engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel, was opened on 31st August 1840 as the western terminus of the Great Western Railway. The Brunel train shed no longer forms part of the operational station and is now partly used for car parking, Temple Meads having been expanded to accommodate a growing number of train services by Matthew Digby Wyatt and Francis Fox in the 1870’s and Percy Emerson Culverhouse in the early 1930’s. To me Bristol Temple Meads represents one of the finest railway stations in the UK.

    A statue of Isambard Kingdom Brunel (1806 – 1859) stands on the approach to Bristol Temple Meads railway station

    We enjoyed a walk around the city and took in the Clifton Suspension Bridge, a visit to Bristol Museum & Art Gallery, the buzzing quayside area and Brunel’s SS Great Britain, once the largest passenger ship in the world.

    Brunel’s SS Great Britain. Brunel envisaged passengers boarding his steam ships in America, sailing to Bristol and travelling to London via his trains on his railway without having to leave the Great Western Railway company services on the journey.
    As part of an exhibition of art works chosen by Grayson Perry and guest celebrities chronicling recent lockdowns at the Bristol Museum & Art Gallery entitled ‘Grayson’s Art Club’ was this fantastic Ticket Rug created by Simon Fraser. The rug contains over 25,900 individual threads and took 60 hours to complete.

    Unplanned as part of our visit when originally devised, I was very pleased to see the Bristol Harbour Railway was in operation. Built by the Great Western Railway in the 1870’s, being formally opened on 11 March 1872 by Lady Mayoress, Mrs Elizabeth Hare. The railway was used to transport goods arriving by ship including coal, esparto grass, wood and meat, as well as alcoholic drinks such as sherry and Guinness. A great deal of goods traffic was moved on the railway throughout its working life including vital war supplies during both world wars.

    The railway began at Bristol Temple Meads before proceeding through a tunnel under St Mary Redcliffe churchyard, over a steam-powered lifting bridge outside the Ostrich pub on Bathurst Basin and onto Princes Wharf. In the 1900’s it was extended onto Wapping Wharf to where the SS Great Britain is docked today.

    After a century operating as a goods railway, it was handed over to the Bristol Museum and has been run as a heritage visitor attraction ever since. Today the railway runs on the quayside between M Shed and the ‘SS Great Britain’ or alongside the New Cut to Vauxhall footbridge.

    Locomotive engineering was a vital industry in Bristol from the late 1830s to the 1950s and currently M Shed has two Bristol-built steam locomotives in operation; ‘Henbury’ and ‘Portbury‘, both of which served their working lives on the docks railway system at Avonmouth.

    ‘Portbury’

    Built in the Fishponds area of Bristol in 1917 by the Avonside Engine Co and painted battleship grey, ‘Portbury’ was taken to work on the construction of the new Portbury shipyard towards the end of World War 1. In 1920 she was moved to Avonmouth Docks where she worked on the internal railway system. She was later joined by ‘Henbury’, built at Bristol company Peckett & Sons in 1937. A more powerful engine, ‘Henbury’ augmented a growing fleet of 40 engines at work in the docks.

    When diesel engines took over in the 1960’s both engines were selected for the museum. After some years in storage ‘Henbury’ was overhauled and took part in the opening ceremony of Bristol Industrial Museum in 1978. In 1981, ‘Henbury’ made railway history as the first preserved steam locomotive to pull scheduled freight on the main line railway.

    ‘Henbury’

    ‘Henbury’ has pulled hundreds of thousands of visitors on trips on Bristol Harbour Railway since 1978 and was joined in 1988 by ‘Portbury’. Now in its 150th Anniversary year, we hope the railway continues to give enjoyment for many years to come.

    Click on our short video from 14th May 2022 below, and also watch from the archive with the Bristol Harbour Railway in operation in the 1990’s:

    The Bristol Harbour Railway in May 2022
    The Bristol Harbour Railway as seen on two visits in the 1990’s

    A quiet week for “out of the normal” trains locally following the excitement of the Swanage Railway diesel gala ( see last weeks blog entry ), however following the timetable changes which took place from May 15th 2022, South Western Railway has reinstated a “full service” to and from Weymouth for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic hit. Two trains an hour will now run to London, with a later evening return service from Dorset. Journey times will be reduced and improvements have been made to Weymouth station, focusing on new bus stop facilities and platform refurbishments. We’ll have to check them out!

    Finally, a brief visit to Bristol Temple Meads 1988 style from the same vista as the 2022 video linked above.

    Bristol Temple Meads departures – 1988

    We’ll certainly be hopping in our archive time machine and visiting Bristol again in future weeks, but for now, that’s all for this entry. As always, thank you for reading and all comments welcome. May your dog go with you.

  • Swanage Diesel Gala

    Yoshi takes the opportunity to get up close and personal with GBRf Class 69004 which was on static display at Swanage station during the Swanage Railway Diesel Gala. GBRf were raising funds for Prostrate Cancer

    This week we take a look at the Swanage Railway Diesel Gala which was held over the weekend of 6th – 8th May 2022. This was the first event of its type held at Swanage since 2019. A “Thirty-Seven Thursday” preview day with Class 37 No. 37703 in service alongside Bulleid West Country Pacific Class No. 34028 ‘Eddystone’ took place on the 5th May. Alongside the Class 37, other locomotives involved during the gala weekend were home Class 33’s No.’s 33111 and 33012 (D6515) ‘Lt. Jenny Lewis RN’, Class 25 No. D7612, Class 31 No. 31128 ‘Charybdis’, Class 44 No. 44004 (D4) ‘Great Gable’, Class 46 No. 46045 (D182), Class 50 No. 50026 ‘Indomitable’. Class 73 No. 73136 ‘Mhairi’ was a late addition to the roster which worked in multiple with the home Class 33’s and deputised for the Class 31 on a few turns on the Saturday due to the 31 suffering an air leak. Class 69 No. 69004 was on static display at Swanage railway station raising funds for Prostrate Cancer, GBRf’s chosen charity. Trains ran from Swanage to the River Frome, just shy of the national main line network at Worgret Junction. This is beyond the usual reach of current Swanage Railway train services which normally run between Swanage and Norden Park & Ride. The Purbeck Beer Festival also took place over the weekend and evening Beerex trains on the Friday and Saturday were run in association.

    On Tuesday 3rd May, Class 31 No. 31128 hauled a convoy of visiting diesel locomotives from Butterly to Swanage in preparation for the 2022 Gala. The consist was formed of 31128 + 37703 + 44004 (D4) + 46045 (D182) – image courtesy of @da_buckley967

    Yoshi and I were only able to attend on the final day of the gala which certainly did not disappoint. As well as the heritage diesel motive power, I particularly liked the new information screens incorporated into traditional style noticeboards at Swanage Station. You can watch a video of our day below:

    Class 25 No. D7612 approaches Townsend Overbridge at Corfe Castle – 08/05/2022
    Class 31 No. 31128 heading towards Corfe Castle – 08/05/2022
    Class 33 No. 33012 (D6515) waits to depart Swanage – 08/05/2022
    Class 33 No. 33111 and visiting Class 73 No. 73136 double head the 1415 service from Swanage approaching Wurzel Crossing, Corfe Castle – 08/05/2022
    Class 37 No. 37703 having departed Corfe Castle with a service bound for Swanage – 08/05/2022
    Class 44 No. 44004 (D4) at Creech – 08/05/2022
    Class 46 No. 46045 (D182) with the last train of the day to Swanage – 08/05/2022
    Class 50 No. 50026 approaching Furzebrook – 08/05/2022
    Class 69 No. 69004 on static display at Swanage in support of the charity Prostrate Cancer – 08/05/2022
    Class 73 No. 73136 “on shed” at Swanage – 08/05/2022

    After all the excitement of the gala event, it was time for some of the visiting diesel locomotives to move on to other locations and we popped out see the workings from Swanage starting with the Class 69 / Class 73 combo which ran on Monday 9th May as 0Y98 1135 Swanage to Eastleigh East Yard:

    69004 leads 73136 through Hamworthy on 9th May 2022

    It was an early start on the following day, Tuesday 10th May, when a convoy of locomotives departed Swanage ten minutes late working 0Z33 0610 Swanage to Kidderminster S.V.R.:

    33012 + 31128 + 37703 + 44004 + 46045 departing Swanage working 0Z33 0610 Swanage to Kidderminster S.V.R. – 10/05/2022
    33012 + 31128 + 37703 + 44004 + 46045 pause at Wareham working 0Z33 0610 Swanage to Kidderminster S.V.R. – 10/05/2022
    33012 + 31128 + 37703 + 44004 + 46045 about to depart Wareham working 0Z33 0610 Swanage to Kidderminster S.V.R. – 10/05/2022

    The Swanage gala and associated movements dominated our local rail scene here on the Bournemouth – Weymouth line, however the former Great Western Railway line to Bristol produced several more visits from COLAS route learner formed of Electro-Diesel Class 73 No. 73951 ‘Malcolm Brinded’ which we featured in last weeks blog entry. The locomotive is seen here stabled at Weymouth on Tuesday 3rd May 2022:

    Class 73 No. 73951 ‘Malcolm Brinded’ at Weymouth – image courtesy of @da_buckley967

    Class 73’s No.’s 73964 and 73962 headed to Weymouth top and tailing a Network Rail Test Train on the evening of Monday 9th May working 1Q51 1115 Derby R.T.C. to Eastleigh East Yard. We saw the pair pass through Poole:

    In other news, RAIL Magazine reported on the Department for Transport (DaFT) having “increased confidence” in South Western Railway’s £1 billion order for 90 new Class 701 Arterio trains which continue trials to Bournemouth and Poole, expecting a final entry into service plan by June 30th 2022. Alstom who are building the trains will be delivering additional software upgrades over the forthcoming months with SWR having provisionally accepted the first batch of trains. Driver training is yet to commence and there remain outstanding issues to be resolved with the unions. The 701’s are nearly three years late entering into traffic having been expected to take over suburban and Reading & Windsor line services in 2019. The fleet will be maintained at Wimbledon depot.

    Yoshi takes a look at new Class 701 No. 701025 working 5Q51 1126 London Waterloo to Staines Up Loop at Poole on 16th April 2021

    We stick with the Swanage Branch for our archive video this week with a look at a diesel gala from the past. But first we turn the clock back to the 1990’s when LPG trains ran to and from Furzebrook.

    Wytch Farm oil field is the largest onshore oil field in Western Europe and was discovered by British Gas in 1973. Since 2011 the oil field has been managed by Perenco having taken over from BP who bought Wytch Farm when British Gas was privatised in 1984. Production first commenced in 1979 with crude oil being transported by rail from Furzebrook to Fawley. In the late 1980’s production increased and a pipeline was installed between Wytch Farm and Hamble meaning transportation by rail was no longer required. However, production of natural gas also increased at this time. The gas was liquefied and conveyed by rail from 1990 until 2005 when production decreased. The LPG traffic ran from the Furzebrook railhead to Hallen Marsh near Bristol. Hauled by Class 47’s when the trains commenced, the LPG was later in the charge of Class 60’s and finally Class 58’s. In 2005 the site was transferred to the ownership of Dorset County Council and the Swanage Railway took a step closer at achieving its now completed aim of connecting to the main line near Wareham.

    The trains would arrive formed of empty LPG tanks and leave with full ones. The two examples shared below were evening workings and most likely the outward train is 6V29 1929 Furzebrook to Hallen Marsh, the inbound train would have started from Eastleigh Yard.

    The locomotives in the videos below belonged to the then Railfreight Petroleum Sector, six sub-Railfreight Sectors having been created in 1987 as a development of the old British Rail Railfreight Division. These sectors existed until the onset of rail privatisation in 1994 when Railfreight was reformed into three Railfreight companies; Loadhaul, Mainline Freight and Transrail, in preparation for selling off.

    Compare the scene in the videos above with the view below of Class 33 No. 33111 hauling a Swanage Railway Diesel Gala passenger train past the former Furzebrook Oil Terminal towards the River Frome on 8th May 2022:

    Class 33 No. 33111 passes the site of the former Furzebrook Oil Terminal – 08/05/2022

    Finally a look back ten years to the 2011 Swanage Diesel Gala which included, amongst other visitors, a Class 52 ‘Western’ diesel-hydraulic and a Class 55 ‘Deltic’:

    That’s it for this week – thanks for reading and hopefully we’ll be back next Wednesday with an update from Yoshi HQ!