GBRf Class 57 No. 57310 at GBRf’s Peterborough depot during the Key Publishing Gala weekend – 08/09/2024
A special gala weekend of activities, based around Peterborough and the Nene Valley Railway organised by “Modern Railways” magazine with support from their sister publication “Hornby Magazine”, took place over the weekend of September 7th/8th 2024.
The event was supported by GB Railfreight who provided a range of visiting locomotives hauling trains at the Nene Valley Railway on both days of the gala. The freight operator also offered the opportunity to look behind the scenes at its Peterborough headquarters in a series of pre-booked tours.
Because of family plans organised for the Saturday of the event, I booked to attend on the Sunday and drove over to Peterborough arriving in good time to join the designated shuttle bus which was running between the railway station and the GBRf facility.
GBRf House, Peterborough – 08/09/2024
On arrival at the GBRf depot the bus divested of its passengers and we all stood around on the lawned area in front of GBRf House before being split into two groups of around twelve people each. One group headed off to the Maintenance Hub and depot area while the other, which I was part of, were taken off to see the train driving simulators.
GB Railfreight (GBRf) invested in two state of the art simulators, which form part of their training school at Peterborough. At a total cost of £850,000, they are the UK’s first and only full cab freight European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) capable simulators. They are used by new and existing drivers for basic training, advanced training as part of the Driver rules exam, Mentor and Instructor training and post incident reconstruction – 08/09/2024 From the outset, the simulators covered the journey from London Kings Cross to Peterborough, and are designed with a route building tool which will enable the addition of all other GBRf routes going forward. The simulators were built with the recycled remains of Class 66 locomotive No. 66734, which was involved in a landslip derailment at Loch Treig in 2012 – 08/09/2024 Photographs on display at the GBRf Training facility showing Class 66 No. 66734, which was involved in a landslip derailment at Loch Treig in 2012 – 08/09/2024
Once everyone in my group had a chance to experience the simulator, we swapped over with the other crowd and were led off to the depot area. First up was a visit inside the new Peterborough Maintenance Hub.
The Peterborough Maintenance Hub, which is larger than six-Olympic swimming pools was completed in just 10 months and brings back into use a derelict plot of land. The facility is key to unlocking GBRf’s ambitious growth plans as it aims to run c.80 intermodal services a day by 2025. The building has strong sustainability credentials – it is fully powered by electricity and has been designed to support electric shunt engines and forklifts to reduce carbon emissions. By analysing four wagons per shift, the Hub is a strategic enabler that creates a step-change in maintenance for the rail freight industry. It delivers significant safety and reliability improvements that will allow current and future customers to move an even wider range of goods by rail. As new smart-technologies emerge, the Hub will be a testbed that will allow GBRf to identify innovative solutions that will drive continual improvement – 08/09/2024GBRf is in the process of converting a pair of redundant “Polybulk” hoppers to barrier vehicles at its new Peterborough wagon facility having won the contract to move brand new Piccadilly line trains from Siemens new £200 million factory in Goole, East Yorkshire to London. One end of each barrier wagon retains conventional buffering and drawer. The other end has this removed and replaced with couplers for the new Tube stock, and high-level brake pipes. When being transported, the Underground train will run between the two wagons – 08/09/2024
We were free to take photographs in the Hub facility and of the stabled locomotives as we walked back to join the bus which would this time take us to the Nene Valley Railway.
GBRf Class 66 No. 66768 on shed at Peterborough in the company of No. 66762, 57310, 66760 ‘David Gordon Harris’, 66741 ‘Swanage Railway and 66711 ‘Sence’ – 08/09/2024GBRf Class 66 No. 66768 at Peterborough – 08/09/2024GBRf Class 66 No. 66760 ‘David Gordon Harris’, Peterborough – 08/09/2024GBRf Class 66 No. 66741 ‘Swanage Railway’ at Peterborough – 08/09/2024GBRf Class 69 No. 69003 ‘The Railway Observer’ at Peterborough. The locomotive was in operation on the Saturday of the gala – 08/09/2024
On arrival at the Nene Valley, there was a bit of a wait in the rain before enjoying a journey from Peterborough to Wansford hauled by GB Railfreight Class 66 No. 66312. A volunteer at Peterborough Nene Valley very kindly gave me some treats to take home for Yoshi, which he enjoyed very much!
Our train to Wansford at the other end of the line was hauled by Class 66 No. 66312.
GBRf Class 66 No. 66312 was in operation on the Nene Valley during the Sunday – 08/09/2024GBRf Class 47 No. 47727 ‘Edinburgh Castle’ arrives at Peterborough Nene Valley – 08/09/2024GBRf Class 66 No. 66312 rests at Wansford – 08/09/2024GBRf Class 66 No. 66312 at Wansford – 08/09/2024Another view of GBRf Class 66 No. 66312 at Wansford – 08/09/2024Surely not GBRf Class 66 No. 66312 at Wansford – 08/09/2024GBRf Class 69 69009 ‘Western Consort’ at platform of Wansford station – 08/09/2024GBRf Class 47 No. 47727 ‘Edinburgh Castle’ with 45041 ‘Royal Tank Regiment’ operating as a translator between the Brush Type 4 and the coaching stock on the approach to Wansford – 08/09/2024GBRf Class 66 No. 66312 departs Wansford – 08/09/2024GBRf Class 47 No. 47727 ‘Edinburgh Castle’ double heads with Class 69 69009 ‘Western Consort’ at Wansford – 08/09/2024GBRf Class 08 No. 08632 runs into the bay platform at Wansford – 08/09/2024Nene Valley resident Class 14 No. D9529 is an 0-6-0 Diesel Hydraulic loco built at Swindon Works in 1964, weighing in at 48.5 tonnes. Originally intended for hauling working movements between local yards and short-distance freight trains on the western region, No. D9529 was sold to The British Steel Company and worked at Buckminster from 1968-1972. It was later moved to Corby Steelworks and worked there until 1981 when it was moved to Bardon Hill Quarry until 2010 when it was rescued by the Iron Steel & Traction Group and moved to the Nene Valley Railway – 08/09/2024“Peak” Class 45 No. 45041 ‘Royal Tank Regiment’ is a 1-Co Co-1 wheel arrangement Diesel Electric loco built at Crewe Works in 1962, weighing 133 tonnes. The loco was originally based at Derby hauling passenger services on The Midland Mainline as No. D53. The loco was named in 1964 and was re-numbered in 1975. No. 45041 was used predominantly on freight trains during the 1980’s as it was not one of the Class 45’s that was selected to be converted to supply electric train heat (ETH) for passenger carriages. Unfortunately, the loco suffered a traction motor problem in 1988 and was condemned, but she was bought by the Peak Locomotive Society in 1996 and has been based at the NVR since then – 08/09/2024GBRf Class 57 No. 57303 with Class 66 No. 66312 getting ready to depart Peterborough Nene Valley with the final service of the gala weekend – 08/09/2024
Funds raised from the gala were donated to charity, supporting the work of the MS Society, which provides support to those suffering with Multiple Sclerosis. GB Railfreight donated funds raised from the site tours to its charity partner Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity.
Video from Day Two of the 2024 GBRf Gala at the Nene Valley Railway – 08/09/2024
For The Record
Screenshot of LSL Class 47 No. 47805 ‘Roger Hosking MA 1925-2013’ passing Poole at the head of empty coaching stock move 5Z50 0714 Crewe H.S. to Norden (Swanage Railway) – 03/09/2024
On 4th September 2024, Saphos Trains ran a “Welsh Marches Express” from Bournemouth to Shrewsbury. The empty coaching stock was scheduled to be stabled at Norden on the Swanage Railway the night before the railtour. However, a bridge strike at Grange Road (Bridge 9) near Creech on the Swanage Branch causing noticeable movement in the structure and likely requiring substantial and costly repair works meant the train was unable to travel to Norden and was stabled at Holme Lane (Bridge 7) instead. We saw the ECS passing Poole on 3rd September running almost three hours late after being diverted due to congestion at Reading West following the failure of an earlier freight train.
LSL Class 57 No. 57311 at the rear of empty coaching stock move 5Z50 0714 Crewe H.S. to Norden (Swanage Railway) – 03/09/2024
Locomotive Services Limited Class 47 No. 47805 ‘Roger Hosking MA 1925-2013’ and Class 57 No. 57311 were utilised in top and tail formation for the stock movements, with the pair taking the carriages to Bournemouth in the early hours to pick up passengers.
We were at Hamworthy the following morning as they passed through on the way to pick up passengers running thirty minutes late working 5Z50 0430 Norden (Swanage R) to Bournemouth. The Saphos Tour was scheduled for steam haulage from Bristol, but due to a fatality in the Taunton area necessitating the closure of the railway line, the allocated locomotive; LNER Thompson Class B1 No. 61306 ‘Mayflower’ was unable to get to Temple Meads in time. Instead the train continued with No.’s 57311 and 47805 in charge. ‘Mayflower’ eventually caught up with her train and while No. 57311 was sent home to Crewe, the B1 and No. 47805 returned South, the steam locomotive taking the train as far as Bristol and the Brush Type 4 then working solo back to Bournemouth where we were on hand to see the train arrive. On arrival at Bournemouth, the Class 47 then ran around the carriages to enable the empty stock to be hauled to Southall.
Having arrived around an hour early, LSL Class 47 No. 47805 ‘Roger Hosking MA 1925-2013’ being detached from the coaching stock of 1Z52 1550 Shrewsbury to Bournemouth prior to running round – 04/09/2024LSL Class 47 No. 47805 ‘Roger Hosking MA 1925-2013’ ready to depart with 5Z54 2354 Bournemouth to Southall Locomotive Services Limited – 04/09/2024
Video from 3rd/4th September 2024 with movements in association Saphos “Welsh Marches Express”
Wednesday 4th September 2024 was the turn of the New Measurement Train (NMT) to visit the “Heart of Wessex” line with Class 43 ex-HST power cars No.’s 43274 and 43277 ‘Safety Task Force’ working 1Q22 0757 Derby R.T.C.(Network Rail) to Bristol Kingsland Road via Weymouth. My brother was on hand to catch it passing through Dorchester West on the outward leg.
Screenshot of Class 43 ex-HST power cars No. 43274 arriving at Dorchester West 1Q22 0757 Derby R.T.C.(Network Rail) to Bristol Kingsland Road via Weymouth – 04/09/2024 ( G E Barrett)Screenshot of Class 43 ex-HST power cars No.’s 43277 ‘Safety Task Force’ passing through Dorchester West with 1Q22 0757 Derby R.T.C.(Network Rail) to Bristol Kingsland Road via Weymouth – 04/09/2024 ( G E Barrett)Colas Rail Freight Class 37 No. 37175 at Weymouth having worked in with 3Q14 1112 Westbury Down TC to Westbury Down TC – 05/09/2024Colas Class 37 No. 37254 ‘Cardiff Canton’ at Weymouth 3Q14 1112 Westbury Down T.C. to Westbury Down T.C.
Thursday 5th September 2024 and the booked “Heart of Wessex” test train produced Colas Rail Freight Class 37 No.’s 37175 and 37254 ‘Cardiff Canton’ at Weymouth top and tailing Network Rail’s Structure Gauging Train, reporting as 3Q14 1112 Westbury Down T.C. to Westbury Down T.C.
Screenshot of GBRf Class 66 No. 66798 ‘Justine’ passing Poole at the head of 6G15 2305 Eastleigh East Yard to Wool Signal PW5255 – 08/09/2024Screenshot of GBRf Class 66 No. 66303 at the rear of 6G15 2305 Eastleigh East Yard to Wool Signal PW5255 – 08/09/2024
A couple of engineering trains passing Poole just after midnight on 08/09/2024 in preparation for work in the Wool area. GBRf Class 66 No.’s 66798 ‘Justine’ and 66303 were first up forming a short ballast train 6G15 2305 Eastleigh East Yard to Wool Signal PW5255 followed quickly after by Colas Rail owned Plasser & Theurer 08-16/4x4C100-RT Tamper No. DR73931 ‘Brian Hill’ working 6J86 2338½ Brockenhurst Down Siding to Wareham.
North Dorset Route Learning runs: 10/09/2024: GBRf Class 66 No. 66731 ‘Capt. Tom Moore, A True British Inspiration’ ran light engine through Sherborne and Gillingham working 0Z47 1145 Eastleigh East Yard to Honiton and the corresponding return 0Z48 1521 Honiton to Eastleigh East Yard. The following week Monday to Friday saw the following schedules diagrammed: 0Z47 1145 Eastleigh East Yard to Honiton and 0Z48 1517 Honiton to Eastleigh East Yard. with the following running; 16/09/2024: operated by 66727 ‘Maritime One’. 17/09/2024: 66770, 18/09/2024: 69006. The Thursday and Friday moves were cancelled.
Colas operated rail delivery train ran 12/13th September 2024 with Class 66 No. 66791, on hire from GBRf and 66849 ‘Wylam Dilly’. The outward run reported as 6C19 2251 Eastleigh East Yard to Dorchester South, while the return was 6C19 0525 Dorchester South to Eastleigh East Yard
On hire from GBRf Class 66 No. 66791 with Colas decals applied stands at Dorchester South having arrived working 6C19 2251 Eastleigh East Yard to Dorchester South – 13/09/2024 (Image courtesy of Scott Lewis)Class 66 No. 66791 at Dorchester South working 6C19 2251 Eastleigh East Yard to Dorchester South – 13/09/2024 (Image courtesy of Scott Lewis)Colas Class 66 No. 66849 ‘Wylam Dilly’ passing Poole at the rear of 6C19 2251 Eastleigh East Yard to Dorchester South – 13/09/2024 (Image courtesy of Tony Henley)
What we like to call the North Dorset New Measurement Train ran on 19/09/2024 with Colas Class 43 HST power cars No.’s 43251 and 43357 working 1Q23 0552 Reading to Salisbury via Exeter.
The October 2024 edition of “Railway Modeller” features a very well illustrated article on the impressive “Bournemouth West” model layout>
October 2024 edition of “Railway Modeller”Yoshi gets some ideas from the “Railway Modeller”
Hamworthy Branch
I followed up my email to Network Rail of twelve months ago to ask if there was any more information regarding the 2025 date previously given for rail traffic to commence on the Hamworthy Branch – I received the following response today (18/09/2024):
“Subject
Information Request – Hamworthy Branch, Dorset
Response By E-mail (Simon) (18/09/2024 04.34 PM)
Hi Andrew,
Thanks for getting in touch – I have reached out to the team concerned and although there’s not specifically anything more to add to the previous reply, I can let you know that we’re still on course for reactivating the terminal and running trains in 2025. You’d be surprised I’m sure if I didn’t add the proviso that this is always subject to change, but certainly 2025 is still looking good as of now.
I hope that helps for now,
Kind Regards
Simon
Community Relations – Network Rail”
That’s it for another blog entry – thank you for reading! We’ll be back soon with a look at the remainder of Dorset special railway workings and our trip North of the Border to photograph Scottish High Speed Trains. Grateful thanks to all corrections, submissions and suggestions. Be seeing you!
Adams LSWR 4-4-0 T3 No.563 and SECR 0-6-0 O1 No. 65 passing Corfe Castle during the Swanage Railway’s Victorian Weekend – 23/03/2024
March 23rd 2024 to March 31st 2024
As promised last time, in this blog entry, we are going to share our photos and videos from our visit to Swanage Railway’s “Victorian Weekend” event which saw the resident Adams T3 No. 563 in service along with SECR Class O1 No. 65 visiting from the Bluebell Railway. The special gala weekend ran from Friday 22nd to Sunday 24th March. I was sorely tempted to visit for all three days, if only to see the first train of the day which involved both the T3 and O1 double heading from Swanage to Norden. In the event, I only made the journey on the Saturday. I have mixed feelings about my photographs recording the two Victorian locomotives working in tandem.
But before Yoshi and I went off to Swanage, we had an engineers train to find in the Branksome area. Overnight a GBRf pair of Class 66 locomotives had operated as 6N75 2353 Eastleigh East Yard to Branksome, with the engineering possession in place from just east of Branksome up to Seldown Junction points near Poole High Street Level Crossing. Looking at the live rail maps provided by websites such as Open Time Trains, the train head code was reporting as sitting in Branksome railway station. After a quick look in at the station, we actually found the train sitting the other side of Branksome viaduct, the lead locomotive obscured by trees. However, I managed a record shot of No. 66730 ‘Whitemoor’ which was positioned at the rear of its train before making my way to Corfe Castle on the Swanage Railway.
GBRf Class 66 No. 66730 ‘Whitemoor’at rest on the rear of engineering train 6G12 2353 Eastleigh East Yard to Branksomeatop bridge E20/23 BML2 Electricity Works between Branksome and Bournemouth – 23/03/2024
As well as the two Victorian steam locos in action for their Victorian gala, Swanage residents Southern Railway (SR) 4-6-2 West Country Class No. 34028 ‘Eddystone’ and SR 2-6-0 U Class No. 31806 were also hauling trains. All four locomotives were facing boiler first out of Swanage which limited photographic variety somewhat, but that didn’t in any way diminish my enjoyment and the hard work put in by all concerned involved with running the event.
The first train each morning of the Swanage Railway three day Victorian Weekend gala was double headed by the two Victorian era locomotives; Adams LSWR 4-4-0 T3 No.563 and SECR 0-6-0 O1 No. 65, seen here with Corfe Castle as a backdrop as the duo approach Norden – 23/03/2024SR 2-6-0 – U Class No. 31806 approaches Harman’s Cross – 23/03/2024A wonderful piece of planning saw No. 563 depart Swanage with her train to Norden as No. 65 backed into the station area – 23/03/2024No. 563 gets the token for the single line towards Harman’s Cross and No. 65 runs bak to couple on to her train in the bay platform at Swanage Railway station. – 23/03/2024Adams LSWR 4-4-0 T3 Class No.563 makes a fine sight on departure at Swanage – 23/03/2024Built in 1896, O1 Class No. 65 is the very last surviving South Eastern Railway (SER) locomotive and was rebuilt in 1908 by the South Eastern and Chatham Railway (SECR). The locomotive was purchased from British Railways in 1963 by the Lewis-Evans family for the scrap value of £850 and has been based at the Bluebell Railway since 1997. The Lewis-Evans family decided to sell No. 65 during the latter part of 2021, the locomotive being purchased by the Bluebell Railway Trust securing the locomotive for the heritage line. No. 65 is seen at Woodhyde on the approach to Afflington Bridge which carries the A351 over the railway – 23/03/2024122 locomotives of the O class were built between 1878 and 1899. No. 65 engine was withdrawn by British Railways in 1961, its major claim to fame being the working of the last railtour to run over the Hawkhurst branch in Kent, along with C class No. 31592, which is also preserved at the Bluebell Railway. No. 65 is seen at Woodhyde hauling Swanage Railways Class 117 Diesel Multiple Unit – 23/03/2024SR 2-6-0 – U Class No. 31806 nears Townsend Lane bridge – 23/03/2024SR 4-6-2 West Country Class No. 34028 ‘Eddystone’ at Woodhyde – 23/03/2024One final capture of visiting locomotive SECR 0-6-0 O1 Class No. 65 as she steams up to Corfe Viaduct with a train bound for Norden – 23/03/3034
Video of Swanage Railway’s Victorian Weekend from 23/03/2024
Swanage Railway’s ‘Save Your Railway’ appeal, launched in November 2023, has so far successfully raised £120,000 of the £450,000 target. If you would like to help please click here.
After our Purbeck visit, we popped back to Branksome (of course we did!) so Yoshi could get an update on the maintenance work taking place on the points into the depot at the east end of the railway station. I was pleased the GBRf Class 66’s had moved up with their train which was resting in full sunlight looking very photogenic.
GBRf Class 66 No. 66749 ‘Christopher Hopcroft MBE 60 Years Railway Service’ with sister loco No. 66730 ‘Whitemoor’ stationary on the approach to Branksome railway station – 23/03/2024Work progresses on the points into Bournemouth depot watched by GBRf Class 66 No.’s 66749 ‘Christopher Hopcroft MBE 60 Years Railway Service’ and 66730 ‘Whitemoor’ – 23/03/2024A road-rail vehicle at work in Branksome railway station -23/03/2024Yoshi took it upon himself to inspect the engineering work taking place at Branksome. Although, he is looking the wrong way in this image – 23/03/2024Another view of the activity taking place at Branksome with GBRf Class 66 No. 66749 ‘Christopher Hopcroft MBE 60 Years Railway Service’ – 23/03/2024Balfour Beatty’s 08-4X4/4S-RT tamper No. DR73950 ‘Tamper Tantrum’ operating under head code 6Q04 at Seldown, Poole – 24/03/2024In October 2021, both of Balfour Beatty’s 08-4X4/4S-RT tampers were named following a competition involving schools. Rather than cast plates, the names are applied in transfers on the main bodyside adjacent to the Balfour Beatty name. The machines also carry details of the first names of the child who selected each respective name, their class year and the name plus the logo of their school. No. DR73950 ‘Tamper Tantrum’ is seen here near Seldown Junction at Poole and was named by Chloe, aged 8, at Rockliffe Manor Primary School. It’s sister machine, No. DR73949 was named ‘Tiny Tamper’ – 24/03/2024
Monday morning we were up early and popped over to Poole to see the return working of the Branksome engineers train as it made a belated departure to Eastleigh East Yard – delayed by almost 30 minutes because of overrunning engineering work!
Following the completion of the work at Branksome, the engineering train moved up to Poole Storage Sidings. GBRf Class 66 No. 66730 ‘Whitemoor’ passes through Poole leading on 6G12 0430 Poole to Eastleigh East Yard with No. 66749 ‘Christopher Hopcroft MBE 60 Years Railway Service’. Departure of this train was delayed by, er. over-running engineering works – 25/03/2024
Video of GBRf Class 66 No.’s 66749 ‘Christopher Hopcroft MBE 60 Years Railway Service’ and 66730 ‘Whitemoor’ working 6G12 0430 Poole to Eastleigh East Yard at Poole -25/03/2024
Tuesday 26th March 2024 saw further South Western Railway (SWR) Class 458 electric multiple unit (EMU) drags between Widnes Transport Tech and Bournemouth TRSMD taking place. Much excitement on the rail enthusiast grapevine when it was discovered that newly repainted GBRf Class 69 No. 69009 was allocated. This particular locomotive was released into traffic back in October 2023 still in its green primer coat, but has recently received a new paint job at Arlington Fleet Services located at Eastleigh Works, emerging in Class 52 “Western” style livery. This is inspired by the British Rail carriage maroon colours with half yellow warning panels and white window surrounds as carried by 71 of the 74 Class 52 “Western” Diesel-Hydraulic locomotives between 1962 and 1971.
GBRf Class 69 No. 69009 ‘Western Consort’ at Poole as part of the running around its train exercise whilst working 5Z66 2018 Bournemouth TRSMD to Eastleigh East Yard – 26/03/2024
The locomotive livery has been completed with the addition of cast number and ‘Western Consort’ name plates in classic “Western” Great Western Railway (GWR) serif lettering. The name was decided upon by GBRf CEO, John Smith, as the original ‘Western Consort’ (No. D1065) was his favourite member of the class.
We had intended on seeing the train at Branksome, but rush hour traffic queues meant this idea was abandoned, as was the alternative destination Parkstone. Instead, we were able to retrace our steps to Poole and pass the train as it sat in the station before moving out to Poole Storage Sidings where the locomotive would detach and run round before hauling the refurbished Class 458/4 back in the direction of Bournemouth depot.
GBRf Class 69 No. 69009 ‘Western Consort’ arrives at Poole Storage Sidings with Class 458/4 No. 458422 forming 5Q64 Southampton Down Loop to Bournemouth TRSMD- 26/03/2024GBRf Class 69 No. 69009 ‘Western Consort’ at Poole Storage Sidings with Class 458/4 No. 458422. The locomotive is about to detach from the train and will run into Poole station before returning and attaching to the London end of the consist – 26/03/2024GBRf Class 69 No. 69009 ‘Western Consort’ light engine at Sterte, Poole as she runs around her train – 26/03/2024
After watching the maroon Class 69 locomotive head off light engine from our vantage point on the footbridge above Poole Storage Sidings, we decided to move up to Poole railway station in order to watch the train being taken to its final destination once reunited with No. 69009. However, as we, and a few other enthusiasts, gathered under Towngate Bridge at the London end of the down platform to shelter from the rain, we were approached by an officious and extremely rude member of station staff, which for the purposes of this narrative we shall call Dave – because that’s his name – who informed us we were in contravention of the rules and too close to the platform edge. Everyone there was on the correct side of the yellow line, with the exception of the member of railway staff who took great pleasure in blocking our view of the approaching train. There was also nobody standing in the ambiguous hatched area located at the platform end, nor were we past the sign which clearly informs rail users they should not “pass this point”. In this H&S conscious modern era, I have always taken care to observe safety regulations and very much resent being spoken to like a child. I will not be including Dave on my Christmas card list.
GBRf Class 69 No. 69009 ‘Western Consort’ passing Poole working 5Q64 Southampton Down Loop to Bournemouth TRSMD – 26/03/2024GBRf Class 69 No. 69009 ‘Western Consort’ at Poole – 26/03/2024
Video of GBRf Class 69 No. 69009 ‘Western Consort’ on Class 458 unit drags – 26/03/2024
I’ve included a few images below of Class 52 “Western” locomotives in preservation which clearly show the inspiration for the livery carried by No. 69009 ‘Western Consort’.
D1015 ‘Western Champion’ is one of seven preserved Westerns from the original 74 built by BR at Swindon and Crewe. She is seen here at Eastleigh during a Works Open Day – 24/05/2019No. D1010 ‘Western Campaigner’ seen at Minehead on the West Somerset Railway (WSR) was built at BR Swindon Works in 1962 and withdrawn on 27/02/1977 at 1630 after completing 1,360,740 miles in BR service – 20/07/2013No. D1010 ‘Western Campaigner’ at Blue Anchor in the guise of No. D1035 ‘Western Yeoman’. Following withdrawal from BR, D1010 was sold to Foster Yeoman in July 1977 and moved to their base at Merehead Quarry. The loco was, at that point, repainted into BR Green livery with full yellow ends and was renamed ‘Western Yeoman’ carrying the number D1035 – 20/07/2013In January 1993, Foster Yeoman agreed to sell No.D1035 / D1010 to the Diesel and Electric Preservation Group (DEPG) who then replaced the ‘Foster Yeoman’ name and D1035 number with the original D1010 and ‘Western Campaigner’ plates and painted the loco into BR Blue with small yellow warning panels. No. 1035 ‘Western Campaigner’ is seen at Bishops Lydeard running as withdrawn classmate No. D1035 ‘Western Yeoman’ – 20/07/2013A young Yoshi on one of his first railway themed adventures admires Class 52 No. D1010 ‘Western Campaigner’ at Williton shed on the West Somerset Railway. The locomotive had failed at Bishops Lydeard in June 2018 with a seized transmission at the ‘B’ end. The loco was towed to Williton after disconnecting the cardan shaft on ‘B’ transmission. Work continues on fault diagnosis and repair with the hope she will return to service in 2025 – 21/06/2019Class 52 No. D1015 ‘Western Champion’ on the approach to Weymouth at the head of Pathfinder Tours “The Western Wessexman” 1Z52 0553 Leicester to Weymouth – 07/09/2013 (John Chappell)Class 52 No. D1015 ‘Western Champion’ at Weymouth having arrived with “The Western Wessexman” 1Z52 0553 Leicester to Weymouth rail tour – 07/09/2013 (John Chappell)
Returning to 2024, and the last special working which visited Dorset in March was Saphos Trains “The Golden Arrow” rail tour to Folkestone and Canterbury which was in the charge of Locomotive Services Limited (LSL) diesel engines; Class 47 No. 47810 (D1924) and Class 57 No. 57311. Later on in the rail tour schedule, outside of Dorset, the Class 57 was replaced by steam traction in the shape of LMS 4-6-0 Royal Scot Class No. 46100 ‘Royal Scot’. The steam locomotive was itself replaced by No. 57311 prior to the tour returning to Dorset metals. This return working operated as 1Z47 1559 Canterbury West to Poole, which arrived back at its final destination 20 minutes late at 0018 on the 31st March 2024 before forming the balancing Empty Coaching Stock (ECS) movement 5Z50 0004 Poole to Eastleigh Works BRML Head Quarters departing 19 minutes behind schedule at 0023 via Poole Storage Sidings. Yoshi and I were happily tucked up in bed at this point after our early start!
Locomotive Services Limited Class 47 No. 47810 (D1924) ‘Crewe Diesel Depot’ arrives at Poole leading on the Empty Coaching Stock movement Saphos Trains “Golden Arrow” reporting as 3Z45 0406 Eastleigh Works to Poole – 30/03/2024LSL Class 57 No. 57311 in lined black livery in readiness for departure from Poole hauling Saphos Trains “Golden Arrow” 1Z46 0553 Poole to Canterbury West – 30/03/2024
Video of Class 47 No. 47810 (D1924) and Class 57 No. 57311 at Poole – 30/03/2024
That brings us to the end of another blog entry. Thanks, as always, for reading, your comments and corrections. These are always welcome. Until next time, Be Seeing You!
Postscript
We ended March attending another gig at the O2 Academy where we nostalgically remembered years gone by in the company of Stereo MC’s, Inspiral Carpets and Happy Mondays as they brought “The Been There Done That” tour to Bournemouth – 31/03/2024
Freightliner Class 66 locomotives No.’s 66520 and 66512 at Bincombe during engineering work reporting as 6Y85 2348 Eastleigh East Yard to Dorchester South – 18/03/2024
March 16th 2024 to March 22nd 2024
Maintenance work between Dorchester and Weymouth closed the railway line from Monday 18th to Wednesday 20th March 2024 affecting both South Western Railway (SWR) and Great Western Railway (GWR) services along this route. In association with the work, an engineers train, in the hands of Freightliner, worked from Eastleigh East Yard to Dorchester South overnight of 16/17th March, arriving in the County Town at 0156 on the Monday morning, approximately 46 minutes behind schedule. We saw the train pass through Hamworthy, top and tailed by Class 66 locomotives No.’s 66520 and 66512, at which point it was running 36 minutes late.
Freightliner Class 66 No. 66520 leads through Hamworthy working 6Y85 2348 Eastleigh East Yard to Dorchester South – 17/03/2024FL Class 66 No. 66512 brings up the rear on 6Y85 2348 Eastleigh East Yard to Dorchester South passing Hamworthy – 17/03/2024
As we arrived at the station in good time to see the engineering train heading to Weymouth, we were surprised to see an empty coaching stock movement, formed of SWR Class 444 No. 444001 passing through Hamworthy just after 0100 on its way to Bournemouth Traincare depot working as 5W71 0041 Weymouth to Bournemouth TRSMD. A result of the line being closed in the Poole area on the Sunday meant trains from London Waterloo terminated at Bournemouth. A replacement bus service ran to stations between Bournemouth and Wareham with a shuttle train service operating between Wareham and Weymouth during the day.
The worksite necessitating the Monday to Wednesday line closure was located in the Bincombe area, where track would receive the attention of a tamper and gain some fresh ballast. We popped out on Monday afternoon to take a look at what was going on, expecting to find the two Class 66 locomotives parked up on the down line between Bincombe Tunnel and Bincombe Tunnel Number 2. Instead we found Quattro Group’s Mercedes rail road vehicle ‘Mad Vax’ and one of their tracked Road Rail Vehicles (RRV).
A RailRoad vehicle at Bincombe – 18/03/2024Quattro Group’s Mad Vax vacuum excavation system, which won the Most Innovative RRV Product Award at the National Rail Awards in 2019, prepares to do its stuff at Bincombe. Quattro Group are rightly proud of this piece of kit; “The Mad Vax vacuum excavation system has all the power and performance needed to complete a wide array of rail applications from ballast removal to spillage clean up operation. The unit’s spoil capacity is an impressive 6m3, and with a side tipping hopper it can be emptied lineside, utilising a special split-lid spoil tank to give a lower overall profile and to reduce overall tipping height for works under overhead power cables or at a suitable location when off track. The machine is also equipped with a Powerarm and IKE rotating suction tube to aid in breaking up harder ground for improved efficiency.” – 18/03/2024Bincombe worksite for the March 2024 maintenance work – 18/03/2024
After a quick chat with friend of this blog, Robin, we drove off towards Upwey to see if the engineers train was stabled near the railway station. Despite much of the line side trees and vegetation having been cut back, there was no sign of the Freightliner train. After refreshments at The Royal Standard in Upwey, we proceeded to drive back towards Dorchester when, glancing to the right as we came over the brow of Ridgeway hill, we could see the unmistakable sight of a Class 66 locomotive. Parking the car in the next lay-by, I crossed over the road and proceeded along the footpath back in the direction of Weymouth to see if it was possible to get a photo of the train at rest.
Class 66 No. 66512 stands out amidst the Dorset countryside – 18/03/2024
I was quite pleased with the resulting photo of the train parked at the northern portal of Bincombe Tunnel, perfectly placed for a photograph imho.
Because I liked the shot so much, another view of Freightliner Class 66 locomotives No.’s 66520 and 66512 at Bincombe during engineering work reporting as 6Y85 2348 Eastleigh East Yard to Dorchester South – 18/03/2024A tamper sits in the sidings at Dorchester South waiting to be deployed at Bincombe – 18/03/2024 (G E Barrett)
The Class 66’s returned to Eastleigh on the afternoon of Tuesday 19th March. It was quite a novelty to see a local engineers train working in daylight hours!
Class 66 No. 66512 awaiting departure with 6Y85 1454 Dorchester South to Eastleigh East Yard – 19/03/2024 (G E Barrett)Class 66 No. 66520 in the gloom of a wet Dorchester South at the rear of 6Y85 1454 Dorchester South to Eastleigh East Yard – 19/03/2024 (G E Barrett)Freightliner Class 66 No. 66512 ready to depart from Dorchester South working 6Y85 1454 Dorchester South to Eastleigh East Yard – 19/03/2024 (G E Barrett)Freightliner Class 66 No. 66512 leads on 6Y85 1454 Dorchester South to Eastleigh East Yard passing Hamworthy – 19/03/2024Freightliner Class 66 No. 66520 runs through Hamworthy at the rear of 6Y85 1454 Dorchester South to Eastleigh East Yard – 19/03/2024
Video of Freightliner Class 66 No.’s 66520 and 66512 working a Dorset engineering train – March 2024 (Additional video courtesy of G E Barrett)
The monthly New Measurement Train (NMT) which is scheduled to visit Weymouth via the West route through Maiden Newton was curtailed at Yeovil on Wednesday 20th March 2024 owing to the line closure between Dorchester and Weymouth. Allocated Class 43 High Speed Train (HST) power cars No.’s 43357 and 43277 worked 1Q18 0748 Derby RTC to Bristol Kingsland Road.
While the NMT was making its way to Somerset, I could be found at Norden on the Swanage Railway watching visiting South Eastern & Chatham Railway (SECR) Class O1 steam locomotive No. 65 being prepped for towing down to Swanage in readiness for the railways Victorian Weekend. Resident preserved Birmingham Rail & Carriage Works (BR&CW) Class 33 No. 33111 had the task of collecting No. 65 and hauling her down to Swanage.
Swanage resident Class 33/1 No. 33111 cautiously hauls South Eastern & Chatham Railway (SECR) Class O1 steam locomotive No. 65 away from Norden sidings – 20/03/2024South Eastern & Chatham Railway (SECR) Class O1 steam locomotive No. 65 at Norden during the operation to haul her to Swanage in readiness for the railway’s Victorian Weekend – 20/03/3024Class 33/1 No. 33111 hauls South Eastern & Chatham Railway (SECR) Class O1 steam locomotive No. 65 as they depart Norden station heading to Swanage – 20/03/2024
SECR O1 No. 65 arrives on the Swanage Railway – 20/03/2024
The following day, I hitched a lift with friend of the blog Jamie for a visit to Maiden Newton to see Colas Railfreight Class 37 No.’s 37175 and 37219 ‘Jonty Jarvis’ top and tailing a Structure Gauging Train on its way from Westbury to Weymouth and return. The working left Westbury around two hours late and I probably aged Jamie by a few years by claiming we had plenty of time to make the journey over to see the train! We arrived in Maiden Newton with ten minutes to spare.
Great Western Railway Class 166 No. 166210 on the approach to Maiden Newton working 2V68 1328 Weymouth to Gloucester – 21/03/2024Colas Railfreight Class 37 No. 37175 on the approach to Maiden Newton leading on 3Q14 1021 Westbury Down Yard to Westbury Down Yard – 21/03/2024Colas Railfreight Class 37 No. 37175 with 37219 ‘Jonty Jarvis’ at the rear at Maiden Newton leading on 3Q14 1021 Westbury Down Yard to Westbury Down Yard on the outward leg to Weymouth – 21/03/2024On the return leg of 3Q14 1021 Westbury Down Yard to Westbury Down Yard Colas Class 37 No. 37219 ‘Jonty Jarvis’ leads into Maiden Newton – 21/03/2024 Colas Class 37 No. 37219 ‘Jonty Jarvis’ pauses at Maiden Newton as the driver collects to token to allow the train to progress onto the next single line section of track – 21/03/2024Great Western Railway Class 166 Turbo’s cross at Maiden Newton; No.166220 working 2O76 1110 Gloucester to Weymouth and No. 166210 forms 2V68 1328 Weymouth to Gloucester – 21/03/2024
Maiden Newton trains – 21/03/2024
Later that night, another engineering train ventured into Dorset in conjunction with work in the Christchurch area. I didn’t see train 6N75 2300 Eastleigh East Yard to Christchurch arrive, but I did get up early Friday morning to see DB Class 66 No. 66118 and pioneer shed No. 66001 departing Bournemouth as they returned with their train to Eastleigh East Yard this time working as 6N75 0505 Bournemouth to Eastleigh East Yard. It was so early, Bournemouth railway station was still locked up when I arrived. However the train departed around 20 minutes behind schedule, but not wanting to risk missing filming the departure, I stood steadfastly at my vantage point overlooking the station when I could have easily ventured down to platform level once the station was opened up to the travelling public for the first passenger trains of the day.
With Bournemouth railway station as its backdrop, DB Cargo Class 66 No. 66118 awaits departure working 6N75 0505 Bournemouth to Eastleigh East Yard – 22/03/2024DB Cargo Class 66 No. 66118 at Bournemouth leading on 6N75 0505 Bournemouth to Eastleigh East Yard – 22/03/2024DB Cargo Class 66 No. 66001 at the rear of 6N75 0505 Bournemouth to Eastleigh East Yard – 22/03/2024DB Cargo Class 66 No. 66001 awaits departure of 6N75 0505 Bournemouth to Eastleigh East Yard – 22/03/2024
DB Cargo Class 66’s at Bournemouth – 22/03/2024
HAMWORTHY BRANCH
Poole Harbour Commissioners (PHC) Annual Stakeholders Open Evening 2024 – 20/03/2024
Poole Harbour Commissioners (PHC) Annual Stakeholders Open Evening 2024 took place on 20th March in the North Lounge of the Passenger Terminal. We went along to see if there were any updates on the restoration of freight traffic along the Hamworthy Branch which runs down to the port area from a junction to the mainline at Hamworthy railway station. PHC CEO Captain Brian Murphy said; “We are very fortunate to have the port railway. We haven’t used it for some time, but it’s there and it aligns perfectly with our decarbonisation goals. Modal shift is the best way to get transport off the roads. We want to grow the business, we want to grow the freight. We want more cargo through the port but we’d rather actually get as much as possible on to rail rather than the roads. So this does align with the governments ambitious targets which are of part of their 2050 plan for clean maritime and reducing carbon emissions and there has been a lot of work which has actually happened thus far. The commissioners have invested quite heavily in securing the lease that runs from the port all the way to the mainline and there has been a lot of upgrading work which has happened on the Hamworthy Branch. We’ve got a little bit more to do in terms of in the port but we are looking at the business case and hopefully it all aligns. But clearly in terms of ownership, it’ll be a lot of trucks off the road so very excited about that project.”
We recently learned of the passing of our friend and fellow railway enthusiast, Syd Brown. Syd has been a transport enthusiast for many years and could regularly be found supporting local transport events. He was an active member of the old Dorset Transport Circle in times past. Syd’s working life was spent in Dorset County Council’s Roads and Bridges department (now known as Transport and Engineering) and he was also an official in the Dorset County branch of NALGO (now UNISON). Our condolences to Syd’s family.
Thank you for reading and for your comments and corrections. We’ll be back soon with our record of our day attending the Swanage Railway Victorian Weekend. Be seeing you!
Postscript:
Will we ever see trains coming off the Hamworthy Branch again? Back in 2017, DB Cargo Class 60 No. 60054 heads towards the mainline at Hamworthy while South West Trains (SWT) Class 444 No. 444032 waits at platform with a Weymouth service – 17/02/2017 DB Cargo Class 60 No. 60054 draws up to the signal protecting the branch from the mainline at Hamworthy – 17/02/2017
GBRf Class 66 No.’s 66764 ‘Major John Poyntz Engineer & Railwayman’ and 66750 ‘Bristol Panel Signal Box’ pass over Upton viaduct on Holes Bay, Poole working 3Y88 0931 Totton Yard to Totton Yard – 27/02/2024
February 22nd 2024 to February 29th 2024
GBRf Class 57 No.’s 57306 ‘Her Majesty’s Railway Inspectorate’ arrives at Branksome with 5X62 0909 Wembley Receptions 1-7 to Bournemouth T&R.S.M.D – 22/02/2024
Thursday 22nd February 2024 saw more Class 458 EMU shenanigans with planned working 5X62 0530 Wembley Receptions 1-7 to Bournemouth T&RSMD and associated return 5M64 1315 Bournemouth T&RSMD to Leicester L.I.P. being cancelled due to a “request by the train operator”. Things were retimed, however, but we still saw GBRf Class 57 No.’s 57306 ‘Her Majesty’s Railway Inspectorate’ and 57303 arriving at Branksome with refurbished Class 458/4 No. 458424 65 minutes later than the revised schedule with 5X62 0909 Wembley Receptions 1-7 to Bournemouth T&RSMD.
GBRf Class 57 No. 57303 prepares to lead into the depot working 5X62 0909 Wembley Receptions 1-7 to Bournemouth T&R.S.M.D – 22/02/2024
As the Class 57 and Class 458/4 consist departed Branksome to reverse into the depot, an un-refurbished Class 458/5 No. 458513, still in the old SWT blue livery, was poking its nose out of the sidings. Which was a bit of a bonus.
As Class 458/5 No. 458513 edges out of the depot working 5Y51 1432 Bournemouth T&R.S.M.D to Wimbledon Park Depot Sidings, GBRf Class 57 No.’s 57306 ‘Her Majesty’s Railway Inspectorate’ moves in on the rear of 5X62 0909 Wembley Receptions 1-7 to Bournemouth T&R.S.M.D – 22/02/2024SWR Class 458/5 No. 458513 working 5Y51 1432 Bournemouth T&R.S.M.D to Wimbledon Park Depot Sidings – 22/02/2024
Video from Branksome – 22/02/2024
The pair of Class 57’s departed almost an hour late top and tailing barrier wagons as 5M64 1515 Bournemouth T&RSMD to Leicester L.I.P. I was at home cooking dinner, being watched closely by a cockapoo of my acquaintance.
Later that same day, a Freightliner operated engineers train worked down from Westbury to Dorchester West, top and tailed by Class 66 No.’s 66562 and 66559. Having feasted, Yoshi and I headed off to Castle Cary to see the train arrive. Major redevelopments continue at Castle Cary station with a new car park taking shape which will provide spaces for 193 cars. An access ramp will take station users from the car park up to the front of the station. There will also be a new cafe and office space in the former milk factory building, which dates from 1910 and is adjacent to the new car par. This work is being carried out by the Emily Estate who also have planning permission for a creamery which may see the production of cheese return to the building. That’s something both Yoshi and I can get behind!
More car parking spaces have been much needed at the station which is located on the GWR line from London Paddington to Taunton. Trains travelling from Bristol Temple Meads to Weymouth also call at Castle Cary. The present car park, which will be reconfigured to provide additional Blue Badge parking and spaces for taxi use, is often full on weekdays and, until now, no additional parking has been available nearby.
Freightliner Class 66 No. 66562 emerges out of the darkness at Castle Cary leading on 6Y91 1929 Westbury Down T.C. to Dorchester West – 22/02/2024GWR Class 158 DMU No. 158950 having arrived at Castle Cary with ECS working 5C90 1847 Axminster to Exeter TMD – 22/02/2024The driver of GWR Class 158 DMU No. 158950 prepares to depart Castle Cary with ECS working 5C90 1847 Axminster to Exeter TMD as Freightliner Class 66 No. 66562 waits right time with 6Y91 1929 Westbury Down T.C. to Dorchester West – 22/02/2024
After seeing the engineers train at Castle Cary, and not wanting to out stay our 20 minute free parking allowance, we headed to Yeovil Pen Mill where we once again saw the pair of 66 locomotives arrive with 6Y91. The driver wearily acknowledged us as we passed each other on the platform.
Freightliner Class 66 No. 66562 at Yeovil Pen Mill leading on 6Y91 1929 Westbury Down T.C. to Dorchester West – 22/02/2024Freightliner Class 66 No. 66559 pauses at Yeovil Pen Mill on the rear of 6Y91 1929 Westbury Down T.C. to Dorchester West – 22/02/2024
Another lengthy booked stop at Yeovil meant Yoshi and I were able to get ahead of the train and see it pass through Yetminster before we were able to once again get ahead of it as there was a booked stop at Maiden Newton and for our fourth and final time of the evening see the Class 66’s pass through Dorchester West.
Arriving at Dorchester West and heading for Dorchester Junction to reverse and work back is Freightliner Class 66 No. 66562 working 6Y91 1929 Westbury Down T.C. to Dorchester West – 22/02/2024Freightliner Class 66 No. 66559 pauses at Dorchester West on the rear of 6Y91 1929 Westbury Down T.C. to Dorchester West before heading down to Dorchester Junction – 22/02/2024
Freightliner Engineers to Dorchester West – 22/02/2024
As the train headed off to Dorchester Junction in order to reverse and return via Dorchester West up platform, Yoshi and I headed off home. The train worked up the West line to its work site and returned to Westbury the following morning as 6Y91 0430 Castle Cary to Westbury Down T.C.
GBRf Class 66 locomotives No.’s 66764 ‘Major John Poyntz Engineer & Railwayman’ and 66750 ‘Bristol Panel Signal Box’ passing through Hamworthy railway station working 23/02/2024: 3Y89 2200 Totton Yard to Totton Yard. The return from Weymouth would be curtailed at Dorchester South – 23/02/2024
The Snow & Ice Treatment Train (SITT) saw increased activity due to the cold snap in the South at the tail end of February. Top and tailed by GBRf Class 66 locomotives No.’s 66764 ‘Major John Poyntz Engineer & Railwayman’ and 66750 ‘Bristol Panel Signal Box’, the SITT ventured out of Totton Yard on the night of Friday 23rd February working as 3Y89 2200 Totton Yard to Totton Yard. However, this service was cancelled on the return leg between Dorchester South and Totton Yard “due to an error having been made”, although we believe in reality it was because there was no cover for the Dorsetway signal panel due to late staff absence. We hope everyone concerned is OK.
Having been tipped off by friend of the blog, Jamie, we were able to see the SITT parked up in Dorchester South Engineers Siding on the Saturday morning. Although the locomotives were fired up and looked like they were ready to leave, we were unable to wait to witness their departure towards Weymouth as 3Y88 1200 Dorchester South Isu (CE) to Totton Yard
Friday’s Snow & Ice Treatment Train, having been curtailed at Dorchester South and tucked into a siding by the signal box, returned to Totton on Saturday morning running as 3Y88 1200 Dorchester South Engineers Sidings to Totton Yard top and tailed by GBRf Class 66 locomotives No.’s 66764 ‘Major John Poyntz Engineer & Railwayman’ and 66750 ‘Bristol Panel Signal Box – 24/02/2024 (Image: G E Barrett)GBRf Class 66 No. 66750 ‘Bristol Panel Signal Box’ stands in Dorchester South Engineers Sidings awaiting departure back to Totton Yard – 24/02/2024
The same locomotives and rolling stock also worked to Weymouth in daylight hours on Monday 26th February and Tuesday 27th February 2024, which gave opportunities for photography.
GBRf Class 66 locomotives No.’s 66750 ‘Bristol Panel Signal Box’ and 66764 ‘Major John Poyntz Engineer & Railwayman’ pass Hamworthy working 3Y88 0931 Totton Yard to Totton Yard – 26/02/2024GBRf Class 66 locomotives No. 66764 ‘Major John Poyntz Engineer & Railwayman’ at the rear of 3Y88 0931 Totton Yard to Totton Yard having passed Hamworthy. No. 66750 ‘Bristol Panel Signal Box’ was leading on this occasion – 26/02/2024GBRf Class 66 locomotives No.’s 66750 ‘Bristol Panel Signal Box’ and 66764 ‘Major John Poyntz Engineer & Railwayman’ on the approach to Bournemouth as 3Y88 0931 Totton Yard to Totton Yard – 27/02/2024The SITT in the charge of GBRf Class 66 locomotives No. 66764 ‘Major John Poyntz Engineer & Railwayman’ at the rear and 66750 ‘Bristol Panel Signal Box’ leading near Bournemouth railway station working 3Y88 0931 Totton Yard to Totton Yard – 27/02/2024
February 2024 Dorset Snow & Ice Train video
Tuesday 27th also saw further Class 57 hauled unit drags to and from Bournemouth depot as GBRf Class 57 No.’s 57306 ‘Her Majesty’s Railway Inspectorate’ and 57303 returned with another refurbished SWR Class 458/4, this time No. 458420, from Widnes Transport tech.
GBRf Class 57 No. 57306 ‘Her Majesty’s Railway Inspectorate’ and I have rubbed buffers so many times now, we are on first name terms. We enjoyed a brief catch up here as the locomotive arrived at Branksome working 5X62 0531 Wembley Receptions 1-7 to Bournemouth T&R.S.M.D bringing SWR Class 458 No. 458420 back following refurbishment at Widnes. Sister locomotive No. 57303 was on the other end. Again – 27/02/2024The driver of 5X62 0531 Wembley Receptions 1-7 to Bournemouth T&R.S.M.D changes ends so Class 57 No. 57303 leads into the depot from Branksome – 27/02/2024
The pair of Class 57’s left with 5Q64 1315 Bournemouth T&R.S.M.D to Widnes Transport Tech, this time taking Class 458/5 No. 458522 for refurbishment. We saw this near Bournemouth from Beechey Road bridge overlooking the railway station.
GBRf Class 57 No. 57306 ‘Her Majesty’s Railway Inspectorate’ approaches Bournemouth railway station leading on 5Q64 1315 Bournemouth T&R.S.M.D to Widnes Transport Tech with Class 458 No.458522 sandwiched between barrier coaches – 27/02/2024Five car Class 458 EMU No.458522 heads to Cheshire for conversion onto Class 458/4 as 5Q64 1315 Bournemouth T&R.S.M.D to Widnes Transport Tech – 27/02/2024GBRf Class 57 No. 57303 brings up the rear of 5Q64 1315 Bournemouth T&R.S.M.D to Widnes Transport Tech as the train enters Bournemouth Station – 27/02/2024
Whilst awaiting the arrival of 3Y88 and 5Q64 at Bournemouth, I was almost caught out by a Class 458/4 test run as No. 458424 snuck up on me working the curtailed 5Q91 1320 Basingstoke to Bournemouth T&R.S.M.D. The outward run (5Q90 1119 Bournemouth T&R.S.M.D to Basingstoke) had been terminated at Southampton Central due to a points failure.
Class 458/4 test run as No. 458424 passing Bournemouth working the curtailed 5Q91 1320 Basingstoke to Bournemouth T&R.S.M.D, although on RTT the train kept its outward designation; 5Q90 1119 Bournemouth T&RSMD to Southampton Central – 27/02/2024Class 458/4 No. 458424 having passed through Bournemouth and heading to Branksome and the depot – 27/02/2024
More Class 458 EMU video – 27/02/2024
What better thing to do on the “extra day” provided in the 2024 calendar – 29th February – than pop over to Bournemouth and see Network Rail Class 153 Diesel Multiple Unit No. 153385 converted to a Video Inspection Unit which ran as 2Q32 1113 Eastleigh East Yard to Eastleigh East Yard.
2Q32 1113 Eastleigh East Yard to Eastleigh East Yard2Q32 1113 Eastleigh East Yard to Eastleigh East Yard2Q32 1113 Eastleigh East Yard to Eastleigh East YardSWR Class 444 No. 444038 at Bournemouth forming 1W16 1103 Weymouth to London Waterloo – 29/02/2024CrossCountry Voyagers No.’s 220023 and 221214 at Bournemouth having arrived as 1008 0725 Manchester Piccadilly to Bournemouth – 29/02/2024
Class 153 VIU at Bournemouth – 29/02/2024Poster seen at Bournemouth detailing the Weymouth line closure which takes place 18th – 20th March 2024 – 29/02/2024
We returned to Bournemouth later on the 29th to see a Colas Engineers Train top and tailed by regular visitors Class 66 No.’s 66848 and 66849 ‘Wylam Dilly’ which were running as 6C19 2259 Eastleigh East Yard to New Milton.
6C19 2259 Eastleigh East Yard to New Milton6C19 2259 Eastleigh East Yard to New Milton6C19 2259 Eastleigh East Yard to New Milton
Video of Colas Engineering Train reversing at Bournemouth – 29/02/2024
Saturday 24th February Yoshi took a visit to Dawe’s Twineworks at West Coker in Somerset. This is England’s only surviving working Victorian Twineworks. Built in 1899, Dawe’s Twineworks survived until 1968 utilising the flax and hemp grown in the local rich soil to provide the twine, rope and sailcloth required by sailing ships. “Coker Canvas” made the best quality sails and helped the Royal Navy rule the waves in the 19th Century. The volunteers were lovely, very enthusiastic and knowledgeable with the new Visitor Centre providing refreshments and information all for a donation. Dawe’s is open on the 4th Saturday of each month (please check before visiting).
Yoshi in the tea room and visitor centre built in 2018/2019 at Dawe’s Twineworks – 24/02/2024
South Somerset District Council made a compulsory purchase of the site in 2005 to save the buildings which were then close to collapse. The “Coker Rope & Sail Trust”, set up under the auspices of West Coker Parish Council, now has a 125 year lease on the site. In recent years the Trust has managed, with local effort, to restore parts of the building and machinery, install an engine and bring Dawe’s back to life.
Yoshi outside the engine house. To be honest, he wasn’t too keen on the engine once it was fired up – 24/02/20241927 Shanks 16 litre 23HP oil engine made in Arbroath was secured by the Twineworks. The engine has to be started using compressed air which is supplied by a 3.5HP Lister-Hamworthy compressor dating from the 1940’s and stored in a WWI torpedo casing at 25olb/in2 – 24/02/2024The “Walk” is an imposing structure 100m in length, allowing twine to be made in 200m lengths whatever the weather with its Bridgwater-tiled roof protecting valuable machinery – 24/02/2024Construction of the “Walk” was very simple, consisting of just oak posts in the ground, bolted trusses to support the roof and a pine first floor.The Ford model T was first produced in 1908, and was the first mass produced motor car, and due to this it also became affordable to the people. Due to its success the T was modified and different variants were produced. Yoshi is admiring this example which dates from 1926 – 24/02/2024
That’s it for another blog entry. Thanks for reading! Yoshi and I hope you’ve found something of interest. We’ll be back again soon. Be seeing you!
Yoshi after his recent grooming session – 26/02/2024
After rolling in something unquestionable while out on a walk, Yoshi enjoyed a wash in the shower. Afterwards he made himself at home in the guest room. Just as long as he didn’t expect room service! – 30/01/2024
January 20th 2024 to January 31st 2024
Sunday 21st – Yoshi and I took a drive to Weymouth to catch up with old friends. We took a walk around the Weymouth Peninsula to see the continuing work at the site of the former Weymouth Harbour railway station which is part of the Weymouth Quay Regeneration Project. Tracks which would have once been used by quayside cranes had been unearthed, but their exposure was short-lived and I’m told they have now been removed. The old platform will, I assume be completely levelled to make way for new fishing and harbour businesses, pedestrianised access and seating areas which will be created along the quayside eventually joining with other walkways linking the harbour with Weymouth beach.
The site of the former Weymouth Quay station in January 2024 – 21/01/2024
The work has been enabled because of a grant worth £3.79m which was awarded to the then Weymouth and Portland Borough Council, in partnership with the Weymouth Area Development Trust, in March 2019 from the Government’s Coastal Communities Fund. The bid was submitted on behalf of the Weymouth Coastal Community Team.
There are still partial remains of the Weymouth Harbour Tramway track, most of which was torn up in 2020/2021 – 21/01/2024
Monday 22nd – Because of concerns that Storm Isha, which hit the UK overnight on 21st/22nd January, Network Rail (NR) took the precautionary decision to run a “route proving” train between Bournemouth and Dorchester South in the early hours of Monday morning. It’s a common practice in many parts of the country with locomotives owned by freight operating companies being deployed for specific conditions on a specific route and at riskier locations, “proving a section of railway line is clear” of obstacles prior to scheduled passenger or freight trains running. I’m not aware of a previous similar event happening locally in recent times.
Light engine movement passing Hamworthy with GBRf Class 66 No. 66764 ‘Major John Poyntz Engineer & Railwayman’ worked proving train 0Y89 0045 Totton Yard to Totton Yard which ran to Dorchester South – 22/01/2024GBRf Class 66 No. 66764 ‘Major John Poyntz Engineer & Railwayman’ running as 0Y89 0045 Totton Yard to Totton Yard passing Hamworthy – 22/01/2024
The first passenger train out of Weymouth formed by Class 444 No. 444032 ran ECS to Dorchester South, thus providing route proving between these two stations.
Tuesday 23rd – A busy day when both a run to Winfrith and a Class 458 Unit Drag to Bournemouth depot took place. First up was Direct Rail Services (DRS) Class 68 No.’s 68 68016 ‘Fearless’ & 68002 ‘Intrepid’ working 6Z62 0100 Crewe Coal Sidings DRS to Winfrith Sidings (Wool). I chose to see this one passing through Poole and I was both intrepid and fearless heading out in the wet weather conditions.
Direct Rail Services Class 68 No.’s 68 68016 ‘Fearless’ & 68002 ‘Intrepid’ working 6Z62 0100 Crewe Coal Sidings DRS to Winfrith Sidings (Wool) passing Poole – 23/01/2024DRS Class 68 No.’s 68 68016 ‘Fearless’ & 68002 ‘Intrepid’ top and tail 6Z62 0100 Crewe Coal Sidings DRS to Winfrith Sidings (Wool) passing SWR Class 450 No. 450084 working ECS move 5B32 0846 Poole Storage Sidings to Poole before running a service to Winchester – 23/01/2024Class 450 No. 450084 working ECS move 5B32 0846 Poole Storage Sidings to Poole approaches Poole as DRS Class 68 No.’s 68 68016 ‘Fearless’ & 68002 ‘Intrepid’ working 6Z62 0100 Crewe Coal Sidings DRS to Winfrith Sidings (Wool) pass – 23/01/2024
Later that morning I took the train to see GBRf Class 57 No. 57306 ‘Her Majesty’s Railway Inspectorate 175’ leading refurbished South Western Railway (SWR) Class 458 EMU No. 458404 with No. 57305 at the rear into Branksome prior to the consist reversing into the depot. This was the second leg of the EMU’s transfer after initially setting out from Widnes the previous day, this working was recorded as 5X73 0728 Wembley Receptions 1-7 to Bournemouth TRSMD.
GBRf Class 57 No. 57306 ‘Her Majesty’s Railway Inspectorate 175’ enters Branksome railway station leading on 5X73 0728 Wembley Receptions 1-7 to Bournemouth TRSMD – 23/01/2024Refurbished SWR Class 458 EMU No. 458404 at Branksome – 23/01/2024GBRf Class 57 No. 57305 at Branksome preparing to haul 5X73 0728 Wembley Receptions 1-7 to Bournemouth TRSMD into the depot – 23/01/2024GBRf Class 57 No. 57306 ‘Her Majesty’s Railway Inspectorate 175’ now at the rear of 5X73 0728 Wembley Receptions 1-7 to Bournemouth TRSMD trails as the train makes its way into the depot – 23/01/2024
The Class 57’s returned to Widnes later in the day as 5Q58 1711 Bournemouth T&RSMD to Widnes Transport Tech taking with them Class 458 No. 458520, but I was unable to witness this. Well, dinner doesn’t eat itself!
I did however see the return, loaded Winfrith working; 6Z95 1551 Winfrith Sidings to Crewe Coal Sidings (DRS) which was running over half an hour late by the time it passed me at Hamworthy.
There have been several examples of 4-car Class 450 Desiro units making it west of Poole forming services to Weymouth recently. One such example was No. 450009 working 1W67 1305 London Waterloo to Weymouth and the corresponding return 1W68 1620 Weymouth to London Waterloo on 23rd January. Services to Weymouth are mostly entrusted to 5-car Class 444’s.
A rare visitor west of Poole Class 450 No. 450009 pauses at Hamworthy on 1W68 1620 Weymouth to London Waterloo – 23/01/2024
Wednesday 24th – The Network Rail (NR) New Measurement Train (NMT) top and tailed by Colas High Speed Train (HST) Class 43 power cars No.’s 43257 and 43274 working as 1Z22 0746 Derby R.T.C.(Network Rail) to Bristol Kingsland Road actually made it to Weymouth this month. Cause for celebration all round!
Class 43 No. 43257 on the approach to Dorchester West leading on 1Z22 0746 Derby R.T.C.(Network Rail) to Bristol Kingsland Road – 24/01/2024 (G E Barrett)Class 43 No. 43274 departing Dorchester West as 1Z22 0746 Derby R.T.C.(Network Rail) to Bristol Kingsland Road – 24/01/2024 (G E Barrett)
Thursday 25th – The Ultrasonic Test Unit consisting of Colas Class 37 No. 37116 and DBSO No. 9702 reached Weymouth as 3Q14 1109 Westbury Down T.C. to Westbury Down T.C.
Colas Class 37 No. 37116 departing Dorchester West at the rear of 3Q14 1109 Westbury Down T.C. to Westbury Down T.C. – 25/01/2024 (G E Barrett)Colas Class 37 No. 37116 at Dorchester West on the return leg of 3Q14 1109 Westbury Down T.C. to Westbury Down T.Chaving reversed at Weymouth – 25/01/2024 (G E Barrett)
Over on the South Western Main Line, services were severely disrupted on 25th January following the discovery of a broken rail between Christchurch and Hinton Admiral. South Western Railway (SWR) and CrossCountry (XC) trains were cancelled, delayed or revised with alternative road replacement transport being provided
Friday 26th – With the weather turning drier, brighter and colder, today saw another outing for the Totton Yard based Snow & Ice Treatment Train (SITT) – the first and only run this week. Keeping an eye on it via the Open Time Train (OTT) maps and Real Time Trains (RTT) schedules, I could see that it was running almost 50 minutes ahead of schedule after departing Totton Yard early, so I opted to pop up to one of my favourite local locations, Hamworthy railway station, to see GBRf Class 66 No.’s 66764 ‘Major John Point Engineer & Railwayman’ and 66772 ‘Maria’ run through heading to Weymouth.
GBRf Class 66 No.’s 66764 ‘Major John Point Engineer & Railwayman’ and 66772 ‘Maria’ running 47 minutes early entering Hamworthy working 3Y88 0931 Totton Yard to Totton Yard – 26/01/2024GBRf Class 66 No. 66772 ‘Maria’ at the rear of SITT 3Y88 0931 Totton Yard to Totton Yard with 66764 ‘Major John Point Engineer & Railwayman’ leading, the consist having passed Hamworthy – 26/01/2024
Work commitments meant I hadn’t planned on seeing the return working, however a signal fault in the Poole area putting a full halt on trains heading east and Caroline having a lunch appointment meant, when I was free, I took the car and drove her to Christchurch – a sensible choice as this was where she needed to be. Conveniently, for me, the SITT still hadn’t passed Bournemouth as I drove home, so I ducked into the Asda car park which is conveniently situated adjacent the railway station and wandered over to the platforms where I was kindly allowed through the barriers to take photographs and video using my phone.
A signalling fault at Poole caused chaos with trains in the area. SWR Class 444 No. 444022 forms the VSTP (Very Short Term Planning) 1Z18 1259 Bournemouth to London Waterloo service – 26/01/2024SWR Class 444 No. 444022 begins boarding as the 1Z18 1259 Bournemouth to London Waterloo service while classmate No. 444018 awaits the arrival of another 5 carriages before it continues as the delayed 1W58 1120 Weymouth to London Waterloo. Due to a later points failure between Basingstoke and Waterloo, this service was eventually terminated at Basingstoke – 26/01/2024Class 66 No. 66772 ‘Maria’ at Bournemouth working 3Y88 0931 Totton Yard to Totton Yard awaiting the green – 26/01/2024Class 66 No. 66764 ‘Major John Point Engineer & Railwayman’ at the rear of the return 3Y88 0931 Totton Yard to Totton Yard SITT pauses at Bournemouth – 26/01/2024CrossCountry Class 221 Voyager No. 221135 arrives at Bournemouth as 1010 0825 Manchester Piccadilly to Bournemouth – 26/01/2024
Later in the afternoon, SWR services were getting back on schedule and Caroline was able to get her planned train home. While she was waiting at Christchurch, she sent me the image below of a CrossCountry Voyager passing through:
Catching the last of the sun, CrossCountry Voyager No. 220006 races through Christchurch working 1M62 1545 Bournemouth to Manchester Piccadilly – 26/01/2024 (CLS)
GBRf Class 66 No.’s 66764 ‘Major John Point Engineer & Railwayman’ and 66772 ‘Maria’ working 3Y88 0931 Totton Yard to Totton Yard – 26/01/2024
Monday 29th – A Class 458 was picked up from Bournemouth T&RSMD by GBRf locomotives, Class 57 No 57305 and Class 47 No. 47749 ‘City Of Truro’ logged as 5058 0511 Leicester Locomotive Inspection Point to Bournemouth Traction & Rolling Stock Maintenance Depot. Thinking it had been cancelled, the train defied me and actually left Leicester 140 minutes late. I was busy and unable to see the incoming working consisting of locomotives and barrier coaches. I had, though, planned on seeing the return with Class 458 No. 458524 in tow, but typically it left 90 minutes early and evaded my gaze! SWR industrial action meant that the train timetable was heavily altered and options for me to get over to Branksome by rail were much reduced. Incidentally, No. 458524 has already been refurbished at Widnes, so there is some speculation as to why the unit is returning to Cheshire.
Flashback to August 2023 when GBRf Class 47 No. 477749 ‘City Of Truro’ ran to Branksome working 5Z72 1548 Eastleigh East Yard to Bournemouth T&RSMD – 30/08/2023
Tuesday 30th – Today was a strike day on SWR with ASLEF the train drivers union members taking industrial action. The drivers also refused to work overtime from Monday 29th January until Tuesday 6th February. The first strike in this long running dispute by ASLEF was in July 2022.
FROM THE ARCHIVE
With the site now being redeveloped, we take a look back at Weymouth Quay station. The Weymouth Harbour Tramway was opened by the Great Western Railway (GWR) in 1865 in connection with Channel Island boat trains. Regular services along the branch ceased in 1987.
Pressed Steel Class 117 DMU set B436 (presumably set formed by car No.’s 51334 + 59500 + 51376). This was the first working of a diesel multiple-unit passenger service from Weymouth (Town) to Weymouth Quay. It is believed DMU’s worked on the tramway in 1983 and 1984 – 03/07/2023Weymouth Quay station is still standing in this image. On the left is the 78’4″ ‘Fantastic Too’ catamaran yacht, the world’s first full carbon sailing superyacht, built by the Polish shipyard Sunreef Yachts in 2020 and is available for charter and will accommodate up to 10 guests in 5 cabins. – 07/11/2020Reflecting on past glories, the former Weymouth Quay station went into service with Condor Ferries when they operated out of Weymouth – 17/02/2021Going, going… – 28/03/2021Gone – 04/04/2021
Saturday 25th June 1994 saw Hertfordshire Rail Tours “Corfe Mixture” railtour operate to Weymouth Quay. The train consisted of EMU’s 4-BEP No. 2301 and 4-CIG No. 1318 and appropriately Class 33 No. 33116 ‘Hertfordshire Rail Tours’. The special train ran from London Waterloo to Wareham where passengers transferred onto road coaches which took them to Swanage. After approximately 3 hours, road transport returned passengers to Wareham and the EMU’s continued to Weymouth (Town) station where everyone alighted. The Class 33 diesel loco then attached to the units and took them ECS to Weymouth Quay from where the return leg, propelled by No. 33116 as far as Weymouth Junction, started. From Weymouth Jct the two EMU’s returned to Waterloo stopping en route at Wareham to collect passengers who had elected to visit Corfe Castle after Swanage rather than going down to Weymouth. I wonder how many opted to do this?
Hertfordshire Rail Tours “Corfe Mixture” rail tour operates to Weymouth Quay with Class 33 No. 33116 ‘Hertfordshire Rail Tours’ – 25/06/1994
The final train to run along Weymouth Harbour Tramway took place on 2nd May 1999. With holidaymakers, bystanders and rail enthusiasts milling around, and preceded by a police escort, Class 73 electro-diesels No.’s 73138 and 73106 negotiated their way to Weymouth Quay station with Pathfinder Tours “Wey-Farer” railtour – in fact two identical trains worked over the line during the day, although I can only remember one! I must be getting old!
With Weymouth station in the background, Class 73 No. 73138 heads up the Weymouth Harbour branch – 02/05/1999Class 73 No. 73106 at the rear of the “Wet-Farer” railtour – 02/05/1999Class 73 No. 73106 on the return leg to Weymouth (Town) station – 02/05/1999With police escort, Class 73 No. 73106 crawls through the streets of Weymouth – 02/05/1999Class 73 No. 73138 at the rear of “The Wey-Farer” tour passing a packed Harbourside. Did we know this was the last time we would enjoy this incredible spectacle? – 02/05/1999Transrail liveried Class 37 No. 37250 runs light engine towards Weymouth (Town) station to lead the “Wey-Farer” tour to Yeovil. Transrail was created in 1994 along with Mainline Freight and Loadhaul as part of the broadly regional split of British Rail’s Trainload Freight operations – 02/05/1999
We’ll revisit the Weymouth Harbour Railway in a future blog, I’m sure. It’s a much missed element of the local railway scene and, as always, I wish I’d taken more photographs of the boat trains and other traffic traversing through the streets of Weymouth.
That’s it for another blog entry – thanks for reading, for your comments and corrections, all are much appreciated. Be seeing you!
Yoshi celebrated his 5th birthday this week with lots of hugs and a new sweater – 12/01/2024
January 12th 2024 to January 19th 2024
Yoshi celebrated his 5th birthday on Friday January 12th 2024 – he posed for a few photographs so he could show off his new sweater (which would come in handy as temperatures plummeted over the course of the following week), cap and bandana. He didn’t really take to wearing the cap outside, so we put it away for another day. Lots of treats ensued.
Yoshi shows off his new sweater and cap on his 5th birthday – 12/01/2024
It has been a busy week or so in Dorset if, like me, you have a penchant for test and engineering trains. Yes, I’m late with this blog entry, yes, I’m obsessed with trains, and yes, I “enjoy” the solitude of a railway station platform at 0430 on a cold January morning with only the sound of waking birdsong, Network Rail staff opening gates to access the trackside and the distant call of a Class 66 locomotive tooting in the dark telegraphing its existence. This was my experience on the morning of Tuesday 16th January when I hauled myself out of bed in the early hours after a disturbed night because Yoshi had busied himself building a pillow fort as I tried to sleep. DB Cargo had two scheduled engineers trains running into Dorset on this day, one in the morning and one in the late evening – both in connection with engineering works around the Hinton Admiral, Hampshire area. The trains were scheduled to run from Eastleigh East Yard and reverse at Bournemouth before heading back in the direction they had come. Both trains employed the same locomotives, Class 66 No.’s 66154 and 66186.
DB Cargo Class 66 No. 66186 powers through Christchurch at the head of 6N60 0455 Christchurch to Eastleigh East Yard – 16/01/2024Having reversed at Bournemouth, 6N60 0455 Christchurch to Eastleigh East Yard is now in the charge of DB Cargo Class 66 No. 66154 which is seen heading back through Christchurch – 16/01/2024DB Cargo Class 66 No. 66186 having arrived at Bournemouth with 6N65 2304 Eastleigh East Yard to Hinton Admiral – 16/01/2024The driver of DB Cargo Class 66 No. 66154 prepares to depart Bournemouth with 6N65 2304 Eastleigh East Yard to Hinton Admiral – 16/01/2024
Video of DB Cargo engineers train workings 6N60 0455 Christchurch to Eastleigh East Yard at Christchurch and 6N65 2304 Eastleigh East Yard to Hinton Admiral at Bournemouth featuring Class 66 No.’s 66186 and 66154 – 16/01/2024
Monday 15th January and we welcomed the usual monthly Colas test train worked by a pair of GB Railfreight (GBRf) Class 73 Electro-Diesel locomotives. This time around No.’s 73965 ‘Des O’Brien’ and 73964 ‘Jeanette’ graced us with their presence top and tailing 1Q51 1115 Derby R.T.C.(Network Rail) to Eastleigh East Yard via Weymouth.
GBRf Class 73 No. 73965 ‘Des O’Brien’ leading on 1Q51 1115 Derby R.T.C.(Network Rail) to Eastleigh East Yard at Poole passing SWR Class 444 444023 which had arrived with 1B57 1835 London Waterloo to Poole service – 15/01/2024GBRf Class 73 No. 73964 ‘Jeanette’ heads up the return 1Q51 1115 Derby R.T.C.(Network Rail) to Eastleigh East Yard through Hamworthy – 15/01/2024
Video of GBRf Class 73 electro-diesels No.’s 73965 ‘Des O’Brien’ and 73964 ‘Jeanette’ top and tailing 1Q51 1115 Derby R.T.C.(Network Rail) to Eastleigh East Yard – 15/01/2024
As I’ve mentioned numerous times previously, I have a short list of railway traction I would like to photograph. This can be because of a name carried by the locomotive or vehicle in question or perhaps a special livery variation. One GBRf Class 66 I’ve been keeping tabs on of late is No. 66756 ‘Royal Corps Of Signals’. The loco was out of sight on Doncaster Roberts Road depot in Doncaster, a stones throw from the Morrison’s petrol station I visited to refuel the car as we drove to Scarborough last month and seemed to spend a good deal of time rostered on duties in the North of the country. However, during January, No. 66756 found its way down south and eventually ended up at Eastleigh. Seeing online that she was stabled on Eastleigh East Yard on Saturday morning of the 13th January, Yoshi and I ventured over the border to Hampshire in the hope that this time the locomotive would be visible from a public space. Suffice to say, we were unable to see just where the loco had been parked, and we left without accomplishing our mission. It wasn’t a totally wasted journey however, as we took the opportunity to take some photos at Eastleigh and then stop off and take a look at Freightliner Southampton Maritime via a short break at St Denys.
GBRf Class 66 No. 66713 ‘Forest City’ stands in Eastleigh East Yard – 13/01/2024Another view of GBRf Class 66 No. 66713 ‘Forest City’ at Eastleigh East Yard – 13/01/2024GBRf Class 66 No. 66304 at Eastleigh East Yard. The locomotive had arrived in the company of No. 66756 ‘Royal Corps Of Signals’ the previous night working light engine 0O44 1910 Kineton MOD GBRf to Eastleigh East Yard which had prompted my visit on this day – 13/01/202466711 ‘Sence’ painted in Aggregate Industries livery rests in-between duties at Eastleigh East Yard – 13/01/2024Colas Class 66 No. 66848 and track machines at Eastleigh CTT Forwardings – 13/01/2024Class 153 DMU No. 153311 which previously operated in passenger service with East Midlands Railway (EMR) but has now been converted by Network Rail into Video inspection Unit VIU 1 at Eastleigh. This unit had been scheduled to undertake two runs to Bournemouth on the previous day working as 2Q14 1312 Eastleigh East Yard to Eastleigh East Yard, but in the event both trips were cancelled – 13/01/2024Pioneer Class 66 No. 66001 part of the DB Cargo fleet stands adjacent to Eastleigh railway station. This locomotive was originally English Welsh & Scottish Railway’s (EWS) first General Motors (GM) 3,300hp Class 66 which arrived in the UK on Saturday April 18th 1998 at Immingham Dock – and according to Rail Magazine at the time was expected to start work on May 18th. More from Rail issue 330:
The pioneer locomotive of the 250-strong class was taken by rail to the nearby Immingham depot, fittingly hauled dead by Class 56 No. 56018, which itself arrived by sea at Harwich from Romania on January 22 1977. After unloading from heavy lift vessel Fairload, operated by Jumbo Shipping, it was inspected to ensure it was fit to move and the brake system tested. Widespread rumours that the locomotive was dropped as it was loaded in the USA were proved to be untrue. After No. 66001 was unloaded a delighted EWS Project Engineer Graham Preston told RAIL: “This is only the beginning – I’ll be even more happy when the rest have arrived. GM has made a cracking start with delivery well within the contract time and bang on schedule. “Our best estimate was for the locomotive to leave the factory in early March and it actually was finished at the end of March. It’s the fastest that GM has ever delivered a new locomotive design.” It was originally hoped that the locomotive would arrive a few weeks earlier, however the original plan, to use a fast seven-day crossing from Canada to Liverpool was scuppered when the price rose considerably. Instead No. 66001 was towed to Albany, New Jersey where it was loaded. The ship previously visited Sutton Bridge, Lincolnshire, to unload machinery, before arriving at Immingham. Deliveries of the production series, construction of which will start in earnest once EWS and Railtrack are satisfied with the prototype, will be made to Newport, South Wales. A ship, which can carry up to eleven locomotives each journey, has been chartered for two years and will take around 10 days for the crossing from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. Once the Class has received Railtrack type approval and a safety case, (with completion of acceptance tests on No. 66001) there will not be a need for Railtrack to inspect each locomotive. Locomotives will arrive tested and ready to run. EWS will check lubricants, coolant, brake systems and all systems. This will take three hours per locomotive after which they will go directly into traffic. As production starts in May the first four production series (Nos. 66003-6) are expected in July, eight (Nos. 66007-14) in August and 11 (Nos. 66015-25) in September. Thereafter deliveries will be 11 locomotives a month. The other pre-production locomotive, No. 66002, which has yet to be painted, was due to move to the Association of American Railroads test track at Pueblo, Colorado in late May for a series of exhaustive tests. It will be delivered later this year once the work is complete. During the weekend of April 18/19 No. 66001 was inspected over a pit at Immingham depot, and on Monday April 20 was displayed to the press at the depot, where it made its first movements under its own power in Britain. This took place within the depot confines, which is EWS, not Railtrack infrastructure. One aspect of the Class 66 design is its radial steering bogies which slightly turn the leading axles on each bogie as the locomotive enters a curve. This results in no flange squeal, even on the sharpest curves and is expected to double the life of tyres. No. 66001 was towed to Toton by 60016 on Monday evening, where a further, very detailed inspection was made. Early on Friday April 24 it was towed to Chester where it was exhibited for a visit by Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, returning to Toton the same day. It was moved on Monday April 27 to the Engineering Development Unit at Derby (former Research Department) for two weeks of static tests, to be followed by a week of loaded main line trials, probably over the Midland Main Line. After this it will enter service, and is expected to be based initially at Newport, South Wales. Three EWS staff have been trained in Canada to drive the Class 66. Conversion courses for other crews are being developed, but it is expected that Class 59 drivers will require a one-day course, and Class 58/60 drivers will need a three day course. The Class 66 can work in multiple with Class 59s and 67s (to be delivered in 1999). – 13/01/2024Southern Class 377 No. 377201 working 1N15 0928 Southampton Central to Brighton on the approach to St Denys – 13/01/2024SWR Class 450 No. 450057 working 2E20 0838 Portsmouth & Southsea to Southampton Central /at St Denys having passed Southern Class 377 No. 377201 forming 1N15 0928 Southampton Central to Brighton – 13/01/2024Freightliner Class 66 No. 66539 passing St Denys working 4018 0424 Lawley Street FLT to Southampton MCT – 13/01/2024Freightliner Maritime with Class 70 No. 70007, Class 66 No. 66553 in the foreground and Class 66 No. 66556 and Class 70 No. 70005 behind – 13/01/2024Class 70 No. 70002 being shunted around Southampton MCT by Class 66 No. 66556- 13/01/2024“Super Shunter” for the day Class 66 No. 66556 at Freightliner Southampton Maritime – 13/01/2024The Totton based Snow & Ice Treatment Train passes Southampton MCT, top and tailed by GBRf Class 66 No.’s 66764 ‘Major John Poyntz Engineer & Railwayman’ and 66772 ‘Maria’ – 13/01/2024Having shunted back at Southampton Maritime, Freightliner Class 66 No. 66539 arrives at the container terminal working 4018 0424 Lawley Street FLT to Southampton MCT – 13/01/2024
Video which consists mostly of Freightliner “Super Shunter” Class 66 No. 66556 moving things about at Southampton Maritime – 13/01/2024
Late on Saturday evening, Freightliner had the responsibiity of providing motive power for an engineers train to Hamworthy. Two of the FL Class 66 locos we had last seen at Maritime earlier in the day were provided on this working, which I saw at Poole on the outward trip as well as the return working which ran on Sunday morning. The work site was to the west of Hamworthy railway station and away from prying eyes. I did witness two Network Rail employees placing a temporary STOP sign – to protect the branch line – in front of the existing STOP sign which is fixed to a sleeper chained across the track just after the point where the Hamworthy branch leaves the main line. A case of belt and braces!
Freightliner Class No. 66556 crawls through Poole working 6Y85 22:44 Eastleigh East Yard to Hamworthy – 13/01/2024Freightliner Class No. 66539 at Poole on the rear of 6Y85 22:44 Eastleigh East Yard to Hamworthy as SWR Class 444 No. 444026 arrives with the 2W86 2310 Weymouth to Bournemouth service – 13/01/2024
Video of Freightliner Class No.’s 66 locomotives 66556 and 66539 at Poole working ballast train 6Y85 22:44 Eastleigh East Yard to Hamworthy (13/01/2024) and 6Y85 07:30 Poole to Eastleigh East Yard (14/01/2024)
Moving forward a few days to Thursday 18th January and having received confirmation from friend of this blog, Jamie, that the aforementioned No. 66756 was scheduled to be working down the Fawley branch to Marchwood near Southampton, and taking into consideration the beautiful sunny, but cold day, I made the last minute decision to drive over and wait for the train to cross at the manual level crossing adjacent to the former Marchwood railway station.
Looking from the level crossing at Marchwood down the line towards Totton, GBRf Class 66 No. 66756 ‘Royal Corps Of Signals’ can be seen approaching with 4O77 0256 London Gateway GBRf to Marchwood Mod GBRf – 18/01/2024GBRf Class 66 No. 66756 ‘Royal Corps Of Signals’ about to cross over the manual level crossing at Main Road, Marchwood hauling 4O77 0256 London Gateway GBRf to Marchwood Mod GBRf – 18/01/2024GBRf Class 66 No. 66756 ‘Royal Corps Of Signals’ on the associated return working (4Z47 1218 Marchwood MOD GBRf to Doncaster Down Decoy GBRf) from Marchwood MOD pauses in the former Marchwood railway station awaiting the ‘go ahead’ to proceed from the crossing gate keeper – 18/01/2024 Although semaphore signals remain in situ at Marchwood, they do not appear to be operational as GBRf Class 66 No. 66756 ‘Royal Corps Of Signals’ works 4Z47 1218 Marchwood Mod GBRf to Doncaster Down Decoy GBRf – 18/01/2024
Video of GBRf Class 66 No. 66756 ‘Royal Corps Of Signals’ at Marchwood working 4O77 0256 London Gateway GBRf to Marchwood Mod GBRf and 4Z47 1218 Marchwood Mod GBRf to Doncaster Down Decoy GBRf – 18/01/2024
Fawley oil refinery was established in 1921 with its construction starting in the spring of 1923, the contractors being Sir Robert McAlpine & Co Ltd. The Fawley railway branch line was built under provision of the Light Railways Act 1896 as the “Totton, Hythe and Fawley Light Railway”, opening on 20th July 1925. It branches off at the South West Main Line west of Totton station, running parallel with the line to Bournemouth and Weymouth for one mile before curving away to the south. Prior to the passenger service being withdrawn on 14th February 1966, stations were served at Marchwood, Hythe, and Fawley. Between Hythe and Fawley a station for workmen was opened briefly between 1958 and 1965 named Hardley Halt.
Railway traffic as far as Marchwood increased after a siding to Cracknore Hard was laid in 1939 for harbour defences. It was expanded to a full-blown military port in 1943, the slipway becoming a major assembly point for Mulberry floating harbour sections in 1944.
The passenger service to Fawley was always traditionally somewhat sparse with just three return trips and a long gap during the day when refinery staff were at work. There was an expansion in freight traffic as, for more than 80 years, ExxonMobil and its predecessors used rail to move oil products from the refinery, but all associated traffic ceased in September 2016. Railway Magazine reported the last DB Cargo train from Fawley; a rake of empty bogie tankers, ran on September 5th 2016. The line is now only used by freight to and from Marchwood Military Port as well as taking and removing SWR Class 701 EMU’s in storage.
Looking to the future, it is proposed to partly reopen the line with stations located at Marchwood and Hythe. On 23rd May 2020, the Department of Transport (DafT) announced that the line now marketed as the “Waterside Line” had been shortlisted for further funding to investigate the restoration of passenger services. The end of the 8-mile line would be unused, but a southern terminus, called Hythe and Fawley Parkway, would open on the site of the Hardley Halt station.
In March 2022, Rail Magazine reported that Network Rail would be taking the scheme to get the line reopened forward. However, the proposed Hythe & Fawley Parkway station will not now be included. The service that Network Rail is proposing is a 2 car Class 158/9, running every 30 minutes between Hythe and Southampton with passenger services starting in 2025 at the earliest if plans are accepted. Following public consultations held in August / September 2022, 84% of people backed the proposal to reinstate the line for passenger service.
The Totton Yard based Snow and Ice Treatment Train (SITT) saw multiple incursions into Dorset during the recent frosty January weather working:
12/01/2024 – 3Y89 2200 Totton Yard to Totton Yard
14/01/2024 – 3Y88 1009 Eastleigh East Yard to Eastleigh East Yard
17/01/2024 – 3Y89 2200 Totton Yard to Totton Yard
19/01/2024 – 3Y89 2200 Totton Yard to Totton Yard
Snow & Ice Treatment Train workings in January 2024 (additional video courtesy of G E Barrett)
Elsewhere on the UK network, the final day of Class 508 workings took place on 16th January 2024 when Merseyrail withdrew the last operational example of the class, No. 508104 after 44 years of service. The Class 508 developed from the prototype PEP stock were built by British Rail Engineering Limited (BREL), at Holgate Road carriage works, York, between 1979 and 1980 and initially worked alongside much older first generation 4-SUB EMU’s in the London Waterloo area. The first Class 508 unit was delivered to Strawberry Hill depot on 9th August 1979.
Class 508 No. 508018 and 4-SUB No. 4656 at London Waterloo – 23/03/1981Class 508 No. 508017 at the buffer stops at London Waterloo – 23/03/1981Class 508 No. 508042 and 4-VEP 7815 at London Waterloo – 23/03/1981
Transfer to of the Class 508’s to Merseyside began in 1982 when they were reduced from 4-car to 3-car sets. The removed trailer cars live on as part of South Western Railway Class 455.
Class 508 No. 508140 at Southport – 13/07/2022Yoshi at Southport taking a look at Class 508 No. 508140 – 13/07/2022Class 508 No. 508120 at Liverpool James Street with the 1407 service to New Brighton – 09/12/2023Class 455 No. 455734 leading classmate No. 455708 towards Branksome working 5Y51 empty coaching stock movement 1431 Bournemouth Traction & Rolling Stock Depot to Wimbledon Depot Sidings. The second coach of each unit was taken from Class 508 units and the different height and shape of the carriage to the rest of the unit can be clearly seen – 02/03/2022
As you may be aware, train strikes are planned from Tuesday 30th January through to Monday 5th February 2024.
• Tuesday 30th January – Gatwick Express, Great Northern, South Western Railway (including Island Line), Southeastern, Southern, Thameslink
• Wednesday 31th January – Northern, TransPennine Express
• Friday 2nd February – c2c, Greater Anglia (including Stansted Express), LNER
• Saturday 3rd February – Avanti West Coast, East Midlands Railway, London Northwestern Railway, West Midlands Railway
• Monday 5th February – Chiltern Railways, CrossCountry, Great Western Railway
In addition, the above train operators will have an overtime ban between Monday 29th January and Tuesday 6th February.
Dorset Council and BCP Council have joined forces to develop a new transport plan for the whole of Dorset fit for the 21st Century and have launched a survey running until 3rd March. They would like our thoughts on the following:
• improving transport across rural and urban areas;
• ensuring all ages and abilities can access services;
• making it easier to be more physically active;
• enabling more opportunities for affordable, available and accessible public transport;
• helping people feel safer on our roads and on public transport;
• reducing congestion and carbon emissions; or
• improving digital and real-time travel information
You can find out more and complete the survey online here – paper copies are also available at Dorset Council and BCP Council libraries.
Many thanks for reading, for your comments and corrections. All being well, we’ll be back soon! Be seeing you.
Yoshi at Yeovil Junction with Class 67 No. 67006 ‘Royal Sovereign’ was in charge of UK Railtours “Carols At Sherborne Abbey” 1Z15 0715 Peterborough to Yeovil Jn Heritage Platform. The Class 67 locomotives are a class of Bo-Bo diesel electric mainline locomotives which were built for the English, Welsh and Scottish Railway between 1999 to 2000 by Alstom at Meinfesa in Valencia, Spain with drive components (engine and transmission) from General Motors Diesel. Yoshi is a cockapoo dog, a miniature poodle and cocker spaniel mix produced in Wiltshire – 23/12/2023
December 11th 2023 to December 31st 2023
The second part of our December blog is finally here! After our trip to the North, we didn’t have to wait long for some local railway themed action as another Class 458 EMU drag from Widnes Transport Tech to Bournemouth depot took place on Wednesday 13th running as 5X73 0722 Wembley Receptions 1-7 to Bournemouth TRSMD. I kept one eye on its movement via the live maps available on the Open Time Trains website, and at one point almost left home early as the train was running well ahead of time.
GBRf Class 69 No.69008 at Branksome preparing to reverse into the depot with 5X73 0722 Wembley Receptions 1-7 to Bournemouth TRSMD – 13/12/2023
However, the train was held outside of Eastleigh for a while so I was able to get to Branksome on the train as planned just prior to the arrival of GBRf Class 56 No. 56081 and Class 69 No. 69008 with South Western Railway (SWR) Class 458 No. 458424 sandwiched in-between barrier coaches. The return run taking another Class 458 for refurbishment in Widnes was set for departure the afternoon of the same day, but was afforded three different paths out of the depot. Avoiding the possibility of picking the wrong working and either missing the departure or having a lengthy wait I decided just to remain at home instead!
GBRf Class 56 No. 56081 with SWR Class 458 No. 458424 in tow arrives at Branksome heading 5X73 0722 Wembley Receptions 1-7 to Bournemouth TRSMD – 13/12/2023
No. 56081 is to to be retired to Longport in the New Year. While the option for additional Class 69 conversions doesn’t appear to have been taken yet, the planned despatch of the Class 56 to Longport certainly places it in position for potential conversion to No. 69017.
Later on the same day, the Snow & Ice Treatment Train (SITT) ran from Totton to Dorchester South and back as 3Y89 2211 Totton Yard to Totton Yard with Class 66 No.’s 66743 and 66772 ‘Maria’. I toyed briefly with the notion of driving to Dorchester to get a photo of No. 66743 in its Belmond Royal Scotsman livery, but decided against it on this occasion.
GBRf Class 66 No.’s 66743 and 66772 ‘Maria’ passing Hamworthy with 3Y89 2211 Totton Yard to Totton Yard – 13/12/2023
Saturday 16th December was a bit of a road trip so I could see what could well be the final DB Cargo (DBC) Class 60 hauled railtour as the class are to be ‘retired’ in April 2024 by the Deutsche Bahn owned freight operator following an announcement it is to eliminate the use of its Class 60 locomotives by re-gearing ten of its Class 66 loco’s to provide an enhanced tractive effort. As most of its services are operated by Class 66 locomotives, with the Class 60’s only seeing limited use, DB Cargo concluded that if services operated by its Class 60 locomotives could be transferred to Class 66’s with a higher tractive effort, it would benefit its customers and the company.
DB Cargo has also said that in the future they are going to focus on contractual railtour operations, with the likes of the Belmond British Pullman trains, and less on the ‘ad hoc’ operations for other tour promoters, such as Pathfinder Railtours who were running “The Festive Midland-Ian” which was promoted as an attempt to try and cover as many freight lines, loops and locations as possible in the West Midlands, featuring some “rare track”. The requested motive power had been Top & Tail DBC Class 60’s but, due to the low numbers of the class remaining in service, on the day DBC were forced to substitute a Class 66 for one of them.
Pathfinder named the railtour “The Festive Midland-Ian” after Ian Loveday who devises and helps with many enthusiast rail based excursions. Ian often advises and assists with access to heavily sought after lines including this 16th December charter.
The route for the tour was confirmed as: GLOUCESTER, CHELTENHAM SPA, WORCESTER SHRUB HILL, Kidderminster DGL, STOURBRIDGE JUNCTION, Stourbridge DGL, Rowley Regis UGL, BIRMINGHAM SNOW HILL, Up & Down Small Health Goods, Caledonia Yard, Up & Down Small Heath Goods, Tyseley Up Through Siding, Dorridge UPL, Leamington Spa UCV, Fenny Compton UGL, Banbury DGL, Banbury Reservoir Sdgs – BANBURY (Break), Fenny Compton DGL, Kineton Branch NR Limit, Leamington Spa DCV, Hatton DGL, Dorridge UDGL, Birmingham New Street (non-stop), Wolverhampton Logistics Centre, Bescot Stadium, Bushbury DGL, Stafford RMT, Oxley Chord, Wolverhampton, Bescot Stadium, Bescot DGL, Aston, BIRMINGHAM NEW STREET, Rowley Regis DGL, STOURBRIDGE JUNCTION, WORCESTER SHRUB HILL, CHELTENHAM SPA, GLOUCESTER
I decided to head to Banbury as I remembered an accesible road bridge close to the Tarmac works which in turn is adjacent to Banbury Resevoir sidings. “The Festive Midland-Ian” is believed to be the first passenger train to visit to the Reservoir stone terminal sidings at Banbury. On the way, I took a slight detour so I could pick up @smithy.377 and looking at the timings available to us on real Time Trains, we realised we’d have a few passes of the train as it worked its way along Banbury Goods Loop and back before tackling the stone terminal sidings. We also enjoyed a few other passing passenger trains and a couple of freights.
Chiltern Class 58 No. 68012 (set AL04/ DVT 82309) propels 1H27 08:19 Stourbridge Junction to Marylebone towards Banbury railway station – 16/12/2023Freightliner Class 70 No. 70014 working 4O27 06:49 Crewe Basford Hall SSM to Southampton Marine Container Terminal nears Banbury – 16/12/2023
The railtour had to arrive at Resevoir Sidings prior to the arrival of a scheduled GBRf stone train which was confirmed as running on the 16th. The Pathfinder tour was then diagrammed to head into Banbury for a brief layover before heading back up the mainline towards Wolverhampton. I had read the previous day that the Class 66 would be leading towards Banbury, but I was very pleased to see the Class 60 at the front as it rounded the distant curve heading for down goods loop. This meant that we managed to get numerous shots of the leading locomotive and led me to abandon any thoughts of chasing the train up to Fenny Compton and possibly beyond.
DB Cargo Class 60 No. 60024 hauling “The Festive Midland-Ian” 1Z60 0545 Gloucester to Banbury towards Banbury on the Down Goods Loop – 16/12/2023DB Cargo Class 60 No. 60024 hauling “The Festive Midland-Ian” 1Z60 0545 Gloucester to Banbury – 16/12/2023DB Cargo Class 60 No. 60024 hauling “The Festive Midland-Ian” 1Z60 0545 Gloucester to Banbury towards Banbury on the Down Goods Loop – 16/12/2023GBRf Class 66 No. 66740 ‘Sarah’ arrives with 6G34 02:59 HINDLOW GBRF to Banbury Reservoir Redland Aggregates – 16/12/2023GBRf Class 66 No. 66740 ‘Sarah’ prepares to run around her train; 6G34 02:59 HINDLOW GBRF to Banbury Reservoir Redland Aggregates – 16/12/2023Class 66 No. 66194 takes charge of the second leg of “The Festive Midland-Ian” 1Z61 1211 Banbury to Wolverhampton Walsall Street Steel Terminal – 16/12/2023
After seeing the Class 66 No. 66194 taking “The Festive Midland-Ian” back towards Wolverhampton, I opted to return home via Didcot in the hope that I could get a photo of special King Prince Charles Coronation liveried Class 66 No. 66023 which had been showing as being on Didcot Fuelling Point. On arrival at Didcot railway station, we were allowed up onto the platforms by Great Western Railway gateline staff, but unfortunately, the No. 66023 was nowhere to be seen. @smithy.377 later discovered the locomotive was inside a shed and therefore out of sight of our cameras. We were able to photograph a few other DBC Class 66 locomotives however.
In red DB Cargo livery Class 66 NO. 66149 in Didcot Yard – 16/12/2023Still carrying EWS livery, DB Cargo Class 66 locomotives No.’s 66083 and 66063 at Didcot – 16/12/2023
Video from Banbury on 16th December 2023 featuring DB Cargo Class 60 No. 60024 and Class 66 No. 66194 top and tail working “The Festive Midland-Ian” from Pathfinder Railtours; 1Z60 0545 Gloucester to Banbury & 1Z61 1211 Banbury to Wolverhampton Walsall Street Steel Terminal. Other trains featured include: 68012 (set AL04/ DVT 82309) – 1H27 08:19 Stourbridge Junction to Marylebone 221139 – 1M30 07:45 Bournemouth to Manchester Piccadilly 221137 – 1O08 07:25 Manchester Piccadilly to Bournemouth 70014 – 4O27 06:49 Crewe Basford Hall SSM to Southampton Marine Container Terminal 168108/168106 – 1R17 09:02 Marylebone to Birmingham Moor Street 168218/168328 – 1H28 09:13 Birmingham Moor Street to Marylebone 220031 – 1V83 06:23 Newcastle to Reading 168004 / 168xxx – 1H30 09:43 Birmingham Moor Street to Marylebone 168xxx/ 168107 – 1R19 09:32 Marylebone to Birmingham Moor Street 168xxx/ 168217 – 1R21 10:02 Marylebone to Birmingham Moor Street 66740 ‘Sarah’ – 6G34 02:59 HINDLOW GBRF to Banbury Reservoir Redland Aggregates 168001 ‘Adrian Shooter’/168xxx – 1H33 10:43 Birmingham Moor Street to Marylebone 220027 – 1O12 09:25 Manchester Piccadilly to Bournemouth 220033 – 1M38 09:45 Bournemouth to Manchester Piccadilly 168322/168215 – 1R25 11:02 Marylebone to Birmingham Moor Street
Engineering works at Middle Stream Bridge near Wool on Sunday 17th December meant there were no trains running in the area. Yoshi and I had a little “family” trip out to Weymouth and I grabbed a couple of photographs of track machines resting between duties on our way home.
Balfour Beatty Matisa B66UC Tamper No. DR75501 in the sidings at Dorchester South prior to working the following days 6Q66 05:00 Dorchester Junction to Eastleigh East Yard – 17/12/2023
A tamping machine or ballast tamper, informally simply a tamper, is a self-propelled, rail-mounted machine used to pack (or tamp) the track ballast under railway tracks to make the tracks and roadbed more durable and level. Prior to the introduction of mechanical tampers, this task was done by manual labour with the help of beaters. As well as being faster, more accurate, more efficient and less labour-intensive, tamping machines are essential for the use of concrete sleepers since they are too heavy to be lifted by hand.
At its most basic, a tamping machine only packs the ballast. Some modern machines, sometimes known as tamper-liners or tamping and lining machines, also correct the alignment of the rails to make them parallel and level, in order to achieve a more comfortable ride for passengers and freight and to reduce the mechanical strain applied to the rails by passing trains. This is done by finding places where the sleepers have sunk from the weight of the passing trains or frost action, causing the track to sag.
The B 66 UC is a high-performance universal continuous action tamping machine designed for normal and high-speed lines. In addition to the plain line, it can handle the heaviest switches and crossings, especially those with concrete sleepers. This machine has a tamping shuttle fitted with four tamping units and a lifting and slewing clamp. In addition to these tools, telescopic diverging track lifting devices can be used when handling heavy switches and crossings. The very responsive shuttle allows a substantial output on plain line despite the fact that this is a single-head machine. The longitudinal stroke of the tamping units is long enough to position the units in a way to easily and quickly tamp Y shaped sleepers. Located in the centre of the machine, the tamping cabin provides an excellent visibility on the tools and the track. Thanks to the machine’s user-friendliness and its ergonomic controls, only two operators are needed to operate the B 66 UC to its full potential. Loram C44 Rail Grinding Machine No. DR79301 in Wool Sidings. It will depart for Poole on 19/12/2023 as 4Q01 23:44 Wool MOD Siding Freightliner Heavy Haul to Poole – 17/12/2023
A railgrinder is a permanent way maintenance train used to restore the profile and remove irregularities from worn tracks to extend tracklife and to improve the ride of trains using it.
The C44 Series Rail Grinder is designed with advanced technology features that also meets stringent international standards, weights and clearances. The C44 Series complies with the W6A clearance diagram and the axle weights of international commuter lines and freight rail applications.
Loram’s C44 rail grinder delivers high-efficiency re-profiling of the railhead, removing or reducing rail corrugations, corrosion, joint mismatches and other railhead surface irregularities with industry-leading productivity.
Monday 18th December and with all lines re-opened, it was the turn of the monthly Colas test train from Derby RTC to Eastleigh East Yard via Weymouth running as 1Q51 1115 Derby R.T.C.(Network Rail) to Eastleigh East Yard employing the usual traction of GBRf Class 73 locomotives. This time it was the turn of No.’s 73964 ‘Jeanette’ and 73962 ‘Dick Mabbutt’.
GBRf Class 73’s No.’s 73964 ‘Jeanette’ and 73962 ‘Dick Mabbutt’ passing through Hamworthy working 1Q51 11:15 Derby RTC Serco to Eastleigh East Yard – 18/12/2023
Another day out to see a railtour took place on Saturday 23rd December, this time closer to home as DB Cargo Class 67 No. 67006 ‘Royal Sovereign’ was in charge of UK Railtours “Carols At Sherborne Abbey” 1Z15 0715 Peterborough to Yeovil Jn Heritage Platform. No. 67006 is one of two class members painted in a special Royal Claret livery and as such would be primarily tasked with working the Royal Train. However, the locomotive is often used for special charter trains and other occasional passenger services when not fulfilling her Royal duties. We took a roundabout route to see the railtour, taking in Totton Yard so I could finally get a clear photograph of GBRf Class 66 No. 66743 in Belmond Royal Scotsman livery as it is was still being employed on the SITT along with No. 66772 ‘Maria’. I also popped in on Freightliner Southampton Maritime and Eastleigh (which admittedly was rather quiet!)
GBRf Class 66 No. 66743 at Totton Yard – 23/12/2023GBRf Class 66 No.66772 ‘Maria’ on the rear of the SITT at Totton Yard – 23/12/2023GBRf Class 66 No. 66743 and No.66772 ‘Maria’ in Totton Yard on the SITT. The train was scheduled to head to Eastleigh East Yard later that evening where it would remain over the Christmas period – 23/12/2023Freightliner Class 70 No. 70001 at Southampton Maritime – 23/12/2023FL Class 66 No.’s 66606 and 66570 at Southampton Maritime – 23/12/2023Class 08 diesel shunter No. 08785 at Southampton Maritime – 23/12/2023A trio of FL Class 70’s at Southampton Maritime; 70007, 70002 and 70005 – 23/12/2023Class 153 Video Inspection Unit (VIU2) No. 153376 at Eastleigh – 23/12/2023DB Cargo Class 66 No. 66158 on a DB Infrastructure Train destined for Abbey Street Junction for work over the Christmas period at Eastleigh – 23/12/2023
Always looking for a new photographic location, I had time to scout out the western portal of Gillingham tunnel. After parking up at the side of the road above the tunnel, Yoshi and I made our way along a public footpath through fields which are adjacent to the railway track. A trio of sheep were not too sure about our arrival and took off to the opposite corner to watch us from afar. Yoshi, thankfully, showed little interest in the ovine beasts and settled down at my feet as we waited for the Class 67 to turn up hauling its train.
Class 67 No. 67006 ‘Royal Sovereign’ emerges from Gillingham Tunnel hauling 1Z15 0715 Peterborough to Yeovil Jn Heritage Platform – 23/12/2023
After seeing the train at Gillingham tunnel, I popped into Yeovil Junction in time to see the locomotive running around her train which was being serviced after dropping off the passengers in Sherborne for the festive carol service at the Abbey the tour was named after.
Class 67 No. 67006 ‘Royal Sovereign’ runs around its train at Yeovil Junction – 23/12/2023Crests applied to Class 67 No. 67006 ‘Royal Sovereign’ – 23/12/2023Class 67 No. 67006 ‘Royal Sovereign’ reversing back onto the coaching stock to form the return leg of the “Carols At Sherborne Abbey” railtour – 23/12/2023Class 67 No. 67006 ‘Royal Sovereign’ at Yeovil Junction whilst the coaching stock employed on the “Carols At Sherborne Abbey” railtour is serviced – 23/12/2023
Video of 67006 ‘Royal Sovereign’ working “Carols At Sherborne Abbey” 1Z15 0715 Peterborough to Yeovil Jn Heritage Platform Also includes the following passing trains: Gillingham Tunnel: 159020/159013 – 1L25 1021 London Waterloo to Exeter St Davids 159012/159105 – 1L44 1125 Exeter St Davids to London Waterloo Yeovil Junction: 159003/159015 1L29 1120 London Waterloo to Exeter St Davids
On my way home from Yeovil, I made another slight detour to take a look at the Swanage Railway’s “Polar Express” operation, this years seasonal offering from the Purbeck Heritage line, which I had so far not managed to see in 2023. “Polar Express” trains started running on 17th December and continued through to 30th December. With failing light which rendered photography of moving trains difficult, I waited for the late running 1445 trip from Swanage to show at Corfe Castle with resident Class 33 No. 33012 (D6515) ‘Lt Jenny Lewis RN’ hauling the outward run and Southern Railway 4-6-2 West Country Class No. 34028 ‘Eddystone’ with “Polar Express” emblazoned on her tender, working the return. I followed the train down to Swanage and as darkness fell this only enhanced the colourful lights within the carriages.
Class 33 No. 33012 (D6515) ‘Lt Jenny Lewis RN’ heads up the 1445 “Polar Express” service from Swanage – 23/12/2023SR 4-6-2 West Country Class No. 34028 ‘Eddystone’ heads towards Swanage after stopping at The North Pole (Norden) with a “Polar Express” train – 23/12/2023Class 33 No. 33111 and LSWR 4-4-0 T9 Class No. 30120 in the sidings at Swanage while Class 33 No. 33012 (D6515) ‘Lt Jenny Lewis RN’ waits with a “Polar Express” service in the station – 23/12/2023Class 33 No. 33111 at Swanage – 23/12/2023LSWR 4-4-0 T9 Class No. 30120 at Swanage – 23/12/2023Class 33 No. 33012 (D6515) ‘Lt Jenny Lewis RN’ awaits departure of the 1645 “Polar Express” service from Swanage – 23/12/2023Darkness falls on Class 33 No. 33012 (D6515) ‘Lt Jenny Lewis RN’ as she awaits departure of the 1645 “Polar Express” service from Swanage – 23/12/2023
Swanage Railway’s “Polar Express” – 23/12/2023
With SWR Desiro Electric Multiple Unit’s (EMU’s) remaining in the old South West Trains (SWT) livery now in single figures, it has been reported that Class 450 No. 450111 and Class 444 No. 444040 ‘The D-Day Experience Portsmouth’, both wrapped in a striped form of the South Western Railway grey livery, will be the last two units to be painted into standard SWR colours.
Class 450 No. 450111 at Eastleigh working 2B32 0902 Bournemouth to Winchester – 23/12/2023Side view showing the “stripey” South Western Railway livery carried by Class 450 No. 450111 at EastleighClass 444 No. 444040 ‘The D-Day Experience Portsmouth’ at Poole having arrived with 1B31 1357 Brockenhurst to Poole – 24/12/2023Side view of Class 444 No. 444040 ‘The D-Day Experience Portsmouth’ – 24/12/2023Bodyside detail of Class 444 No. 444040 ‘The D-Day Experience Portsmouth’ – 24/12/2023Class 444 No. 444040 ‘The D-Day Experience Portsmouth’ at Poole forming the 5B31 1437 Poole to Poole Storage Sidings ECS – 24/12/2023
The original South West Trains train livery used the Stagecoach Group colours – red, blue and orange – in a similar style to the Network South East (NSE) livery. Some detail variations were introduced before a major updating of the group’s design identity in 2000. New logos and typefaces were developed, as well as new bus and train liveries.
An unidentified Class 442 “Wessex Electric” EMU on the approach to Wareham in Network South East Livery at some point in the late 1990’sAnother unidentified Class 442 “Wessex Electric” EMU, carrying the original South West Trains livery based on the NSE style previously carried by the trains, nearing Upwey station – 05/09/1998Class 442’s at Dorchester South in the revised SWT livery in the early 2000’s
The second-generation South West Trains liveries, designed by industry specialist Best Impressions, have swooshes of the Stagecoach colours, which sweep back from the nose of the train to give an impression of movement. There were three versions of the livery employed – white on the Class 444 and 159 trains used on many longer-distance services, red on Class 455 and 456, and blue used on Class 458 and 450 trains.
SWR Class 444 No. 444034 on the approach to Weymouth showing the colours of its former operator SWT – 01/05/2020The final South Western Railway Class 444 in South Western Trains livery No. 444045 arrives at Hamworthy working 1W55 0735 London Waterloo to Weymouth – 30/12/2023SWR Class 450 No. 450060 in blue SWT colours at Weymouth – 20/05/2020Class 450 No. 450088 departing Hamworthy with an early morning Weymouth to Brockenhurst stopping service – 23/12/2021
The final Desiro’s to be re-liveried from former SWT colours into SWR grey are No.’s 450031, 450099, 450116 and 444045.
For completion: a Class 455 No. 455854 in the SWT red livery with a London Waterloo bound service at Clapham Junction – 10/12/2022
The final railtour of 2023 bordering on the Dorset area was run by UK Railtours employing DB Cargo Class 66 locomotives booked for use in a top and tail formation. “Another Awkward Week Adventure”, named because of those so called awkward days between Christmas and New Year originated in Peterborough. Problems with one of the locomotives; No. 66185 meant the railtour left 60 minutes late from its originating station after No. 66028, which had been the rear locomotive, was removed from the back of the train and re-attached to the front with No. 66185 remaining inside. This was how Yoshi and I saw the train after it had passed through Winchester on its way to Eastleigh. Here passengers had the option to detrain and take a bus to the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu or remain onboard for some rare track miles into Southampton Eastern and Western Docks.
DB Cargo Class 66 No.’s 66028 and 66185 ‘DP WORLD London Gateway’ double heading 1Z66 0730 Peterborough to Southampton Eastern Docks “Another Awkward Week Adventure” railtour west of Winchester – 30/12/2023
I next moved onto Southampton where I fancied filming the excursion crossing Canute Road which is adjacent to the former Southampton Terminus railway station which served the Port of Southampton and Southampton City Centre from 1839 until 1966. The former Terminus station building is now a casino and The South Western Hotel opened by the LSWR in 1872 has been converted into private apartments. Of the station platforms, all that remains is the glass canopy and a single line that runs from Northam junction to the Queen Elizabeth II Cruise Terminal. The private road into where the platforms once stood is now a car park.
DB Cargo Class 66 No. 66028 crossing Canute Road, Southampton with 1Z66 0730 Peterborough to Southampton Eastern Docks – 30/12/2023Disgraced DB Cargo Class 66 No. 66185 ‘DP WORLD London Gateway’ dead in the consist of 1Z66 0730 Peterborough to Southampton Eastern Docks – 30/12/2023DB Cargo Class 66 No. 66158 runs light engine across Canute Road, Southampton as 0Z66 1340 Eastleigh Down Carriage Shed to Southampton Eastern Docks – 30/12/2023After running light into the docks, DB Cargo Class 66 No. 66158 leads out working 1Z67 1402 Southampton Eastern Docks to Southampton Western Docks – 30/12/2023
Our final location was the footbridge over the railway line between Southampton Central and Millbrook ready to catch the train head towards Western Docks and out again Yoshi waited in the car as the weather, already very windy, turned increasingly wet! I photographed the railtour on its outward leg into Western Docks, but by the time it returned (running late) the light had gone and I didn’t want another DSLR to fall foul of water damage in 2023! Instead I managed some dodgy video which can be seen lower down the page.
Back leading the tour again; DB Cargo Class 66 No.’s 66028 and 66185 ‘DP WORLD London Gateway’ on the approach to Millbrook heading up 1Z67 1402 Southampton Eastern Docks to Southampton Western Docks – 30/12/2023DB Cargo Class 66 No. 66158 at the rear of 1Z67 1402 Southampton Eastern Docks to Southampton Western Docks on the approach to Millbrook – 30/12/2023
“Another Awkward Week Adventure” DB Cargo Class 66 No.’s 66028 and 66185 ‘DP WORLD London Gateway’ and 66158: 1Z66 0730 Peterborough to Southampton Eastern Docks / 0Z66 1340 Eastleigh Down Carriage Shed to Southampton Eastern Docks / 1Z67 1402 Southampton Eastern Docks to Southampton Western Docks / 1Z68 1531 Southampton Western Docks to Eastleigh – 30/12/2023
One final festive gift courtesy of GB Railfreight saw the SITT run to Weymouth on New Years Eve as 3Y88 1200 Totton Yard to Totton Yard, top and tailed by Class 66 locomotives No.’s 66723 ‘Chinook’ and 66772 ‘Maria’. The SITT with the same two Class 66’s in charge was also the first locomotive hauled train into Dorset early on New Years Day 2024 when it returned as far as Bournemouth in the early hours working as 3Y89 0100 Totton Yard to Totton Yard.
GBRf Class 66 No.’s 66723 ‘Chinook’ and 66772 ‘Maria’ at Hamworthy on SITT 3Y88 1200 Totton Yard to Totton Yard – 31/12/2023Close up of the helicopter decal on the side of GBRf Class 66 No. 66723 ‘Chinook’ – 31/12/2023GBRf Class 66 No. 66772 ‘Maria’ at the rear of the SITT 3Y88 1200 Totton Yard to Totton Yard. Classmate No. 66723 ‘Chinook’ leads – 31/12/2023GBRf Class 66 No.’s 66772 ‘Maria’ 66723 ‘Chinook’ passing Hamworthy working the return SITT 3Y88 1200 Totton Yard to Totton Yard – 31/12/2023
GBRf Class 66 No.’s 66772 ‘Maria’ 66723 ‘Chinook’ working the return SITT 3Y88 1200 Totton Yard to Totton Yard (Dorchester South video courtesy of G E Barrett) – 31/12/2023
For The Record
Following 16 days closure for engineering work on the West of England Line, the line between Salisbury and Yeovil Junction re-opened on Monday 11th December while landslip repairs were affected by flooding at Crewkerne tunnel which extended the duration required for work to be completed with SWR advising customers not to attempt to travel between Yeovil Junction and Exeter St David’s until Wednesday 13th December.
Class 66 No. 66732 ‘GBRf The First Decade 1999-2009 John Smith – MD’ at Dinton near Salisbury during the 16 day engineering possession. TV screen grab from BBC South Today – 01/12/2023Class 66 No. 66732 ‘GBRf The First Decade 1999-2009 John Smith – MD’ at Dinton near Salisbury. TV screen grab from BBC South Today – 01/12/2023Class 66 No. 66790 ‘Louise’ at Gillingham. TV screen grab from BBC South Today – 01/12/2023
Thanks for reading, that’s it for 2023! Wishing everyone a very Happy New Year. We’ll leave you with a pic of Yoshi at Durdle Door. Be seeing you!
Yoshi took an early morning trip to Durdle Door to see the sunrise – 22/12/2023
The sun sets on the final CrossCountry scheduled HST passenger service with Class 43 No. 43008 leading 1E73 1627 Plymouth to Leeds (No. 43007 was at the rear) on the approach to Foal Mead Viaduct – 18/09/2023
September 13th 2023 to September 19th 2023
Wednesday 13th September 2023 saw what I believe to be the final steam hauled excursion of the year to pass through our neck of the woods. Once again LMS Jubilee 4-6-0 No. 46995 ‘Bahamas’ headed a Railway Touring Company railtour, this time travelling from London Victoria through to the heritage Swanage Railway. We saw the outward bound leg as the train passed Poole Storage Sidings. As yet, there are no facilities to turn a steam locomotive on the Swanage Railway and on the return the tour was diesel hauled as far as Southampton Central by West Coast Railways Class 47 No. 47746 ‘Chris Fudge’. The loco was named after Chris Fudge who passed away following a long battle with a brain tumour in 2010. Chris garnered an interest in trains from an early age and went on to work for the railways, his final role being a timetable planning manager for Arriva trains.
LMS Jubilee 4-6-0 No. 45596 ‘Bahamas’ works “The Swanage Belle” 1Z91 0815 London Victoria to Swanage out of Poole – 13/09/2023LMS Jubilee 4-6-0 No. 45596 ‘Bahamas’ heading 1Z91 0815 London Victoria to Swanage passes South Western Railway Class 444 EMU No. 444001 at Poole Storage Sidings – 13/09/2023
We watched the late afternoon return at Hamworthy (and still home for dinner!)
West Coast Railways Class 47 No. 47746 ‘Chris Fudge’ works the return “Swanage Belle” 1Z92 1555 Swanage to London Victoria on the approach to Hamworthy – 13/09/2023LMS Jubilee 4-6-0 No. 45596 ‘Bahamas’ at the rear of 1Z92 1555 Swanage to London Victoria passes through Hamworthy – 13/09/2023
LMS Jubilee 4-6-0 No. 45596 ‘Bahamas’ on “The Swanage Belle” – 13/09/2023
Wednesday night, I set out for Poole as the second Permanent Way (PW) train of the week was timetabled to pass through the station just after midnight and reverse at Poole Storage Sidings to drop lengths of new rail at Parkstone in readiness for engineering work over the weekends of 16/17th and 23/24th September. The earlier run, reported on in last weeks blog entry, was operated by DB Cargo whereas the Thursday run was in the hands of Colas Rail who sent Class 66 No.’s 66847 ‘Terry Baker’ and 66850 working as 6C17 2240 Eastleigh East Yard to Parkstone (Dorset). Unlike previously, the engineers train did not stop as booked in Poole station and I had to be content with taking photographs of South Western Railway Desiro’s. The associated return working of the PW train ran as 6C17 0507 Bournemouth to Eastleigh East Yard when I was tucked up in bed!
Class 450 No. 450084 at Poole having arrived with the 2B73 2316 Brockenhurst to Poole service – 13/09/2023
Colas Class 66 No.’s 66847 ‘Terry Baker’ and 66850 working 6C17 2240 Eastleigh East Yard to Parkstone (Dorset)- 14/09/2023
On Friday we took the opportunity provided by Heritage Open Days to visit Morgan Carey Architects in Wareham who restored the former Goods Shed for use as their offices. Originally constructed in red brick with a hipped slate roof in circa 1847 for the Southampton and Dorchester Railway, Morgan Carey have completed a stunning and sensitive restoration using as much original materials as possible. We very much enjoyed our visit and thanks to Mark for showing us around.
The former Goods Shed at Wareham – 15/09/2023A length of track marks the course of the rail line into the former Goods Shed at Wareham which is now the entrance to Morgan Carey Architects – 15/09/2023The new roof of the former Goods Shed in Wareham, the original roof having been destroyed by fire prior to the conversion work – 15/09/2023Rear of the former Goods Shed at Wareham showing what would have been access to the platform level – 15/09/2023
As mentioned above, the past weekend saw a number of engineering trains visit the Poole area as work necessitated the closure of the railway line between Bournemouth and Wareham. Buses ran between these two points, connecting passengers with trains running a revised service for onward journeys. Yoshi and I spent most of Saturday shuttling between Christchurch and Hamworthy in our attempts to see and document the work as a section of the down line west of Branksome was relayed. Track lifting started at a point near milepost 111 and extended under St. Osmunds and Sandecotes Road bridges down Parkstone Bank towards the station. The somewhat heavy rain on Sunday morning curtailed our observations and we refrained from going out to see the return workings of the engineers trains. Maybe we’ll do that next Sunday! I hope the following images capture a flavour of the activities being carried out.
GBRf Class 66 No. 66796 ‘The Green Progressor’ arrives at Bournemouth working 6G13 0709 Eastleigh East Yard to Bournemouth – 16/09/2023Colas Rail DR73931 Track Maintenance Tamper in the siding at Bournemouth – 16/09/2023DB Cargo Class 66 No. 66176 at Christchurch at the head of 6N01 0809 Eastleigh East Yard to Bournemouth – 16/09/2023GBRf Class 66 No. 66707 ‘Sir Sam Fay Great Central Railway’ west of Branksome railway station – 16/09/2023Yoshi was pleased to tick off seeing GBRf Class 66 No. 66796 ‘The Green Progressor’ at Branksome – 16/09/2023Colas Class 66 No.66847 ‘Terry Baker’ passes through Poole with a train load of lifted track panels – 16/09/2023DB Cargo Class 66 No. 66200 6N02 1048 Eastleigh East Yard to Bournemouth – 16/09/2023DB Cargo Class 66 No. 66200 in the distance with its train of new ballast at the Parkstone worksite as work continues – 16/09/2023GBRf Class 66 No. 66707 ‘Sir Sam Fay Great Central Railway’ at Parkstone prior to running down through Poole and spending the night near Hamworthy – 16/09/20236C04 1348 Eastleigh East Yard to Bournemouth hauled by Colas Rail 66849 ‘Wylam Dilly’ passing Pokesdown – 16/09/2023With a train of wagons being filled with old ballast, DB Cargo Class 66 No. 66176 at the western extreme of the worksite – 16/09/2023DB Cargo Class 66 No. 66176 on Parkstone Bank – 16/09/2023Colas Class 70 No. 70803 speeds through Christchurch at the head of 6C05 1653 Eastleigh East Yard to Bournemouth – 16/09/2023DB Cargo Class 66 No. 66007 having worked 6N03 2154 Eastleigh East Yard to Bournemouth – 17/09/2023DB Cargo Class 66 No. 66199 at Branksome with a train of fresh ballast – 17/09/2023Another view of DB Cargo Class 66 No. 66199 at Branksome – 17/09/2023DB Cargo Class 66 No. 66007 at the work site – 17/09/2023DB Cargo Class 66 No. 66106 on Parkstone bank – 17/09/2023Colas Class 70 No. 70803 adjacent to Poole Storage Sidings in heavy rain. Plastic tents can be seen covering point work beyond where work was being carried out – 17/09/2023DB Cargo Class 66 No. 66199 and Colas Rail DR73931 Tamper at Parkstone – 17/09/2023DB Cargo Class 66 No. 66007 stands in Poole station – 17/09/2023Colas Rail Class 70 No. 70803 seen from Sterte Road Bridge – 17/09/2023
For the record, the incoming Permanent Way trains began to leave Eastleigh East Yard late on Friday 15th September with the majority arriving in Dorset on the Saturday.
As each train fulfilled its need, collecting old track panels, empty wagons for the collection of old ballast or wagons full of new stone, most then passed through Poole and were stacked across Holes Bay awaiting their return to Eastleigh which commenced on Sunday evening.
Trains were stacked across the Holes Bay causeway while not in use. An early morning view of Colas Class 66 No. 66849 ‘Wylam Dilly’ and DB Cargo No. 66200- 17/09/2023The view across Holes Bay – 17/09/2023GBRf Class 66 No. 66707 ‘Sir Sam Fay Great Central Railway’ seen amidst the trees of Upton Park – 17/09/2023Colas Class 66 No.66847 ‘Terry Baker’ sits above Blandford Road, Hamworthy – 17/09/2023
The workings and the associated motive power were:
6C03 2355 Eastleigh East Yard to Branksome – Colas Rail No. 66847 ‘Terry Baker’
6G12 0315 Eastleigh East Yard to Bournemouth – GB Railfreight No. 66707 ‘Sir Sam Fay Great Central Railway’
6G13 0709 Eastleigh East Yard to Bournemouth GB Railfreight No. 66796 ‘The Green Progressor’
6N01 0809 Eastleigh East Yard to Bournemouth DB Cargo No. 66176
6N02 1048 Eastleigh East Yard to Bournemouth DB Cargo No. 66200
6C04 1348 Eastleigh East Yard to Bournemouth Colas Rail No. 66849 ‘Wylam Dilly’
6C05 1653 Eastleigh East Yard to Bournemouth Colas Rail No. 70803
6N03 2154 Eastleigh East Yard to Bournemouth DB Cargo No. 66007
6N04 2352 Eastleigh East Yard to Bournemouth DB Cargo No.’s 66199 and 66106
Video of Dorset Permanent Way trains over the weekend of 16/17th September 2023
As an aside, North Dorset also saw engineering work take place on Sunday 17 September 2023 when the West of England main line was closed between Templecombe and Gillingham. As far as I’m aware there were no PW trains allocated to this work.
Monday 18th September 2023 saw the final chapter for CrossCountry HST’s in use for scheduled passenger trains across the UK network. I was in two minds if to head out and see the last working heading from Plymouth to Leeds as the weather wasn’t particularly good on the day. However, with a few hours respite from the rain forecast and the XC trains on divert via Castle Cary and Westbury because of engineering work in the Worle area, I set off towards Langport as I was hopeful of photographing the train at Foal Mead Viaduct. Located just outside the small town of Langport, the structure consists of two half through girder spans, a truss span and two masonry arch spans. It’s a lovely spot where the main line between Cogload Junction and Castle Cary crosses the River Parrett and I was inspired to seek the location out after seeing recent photos taken by Robin Procter.
To find out about the recent renovation work on the viaduct carried out by Taziker and the challenges this presented, look here.
InterCity Swallow liveried CrossCountry HST Class 43 power car No. 43008 leading 1E73 1627 Plymouth to Leeds crossing Foal Mead Viaduct – 18/09/2023The final full length timetabled HST CrossCountry working crosses the River Parrett. The iron lattice girder railway bridge built in 1853, was recently totally refurbished as part of a major works to re-stabilise the earth embankment close to its approaches – 18/09/2023CrossCountry HST Class 43 power car No. 43007 in retro British Rail livery at the rear of 1E73 1627 Plymouth to Leeds crossing Foal Mead Viaduct, also know as Langport Viaduct or Pool Mead Viaduct, constructed 1900-1906 in RBE brick with 10 spans – 18/09/2023
Two tours are planned to celebrate the XC farewell to the HST, the first being a public tour between Leeds, Swanage and Bournemouth on the 26th September, followed by a staff jolly between Plymouth and Blackpool North on the 29th.
A Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV) running a rail head treatment working ran from Totton Yard to Swanage on Monday 18th September 2023. I wasn’t able to go and see the Network rail machine on heritage rails, but with the magic of the Swanage Railway webcam, I was able to watch some of its activities.
Network Rail MPV DB98920 + DB98970 arrives at Corfe Castle as 6Z21 0935 Totton Yard to Swanage – 18/09/2023Rail Head Treatment Train Network Rail MPV DB98920 + DB98970 6Z21 0935 Totton Yard to Swanage passes Class 33 No. 33111 at Swanage – 18/09/2023
Hamworthy Branch Update: Along with the already reported Network Rail work for a bridge inspection which sees the closure of Lake Road from its junctions with Normandy Way/Lake Drive to its junction with Coles Avenue on 21st November 2023 at 2100 until 0500 the following morning, there is a further planned closure in January 2024. This time the road will be closed for what are described as “Works for Rail Purposes” from 2200 on the 8th January 2024 until 0600 on the 12th January 2024.
We asked Network Rail for an update on the Hamworthy Branch and they responded: “we are still looking to acquire funding for the Poole Harbour Port works to provide the infrastructure for freight traffic to start, this traffic being largely aggregates traffic. Over the last 6 months or so, the branch line has been put in a state of readiness by our maintenance teams, this is an ongoing process and includes the bridge inspections that you have referred to.
We remain hopeful we will see freight traffic return to Poole via the Hamworthy Branch and would predict 2025 for this if everything falls into place although this as you can imagine is always subject to change.”
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council are reviewing its strategic transport priorities and welcome our input. Recommendations for potential transport improvement schemes have been grouped into five clusters and relate to locations within the BCP Boundary, including local railway stations, Poole Port Expansion and the reopening of the Hamworthy Branch along with two further clusters with wider scope where one of these includes the South West Main Line.
Thanks for reading. It was good to meet up with fellow enthusiasts at the weekend as we all took the opportunity to watch the toing and froing of the engineering works. Be seeing you!
LMS Jubilee 4-6-0 No. 45596 ‘Bahamas’ working the final 2023 Railway Touring Company organised “Dorset Coast Express” 1Z92 0845 London Victoria to Weymouth – 17/08/2023
August 16th 2023 to August 23rd 2023
For a long while I’ve been meaning to climb up to the railway line accessed from the old main road between Dorchester and Weymouth, just north of Upwey village, with the aim of photographing passing trains. This was once the site of Upwey Wishing Well Halt, and although the steps survive either side of the railway line, nothing now exists of the platforms which once stood here. Opened by the Great Western Railway (GWR) on 28th May 1905 and served by rail motor trains between Weymouth and Dorchester, the station survived until 7th January 1957 when it was closed. Originally the station was a two platform timber built affair with corrugated iron pagoda style shelters. The nearby tourist attraction of Upwey Wishing Well brought many visitors by rail in the early years of the halt’s existence, but increasing competition from road transport and buses which could deposit their passengers closer to the Well itself saw an ever diminishing use by rail passengers. The last remnants were swept away during the 1988 Bournemouth to Weymouth electrification scheme. Locked gates and fences protect observers from the railway, preventing trespass but affording a good view up to Bincombe tunnel. I chose Thursday 17th August to visit as there were two special excursion trains due to pass in relatively quick succession. Grateful thanks to Jamie for the lift down to Upwey. A few days later I returned to Upwey and the actual Wishing Well to celebrate my mum’s 90th birthday. Happy days.
Still in South Western Trains livery, South Western Railway Class 444 EMU No. 444045 runs past the site of the former Upwey Wishing Well Halt with 1W21 1035 London Waterloo to Weymouth – 17/08/2023Class 57 No. 57601 ‘Windsor Castle’ heads up “The Northern Belle: Weymouth Harbour” 1Z79 0711 Coventry to Weymouth – 17/08/2023165137 – 2V68 1328 Weymouth to GloucesterLMS Jubilee 4-6-0 No. 45596 ‘Bahamas’ works the final 2023 “Dorset Coast Express” 1Z92 0845 London Victoria to Weymouth coasting down Bincombe Bank – 17/08/2023West Coast Railways Class 57 No. 57313 ‘Scarborough Castle’ working 5Z80 1333 Weymouth to Yeovil Pen Mill empty coaching stock movement designed to free up space in Weymouth because of the two excursion trains scheduled for the day works up Upwey Bank towards Bincombe Tunnel – 17/08/2023
Video from 17th August 2023 including the following: 444034 – 1W61 1005 London Waterloo to Weymouth and Poole 444029 – 1W20 1303 Weymouth to London Waterloo 444045 – 1W21 1035 London Waterloo to Weymouth 57601/57313 – 1Z79 0711 Coventry to Weymouth 444034 – 1W62 1320 Weymouth and Poole to London Waterloo 165137 – 2V68 1328 Weymouth to Gloucester 45596/ 47802 – 1Z92 0845 London Victoria to Weymouth 57313/57601 – 5Z80 1333 Weymouth to Yeovil Pen Mill 47802/45596 – 1Z93 1636 Weymouth to London Victoria 57601/57313 – 5Z82 1641 Yeovil Pen Mill to Weymouth – with thanks to G E Barrett for video clips at Dorchester
Later on the 17th I headed off to Branksome to see an engineers train pass through bound for Poole. On this occasion the train was worked by GBRf and was top and tailed by class 66 locomotives. On my way home, I popped in at Poole to see the locos and ballast hoppers awaiting deployment.
GBRf Class 66 No. 66791 6G28 2304 Eastleigh East Yard to Poole – 18/08/2023GBRf Class 66 No. 66749 ‘Christopher Hopcroft MBE 60 Years Railway Service’ at the rear of 6G28 2304 Eastleigh East Yard to Poole – 18/08/2023
The following Tuesday and I was once again setting off for more midnight engineering train shenanigans, this time with DB Cargo class 66’s in charge of a train of new rail which was destined for the Christchurch – Pokesdown area.
DB Cargo Class 66 No. 66028 at the head of 6N65 2349 Eastleigh East Yard to Christchurch – 23/08/2023DB Cargo Class 66 No. 66067 at the rear of 6N65 2349 Eastleigh East Yard to Christchurch having run through the station – 23/08/2023
Video of Dorset engineers train amongst every day railway movements – August 2023
Hamworthy Branch Update:
Out walking Yoshi around Hamworthy and I noticed a planning application notice fastened to the fence close to where the original Poole station once stood. What caught my eye was a variation of conditions quoted within the notice allowing for a “National Rail parking area” as part of a new development on the former James Brothers Site on Station Road.
Planning application notice – August 2023Diagram of redevelopment plans of the former James Brothers Site on Station Road, Hamworthy varied to align with new plan numbers, including a revised drainage strategy, wording changed with amended parking space numbering to allow for a dedicated Network Rail parking area which includes a set of gates to allow access to railway land to the south of the site. As shown by the plans, these will be flood-gates at a minimum height of 3.6m – August 2023
From The Archive:
I have to admit to being partial to an engineering train. Every night I lie in bed, the brightest colours fill my head, a million dreams are keeping me awake, I think of what the world could be. No, hang on, that’s from “The Greatest Showman”. Anyway, back in April 2015 there was no need to dream of engineers trains as eleven of them found their way to Upwey on Saturday 11th, following an earlier light engine visit on the 9th which ran as a crew route refresher for Colas. The purpose of this engineering possession was for the relaying of the up line between Upwey station and Bincombe Tunnel. Trains ran in order as follows; No. 66050 top and tailed with No. 66101, No. 70805, No. 66016, No. 70807, No. 70808, No. 66014, No. 66177, No. 66705, No. 70809, No. 66204 and finally train eleven with No.’s 66074 and 66174.
EWS Class 66 No. 66016 at Upwey – 11/04/2015Class 66 Np. 66050 and Class 70 No. 70805 at Weymouth – 11/04/2015Class 70 No. 70805 in Weymouth station – 11/04/2015Class 66 No. 66016 on the approach to Weymouth – 11/04/2015Class 66 No. 66050 departs Weymouth with a train of track panels – 11/04/2015GBRf Class 66 No. 66705 arrives at Dorchester South with a train of new ballast – 11/04/2015A view over to Upwey railway station with Class 66 No. 66101 in DB red livery – 11/04/2015Class 66 No. 66204 near Upwey – 11/04/2015Class 70 No. 70809 arrives into Dorchester – 11/04/2015A view towards Weymouth looking down to the site of Upwey Wishing Well Halt – 11/04/2015Class 70 No. 70807 at rest in Weymouth station – 11/04/2015Class 70 No. 70808 between to trains in Weymouth – 11/04/2015GBRf Class 60 No. 66705 pokes out of Bincombe Tunnel – 11/04/2015Road/rail machines watched by Class 66 No. 66014 near Upwey – 11/04/2015Class 66 No. 66177 at Upwey – 11/04/2015DB liveried Class 66 No. 66101 at Upwey – 11/04/2015Class 66 No. 66174 at a stand on Bincombe Bank- 12/04/2015Another view looking towards Weymouth with a track machine where Upwey Wishing Well Halt was once located – 12/04/2015Class 66 No. 66074 near to the location of Monkton and Came Halt railway station which opened in 1905 as Came Bridge and closed in 1957 – 12/04/2015
Starting with No. 66174 which departed Dorchester South mid-afternoon most of the trains returned to Eastleigh on Sunday 12th in reverse order with the last running early on Monday 13th.
Class 66 No. 66074 at Dorchester South departs for Eastleigh. The Brewery Square development is being built in the background – 12/04/2015
A continuation of the work was carried out over three successive evenings on 13th, 14th and 15th April, with two engineers trains allocated to this. On the evening of Monday 13th No. 66050 worked train No. 1 followed by top and tail Class 70 No.’s 70808 and 70809, the same loco’s repeated the moves the following day. However on Wednesday 15th No. 66170 turned up with the same Class 70’s remaining on the second train (With thanks to “The Corkscrew” the newsletter of The Wimborne Railway Society for the meticulous notes!)
That’s us for this week. Thanks, as ever, for reading and for your comments and corrections which are always welcome, except the ones with links to dubious websites obviously (these can, however, be obtained by writing to me on the back of a ten pound note). Be seeing you!
Yoshi wanting to play ball rather than help compile this weeks blog!
Yoshi visits Bradpole to check out the crossing gate and track on the former Bridport Branch – 26/02/2023
Wednesday 22nd February 2023 to Tuesday 28th February 2023
We start off this week with another ‘no-show’ as the New Measurement Train running as 1Z22 0748 Derby RTC Serco to Bristol Kingsland Road Freightliner Heavy Haul scheduled to visit Weymouth via Yeovil Pen Mill on Wednesday 22nd February 2023 was truncated at Cheltenham Spa. The train would have seen Class 37 locomotives No.’s 37421 and 37610 in Dorset had it not been partially cancelled en-route at the request of the operator. It did make me wonder about the legal obligation, if any, of Network Rail to observe the findings by the Rail Accident Investigation Board (RAIB) and run these trains over the entire rail network. Maybe one day we’ll try and find out. Wednesday did, however, see two other special workings along the Bournemouth to Weymouth section as the Snow & Ice Treatment Train (SITT) and the third and final Freightliner engineers train of the week both ran as planned. The SITT made a return visit to Dorset running as far as Wareham on Monday 27th February.
All three February 2023 Dorset Freightliner engineers trains for your delectationGBRf Class 66 No. 66789 ‘British Rail 1948-1997’ in retro large logo livery stands in Totton Yard. I think it rather suits! – 25/02/2023
Keen to get a daylight image of British Rail large logo liveried Class 66 No. 66789 on the SITT as I incorrectly, as it turned out, assumed the loco would be swapped out for another member of the same class, Yoshi and I made the trip to Totton Yard to see the train before its return working to Eastleigh East Yard on Saturday morning.
GBRf Class 66 No. 66789 ‘British Rail 1948-1997’ and 66730 ‘Whitemoor’ top and tail the Snow & Ice Treatment Train (SITT) in Totton Yard – 25/02/2023
Video of the SITT working over the last week of February 2023 with GBRf Class 66 No. 66789 ‘British Rail 1948-1997’ and 66730 ‘Whitemoor’ at various locations
We also stopped off in Southampton to peer over the road bridge crossing the railway which leads to the Southampton Maritime Container Terminal which is built on reclaimed land and was opened in 1968. Dealing solely in deep sea container traffic the adjacent Freightliner terminal for rail-borne traffic links directly to the South West Main Line (SWML) at Millbrook and Redbridge. Network Rail carried out upgrades, completed in early 2021, allowing trains up to 775 metres in length to gain access to Southampton MCT which is the major rail freight traffic centre in the region. Intermodal freight transport involves the transportation of cargo in a shipping container utilising multiple modes of transport such as rail, ship, truck and aircraft without any handling of the contents while changing modes. Direct intermodal services operate from Southampton MCT six days a week to UK destinations such as Leeds and Crewe.
In this video: XC 220008 / 221140 1M38 0945 Bournemouth to Manchester Piccadilly; GWR 166209 1F62 0923 Portsmouth Harbour to Romsey; FL 70004 4018 0424 Lawley Street FLT to Southampton MCT; SWR 444021/444017 1W08 0903 Weymouth to London Waterloo; SWR 444016/444031 1W59 0905 London Waterloo to Weymouth and Poole; SWR 158883 2S23 1007 Romsey to Romsey; FL 66568 4V34 1102 Southampton MCT to Portbury Automotive FHH; SWR 450002 2B36 1002 Bournemouth to Winchester; 444042/444019 1W54 0920 Weymouth and Poole to London Waterloo; SWR 444010/444020 1W61 1005 London Waterloo to Weymouth and PooleFreightliner Class 08 No. 08785 at Southampton MCT – 25/02/2023As South Western Railway service 1W17 0835 London Waterloo to Weymouth formed of Class 444 EMU No.’s 444026 and 444034 passes on the SWML, Class 66 No. 66536 receives attention at Southampton MCT – 25/02/2023Class 70 No. 70004 arrives at Southampton MCT working the 4018 0424 from Lawley Street Freightliner – 25/02/2023The SITT passes Southampton MCT at Redbridge working 3Y88 1032 Totton Yard to Eastleigh East Yard in the care of GBRf Class 66 locos No.’s 66730 ‘Whitemoor’ and 66789 ‘British Rail 1948-1997’ – 25/02/2023Class 70 No. 70004 having just detached from her train at its final destination; 4018 0424 Lawley Street to Southampton MCT – 25/02/2023
Finally, we paid a visit to Eastleigh in the hope that former Colas Rail and newly outshopped in GBRf livery Class 67 No. 67027 would be in a position for a decent photograph as had been widely reported on social media the previous day. The Class 67 should have departed Eastleigh Arlington works bound for Rugby on the Friday, but brake issues meant it remained stuck in Hampshire. Although I was pleased with my iPhone shot of the Class 66 at Totton, my luck ran out when it came to Eastleigh and the Class 67 as the locomotive had been moved inside a shed for remedial modifications with only the front being visible from the road adjacent to the works. Yoshi and I did, however, get to a catch up with an old pal over coffee, so it turned out to be a very good day after all.
Disappointingly newly liveried into GBRf colours, Class 67 No. 67027 hides in a shed at Eastleigh Arlington. No amount of coaxing would persuade her to reveal her new paint scheme – 25/02/2023Direct Rail Services Class 37 No. 37602 in the yard at Eastleigh Arlington works – 25/02/2023Colas Class 70 No. 70801 awaits her next duty at Eastleigh East Yard – 25/02/2023GBRf Class 66 No. 66790 at Eastleigh East Yard – 25/02/2023
On Sunday, Yoshi, his mama and I made a return visit to the Station Kitchen at West Bay which we last wrote about in November 2022. This time we booked to eat in the old station building which is dog friendly (the carriages are not) and Yoshi joined us for our lunchtime visit. Again, the food was exceptional and our surroundings quirky and fun.
The Station Kitchen at West Bay – 26/02/2023The Station Kitchen, West Bay Lentil, wild mushroom & honeyed carrot roast, farm vegetables, rosemary roasties with a balsamic onion jus. Scrummy! – 26/02/2023Yoshi offers to get the drinks in – The Station Kitchen, West Bay – 26/02/2023
Prior to eating, we took the opportunity to walk the former railway track bed between West Bay and Bridport which is now a footpath and haven for nature. It was much tidier than on previous visits and Yoshi proved himself to be a good boy yet again when he roamed off lead. As the footpath approaches Bridport it rises to meet Burton Road. The original level of the railway crossed beneath the road here at Wanderwell Bridge. The top of the bridge, bore entrance and track bed can still be made out if you look closely. On its way towards Bridport East Street Station, the railway would have passed through Wanderwell and then east of the roundabout junction of Burton Road and West Bay Road. Sea Road South, the A35 Bridport by-pass, now occupies the former track bed and there is no trace left of East Street station, the site now occupied by a garage. Sea Road North has replaced the track bed between East Street Station and Bridport station (also known as Bradpole Road Station).
The start of the former West Bay to Bridport footpath looking north – 26/02/2023Along the route of the former extension from West Bay to Bridport – 26/02/2023
The railway reached Bridport in 1857 being officially opened on 12th November, just over three years after a public meeting in Bridport Town Hall in October 1854 where it was decided a railway branch line to link the town to the main line at Maiden Newton would be built. The Bridport Railway Company was formed and the necessary Act of Parliament passed on 5th May 1855. The operating licence was awarded by the Bridport Railway Company to the Great Western Railway (GWR) who supplied the steam locomotives and rolling stock before taking over the railway completely. An extension to the line running from Bridport to Bridport Harbour was instigated in 1879 with passenger services commencing on 31st March 1884. In an attempt to attract holiday traffic, the GWR named their new station at the harbour; West Bay, popularising the name by which the area is now commonly known. Passenger services to West Bay ceased in 1930 but the line remained open for freight traffic until 3rd December 1962 when only minimal traffic ran including coal and shingle from the beach. The track on the Bridport to West Bay section, which had not long been relaid with concrete sleepers, was removed in March 1965 having been cut into short lengths and sold for scrap.
My well thumbed and well loved copy of “The Bridport Branch” by B L Jackson and M J Tattershall
Our visit prompted me to dig out my copy of “The Bridport Branch” by B L Jackson and M J Tattershall. It was the first railway text book I acquired back in the 1970’s and I recall thinking it a very expensive tome at the time. Most likely my lovely mum financed the purchase and I was surprised to note the cover price was a princely £2.40. Published by the Oxford Publishing Co. (OPC), a leading publisher of railway books back then, the book was first issued in 1976, only a year after the closure of the branch it tells the history of. I would have missed travelling by train from Maiden Newton to Bridport by a couple of years, my interest in railways really taking hold in 1977. The Bridport Branch had been listed for closure as part of the Beeching plan of March 1963. We’ll take a closer look at “The Reshaping of British Railways”, to give the Beeching plan its proper title, next month following the 60thanniversary of its publication, but it is interesting to learn that a notice was posted on 1st September 1964 for the closure of all intermediate stations between Yeovil Pen Mill and Dorchester West, the latter due to be closed on 4th January 1965. However, at a public enquiry held in Yetminster it was argued that it was difficult to see how Maiden Newton could be closed on that date as the Bridport Branch would still be open and for which no notice of closure had yet been issued. The Minister of Transport’s solution was announced on 22nd April 1965; Maiden Newton and Dorchester West were to stay open along with Yetminster, Thornford Halt and Chetnole Halt while Evershot, Cattistock, Bradford Peverell and Grimstone & Frampton would close from 3rd October 1966.
On our way home from West Bay, we stopped off in the village of Bradpole to seek out the crossing gates and short length of rail embedded in the road which is most likely the last original track remaining from the Bridport Branch. The current gates are not original and were replacements made by local carpenters John Gale and Bernie Joy as a memorial to the railway. An adjacent section of the track bed has been grassed over for local residents to enjoy as part of the Railway Gardens and allotments. In December 2022, concerned at the poor repair of the crossing gates, Bradpole Civil Parish Council appealed for help in finding someone with the expertise to renovate them. Following discussions with a local woodwork firm the Parish Council are seeking funds so that a full restoration project can take place later in 2023 which will see a new gate being constructed as it is felt the existing one is now beyond repair.
The crossing gates at Bradpole – 26/02/2023
The Bridport Community Railway has an ambitious plan to restore the link between West Bay and the main line at Maiden Newton with a sustainable narrow gauge tramway and heritage steam operation alongside cycle and foot paths. In January 2021, one of the founding members of the group behind the project is quoted in the local Bridport News as saying; “Around 80 per cent of the feedback we have received has been generally positive. Ten percent are raving fans and ten per cent think we’re in cloud cuckoo land.”
Another lost railway and victim of the Beeching cuts can be celebrated at The Wimborne Railway Society “Railex” Model Railway Exhibition when the award winning Bournemouth West model layout will be on display. Celebrating the days of steam and the much missed Somerset & Dorset line which ran from Bath to Bournemouth West, the site of which now lies underneath the Wessex Way road, the terminus can be seen in all its miniature glory at The Allendale Centre, Hanham Road, Wimborne on 15/16th April 2023.
Bournemouth West in model from as seen in April 2022
For The Record
What is I believe to be the first visit to Dorset of five car Class 701 EMU’s occurred on Tuesday 28th February as No.’s 701509 and 701512 visited Poole working 5Q51 1306 Eastleigh to Eastleigh. Yoshi and I were enjoying our lunchtime walk and completely missed these. I had hoped they would make a return journey to Bournemouth later in the evening, but the associated working did not materialise.
Yet to enter revenue earning service, five car Class 701 No. 701509 nears Eastleigh – 29/03/2022
Engineering trains for the Network Rail work being carried out on the Yeovil Pen Mill to Dorchester West section of the Heart of Wessex Line have so far been headed up by a mixture of Freightliner and Colas Rail workings, involving Class 66 locomotives No.’s 66592/ 66537 / 66192 and Class 70 No. 70811.
Royal Mail ‘Flying Scotsman’ Centenary Stamp Presentation Pack
The Royal Mail have revealed images of a special stamp issue being released on 9th March 2023 to celebrate the centenary of ‘Flying Scotsman’.
The colour version of the ‘Flying Scotsman’ £2 coin
The Royal Mint have also announced the release of a special £2 coin featuring an original design by John Bergdahl and colour artwork by Ffion Gwillim. The coin is available in a range of editions all featuring the edge inscription “Live For The Journey”.
From the May timetable change, the first weekday train to the Bristol area terminating at Filton Abbey Wood from Weymouth timed to depart at 0526 will no longer run and will in future start at Yeovil Pen Mill from where the train will depart at 0618.
That brings us to the end of another week. Thanks for reading! Please keep your comments, corrections and observations coming – they are all appreciated…. even the ones suggesting I include photographs and video clips to make things more interesting. A nice idea, but I’ll carry on as I am for now….
Yoshi almost takes flight at West Bay in front of the iconic East Cliff. There has been much discussion about this being the perfect image for an album cover of doggo songs by Yoshi; “Ears In The Wind” – 26/02/2023We’ll leave you with one more image of the SITT top and tailed by GBRf Class 66 locos No.’s 66730 ‘Whitemoor’ and 66789 ‘British Rail 1948-1997’ at Redbridge – 25/02/2023
