{"id":8151,"date":"2023-09-13T16:02:29","date_gmt":"2023-09-13T15:02:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/therailwaydog.co.uk\/?p=8151"},"modified":"2023-09-13T16:02:29","modified_gmt":"2023-09-13T15:02:29","slug":"yoshi-travels-high-speed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/therailwaydog.co.uk\/?p=8151","title":{"rendered":"Yoshi Travels High Speed"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Yoshi looking out to see if there are any more HST’s following Class 43 No. 43092 ‘Cromwell’s Castle’ into Taunton – 10\/09\/2023 <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

September 6th 2023 to September 12th 2023<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saturday afternoon, I had booked with the Inter-City Railway Society (ICRS) for a visit to Eastleigh Arlington works. An accident involving three cars on the A31 forced the closure of the eastbound dual carriageway between Picket Post and Stoney Cross and created delays of up to two hours. Thankfully, I believe nobody was seriously hurt in the crash and I have Google Maps to thank in navigating me across the New Forest, arriving just before 1400 and the safety briefing which was given to all those in attendance at the new gated entrance to the works. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The queue at the gates of Eastleigh Works ready for the safety briefing – 09\/09\/2023<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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The safety briefing at Eastleigh Works – 09\/09\/2023<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Unfortunately part of the terms of entry were that no images taken on site during the visit can be shared, so I\u2019m unable to post any photographs which I took during my time walking around the works. However, pics obtained from outside the fence on the public highway are fair game!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Taken from a public area, Class 50 No. 50021 ‘Rodney’ and Class 08 No. 08567 ‘John Arlington Stephens 20th May 1925 – 19th July 1984’ were providing cab rides for visitors to Eastleigh Works – 09\/09\/2023<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Locomotive Services Ltd owned Class 57 No. 57311 looked impressive turned out in a lined black livery – 09\/09\/2023<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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GBRf Class 66 No. 66309 at Eastleigh Works – 09\/09\/2023<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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GBRf Class 59 No. 59003 at Eastleigh Works – 09\/09\/2023<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Numerous withdrawn Class 313 EMU’s are dotted around the Eastleigh Works site, No. 313208 awaits its fate – 09\/09\/2023<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Originally a bustling carriage and wagon repair works for the London & South West Railway (L&SWR), Eastleigh Works boasts a history dating back as far as 1874. In January 1910 locomotive building was transferred to the workshops at Eastleigh from Nine Elms in London. Following the 1923 Railways Grouping Act, Eastleigh became the principal works for the new Southern Railway (SR). As with many large engineering locations, Eastleigh Works made a valuable contribution to the Second World War effort, with production resources being diverted, for example, to producing parts enabling Blenheim Bombers to be repurposed as fighters and building Horsa gliders for the D-Day airborne assault.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following the 1948 nationalisation of the railways in the UK, new steam locomotive building ceased at Eastleigh, the works concentrating on repair work and the rebuilding of 90 of the Bulleid Pacific classes carried out between 1956 and 1961. In 1962, Eastleigh Works built the first six electro-diesel locomotives which would become later known as the Class 73. \u00a0As steam locomotives disappeared from use, focus at the works changed from steam to diesel repairs.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As part of the privatisation of British Rail, the plant was acquired from British Rail Engineering Limited (BREL) through a management buyout in June 1995 and rebranded Wessex Traincare. In 1998 the site was sold to Alstom and renamed Alstom Wessex Traincare being used for carriage and multiple unit repairs. In 2004, Alstom announced the works were to close due to a lack of work, and this was realised in March 2006 after the completion of a contract to refurbish Class 455 EMU\u2019s for Southern.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, this was not the end of the story and in more recent times, the works has seen something of a steady resurgence in activity with principal tenant Arlington Fleet Services capitalising on the site’s rail infrastructure and vast engineering sheds; with locomotive and carriage renovations and decommissioning projects all being undertaken.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After spending three very enjoyable hours wandering around the Works, I made my way back to the car. As I walked over Cambell Road bridge, I cast an eye across to Eastleigh T&RSMD where a number of SWR Class 701 EMU\u2019s are still in storage prior to their acceptance into traffic ( has there ever been such a new train fiasco in recent times? Answers on the back of a postage stamp to the usual address). As well as the stored units, I spied the distinct outline of a Class 67 locomotive. As its driver was making his way up the yard, I had a quick look at Real Time Trains (RTT \u2013 I really should create a glosary page with all the railway themed acronyms and abbreviations) and noted that the Class 67 was scheduled to depart the depot within the following 20 minutes working the empty coaching stock (ECS \u2013 see what I mean?) for the Belmond British Pullman\u00a0Goodwood Revival railtour which was running that day from London Victoria to (you guessed it) Goodwood and return. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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DB Cargo operated Class 67 No. 67021 sits in Eastleigh depot as the driver of the Belmond British Pullman\u00a0Goodwood Revival railtour empty coaching stock heads over to pick up his train. Class 701 EMU’s are still being stored on site – 09\/09\/2023<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I headed to Eastleigh railway station to take a few photographs of the Class 66 locos stabled adjacent the platforms, pick up some water and wait for the ECS to pass.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Colas Class 66 No. 66846 at rest in Eastleigh – 09\/09\/2023<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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DB cargo ‘Ukraine’ liveried Class 66 No. 66099 between duties at Eastleigh – 09\/09\/2023<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Class 66 No.’s 66099 and 66846 at Eastleigh – 09\/09\/2023<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Class 67 No. 67006 ‘Royal Sovereign’ at the head of empty coaching stock move 5Z84 1719 Eastleigh Traction & Rolling Stock Maintenance Depot to Chichester passing through Eastleigh railway station – 09\/09\/2023<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Class 67 No. 67021 brings up the rear of ECS working 5Z84 1719 Eastleigh Traction & Rolling Stock Maintenance Depot to Chichester as the train manoeuvres into Eastleigh East Yard – 09\/09\/2023<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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