Loco hauled around Havant

[Sun Chariot]

Despite TOCs' striking, track infrastructure work continues on the West Coastway. Motive power is, unusually, hired in from Freightliner.

 

[Sun Chariot]

This post's theme could be: Faces only a mother could love

Saturday saw Colas-powered traffic; here is the Eastleigh to Earlswood service.

Portsmouth Direct Line had a possession in place. Sunday, the self-propelled Rail Head Treatment Train reverses at Petersfield, the crew swapping ends and then crossing just north of the station, for a return southward.
Later that day, a Petersfield-bound tamper from Eastleigh.

 

[75A]

I think the Tamper looks better than the 70.
Great pictures as ever.

 

[Sun Chariot]

I think the Tamper looks better than the 70.
Great pictures as ever.

Many thanks. I remember my shock at the 58s "look" when introduced; but I think the 70s easily win the "acquired taste" award!

 

[Sun Chariot]

In what may be the last decent light of this autumn, Network Rail's ex-Hastings DEMU inspection saloon, propelled by one of LORAM 37 fleet, creates a scene reminiscent of the 1980s.

(January 2024) The loco is now wearing LORAM red / white / charcoal livery. Eeek!

 

[75A]

In what may be the last decent light of this autumn, Network Rail's ex-Hastings DEMU inspection saloon, propelled by one of Colas's heritage fleet, creates a scene reminiscent of the latter 1980s.

Happy memories, the Inspection saloon was used for Route Learning

 

[Sun Chariot]

Happy memories, the Inspection saloon was used for Route Learning

If it was route-learning today, then there is a sense of irony: it was booked to reverse at Havant and then use the eastern chord (Farlington Junction) into Portsmouth; but it missed that - and instead routed down the western chord (Cosham Junction).

 

[75A]

If it was route-learning today, then there is a sense of irony: it was booked to reverse at Havant and then use the eastern chord (Farlington Junction) into Portsmouth; but it missed that - and instead routed down the western chord (Cosham Junction).

Sounds about right, I went on it from Clapham Jcn to Kensington Olympia & back a couple of times

 

[Sun Chariot]

In between south coast rain showers, "City Of Truro" starts its trek from Marchwood to Leicester, having arrived less than an hour earlier with yet another SWR class 701 (set 057) for temporary storage at the MoD site.

Semaphores and a blue Duff - memories from my childhood!

 

[Sun Chariot]

Network Rail's track inspection train took a rather circuitous route round Hampshire and the West Sussex coast.
Although today's photos were taken less than an hour apart, the local weather conditions were changing as quickly as a politician's promises...
The stock differs to that captured end-August, on post #18.

 

[Sun Chariot]

No loco hauled today; but...

Local areas, alhough affected by the recent deluges, are less flooded than Isle of Wight, Hayling Island and West Sussex.
On this lane near home, several cars turned back and sought alternative routes. The van driver went for it!

 

[Sun Chariot]

What a difference 20 minutes makes:

The sun has yet to break through cloud cover, as the light engine movement (with one FL crew member sitting cross-legged on the desk!) from Southampton Maritime Container Terminal coasts by en route to Crawley; closely followed by...

The already-late-running Merehead stone for Chichester is bathed in autumnal colours, as it restarts from Nutbourne Station, where it was held due to the level crossing (in the background).

 

[75A]

What a difference 20 minutes makes:

The sun has yet to break through cloud cover, as the light engine movement (with one FL crew member sitting cross-legged on the desk!) from Southampton Maritime Container Terminal coasts by en route to Crawley; closely followed by...

The already-late-runnimg Merehead stone for Chichester is bathed in autumnal colours, as it restarts from Nutbourne Station, where it was held due to the level crossing (in the background).

Re the light engine move, I guess as it's a FL loco it's going to Crawley New Yard on the Brighton main probably via Hove, rather than Crawley itself which is on the Mid Sussex between Horsham & Three Bridges.

 

[Sun Chariot]

Info for post below

 

[Sun Chariot]

Re the light engine move, I guess as it's a FL loco it's going to Crawley New Yard on the Brighton main probably via Hove, rather than Crawley itself which is on the Mid Sussex between Horsham & Three Bridges.

RTT's path shows its destination as Crawley F.Y. (I presume the FL yard); and, yes, it ran via Hove.
The afternoon's return path also runs light engine (the same loco used in the past two days); and, as there were several in the cab both days, I wonder if these out and back runs are for route knowledge reasons?

 

[Townsend Hook]

Network Rail's track inspection train took a rather circuitous route round Hampshire and the West Sussex coast.
Although today's photos were taken less than an hour apart, the local weather conditions were changing as quickly as a politician's promises...
The stock differs to that captured end-August, on post #18.

Post #18 shows the PLPR3 set which is generally the dedicated Southern Region PLPR set. Last week the PLPR4 set was used because the recording vehicles from PLPR3 are undergoing maintenance. Nice photos!

 

[Sun Chariot]

Post #18 shows the PLPR3 set which is generally the dedicated Southern Region PLPR set. Last week the PLPR4 set was used because the recording vehicles from PLPR3 are undergoing maintenance. Nice photos!

Many thanks for the kind comment and the insight regarding NR stock.

 

[Sun Chariot]

Storm Ciaran hasn't stopped the workers. Welded rail from Clapham (Voltaire Jcn) bound for Eastleigh, powers through the murkiness, crossing the West Coastway junction with the Portsmouth Direct Line.

 

[75A]

I'm guessing that's come via Hove.

 

[Sun Chariot]

I'm guessing that's come via Hove.

It came the Gatwick route, then down the Arun valley, turned west at Ford and along the West Coastway.

 

[Sun Chariot]

Local floods (week 2!)

Hayling Island took a bit of battering last night, although less flooded than expected. Here's the coastal road at Northney; and a roundabout more inland.

 

[75A]

It came the Gatwick route, then down the Arun valley, turned west at Ford and along the West Coastway.

Blimey, unusual for something like that to come down the Mid Sussex, I wouldn't of thought they had the route knowledge, you live and learn.

 

[Cowley]

Some great photos @Sun Chariot. I think my favourite is the one of Broadlands in banger blue.

 

[Sun Chariot]

Some great photos @Sun Chariot. I think my favourite is the one of Broadlands in banger blue.

Many thanks, Cowley. I'd put my SLR camera down when privatisation happened; and my interest only rekindled this spring, with the demise of the 313s. This started out as a mini-challlenge to "photograph within one mile of my home" this summer; but I've expanded my scope a few miles.

I now feel compelled to set a new challenge for myself: the human factors of the railways!

 

[lostwin(m)]

Storm Ciaran hasn't stopped the workers. Welded rail from Clapham (Voltaire Jcn) bound for Eastleigh, powers through the murkiness, crossing the West Coastway junction with the Portsmouth Direct Line.

Cripes, I am all for function over form at times, but those class 70's take it to almost perverted levels. They look like they were designed with left over Lego blocks.

It isn't tempting me to get my camera out again yet, but thanks for posting on the contemporary scene. I do like the idea of setting a photographic challenge and the people side of the railways is a great subject. Look forward to seeing the results.

 

[Sun Chariot]

It isn't tempting me to get my camera out again yet, but thanks for posting on the contemporary scene.
I do like the idea of setting a photographic challenge and the people side of the railways is a great subject. Look forward to seeing the results.

Thanks and I agree "we had it so good" in the 1980s! The loss of rich diversity in the routes, traffic and infrastructure, influenced my decision to "down tools" in the mid-90s.

Ironically, my photography moved toward "reportage" and so I'm relishing a project with a "person-centric" perspective. Here's to my winter-to-spring challenge!

 

[Cowley]

I know it’s a bit wrong but there’s just something about the class 70s that really does it for me. They remind me of the Vogon Constructor Fleet for some reason…

To quote from Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy:

“The ships hung in the sky in much the same way that bricks don’t.”

 

[Sun Chariot]

I know it’s a bit wrong but there’s just something about the class 70s that really does it for me. They remind me of the Vogon Constructor Fleet for some reason…

To quote from Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy:

“The ships hung in the sky in much the same way that bricks don’t.”

Now we're showing our age!

The other day, my 21 year old told me about "...these great new books called Fighting Fantasy, by Steve Jackson and Ian Livingston".
He was dumbfounded when I explained I'd enjoyed those when they first came out.

 

[Sun Chariot]

This autumn's Railhead Treatment Train service has predominantly been the self-propelled set seen in post #32. A refreshing change for today's circuit, both noisier and filthier!

 

[75A]

This autumn's Railhead Treatment Train service has predominantly been the self-propelled set seen in post #32. A refreshing change for today's circuit, both noisier and filthier!

More memories, did several turns to & from Chipmans depot in Horsham in the early 80's, seem to remember there was a controversy about it & Margaret Thatcher's husband Dennis was something to do with it