Loco hauled around Havant

[Sun Chariot]

Last Saturday's appearance of B1 "Mayflower", buoyed my appetite for steam. This week has returned to "dismal" - so here are a few (recent or recent-ish) shots to lift the spirits.

 

[lostwin(m)]

Last Saturday's appearance of B1 "Mayflower", buoyed my appetite for steam. This week has returned to "dismal" - so here are a few (recent or recent-ish) shots to lift the spirits.

Super stuff!. i'm a sucker for a telephoto shot - maybe because I never owned one at the time - and 46233 at Kings Sutton really demonstrates the impact of this type of lens. I also really like the image of 925 at Mid Hants, an unusual angle and the green on green works great in colour. Good to see some sunshine too!

 

[Sun Chariot]

Thanks as always, @lostwin(m) I can never resist a gleaming boiler and polished pipework .
Kings Sutton's photo was taken from a public foot crossing - albeit via a half mile trudge through sodden grass....!

 

[Sun Chariot]

Branch Line Society's excursion from Eastleigh to Exeter, via Portsmouth Harbour and Bath - a clean train complemented with (finally!) some fine coastal weather.

On the first leg, the crew awaits the green light for their short route eastward, from Cosham to Portsmouth Harbour.
40 minutes later and now Crompton led, the train accelerates westward past Cosham.

 

[lostwin(m)]

Branch Line Society's excursion from Eastleigh to Exeter, via Portsmouth Harbour and Bath - a clean train complemented with (finally!) some fine coastal weather.

On the first leg, the crew awaits the green light for their short route eastward, from Cosham to Portsmouth Harbour.
40 minutes later and now Crompton led, the train accelerates westward past Cosham.

Super pictures! I do love a 'Little ED' and the shot with the crew is beautifully lit.

 

[Sun Chariot]

Many thanks @lostwin(m) The first leg arrived just after 7am and shadows were a challenge. I took a fairly "head-on" shot of the 73, in full sun, from a footbridge at the other end of the station. Then I walked to the front, for the side-lit shot to capture the features of the crew and loco's pipework.
The shadows were receding when the trip made its way back from Portsmouth (I wish Network Rail had trimmed that black tree branch more thoroughly; I find it too distracting to the 73).

 

[lostwin(m)]

Many thanks @lostwin(m) The first leg arrived just after 7am and shadows were a challenge. I took a fairly "head-on" shot in full sun, of the 73, from a footbridge at the other end of the station. Then I walked to the front, for the side-lit shot to capture the features of the crew and loco's pipework.
The shadows were receding when the trip made its way back from Portsmouth (I wish Network Rail had trimmed that black tree branch more thoroughly; I find it too distracting to the 73).

I've been known to do a bit of tree pruning in Photoshop...

 

[Sun Chariot]

Dusty spring field.

Despite no breeze, today's return working from Chichester to Merehead seems intent on ensuring the front wagons reach their destination empty. A case of "Shed" its load.

 

[75A]

Dusty spring field.

Despite no breeze, today's return working from Chichester to Merehead seems intent on ensuring the front wagons reach their destination empty. A case of "Shed" its load.

Excellent as aver.
Looks like they forgot to empty the wagon nearest the loco.

 

[Sun Chariot]

Excellent as aver.
Looks like they forgot to empty the wagon nearest the loco.

Many thanks. The Chichester turn quite often returns part-loaded. The load usually (but not always) is a standard 14 bogies. Today's return trip, the rear 10 were empty but the front 4 were still full.
Perhaps Chichester terminal simply takes what it needs "on demand" and sends back what it doesn’t expect to use. Not the most productive operating model, I'd think.

 

[Sun Chariot]

A second day of fine conditions, meant an excuse to capture two colourful workings.

GBRf's most recently painted 69, drags another "Arterio" unit from Wimbledon Park depot to Marchwood for its continued storage.
Originally intended to commence SWR's operation mid-2019, significant delays to delivery and acceptance means that the vast majority of this fleet has yet to turn a wheel in revenue-earning service.

The third of Branch Line Society's May trips using Crompton D6515. This colourful combination heads to Swanage, for its upcoming Diesel Gala.

 

[Sun Chariot]

My 6 month photo "challenge", to capture the human factors of the railway, draws to a close this week.

Track replacement along the West Coastway; this weekend's work takes place between Havant and Warblington.
Mid-Saturday, the westbound line is lifted and the old ballast is removed.
Sunday 07:00, new track has been laid and ballasting is well underway. The work is targeted to complete around 18:00.

 

[Sun Chariot]

A clockwork orange.

Running exactly to booked time, today's Westbury - Crawley aggregates working finds a 3 minute break between clouds; and avoids being "bowled" by an SWR service which passed me as the stone train rounded the curve in the background.

The near cabside's white cantrail stripe remains absent; the painters missed it, when the loco was repainted in January.

 

[Sun Chariot]

Every cloud...

Swanage Railway's "Simply Bulleid II" Gala has a gathering of eight operational Bulleid Pacifics.

My planned shot, Swanage-bound "British India Line" passing Eastleigh-bound D6515 (for Branch Line Society's excursion to North Norfolk, the following day), was thwarted by grey cloud coinciding with the Merchant Navy's appearance, heading its train tender-first, just before the Crompton approached in the other direction...

While awaiting that fated photo, these Voyagers complement the scene. The 5-car set is formerly Avanti West Coast fleet & now used by Cross Country.

 

[Sun Chariot]

Every cloud... part 2.

The as-required Southampton Western Docks to Marchwood service enters the Fawley branch, with empty flat wagons for the MoD site.
The coast at the Hampshire / West Sussex border, was bright sun all morning. A few miles west and thick grey cloud cover did its best to scupper any chance of a sunlit photo...

 

[Sun Chariot]

Bon Voyage(r).

The first of today's Cross Country empty stock moves up the Portsmouth Direct Line, to Reading (for XC services between Oxford and Bournemouth), bathes in early morning sunshine.
The nearmost unit is another former Avanti West Coast fleet.

 

[Sun Chariot]

Southwick village's annual "1940s Revival" weekend, took on extra poignancy with this year's 80th anniversary of D-Day.

The village is delightfully unspoiled anyway; and, with period costumes, bunting & flags, dancing & singing and 1940s era vehicles, it is easy to feel transported back in time.

 

[Sun Chariot]

Piling on the pounds (well, the lbs-ft).

The King's birthday coincides with track renewal work in the Sutton area. Material flows from Eastleigh today, with motive power supplied by DB, Freightliner and GBRf.

Dismal light and rain for the morning's three workings; patchy sun for the afternoon's two paths and both signal-checked at Farlington Junction, for Southern and SWR services.
At Farlington, a lengthy ballast load shakes the foundations as it merges with the route from Portsmouth.
One hour later, more good vibrations at Havant, as a consist of track panels notches up onto the Portsmouth Direct Line.

 

[Sun Chariot]

Deja vu

Yes - same location and same composition as previous post; but the sun is out and it would be rude not to capture such a rare event on the south coast.

Today's Westbury to Crawley aggregates is in the hands of a former Foster Yeoman stalwart. In the background, the (now fenced off) green footbridge marks Farlington Halt station's site - closed in July 1937.
This particular loco commenced active service 35 years ago this week. Its four FY brethren were ordered from EMD forty years ago this November.

 

[Sun Chariot]

Solstice orange paint.

With Stonehenge's monument thankfully now devoid of the orange powder paints, thrown by yesterday's idiotic protest, Midsummer's sun shines kindly upon a far more permanent orange hue heading today's Westbury - Crawley aggregates.

 

[Sun Chariot]

Mad dogs and Englishmen.

The Goodwood-based Spitfire throttles overhead, as today's Westbury to Crawley aggregates cautiously arrives. Having lost 30 minutes between Romsey and Fareham - due to the service running via Hamble - the consist passes at jogging pace; losing a further 5 minutes by Chichester.

15,000 people watched sun's rise through Stonehenge this morning. Which is the madder - being in a field all night, to see an orange orb; or standing in the midday sun, to see an orange GM...

 

[75A]

Mad dogs and Englishmen.

The Goodwood-based Spitfire throttles overhead, as today's Westbury to Crawley aggregates cautiously passes. Having lost 30 minutes between Romsey and Fareham, the service passes at jogging speed; losing a further 5 by Chichester.

15,000 people watched sun's rise through Stonehenge this morning. Which is the madder - being in a field all night, to see an orange orb; or standing in the midday sun, to see an orange GM...

Deffo the orange GM, fantastic shot.

 

[Sun Chariot]

Deffo the orange GM, fantastic shot.

Thanks as always, @75A This week's high sun and clear sky is destined to not last. Rain and thick cloud are forecast throughout tomorrow; which thwarts photos of an excursion and several Civil Engineer loads up the Portsmouth Direct...

 

[75A]

The law of you know who.

 

[Sun Chariot]

The only cloud along the entire West Coastway, stubbornly refuses to move for today's Westbury - Crawley aggregates. At its helm, Freightliner's vivid green "Heidelberg Materials" branded loco contrasts (or perhaps clashes) with the West Sussex foliage.

 

[Sun Chariot]

Catch me if you can.

Today's Westbury to Crawley aggregates shimmers in a heat haze and adds a splash of colour to the summer greens.
The loco's sparkle is from its very recent re-naming, for forty years of Westbury Power Signal Box.

Chasing it just 2 minutes behind, one of Network Rail's track inspection units works a coastal circuit twixt Southampton and Littlehampton - not Doncaster!
Compared with post #4, the unit has lost one inspection LED lightbar and gained a slightly different frontal paint scheme, as well as several more bodysode decals.

 

[Sun Chariot]

Swanage has been a popular destination for rail excursions. Today's trip, Black 5 hauled, coasts into a scheduled stop at Beaulieu Road.
On departure, the Five barely pulled; conversely, at the back, the 47's Sulzer was having a full workout. Here's why...

The loco's sparks regrettably created lineside fires - firstly, nr Winchfield; secondly, on Christchurch bank (Hinton Admiral).
The former resulted in the Black 5 merely coasting thereon - the bulk of effort was from the diesel, pushing at the rear.
The latter damaged NR cables, impacting all SWR's services between Brockenhurst and Weymouth.
Network Rail requested that the Black 5 be removed and left at Swanage. The return journey was diesel-hauled without it.

 

[Sun Chariot]

Winchester (and utterly dismal light) today, to see three locos on their way for repaints at Eastleigh (Arlington).

Two IC125 power cars near journey's end, from Crewe. 43058 is the final DMB wearing the attractive Rail Charter Services' green; but it will reappear in Blue Pullman scheme, matching its Locomotive Services Limited sisters.
(31st July) LSL Pullman 43059 now bears name "Loch Shiel".

Devoid of nameplates, GBRf's two Hoovers emit a classic EE roar, as they tackle the final few miles from Kidderminster to Eastleigh (Arlington) for repaints into BR large logo livery.
(9-Aug) both locos now resplendent in early 1980s large logo.

 

[Sun Chariot]

A featherweight load on today's working from Southampton Western Docks to Marchwood MoD storage sidings. As with post #135, this ad-hoc path invariably runs empty.
The Kineton & Bicester MoD services seem to have stopped being sent by rail.

 

[Sun Chariot]

Updated post 180