Loco hauled around Havant

[D6130]

A post dedicated to our train-mad, handsome, caring, loyal protector. 6-July 2013 to 20-August 2024.

Our 11 year old beautiful boy, our big Fluffy Bear, who loved walks beside the Havant to Farlington line, so he could spin round and bark excitedly at passing trains. The direction of train, dictated which way he'd spin! Electrostars favoured - Desiros and Sheds largely ignored.
Cancer and a big stroke have now taken him a different path. Free of suffering. Spinning around, in forever dreams.

Aww! Many condolences. Did drivers ever sound their horns for him?

 

[Sun Chariot]

Aww! Many condolences. Did drivers ever sound their horns for him?

Thank you. Tomorrow afternoon will be an emotional time; but his "special time" is now due.
Yes, he developed a bit of a "fan club" from some Southern drivers. Many waves and a good few horn-toots, when they saw him by the fence on their approach.

 

[pompeyfan]

I’m sorry to read you’ve had to pencil him in. I’m glad he had a happy life chasing trains (the correct side of the boundary fence). Sending sincere condolences.

 

[Sun Chariot]

I’m sorry to read you’ve had to pencil him in. I’m glad he had a happy life chasing trains (the correct side of the boundary fence). Sending sincere condolences.

Thank you. My wife and I are just reflecting on all the happy memories.
Yes, all train related fun has been behind the fences!
Yesterday he managed one last walk, gently around a lake in Petersfield, under the trees' shade.
Tomorrow afternoon, he'll fall deep asleep at home: upon his favourite bed, with family holding him.

 

[75A]

Aww! Many condolences. Did drivers ever sound their horns for him?

Lump in throat job.

 

[Sun Chariot]

Lump in throat job.

Bless you. I've blubbed more in the past few days, than I have for nearly 55 years.

 

[Sun Chariot]

Network Rail's track inspection service visits the sunny West Coastway once again - and the familiar sound of elderly EDs fills the late summer air today.
The Bedhampton shot really shows the class 73's '"Hastings friendly" 8' 8" body width, when compared to the coaches.

 

[pompeyfan]

I hope you and the family are okay (or okay as you can be) after recent events and that the procedure went smoothly.

 

[Sun Chariot]

Many thanks @pompeyfan - we're going through adjustment to dogless life.

 

[Sun Chariot]

EDs and tails.

An intriguing Class 4 working and I've yet to find its purpose: Tonbridge West Yard meanderings via various Sussex areas.
The lure of semaphores with loco hauled stock; and sun just as the train departed for its eastward route.
The EDs look splendid in their "BR era" liveries; particularly in gleaming Network Southeast, which I really liked in BR days.

I will return, to photograph Bognor Regis's and Littlehampton's semaphores, when spare time and sunshine permit.

 

[75A]

EDs and tails.

An intriguing Class 4 working and I've yet to find its purpose: Tonbridge West Yard meanderings via various Sussex areas.
The lure of semaphores with loco hauled stock; and sun just as the train departed for its eastward route.
The EDs look splendid in their "BR era" liveries; particularly in gleaming Network Southeast, which I really liked in BR days.

I will return, to photograph Bognor Regis's and Littlehampton's semaphores, when spare time and sunshine permit.

Another lump in throat job for me, I was born there and spent the first 18 years of my life never more than a mile from the Signal Box, my Aunt lived behind it, and on regular family visits to her I would always go out to the level crossing (long gone) or the Foot Bridge and watch the train movements.

An educated guess for this train is that it was for route learning purposes.

 

[Sun Chariot]

I was thinking of you, @75A whilst stood on that footbridge by Bognor 'box. Isn't it a beauty - and no annoying grilles or H&S additions, just the original platework.
I did wonder if the "Tonbridge circuit" is for route learning; its usage of freight wagons and second loco surprised me. The "Horsham circuit" route learning turns (post #177) - 4 weeks ago - used just a light engine (variously 73107, 119 and 202).

 

[Sun Chariot]

Arun ambles.

Two compositions I have had in mind awhile, at the southern end of the River Arun.
The Tonbridge route-learning circuit (photos post #190) was cancelled today - so the Arundel Castle shot will suffice with a tamper, instead of the hoped-for 73s!

 

[Sun Chariot]

Today's Westbury - Crawley aggregates turn makes spirited progress past the fringes of Littlehampton; artfully dodging the build-up of cloud cover.
I intended to shoot this working on the Bognor - Littlehampton overbridge, near Climping village. However, a huge fire at Arun Waste Recycling Centre necessitated full closure of that road, by the extensive Fire Brigade presence.

 

[Sun Chariot]

Definitely not weather for photos; but a chance to catch two workings side by side on Fawley Loops.
The early-departed Marchwood to Doncaster Decoy awaits the arrival of the Rail Head Treatment Train; before they set off in parallel - the Shed in its long journey north, the RHTT merely into the sidings.

 

[Sun Chariot]

Brideshead Littlehampton Revisited.

A resumption of route learning circuits from Horsham; these last ran during August. A "second chance" to photograph the booked ED with Littlehampton's semaphores, in Sussex sun.

I will try a "third time lucky" on a future day. I've no idea why my camera slowed down its shutter speed, even though it was set at a high shutter speed. It might be high time to ask Santa, for a newer digi-compact...

 

[Sun Chariot]

A drift back in time and across the English Channel... A road-trip, from Calais to Croatia, in 2011.
One memorable day: taking the cable car up from Chamonix to Aguille Du Midi, with vista across Mont Blanc and the Alps.
And it wouldn't be right to  not include a rail related photo. This is on the Gotthard route.

 

[Sun Chariot]

'Boxes at Bognor.

GBRf's Tonbridge route-learning circuit makes September's foray around East and West Sussex. Here, the assigned EDs arrive for their booked Bognor layover; before rejoining the West Coastway and returning eastwards.
September's workings are a Class 0 (light engines), whereas August's ran as a Class 4 and are shown on post #190.

I'd hoped to snare GBRf's Horsham turn, under Littlehampton's semaphores, after getting these photos. Today's working was curtailed at Brighton, due to problems with the loco. One day...

 

[75A]

Good to still be able see 'proper' signals. Didn't say that up the Arun Valley on a murky night though!

 

[Sun Chariot]

Good to still be able see 'proper' signals. Didn't say that up the Arun Valley on a murky night though!

Bognor's station team were very bemused at my request to look at their "old fashioned signals".
To their credit, they wouldn't take my money for the platform ticket; they waved me through the barriers instead.

Annoyingly, the two route-learning circuits (ex-Horsham and ex-Tonbridge) this week, have been as elusive as August's.
I guarantee, when an ED actually runs to Littlehampton again, it'll be in Biblical rain.
Why I do this hobby, I'll never know...

 

[Sun Chariot]

Today's GBRf route learning (ex-Horsham) circuit forgoes the usual ED and instead makes use of one of NR's self propelled Railhead Treatment units; running as a Class 3 working.
Frustratingly, my intended composition is reliant on a 73-sized vehicle; as the RHTT blocks out much of those semaphores in the background. One day, I will actually  get the darned photo...

 

[75A]

If at first you don't suceed..........

 

[Sun Chariot]

I'm certainly getting familiar with the roads to Littlehampton @75A

 

[Sun Chariot]

Autumn equinox is upon us; I reflect that, in the coming six months, the sun will be above the horizon for less than 50% of each day. A "light" theme seems appropriate for today:
Pendennis Point, Falmouth, last week,
Piran, Slovenia, at spring equinox 2011.

 

[Sun Chariot]

In search of cyphers.

For many years I paid no attention to the curious scripts on post boxes from monarchs past.
The UK has about 115,000 post boxes in use. More than 60% are from our previous monarch and bear EIIR.
Another 30% bear the cyphers of George V and of George VI. Victoria, with two styles of cypher, accounts for 6% of active boxes. The rarities are Edward VII and Edward VIII: combined, barely 300 boxes remain in service.

I set myself a mini challenge, to find each cypher upon active boxes sited within a radius of an hour's drive from home. Oh - and do it all in one day...
Admittedly, I didn't get Edward VIII's cypher until the day after. But I found it satisfying to discover an 1872 original "Penfold" hexagonal box, five Edward VII, plus Hampshire's sole known Edward VIII box.

Job done.

 

[Sun Chariot]

More than six months have now passed since the last loaded revenue working to or from MoD Marchwood (post #100).
Since then, empty container flats have been the norm; and so today's London Gateway to Marchwood turn is no exception - creeping through the gloom of the former Fawley branch.

Last month's confirmed cancellation of Waterside's "Restoring Your Railway" scheme, means there will be no passenger trains to Marchwood and Hythe for the foreseeable future.
The absence of MoD rail-borne traffic, paints an even gloomier picture for this branch line.

 

[75A]

More than six months have now passed since the last loaded revenue working to or from MoD Marchwood (post #100).
Empty container flats have been the norm, since then; and so today's London Gateway to Marchwood turn is no exception - creeping through the gloom of the former Fawley branch.

Last month's confirmed cancellation of Waterside's "Restoring Your Railway" scheme, means there will be no passenger trains to Marchwood and Hythe for the foreseeable future.
The absence of MoD's rail-borne traffic, paints an even bleaker picture for this branch line.

What a cracking picture, the headlights are coming out of the Laptop at me.
There were times in my day when they would have been very useful, so not everything about modern loco's is rubbish!

 

[Sun Chariot]

Many thanks @75A I was fortunate that the driver had all five lights on, which achieved just the effect I was hoping for.

 

[Sun Chariot]

This Crawley isnt creepy.

The driver of today's Westbury-Crawley aggregates working, makes full use of the straight line section from Emsworth to Southbourne, with some teeth-rattling vibrations as the train thunders over the jointed rail next to me.

 

[Sun Chariot]

The penultimate "Statesman", prior to a year's planned stock refurbishment, is today welcomed by Portsmouth's perennial gloomy conditions. Sunny south coast? I don't believe that!