23rd January 2020

'New units' fail at
Portsmouth Harbour
Guy Vincent

Two class 442 units standing in platform 3 at Portsmouth Harbour station on the early evening of Monday January 20th.  These units, formerly known as 'Wessex Electrics', have recently been returning to traffic with South Western Railway after a protracted rebuilding programme by Gemini Rail Technology at Eastleigh Works.  New from BREL Derby in 1987-88 they replaced the much older class 432 '4-REP' traction units and class 491 4-TC sets that operated between Waterloo and Weymouth in association with the 19 Push-Pull class 33 locos 33101-33119.     In order to keep costs down the 442s when built used the traction motors from the REP units (dating from 1951) and these have now finally been replaced by new equipment.  Modifications have since had to be made to the traction equipment to surpress interference with signalling equipment in the Earlsfield area.  In total 18 of the 5 car sets are being overhauled for SWR from the original total of 24 at a reported cost of £45,000,000.   

Sadly this pair were failed just prior to departure and ran empty to Fratton depot instead of forming their intended 9P56 1615 Portsmouth Harbour-London Waterloo via Petersfield, Guildford and Woking.  Class 442s run as class 9 services due to a number of route restrictions that apply to their use.  Enter 'class 442 modifications' into your usual search engine to find out more.

With regards,  Guy Vincent.  

Portsmouth Harbour 442413 & 442417 20th January 2020 Copyright Guy Vincent N.B. A very interesting view seen in the winter sunlight, note the masts of the 'Victory' overlooking the scene.

Many thanks Guy

50's at
Creech St Michael
Bill Elston

Over to Creech today (22nd January 2020) to catch 50007 leading 50049 0n 5Z50  Wembley to Laira ecs. ( looks like three sleeping cars )
These will probably work ecs from LA to Long Marston.
Thankfully the fog lifted

Kindest regards, Bill

50007,leads at Creech St Michael. 22nd January 2020. Copyright Bill Elston.

50049 brings up the rear at Creech St Michael. , 22nd January 2020. Copyright Bill Elston

Many thanks Bill

Wentloog Freightliner at
Westbury
Guy Vincent

Freightliner class 70 no 70007 pulls away from Westbury this afternoon (21st January 2020) on the daily 4O57 1329 Wentloog-Southampton Maritime loaded freightliner.   This service was re-routed in December to run via Bath, Westbury and Salisbury rather than via Badminton, Reading West and Basingstoke in order to free up paths on the Great Western main line for the enhanced Bristol-Paddington super-fast services now operating.
Guy Vincent.

Westbury 70007 4O57 13.29 Wentloog to Sothampton on the 21st January 2020 Copyright Guy Vincent.

Plenty of clagg at Westbury as 70007 pulls away with the 4O57 1329 Wentloog-Southampton Marine service 21st January 2020 Copyright Guy Vincent. (Looks like a future Home Page picture to me!)

Many thanks once again Guy.

Nearing
Westbury
Ron Kosys

56052 Westbury 13.08.88 Sa West Drayton 13th August 1988. Copyright Ron Kosys

The area is overlooked by a large iron age hill fort and white horse carved into the Bratton  hillside. The first Westbury white horse is believed to have been cut to celebrate victory over the Danes in the  Battle of Ethandium in 878AD;  The horse is clearly visible in the background.

Many thanks Ron.

Clay country & Devon Cement
Craig Munday.

Hi Keith

A rare fault on a class 70 caused 70805 to fail just outside Plymouth on 15th. Just behind (with massive fortune) was DBC class 66 66099. The red shed coupled onto the rear and assisted the formation into Plymouth station. The class 66 went on its route refreshing jaunt to Par, and a fellow Colas 70 arrived later in the day to carry on the cement service to Moorswater.  

During the recent fine sunshine, bright red class 66 66094 has worked the afternoon clay 21st. There are some nice spots to catch it, and as the sun gets higher into the season, Golant will be back on the circulation. 

Here are some shots taken at Rocks of the loco doing the shunting (as is the norm for the time being) at Rocks. The two shunting locos positioned out of the operations rather forlorn in the sidings.

The train is then seen at Middleway, and St Blazey.

Also featured are the currently stored Imerys shunt locos at Rocks, and 150207 working the morning Newquay to Par service. 

Thanks Craig 

66099 at the rear of the failed cement 6C35 seen at Plymouth on the 15th January 2020. Copyright Craig Munday

66094 at Middleway on the 21st January 2020. Copyright Craig Munday

66094 has now reached Goonbarrow (Rocks) 21st January 2020. Copyright Craig Munday.

The Goonbarrow shnters at rest. 21st January 2020. Copyright Craig Munday.

At Goonbarrow we see 150207 on the 2N03 service to Par. Copyright Craig Munday

Many thanks for your colourful collection Craig,