...and there's more....

The two 508 vehicles made it to the Docks OK and have now been delivered to MES at Seacombe.

455834 left last night and was replaced early this morning by 455833.

450037 is the latest Siemens unit in, arriving just before lunch, 450567 departing soon after.

The impressive Speno rail grinder (DR79221-226) arrived for maintenance this morning.

The SITT has been formed up with 57305 and 57306 ready for an anticipated cold spell this weekend.

66743 has received repairs to its fuel tank and is now sat in the Works yard awaiting departure.

08650 looks splendid shunting in the sunshine in its new coat of paint.

Busy, Busy, Busy.....

Another busy few days in the Works.....

The train to convey two class 508 vehicles to Southampton Docks is being formed up in the Works yard ready for departure just before 16:00 today. The formation was to have included 57310 but it will now be as follows;

South
73141
73206
975875
64649
64712
977087
975974
975978
66742
North

Due to reverse in east Yard so the 73s will lead into the Docks.

Yesterday the usual swap of Siemens' units was 450567 in and 450086 out.

Two Test Trains in yesterday, 31233 with DBSO 9701 and top 'n' tailed 73201 and 73107.

455834 is nearing completion with the unit having been formed up yesterday and had it's front numbers applied this morning. It's due out Thursday evening with the next one due in early Friday morning.

07007 has been stood down for a couple of weeks for some much needed maintenance so recently completed 08650 is standing in as Works shunter.

Recent arrival is 57311, one of only two left in Virgin colours, which is already in the prep area in the Paintshop.

That's all for now.....

Convoy...

The big DRS convoy left yesterday afternoon, 47828 hauling 37409, 37607, 20303 (newly repainted), 20301, 20302 and 20304. Quite a sight seeing that lot leave. I believe the 20s are destined for an engineering job in the north east but don't shoot the messenger as they say!

The remaining class 20, 20305 was receiving a wash this morning.

31465 is stabled with the UTU4 Test Train and there are two 57s with the SITT awaiting its next duty.

455831 departed on 29th March having been completed. It's replacement, 455834, arrived first thing this morning.

450553 is the latest unit in for attention by Siemens.

Very quiet on the Underground front with nothing currently on site for disposal.

Cheers,
Carl.

Ins, Outs and Repaints

66416 has just arrived with wagons for repair from Maritime and will be departing with a batch of repaired wagons shortly.

47828 has arrived for minor cosmetic attention to one cab front and the grille modifications as per the 57s. 47828 came in with 47805 and a Northern Belle Mk2 (3267 BELVOIR) for overhaul. 47805 then departed with overhauled Mk2s 6117 and 6122, now in DRS Compass livery.

The other DRS Mk2 TSOs, 5871, 6001 and 6008 are also in DRS Compass livery as is BFK 17159. TSO 5810 and BSO 9525 are under overhaul and should be repainted in due course.

08650 has emerged from the Paintshop in Mendip Rail blue and awaits decals.

66739 has been completed in the revised GBRf livery and should be leaving soon, with new nameplates covered up.

Currently in the Paintshop is 20303, being repainted into DRS Compass livery.

47839 has been stood off alongside the Fareham line for the time being.

Until next time....

Walking around the site this morning....

I was walking round the site this morning and it struck me how many locos were here;

323 539-7 - Shunting Duties
323 674-2 - Awaiting Engine Repairs
01508 - Under Repair
07007 - Shunting Duties
08650 - In the Paint Shop
20301 - Stored
20302 - Stored
20303 - Stored
20304 - Stored
D6515 (33012) - Under Repair
47839 - Stored
50026 - Preserved
57002 - Under Repair
57301 - Stabled
57303 - Stabled
57305 - Stabled
57306 - Stabled
57310 - Stabled
57312 - Under Repair
E6005 (73005) - Preserved
73204 - Awaiting Repair
73212 - Stabled
35005 'CANADIAN PACIFIC' - Preserved

It's quite unusual to have all six NR 57s on site at the same time.

A NR Test Train is stabled, a single coach 977997 with a 57 at each end!

Also present was the SITT which had a 57 at one end and a 73 at the other.

455829 is nearing completion and is being reformed, as I type, ready for testing. It's due to depart on Monday.

Earlier today we had 66143 in on the trip from East Yard with a wagon for repair.

73119 has literally just arrived following it's little mishap in the holding sidings by the station earlier this week.

Cheers for now.....

How Time Flies.....

It's been a while since my last update, for which I apologise. There's always so much going on here it's a question of when do you stop and try and write it all down! I'll attempt to provide a round up of what's happened since Christmas (yes it has been that long!) and then I plan to put smaller posts with more of a 'what's happening right now' theme. I'm also hoping to add pictures to most posts but some activities are commercially sensitive so photos won't always be possible.

Big news in early January was the release of 57307 in base DRS blue and retaining it's LADY PENELOPE nameplates. The loco has since had vinyls applied that warn cable thieves that they are being watched. 57010 was also repainted in full DRS livery and both 57s departed behind 47818 on 4th January.

66718 visited in early January for repairs to its fuel tank.

Network Rail Test Trains continue to make regular visits for stabling and servicing with 31465, 57303 & 57312, 73119 & 73206, 73201 & 73107 all putting in appearances on these duties.

The GLVs and SITT rain have been regular visitors over the recent cold period, receiving maintenance and replenishment.

Several inches of snow fell across much of the country on the 18^th January with Eastleigh receiving about 4-5 inches, giving some interesting views including a good layer of snow on the Snow & Ice Treatment Train (SITT) top ‘n’ tailed by 57sand the many stored vehicles in the yard here.

Above is the view from my office window at about 8.30 am on 18th January.

 

31190 arrived to return 71000 ‘DUKE OF GLOUCESTER’ to Crewe on 24^th January.

Siemens continue to process two Class 450 units each week with changeovers on Tuesday and Friday. Those attending during January have been 450001, 109, 563, 564, 116, 545, 112, 549 and 107.

 

Wabtec have completed overhauls on 455809, 819 and 828 with 829 being the most recent arrival in early February.

Mk2 TSOs 5908 and 6136 have escaped the cutters torch for a short while as more parts are removed for re-use on other vehicles.

Overhauls of DRS Mk2 coaches (5971, 6001, 6008, 6117 and 6122) are nearing completion.

The two Arlington liveried Translators, 975974 and 975978, departed following maintenance behind 66719 on 9^th January.

The Speno Rail Grinder DR79221-226 departed after completion of maintenance at the beginning of January.

Stoneblowers DR80215 and DR80206 have been repainted and returned to traffic.

 

Docklands engineers wagon 996 has departed following overhaul. Removed by road on 14th and replaced by 998 which arrived by road the following day.

Freightliner wagons continue to arrive on a regular basis for repairs and maintenance with many FLAs, FSAs and FTAs and a few FEAs. 70009 made an appearance on the trip working from Maritime on 28th January.

 

Work continues on conversion of the extra two cars for the Tube Lines Asset Inspection Train (AIT), 3079 and 3179.

 

The last of the ex Shoeburyness 1972TS vehicles have now been disposed of; 3321, 3219, 4219, 4319 and 3319.

The only ex LU stock left on site for disposal are the two Standard Stock vehicles, 7281 (IoW 44) and L130. 7281 will be heading for the scrap line on Monday.

Also disposed of has been B168, the Niteq Mini Mover 1500-E battery shunter that came from Neasden.

Until next time......

The View from My Window

The weather may not be that good today but the view from my window over the Works yard is very interesting.

As well as the usual Class 508s, Mk2 DBSOs, and a diminishing number of ex-London Underground vehicles, I can see seven Class 57s, a Stoneblower and an MPV between de-icing duties. Oh, and not forgetting the workhorse of this place, the Class 07 shunter!

Five of the NR Class 57s are now on site with three arriving last night and one departing. 57301, 310 and 312 arrived late evening yesterday and 57305 departed to Tonbridge. 57303 is now outside, alongside the Fareham line, with 57306 in the middle of the yard, 57310 near the old Training School and 57301 and 312 on the fuelling point.  DRS 57002 is sat outside the Paintshop and 57010, having been repainted and had new wheelsets, is also alongside the Fareham line.

Just out of view from my window is 71000 DUKE OF GLOUCESTER, alongside the Fareham line.

Stoneblower DR80215 arrived earlier this week and work is already underway preparing it for repainting.

Also in the Paintshop is 57307, in the process of being transformed from red and silver into dark blue.

Mendip Rail 08650 is now on replacement wheels.

Siemens are working on 450001 and Wabtec are working on 455809 in their respective areas.

Wagons continue to come and go with 66534 collecting a rake of repaired FLAs, KFAs and a KTA yesterday.

The last C Stock vehicle on site (5532) is being processed and should be ready for scrapping very soon. There is one 1972TS DM that requires a bogie swap and then it too can go for scrap. That leaves us with four more 1972 vehicles and two Standards, one of which is ex-Isle of Wight no. 44.

That's all for now....

Have a great Christmas and a Happy New Year!