'Black 5' No. 45212 - 5 December 2017

A welcome visitor from the north, recently overhauled 'Black 5' No. 45212 heads this 'Cathedrals Express' trip from Alton to Bath.  45212 is seen approaching Aldershot for a brief stop.  45212 left the trip at Salisbury on the return but signal problems near Bath left the train running over 2 hours late.

 Some sound to listen to over on Soundcloud here.

Merchant Navy Class No. 35028 Clan Line - 5 July 2017

Making a wonderful sight at Winchfield, 35028 Clan Line heads 'The Bournemouth Belle' from London Waterloo.

'Black 5s' Nos. 44871 & 45407 5212 - 14 December 2016

Some late winter afternoon sun for 'Black 5s' Nos. 44871 & 45407 heading down grade at Micheldever with a 'Cathedrals Express' trip from Ashford International to Winchester.

LMS Princess Class No. 6201 Princess Elizabeth - 22 October 2016

A diesel free trip for 6201 Princess Elizabeth made the late night trip to Reading worthwhile in this audio recording on Soundcloud.  Just click the link below:

6201 Reading 

LMS Princess Class No. 6201 Princess Elizabeth - 15 October 2016

A long journey behind a diesel for passengers on this 'The Spirit Of The Lakes' trip from Doncaster to Salisbury.  6201 Princess Elizabeth joined for the last part of the tour from Hanwell to Salisbury and is seen here at Worting Junction near Basingstoke on a fine day in Hampshire.

LMS Royal Scot Class No. 46115 Scots Guardsman - 19 July 2016

Another visit to Winchfield on a hot and humid summer evening.  Given the conditions there was little to expect from 46115 but a 'Royal Scot' is an incredibly rare visitor to the south.  46115 is depicted during a brief stop and was returning to London from Weymouth:

LMS Jubilee Class 6P No. 45699 'Galatea' - 9 July 2016

On a humid evening at Winchfield, 45699 hammers through the station with the returning 'End of Southern Steam' tour from Weymouth.

LMS Jubilee Class 6P No. 45699 Galatea - 5 June 2016

A sunny weather forecast did not materialise for 'The Cambrian Coast Express' and Galatea.  45699 hauled the first day of this four day tour as far as Shrewsbury having departed from Paddington.  45699 is seen here on good form though at Saunderton.

LNER A3 Class No. 60103 Flying Scotsman - 29 May 2016

A dreary morning in west London sees another trip for Flying Scotsman, again heading for Salisbury and seen here at Iver.  60103 is just cruising here due to concern about the locomotive fitting some of platforms on this route.  No problem here though although a member of the crew is checking the road ahead.  Note also the poles to carry the catenary for electrification of the line in the future:

LNER A3 Class No. 60103 Flying Scotsman - 21 May 2016

An truly dreadful evening in Basingstoke with driving rain and strong winds.  Despite the conditions a large crowd has gathered to see recently overhauled Flying Scotsman.  Running around 15 minutes late, 60103 is seen here getting away from Basingstoke following a water stop.  However, we learned later that the locomotives injectors had failed and for much of the remaining trip the Class 47 Diesel at the rear was required.  60103 was returning to London Paddington following a trip to Salisbury.

Some sound too on Soundcloud here.  

By way of a contrast, here is the same locomotive in January 2004 at Fleet Station, the last time we saw Flying Scotsman before its lengthy and complicated (and expensive) overhaul:

 

A1 No. 60163 Tornado - 14 February 2016

A fine morning in Slough for ‘The Red Rose’ Valentine’s day trip for 60163 Tornado from London Paddington to Worcester and return.  60163 makes a fine sight getting away from a short stop at the station having had a delayed departure from Paddington:

Some sound to listen to over on Soundcloud here.

'Black 5' No. 45407 - 19 December 2015

With motive power rather thin on the ground in the south, 45407 was moved from its Bury base to cover some tours.  Here the 'Black 5' makes good progress across the pond at Fleet with a trip to Salisbury:

'B1' 61306 Mayflower - 24 September 2015

A wet morning is just giving way to little sun as 61306 'Mayflower' makes a fine departure from Guildford.  This 'Cathedrals Express' trip was heading to Worcester having earlier departed fron West Brompton.

Some sound to listen to over on Soundcloud here.

'Black 5' no. 45231 - 28 July 2015

A trip to the wild uplands of The Pennines for ‘Black 5’ no. 45231 with 'The Dalesman'. It is a very wet day indeed, in torrential rain it’s a struggle keeping our equipment dry as we scramble across boggy ground to our location at Ais Gill Viaduct on the Settle-Carlisle Railway. The whole of Mallerstang Common is shrouded in low cloud but we have a good view of the line and only just manage to set up before we see the exhaust from 45231 on the 1/100 climb towards the summit a short distance behind us. Despite the rain it is a calm day with just a very light breeze as we pick up the sound of 45231 against the backdrop of rushing falls at Ais Gill. With 11 coaches attached and a damp road this is a good test for a ‘5’ but 45231 is on great form and there is only a hint of a slip as the loco approaches. 45231 makes a wonderful spectacle as it hammers across the viaduct and away towards the summit.  45231 was returning to Hellifield following a trip to Carlisle. The section between York and Hellifield was diesel hauled.  

 

Listen to 45231 on the climb on Soundcloud here.

61306 Mayflower - 04 June 2015

B1 61306 Mayflower works through Longcross with this 'Cathedrals Express' to Bath and Bristol.  61306 is working well here on a fine a morning, but having inexplicably packed the wrong equipment we can't bring you any sound!

46233 Duchess of Sutherland - 23 May 2015

LMS Coronation Class 46233 Duchess of Sutherland has just crossed the River Thames heading north towards Culham and Oxford.  46233 was returning to Derby following a trip to Didcot.  On the left of the picture is the distinctive spire of the Church of St Peter and St Paul, Appleford.

61306 Mayflower - 01 April 2015

Another day out for the busy B1 Class No. 61306 Mayflower.  This 'Cathedrals Express' trip ran from Oxford to Kingswear and 61306 is seen here on outward leg hammering along toward Thatcham on a bright morning.

On the return leg we catch up with the 'B1' at Theale and you can listen to the sound on Soundcloud here.

61306 Mayflower - 01 March 2015

B1 No. 61306 Mayflower catches some early sun as it gets away from Slough with this 'Cathedrals Express' trip from London Paddington to Cardiff.

61306 makes some good sound too which you can listen to on Soundcloud here.

61306 Mayflower - 14 February 2015

A busy day for Class 47 no. 47580.  47580 was at the rear of LNER B1 61306 Mayflower for this circular tour from London Victoria via Guildford and Eastleigh.  The Class 47 seemed to do much of the work all day as we catch the trip at a couple of locations.  First, deep in the South Downs at Buriton near Buriton Tunnel:

Later, we see 61306 again following a water stop at a rain soaked Basingstoke:

16 December 2014

'Blacks 5s' 44871 & 45407 sweep through Newbury with this 'Cathedrals Express' trip for Bath and Bristol.

 A rather flawed sound recording is available on Soundcloud here.

Also running on this day was 34067 Tangmere with a trip from London Victoria to Yeovil Junction.  The return leg was run mostly after dark but you can listen to 34067 climbing away from Sherborne over on Soundcloud here.