A late afternoon jaunt to Eastleigh to try and photograph the DRS class 37 & 47 convoy, hoping for better luck than I encountered on Saturday at Havant. All turned out well; despite arriving about 2 hours late, it was worth it. Surprisingly few were there to capture the event, and the weather was splendid.

Don't be misled by the title of the collection - it's largely uncluttered by engineers' trains, of the three I was expecting, one was triple-headed, early, and had broken down at Havant, causing long delays which reulted in my train arriving in time for me to witness it leaving (too late); the second failed miserably to appear, and finally one turned up around 19.00 hrs behind 66011, I JUST managed to catch it at the station (I'd spent all afternoon on the footbridge by the crossing). FGW 150 233 was the only non-377/450 multiple unit at Havant....

My first trip to Southern Ireland (with a view to trains), travelling via Holyhead-Dun Laoghaire. A frosty couple of days, but a worthwhile and friendly visit; I enjoyed it so much, I decided to make further visits when it might be warmer. I did that, and it rained most of the time....

Off to Belgium & Holland for a few days over the 1989/90 new year, spending the event itself at a hotel in Namur, where we celebrated it twice - once in GMT, and in European time. Pity I wasn't drinking...
This was mainly a depot-visiting trip, in order to find the maximum number of locos & units at the minimum number of locations, since most of the locos/units were at rest. Sort of....
NS and SNCB depots (in the order of visits) were: Zwolle, Groningen, Kortrijk, Schaarbeek Diesel, Bertrix, Latour, Liege Kinkempois, Haine St Pierre, Ronet, St Ghislain, Monceau, Hasselt, Merelbeke, Antwerpen Dam, and Feijinoord. Lighting conditions at some locations were pretty dire, as a result, some of these photos (especially those at latour) leave a lot to be desired, but have been included if their rarity warrants; for instance, I've never seen any other photos of Latour depot!

The sight of the ten dumped narrow-gauge tank engines I found around the dual-gauge turntable at Regua when I visited on 20th May 1991 left a lasting impression on me; they were all still in situ a year later, and, although these visits have been partly covered in the Portuguese narrow-gauge collection elsewhere in the gallery, I felt that this rather sad spectacle deserved a collection of its own. The locomotives themselves are Henschel 2-4-6-0T's, built between 1911 and 1923. Positioning of the locos, for those interested, was (west to east, and south to north): E205, E204, E212, E208, E206, E202 + E201, and E209 + E215 + E210. The 150-ton dual-gauge turntable was constructed in 1923 by Joseph Vogel, Mannheim, Germany.
Here then, are a few photographs showing how it was at Regua in the summers of 1991/92. (The 1991 photos are first, then 1992).

A splendid day out at the Works open day, after a rainy start, the weather turned beautiful, and all was well with the world (with the notable exception of my lower extremeties). All credit to Knights Rail & all concerned with the highly successful event. There were the usual problems of waiting for everyone to get out of the bl**dy way, so (owing to eventually settling for 'oh well, there's only 3 now') there's a good chance that many of you may well find yourself here in this collection! There's also a few pics from Fareham, since the limitations of the Sunday bus service ensured I had a 45 minute wait there. A great day - now I can't walk....

More arrivals at/through Eastleigh today, so I made the effort again, much to the dismay of my legs, feet & back. Today's action included 6O41 from Westbury, hauled by 66030, 59001, 59103 & 59206; 0Z73 from Westbury: D1015 + 73006 (from the SVR); 5Z47 from Swanage with 37706 hauling 34070 + 34028 + M7 53 (30053); 5Z23 from Bournemouth: 3-CIG slammer 1497 (under it's own power, despite 73109 coming from Wimbledon yesterday to haul it); 73235 dashing to the rescue at Windsor; 66039 with 47799 & the last of the Old Oak ECS moves; three appearances by the Euroscout; First GBRf 66703 + 73201, and all the usual stuff, naturally. Of course, on a number of occasions I managed to be in the wrong place, and some trains got in the way at a crucial moment - none on purpose today, happily!
Sadly, I wasn't in good enough nick myself to go for the special workings on Saturday, but I'm off to the Open Day itself on Monday.

The run-up to Eastleigh Open Days, and a wealth of movements for the occasion; today's arrivals featured here were: 73109 from WD, 47580 with 33002, 20110 & D7612 from Buckfastleigh, 37706 with MN 35005, 41312 & LN 850 from the MHR, 66096 with 37422+37411 from the T & RSMD, which then teamed up with kettles 30287 & B4 96 and 08482 for the Works move, 37516 with Queen of Scots stock from Carnforth, and the Javelin move with 395 018. Plus lots of freight. Rest to be added later.
NOTE: Goodwill between railwaymen & enthusiasts took a severe poke in the ribs today; photographers on platform 1 at Eastleigh, patiently waiting for the 66/37/37/0298/B4/08 convoy to move from P3 to the works were livid when the driver & laughing friend of 2B91 16.38 Winchester-Totton unanimously won the Ar*ho*es of the Year award by waiting for the convoy to move before departing (3 minutes late), and going as slow as possible on purpose so that the DMU (158 889) was in the way, preventing those on P1 from dong what they'd been waiting ages to do. Very funny I'm sure, but lacking in any thought for public relations. What a prat.

A nice day for going to the New Forest! "Tangmere" was the target at St Denys, then the Lymington 'slammer' (unfortunately it was blue & grey 1497 again), then back to Eastleigh to catch 37706 with the return charter. I managed to stop off at a few places, so a few photos from new locations at Swanwick and Ashurst (New Forest (formerly Lyndhurst Road), plus Fareham, St Denys, Southampton Central, Brockenhurst, Lymington Town & Pier, and Eastleigh. Thanks to Mick Rowland for the train info.

Having not managed to see last week's 47/50/50/37 convoy, I thought I'd better make the effort today, since 58001 was coming to Eastleigh, 58009 was LEAVING Eastleigh, and DRS 37423 was making an appearance at Southampton with inspection saloon 975025 "Caroline". A worthwhile day, with STACKS of freight workings! Many thanks as usual to Mick Rowland for the train info.

A small collection of photos taken whilst going to the Brijan open day at Botley; since it was a Sunday service, trains don't feature heavily here, but it was an opportunity to capture some aspects of Botley station & it's approaches, also to update the progress of the new lifts/bridge being built at Fareham.

An afternoon spent popping up to Botley for the Brijan Buses Open Day, where a variety of vehicles were on display.

This year's selection of aeroplane photos, taken from railway stations (mostly Eastleigh) when all else failed. I know nothing of aircraft, so if anyone wants to let me know what any of these big silver birds are, I'll be happy to add the information.

No apologies for yet another set of photos from Eastleigh; I WAS going to take pics of 70013 "Oliver Cromwell" at Botley, but would have been stuck there for ages, missing other stuff at Eastleigh, with nothing moving again through Botley until the next Eastleigh train. Just as well; it was packed, and never made the 13 minute stop! Caught it at Eastleigh there and back, although the sun (as usual) didn't play nicely. Not a lot else going on, certainly not loco-wise - DB Schenker 66152 cleared off before I had a chance to take a photo, so just 2 EWS 66's & 08482 about. LOTS of 444s though, and a PAIR of Voyagers together.

Another afternoon at Eastleigh, this time with the intention of catching 'Western' class diesel D1015 "Western Champion" taking a stoneblower from Bristol to Southampton for export. I just managed to arrive in time, then waited about two and a half hours for the light loco return move to Eastleigh T & RSMD. Lots of freight action, and a surprise light engine move by EWS 37406 made my day! Also present were 08482, 09019, 47712 (outside Works - no pic), the usual 66/0 & 66/5 (including 66152 in DB Schenker red livery), Hanson 59104 on stone, and EWS 67001 working the 'Javelin' barriers to Southampton from East Yard. Plus the same old stream of units... Thanks as usual to Mick Rowland for the train info.

Not sure of the exact date, but this was the Summer of 1989, and well over 100 vehicles were on display. Here's some of the photographs I've dug out so far; more may very well appear in the fullness of time....

So far, I've only visited this line once, and here are the results, all taken on the same day, 2th June 1988. More photos will be added as they come to hand.

The only visit I've made to the KWVR was way back - 23rd March 1989. Here's my collection of photos from the occasion. Unfortunately, I didn't take any pics of the very dreadful B & B/pub in Keighley that we had to stay in...
More photos will be added as I stumble across them.

A pleasant afternoon spent in the wilds of remote Hampshire, in order to catch Hastings class 201 'Thumper' 1001, plus a few of the diverted trains unable to travel between Southampton Airport & Central. Four freights & a few Voyagers here, plus a wealth of SW & FGW 158s, and a couple of 150/2s. Only two EMU photos, just for a change! Thanks as ever to Mick Rowland for the train info.

A glorious afternoon for pootling around on trains; it just so happened that the National Measurement Train was also out for an extended pootle in my neck of the woods, so I had to give it a go. Photos of the NMT taken at Hilsea, Fratton & Havant, plus all the usual units from these stations, plus just a few more from Portsmouth Harbour, Portsmouth & Southsea, and Bedhampton. Thanks as usual to Mick Rowland for the train info.

Well. it's finally going to happen - the railway line from Fareham to Gosport is reportedly being lifted during April, so I thought I'd try & capture what's left for posterity. Most of the vegetation has been cleared in readiness for track removal, so the line is, for a limited time, visible again, after being left to run amuck for about 16 years. I've photographed most sections from Rowner to Bridgemary, I fear the walk north from there to Fareham is beyond my old legs' capabilities. I'll be adding other (long abandoned sections) during the next few weeks.
The impending end of railways in the town comes as no surprise; the history of the line, which closed to passengers in 1953, with goods traffic ending in 1969, is a rather dismal affair. Gosport, now with a population of around 77,000, is by far the largest town in England (at least) without a direct rail link, in fact, it's not even possible to get a bus from Gosport TO a railway station, unless you count the ferry ride to Portsmouth (not useful or cost effective if travelling west). The bus station at Fareham is about a quarter of a mile from the station; traffic jams in & out of Gosport at (especially) peak times are truly horrendous, and the long term solution to this problem has been to build endless flats & estates within the town. Classic. This will be a pretty miserable collection...
***STOP PRESS***
Work has now started at Gosport station, whereby much of what's left will soon vanish as the 'interesting bits' will be incorporated into a housing/office complex; pictures of the site taken on 23rd June show a JCB at work clearing the Fareham end of the yard. On the other hand, the trackwork at Holbrook & Bedenham I hurried to photograph in March was still in place on 26th June, and weeds are once again taking a grip.

A few days messing around abroad, starting with Belgium, then Holland, followed by Belgium again. Depots visited in Belgium were Merelbeke, St Ghislain, Ronet, Antwerpen Dam, Hasselt, Liege Kinkempois, Stockem, Stockem Yard SP, Haine St Pierre, and Monceau. In Holland, depots are rather sparce, so the only visit was to Fejinoord (twice), the rest involved a lot of travel on NS. Many more photos will be added to this collection.

A comprehensive day in Belgium, involving night ferries from Dover to Oostende & return. Depots visited were Liege Kinkempois, Ronet, Monceau, and Antwerpen Dam. More photos will be added as & when circumstances permit.

A short jaunt to Belgium with Roger Morris to coincide with the annual Bus, Tram & Train weekend, where a two day ticket for all three modes of transport was cheap enough to allow for 1st class travel. Photos include visits to the SNCB depots at Kortrijk, Ronet, Antwerpen Dam, St Ghislain, and Monceau.

My first solo trip to France (and Luxembourg), outward via Dover-Calais, returning via Oostende, so although this is essentially a French adventure, a few photos will appear later which I took at Brussels Midi-Sud. The French depots visited (at which I was able to take photos) were Calais Ville SP, Lille Fives SP, La Delivrance SP, Valenciennes SP, Aulnoye, Lens, Metz, Thionville, Mohon, and Paris La Villette; also the CFL depot at Luxembourg. More colour slides will begin to be added soon.

A two day trip around France on 14th & 15th February 1991. There was an awful lot of snow about, culminating in a blizzard at Nevers. Depot visits were made at Amiens, Longueau, Chalindrey, Lyon Mouche, Vennissieux and Nevers, plus a few others where it was too dark for photography. Colour slides will be added to this collection during 2009.

Off to Eastleigh again, in order to catch a couple of ECS moves (of which only one materialized), then to Southampton for 'bubblecar' 960 012's last main line outing, from Salisbury to Bournemouth TRSMD; (then it will be going to the Swanage Railway by road). It SNOWED....
Thanks as ever to Mick Rowland for: A) the train info, B) dinner, and C) a very welcome sit down. My legs haven't aged at all well....

This year's crop of things with wheels which don't run on tracks, ie buses, coaches, fire appliances, commercial vehicles, cars etc.

Steam in Portsmouth! I took a ferry trip from Gosport to get some photos of 34067 at Fratton, and made a day of it (well, the weather WAS glorious), visiting Cosham and Hilsea, as well as the usual haunts of Portsmouth Harbour and Portsmouth & Southsea. Managed to travel in ATW 150 278 (ATW???) between Fratton & the town station! Thanks as usual to Mick Rowland for train info.

I dashed off from Fareham to Eastleigh in order to capture a badly needed 60049, plus 67006 with ECS. Bit gloomy, but plenty of action, including 4-JOP EMU 8020 and a good few freights. I went on to Winchester, where I managed to capture 66729 on the last booked gypsum working to Southampton; light wasn't good enough for anything moving fast, so it was back to Eastleigh. Thanks as ever to Mick Rowland for the train info.