Deltic 55019 hums over Norden Common with an evening working going to Swanage.
..11 may 2013..
The pair of London-Transport liveried EE type-1's 20227/20189 roll slowly into Corfe Castle with an teatime train bound for Swanage. ..11 may 2013..
Final shot of the day (for me) was 55019 rolling into Corfe Castle Station past classmate D9009 that had spent the day giving cabrides up and down Corfe-Yard.Several more workings were due to run after this one plus the evening 'Beer-ex's' but regretfully by now the light was no longer really acceptable.
..11 may 2013..
A photograph now back on more familier ground! 20227 and 20189 plus the 4-VEP slowly pass the bracket signal on the approach to Harmons-Cross with a non-stop train from Swanage going to Corfe Castle (Next stop) then Norden.Amazing,even in lowish light the LT liveried 20227 shines out like a shaft of gold whilst all about is dark!
..11 may 2013..
31466 with its dual headboards ambles along the Swanage Railway heading for Norden.The gradient here certainly made this engine bark somewhat.Not the Lickey-Incline but still a fair old incline.By now the clouds had won the battle and the blue-ness above had departed and shortly after this working had passed so did we!
..11 may 2013..
The very faded red (Just like an old Vauxhall Astra or Corsa) 37521+4-VEP heads north away from Swanage towards Norden in weak sun.By this time (15:05) the thin cloud was taking its toll and the clear blue skies of a few hours ago were now just a fond memory. Still musn't grumble! Overall I fully expected the day to fizzle out about 10:30 so 15:00 was a bit of a miracle!
..11 may 2013..
This particular locomotive 31466 rarely escapes from its home railway at Lydney on the Dean Forest Railway.However here it is heading a Norden to Swanage working wearing its heritage? red and gold colours of the now defunct EWS company.This engine has the distinction of being the only '31' ever to get an official EWS paint job,specially applied for the Toton Open Day on 30/8/1998.Sadly that was also the day that the first GM's 66003/66004 and 66005 made their public debut as well. I was there to see it!
..11 may 2013..
Former ECML speed-king 55019 'Royal Highland Fusilier now in its 32nd year of preservation looks as good as new roaring through the Dorset countryside going to Norden from Swanage.It arrived here at the Swanage Railway along with 33108/31466 and 37521,all being hauled by fellow 'Deltic' D9009. Click HERE to see that movement.
..11 may 2013..
Well! What can I say,who would have though that 56 years after the original introduction on this class in 1957 that some would still be in regular use on the mainline in the UK in 2013.Ohers such as this pair have gone on to active use in the private sector.This pair being based and used occasionally by London-Transport for Test trains/special events etc.Naturally both have acquired paint jobs connected with their current user.20227 wears the current colours of the Underground Fleet in London whilst 20189 has acquired a 'L189' number in the LT fleet and wears the older traditional locomotive livery from a few years ago. Here they are in superb sunshine on a Swanage to Norden service under a largely clear blue sky.Stock again was formed using the 4-VEP 3419. ..11 may 2013..
EE Type-1 20142 with its incorrect report-number emerge from the tree lined shallow cutting heading for Swanage.The restoration standard of all three 20's present for this Gala was a credit to the owners.This particular example was built in May 1966 and lasted in service until 1993 (27 years).After rescue from the scapyard it has gone on to working on the CTRL in Kent on hire and now along with 20227 and 20189 resides in West-Ruislip LUL Depot. A nice loco.
..11 may 2013..
Now this was the most 'Southern' flavoured working of the day.Dual Crompton 33/1's hauling a set of coaches in the old green livery that was so common in this area many years ago.33111 and visiting 33108 making a fine sight ploughing along heading to Corfe Castle and Norden. Brilliant!
..11 may 2013..
Wearing its 'patina' of neglect 'English China Clays' 37521 heads for the sea at Swanage against a backdrop of a fairly nasty looking cloudbank.Somehow that lot missed us and we remained in the sunshine.4-VEP-3417 again forming the coaching stock.
..11 may 2013..
31466,the only '31' to ever make it into EWS colours whilst in service ambles through the Dorset countryside heading for Norden.There was a brief period around Noon when the sky was almost 'full-blue' in all directions so for a couple of hours photography of the passing trains was quite relaxing! (No glancing over your shoulder waiting for the inevitable floater).
..11 may 2013..
The incredibly faded ex-EWS 37521 from the Harry Needle fleet based at Barrow Hill performed faultlessly all day today despite its appearence.Here it is in deepest Dorset going towards Corfe Castle and Norden hauling the 4-VEP being used on this journey purely as coaching stock.
..11 may 2013..
BR-Blue 20142 rattles by with its set of southern-green Mk-1's heading for Corfe Castle and Norden.This was the first shot of a superb 3 hour session where the sun remained out for nearly 3 hours!
..11 may 2013..
3417 the 4-VEP heading for the sea is viewed near Harmons-Cross with an out of sight 33108 providing the power.Although these Class-423's were self-powered off the 3rd-rail they were also capable of 'Push-Pull'' operations using the southern based 33/1's as is shows here.
..11 may 2013..
The 4-VEP 3417 'Gordon Petitt' (423417) was being dragged by visiting Crompton 33108 towards Norden.Its return journey shortly afterwards would be in 'Push-Pull' mode with the Bagpipe-33 pushing but the train being controlled from the cab of 3417. These Class-423's finally became redundant on the mainline in 1995 with this one eventually passing into preservation,now being owned by the 'Bluebell Railway' but seemingly spending most of its time stored at Clapham-Junction.
..11 may 2013..
For me this pair of 'Gilded Lilies' were the stars of the weekend.Repainted in two variations of London-Transport colours 20227 and 20189 rattle towards Corfe Castle from the sea.No bright sun for this one but the condition of 20227 kinda makes up for that!
..11 may 2013..
BR-Blue 20142 clatters past Corfe Common on its set of southern-green stock.It is still bearing the same headcode '1K73' as it did when it arrived off the mainline from Clapham-Junction on the 7th of May. Click HERE to see that.
..11 may 2013..
This is one very faded 37! Here is 37521 'English China Clays' dragging the 4-VEP 3417 over Corfe-Common in pleasingly bright conditions going from Norden to Swanage.Plenty of Gorse out this year adding spots of colour!
..11 may 2013..
20142 with 33111 tucked inside for positioning purposes passes Corfe Common from the Swanage direction going to Norden.The wind driven clouds were very fast moving and several times it looked like 'game-over' for the blue sky but minutes later it was back again!
..11 may 2013..
First train of the day was this beast. 55019 roars over Corfe Common polluting the local atmoshere going to Swanage.The main question on everybodys mind was 'How long is the sun gonna last?' Well the answer was amazingly nearly 6 hours.This shot was recorded at 09:22 and the sky eventually gave way to overall cloud around 15:00......As usual the BBC got it completely wrong!