January 2025
165113 arrive Guildford, 1O73 14.24 Reading to Gatwick Airport (15 late), passing 165104 departing with 1V52 14.29 Gatwick Airport - Reading (started Redhill). 30 January 2025.
455868 + 455721 depart Guildford, 2G46 15.04 Guildford - Waterloo via Cobham. 30 January 2025.
Wimbledon West Junction - 30 January 2025
70007 up Worting Junction, 4M55 08.32 Southampton MCT - Lawley Street. 30 January 2025.
220031 + 221127 up Worting Junction, 1M34 08.40 Bournemouth - Manchester Piccadilly. 30 January 2025.
159007 + 159011 up Worting Junction, 1L28 07.25 Exeter SD - Waterloo. 30 January 2025.
66757 + 66783 + 69003 up Worting Junction, 0Y48 09.01 Eastleigh East Yard - Hoo Junction. 30 January 2025.
66708 up Worting Junction, 6M26 08.55 Eastleigh East Yard - Mountsorrell. 30 January 2025.
159104 + 159006 up Worting Junction, 1L26 06.40 Exeter SD - Waterloo. 30 January 2025.
444030 + 444008 up Worting Junction, 1T26 07.55 Portsmouth Harbour - Waterloo. 30 January 2025.
450093 + 444031 up Worting Junction, 1B24/1W94 06.55 Weymouth / 07.20 Poole - Waterloo (join Southampton. 30 January 2025.
What a load of old rubbish at Dawlish on the morning of 29 January 2025! First time the Biffa Class 66 No. 66783 ventured to the west, so I had to try and get something of it, trouble was at 08.00 it was still almost dark, so 25000ISO came to to the rescue. 66783 The Flying Dustman'leads engineering train 6G75, 05.30 Goonbarrow Junction to Westbury out of Kennaway Tunnel, Dawlish. The train had been involved with Newquay line engineering work.
With all the bad weather we had in January 2025, I was amazed that we had sun for the working of the week on 28 January 2025. After delivering Class 175 set No. 175009 to Laira, the ROG delivery train Class 37/9 No. 37901, barriers 6346 and 6344, with 37510 on the rear formed train 5W97, 09.54 Laira depot to Landore depot, captured approaching Dawlish station.
A nice unusual visitor to the Dawlish Sea Wall on 21 January 2025 was GB Railfreight Class 57/3 No. 57306 which worked down to Exeter St Davids and then formed movement 0Z06 12.12 Exeter St Davids to Plymouth station as part of a movement to Long Rock depot for attention to wheels, axles and axle boxes. Long Rock has the expertise in this area having done like work on their own Class 57/6s. The loco is seen approaching Kennaway Tunnel.
Various Class 398 sets at Taffs Well depot, including No. 398012, 398013, 398020 plus others. 20 January 2025.
231011 at Treherbert, 2F42 15.12 Treherbert - Cardiff Central 20 January 2025.
231011 arrive at Pontypridd, 2T30 14.00 Cardiff Central - Treherbert. 20 January 2025.
231011 arrive at Pontypridd, 2F32 12.42 Treherbert - Cardiff Central. 20 January 2025.
231011 arrive at Pontypridd, 2F32 12.42 Treherbert - Cardiff Central. 20 January 2025.
150231 approach Abercynon, 1A22 10.08 Merthyr Tydfil - Aberdare. 20 January 2025.
Stadler Class 756 - TfW
16 January 2025 was another farce day for the Great Western 'Night Riveria' operation. The down train 1C50 headed by 57605 failed at Taunton and was assisted forward to Exeter St Davids by West Coast 57601 which with 47832 was in the area. The sleeper terminated at Exeter and passengers taken forward on a 150/158 combination. Now dumped in platform 6 at Exeter, at one time a pair of power cars were going to come from Laira to assist the 57 to Long Rock but in the end 57603 was sent light from Reading depot to Exeter. The train eventually worked forward as 5Z00 13.19 Exeter St Davids to Long Rock led by 57603 and 57605. Seen passing Dawlish Warren.
Friday 10 January 2025, was the first booked visit of the year to the west for the NMT, but as the set of out of service, the stand in set PLPR formed 43303, 6264, 5981, 977983, 5911 and 43274 operated the train. It worked as 1Q18, 05.00 Reading Triangle to Paignton via Bristol, Penzance and Dawlish Warren. The Dawlish Warren to Paignton leg is seen approaching Kennaway Tunnel, Dawlish, led by Colas branded, mauve No. 43274.
On Friday 10 January 2025, the first booked visit of the year to the west for the NMT, but as the set of out of service, the stand in set PLPR formed 43303, 6264, 5981, 977983, 5911 and 43274 operated the train. It worked as 1Q18, 05.00 Reading Triangle to Paignton via Bristol, Penzance and Dawlish Warren. The Penzance to Dawlish Warren leg is seen approaching Dawlish station, led by Colas branded No. 43303.
With such few locos seen on the South Devon sea wall these days, even a tatty West Coast 47 stirs some interest. 47848 passes Dawlish on 9 January 2025, working as 0Z47 10.38 Southall WCRC to Totnes via Plymouth, to collect the four Mk1s used on the South Devon Railway for Christmas trains. the 47 returned with the stack as 5Z47 18.10 Totnes to Carnforth.
First railway picture of 2025, with a loco out the front window is always a bonus. 57603 emerges from Kennaway Tunnel on 4 January 2025 with train 5Z57 11.45 Penzance Long Rock to Reading Depot, formed of the Riviera Sleeper stock.