Eastleigh 31-12-2004
This is the last trip out for 2004. It wasn't one of the better ones but it proved okay as I managed to Kop 3 more 66's. Thats 7 in one week. Well the year has managed to turn out some sort of good.
First up 444020 @ Brockenhurst. We caught this as the 07:14 Poole to Soton but decided to get off at Brockenhurst after finding out the train wouldn't leave until 08:21, the time was about 07:50. We decided to catch a faster service into Southampton.
450075 Southampton Central.
221136 Draws into Southampton with a service for Bournemouth.
66140 draws away from platform 1 with the 6Y30 Fawley - Holybourne loaded petroleum tanks. These tanks have a 100 ton fuel carrying capacity. Defeinetley quite a few miles to the odd gallon.
Its a bit of a unit page today. Since the all new timetable change on December 12th 2004 there has been a lot more Class 450 & 444's Desiro's on what used to be slamdoor services. There were still some services being formed of slamdoor stock and most of these were 12 car ( 3 x 4 coaches) formations. 3408 has just worked into Platform 3 @ Eastleigh with a Waterloo to Portsmouth Harbour service.
Although it was New Years Eve a few bits of freight was still being moved around. Although some Engineering Trains were still running. 08465 shunts what looks to be an IWA van. From what I gather these are not a common site down these neck of the woods.
1395 has just turned up on a Waterloo - Southampton service. this was another 12 car formation.
66173 was stabled up in the yard until about mid morning where it then came down to the EWS depot.
66190 + 66218 came up from the Southampton direction (not sure of the original location) on a rake of departmental flat wagons carrying old track panels. These went right up to the back left of the yard. The 2 66's are seen making their way back to the depot.
66039 + 66188 + 66094 on the 0Y39 ??? service to Eastleigh. I am not sure where these came from. But seeing a triple header light engine (s) movement is becoming the norm these days.
66110 on a Eastleigh Depot - Fawley run. This had 3 fuel tanks behind and came from the depot to the yard to run round and then head off to Fawley Oil refienry. This is for the fuel that they use to top up the loco's at the depot. This consist passed us 4 times during our visit.
A rare visitor these days to Eastleigh are Wessex Trains. Here 153377 coasts through platform 1 and heads for the Romsey branch. This came back down about 15 minutes later from the Branch onto the Down fast..... it looked a bit weird seeing one coach whizz through.
Finally for 2004. Whilst waiting for our train to Poole 377111 prepares to leave Southampton Central with a Southern service to London Victoria.
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