Fleet Steam

Home | Fleet Steam Main Index | Links | Locomotive Histories

Main Line 2008

Here is the listing of Main Line Steam Images for 2008

2008 Main Line Train Index - Click on a Locomotive from the list below to preview the images.  Then click on a thumbnail to enlarge.

4965 Culham 15 March 2008
151kb

15 March 2008
Hauling the '4965 Adieu' tour 4965 Rood Ashton Hall heads slowly through Culham station on the return leg of this tour from Solihull to Didcot on a very wet day in Oxfordshire.  Part of the canopy with supports is visible on the left of this image, part of the original Brunel station which has been recently restored.  Behind the footbridge we can make out the original road bridge and in the distance part of the new road bridge.  Following this trip 4965 was due to be withdrawn from main line service for overhaul at Tyseley Locomotive Works.
 
As 4965 passes the locomotive opens up and you can listen to the action on Sound 2008 here.

34067 Fleet 17 April 2008
160kb

17 April 2008
34067 Tangmere pounds through Fleet on the 'down fast' in typical fashion with plenty of 'clag'.  A local service for Basingstoke is just pulling along the platform behind 34067 blocking the 'sunny side' view.  34067 was heading a 'Cathedrals Express' tour from London Waterloo to Bristol and return.

34067 Esher 19 April 2008
155kb
34067 esher 19 April 2008
145kb

19 April 2008
Hauling the 'Queens of Scots' coaching stock 34067 Tangmere heads past Esher with this private charter in the first of these two views.  The tour started at nearby Weybridge heading for Canterbury.  The tour would return to London Victoria.
 
The second view has 34067 hidden by its own exhaust but gives a better (if smokey) view of the unique stock.  Bringing up the rear of the train is Class 73 ED no 73136.

34067 Fleet 09 July 2008
169kb

09 July 2008
On a day of torrential rain right across the South, 34067 Tangmere heads through Fleet on the 'fast' with the returning 'Sunny South Special'.  In the gloom of the late evening and damp, miserable conditions the irony of the headboard stands out as 34067 passes by.  However, despite the conditions 34067 is on time and obviously on top form.  The rest of the trip ran smoothly as the loco was reported on time at its final destination, London Waterloo.  The trip had originated at Clapham Junction as was headed for Weymouth. 

34067 Frimley Green 07 August 2008
212kb
34067 Guildford 07 August 2008
138kb

07 August 2008
The first view here is a location we have visited before with 34067 Tangmere.  34067 has just passed under the Basingstoke Canal at Frimley Green with this 'Cathedrals Express' tour from London Waterloo to Salisbury and return.  The loco is about to pass the site of now disused and dismantled Sturt Lane Junction which connected with the (still operational) Aldershot - Camberley line. 
Second, we see 34067 on the return leg as it leaves Guildford in the late evening heading for Woking and London Waterloo.  The return had run via Romsey, Havant and Haslemere.
 
Despite an awkward and busy vantage point we surprisingly get some noise on Sound 2008 here.

34067 Beaconsfield 29 November 2008
162kb
34067 Beaconsfield 29 November 2008
159kb

29 November 2008
On a cold and damp night at Beaconsfield, we catch 34067 Tangmere during a brief pause with a 'Cathedrals Express' tour from Chester to London Paddington.  The outward leg had been hauled by a Class 47 diesel in the morning.  34067 has pulled right through the platform at Beaconsfield giving only these slightly obscured views of the train.
 
Despite much 'action' in the car park, we manage some good sound on a spirited and quite spectacular departure on Sound 2008 here.

6233 Whiteball 01 June 2008
156kb
6233 Whiteball 01 June 2008
160kb
6233 Whiteball 01 June 2008
156kb

01 June 2008
Yet another desperately dull and damp day for us finds us at Whiteball on the Devon/Somerset border.  6233 Duchess of Sutherland heads this 'Locomotive Exchange Special' for 'Steam Dreams' running form London Waterloo to Exeter.  The return leg was headed by 60019 Bittern.  The first of these three views sees 6233 in fine form as it tackles the climb in an albeit rather unsatisfactory shot.  Next, we get a better look at the locomotive as it heads past our vantage point.  Lastly, 6233 heads for the top of this 1/80 stretch of climb a short distance away. 
 
We do get a rather short clip of sound from the climb which you can listen to on Sound 2008 here.

6233 Princes Risborough 19 July 2008
176kb

19 July 2008
It's late in the evening as 6233 Duchess of Sutherland heads slowly through Princes Risborough with this 'Cathedrals Express' tour from London Paddington to Chester and return. The outward leg was hauled by Class 47 no 47245 with 6233 taking charge for the return leg. On the left is the now disused North signal box with the line for Oxford just visible between 6233 and the signal box. The listed signal box fell into disuse when the signalling was taken over by the main centre at Marylebone. The signal box is now a listed building in the care of the Chinnor and Princes Risborough Railway.  Some drama out of shot here as the 20:41 to Birmingham arrives at Platform 3 as 6233 comes into view, completely 'bowling' a sizable crowd on that platform.
 
We do get a short clip of sound from 6233 as it accelerates through the station and on towards the top of the climb at Saunderton on Sound 2008 here.

6233 Farnborough 30 July 2008
262kb
6233 Albury 30 July 2008
227kb

30 July 2008
In the first view here 6233 Duchess of Sutherland heads along the Guildford - Reading line near to Farnborough North in an extremely rare working for a 'Princess Coronation' Class locomotive along this stretch.  6233 was heading the outward leg of a 'Cathedrals Express' tour from London Victoria to Oxford.  In a iconic moment for main line steam in this area 6233 is about to pass under the old London and South Western Railway line (now South West Trains) running across the bridge in the distance.
Second, we see 6233 as it thunders through the Surrey Hills on the return leg climbing towards Gomshall.  What was a promising location in April 2006 has now become overgrown and very difficult to reach.  We see the loco partially obscured by the line side vegetation in fading evening light.  6233 is really powering along here though and the trip was worth the sound recording on Sound 2008 here.

6233 Winchfield 13 August 2008
168kb
6233 Winchfield 13 August 2008
187kb

13 August 2008
Another typical 'Sunny South Special' day with strong winds and rain for this trip from Clapham Junction to Weymouth and return hauled by 6233 Duchess of Sutherland.  Stopped at Winchfield on the outward leg for a water stop we first see the crew checking the levels and some good cab detail.  Second, a look at 6233 as it waits beside the platform canopy shortly before departure.
 
We get some good close up sound as the loco gets underway from Winchfield, plus some action from the return leg on Sound 2008 here.

6233 Ascot 20 August 2008
154kb

20 August 2008
A final 'look' at 6233 Duchess of Sutherland on its short and very welcome tour of trips with 'Steam Dreams'.  6233 stands at Ascot watched by a lone enthusiast during a water stop on the return leg of this 'Cathedrals Express' tour from Clapham Junction to Exeter.  The return trip was heading for London Victoria.   
 
Despite a very busy and noisy station we manage some interesting sound on Sound 2008 here.

60007 Woolhampton 03 July 2008
156kb
60007 Woolhampton 03 July 2008
177kb

03 July 2008
Two views here and a first look at A4 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley.  60007 heads west at Woolhampton with this 'Cathedrals Express' tour from London Victoria to Bristol and return.  
 
60007 is following a service train and appears to be being checked by adverse signals at this point.  We get some sound from the trip though on Sound 2008 here.

60007 Cholsey 03 December 2008
186kb

03 December 2008
An extremely rare sunlit view (for 2008) as A4 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley heads north near Cholsey with 'Cathedrals Express' tour from London Waterloo to Bristol and return.  The return leg was bound for London Victoria. 
 
60007 is running well in high gear and even on a still day no real sound from the trip. 

60007 nr Dorking 11 December 2008
149kb

11 December 2008
60007 Sir Nigel Gresley pounds through the Surrey Hills below Ranmore Common on a dreary December day with a 'Cathedrals Express' tour from London Victoria to Oxford and return. 
 
Another luckless sound day though with a helicopter overhead and 60007 in fairly muted form.  We do manage to salvage some sound from the return run which you can find on Sound 2008 here.

60019 nr Woolhampton 16 July 2008
206kb

16 July 2008
On a virtually cloudless morning in Berkshire, we manage to find one near Woolhampton for our first look at A4 Class 60019 Bittern as it thunders by with a 'Cathedrals Express' tour.  60019 was heading from London Victoria to Bristol and return.  Depicted here on the outward leg, this recently restored loco shows barely a wisp of steam but is fairly flying along and makes a fine sight despite the cloudy conditions.

70013 Fleet 11 September 2008
191kb

11 September 2008
A rather overcast and gloomy morning at Fleet is brightened by the somewhat astonishing sight of 'Britannia' Class Pacific (4-6-2) 70013 Oliver Cromwell.  Pounding through the station on the 'fast', 70013 was heading the outward leg of a Cathedrals Express tour from London Waterloo to Bristol.  70013 hauled the final steam train for British Railways on 11 August 1968 before been withdrawn as part of the national collection.  70013 has recently been restored to main line running standard and is seen here on one its first trips following the overhaul. 
 
Listen as 70013 makes some noise departing Woking on the return leg on Sound 2008 here.

70013 Farnborough 14 September 2008
199kb

14 September 2008
On a bright Sunday morning at Farnborough 70013 Oliver Cromwell speeds by on the 'down fast' on the outward leg of a Cathedrals Express tour from London Waterloo to Exeter.  As some of the crew enjoy the scene we see part of the fine 'down' side station architecture behind the loco in this partially panned shot.  Note also the water streaming form the injector overflow below the cab.
 
70013 was enjoyed by many on the London bound platform awaiting the 9.38 to London Waterloo and you can listen to 70013 powering by on Sound 2008 here.

5029 Guildford 27 September 2008
109kb
5029 Guildford 27 September 2008
190kb
Photters 5029 Guidford 27 September 2008
150kb

27 September 2008
Recently overhauled 5029 Nunney Castle makes a very welcome return to 'Fleet Steam' hauling the return leg of the 'Mid-Hants Explorer'.  Following a short visit to the Mid-Hants Railway, 5029 was heading this leg of the tour from Guildford to Solihull.  5029 would then return to its normal home at Tyseley Locomotive Works.  A very busy location as seen from the lower photograph with many photographers waiting, along with some curious students from nearby Guildford University, for the train.
The first view catches 5029 getting underway from Guildford.  The exhaust towers away into the sky as a Waterloo bound set of two 450's heads alongside the loco.
Next we see the loco much closer to our position, heading through this busy junction.
 
Rather surprisingly we manage to get a reasonable sound recording despite the crowd which is on Sound 2008 here.
 
 
 
 

30777 Twyford 11 October 2008
187kb

11 October 2008
Making a first visit to (nearly) Southern metals in 2008 is 30777 Sir Lamiel.  Heading this 'Cathedrals Express' trip from London Waterloo to Gloucester and return, 30777 thunders through a busy Twyford Station on the outward leg of the trip.  Outside in the car park, close to the noise of 30777, the service trains and HSTs, a lone Red Kite circled silently overhead.  An amazing scene.
 
In the evening 30777 had a booked stop at Maidenhead.  However, the loco passed straight through so we have no record of that run.

30777 Maidenhead 15 October 2008
181kb

15 October 2008
Following on from the missed stop at Maidenhead on the evening of the 11th (above), 30777 did indeed stop as scheduled the following Wednesday 15th.  Pausing for barely a minute we have just enough time to catch a glimpse of the loco before it continues its journey.  30777 was returning to London Waterloo following a trip to Stratford-upon-Avon.  The tour had originated at London Victoria.
 
On departure, 30777 crept quietly out of Maidenhead.  All the modern units, including a Class 59 freight working, generated much more noise than this 1925 built locomotive hauling around 10 coaches.  A fine performance for this wonderfully restored locomotive.  Unfortunately, the sound recording doesn't have much action and I haven't included the recording this time.

30777 Salisbury 09 December 2008
161kb

09 December 2008
A rather impromptu (tripod-less) view of 30777 Sir Lamiel standing in a siding at Salisbury30777 is preparing to collect its train from the opposite, eastern end of the station before returning to London Waterloo with a 'Cathedrals Express' tour.

30777 Battledown 18 December 2008
164kb

18 December 2008
Another dreary day is lifted by the sight of 30777 Sir Lamiel pounding beneath the impressive Battledown Flyover near Basingstoke.  30777 was heading a 'Cathedrals Express' trip from London Waterloo to Sherborne and return.

5043 Taplow 13 December 2008
182kb

13 December 2008
Recently restored to main line running order from scrapyard condition, 5043 Earl of Mount Edgcumbe makes a fine sight at Taplow despite the gloomy weather.  5043 was heading this 'Vintage Trains' trip from Birmingham Snow Hill to London Kensington Olympia and return.
 
A brief clip of sound from 5043 on Sound 2008 here.

All images and sound are © D Swan unless stated.