34028 and going Main Line

I've been told, by a usually reliable source, that D6515 Lt Jenny Lewis RN will haul 34028 Eddystone to Southall. I believe 34028 was due to be in steam today (Monday) for more running-in/snagging/mileage accumulation trips. I don't know if any runs have been made, with the railway's [3 or 4?] dual braked Mk1 coaches, to check the air pump is working satisfactorily but hope so.

Previously sidelined 'Black 5' 45212, with a hot tender axle box at Weymouth, was repaired at Riley & Son but has since failed again going north [for Jacobite workings?] and was last heard of being towed back to WCRC Carnforth. Eddystone's somewhat hurried change of plans is to fill this apparent lack of operational air-braked steam locos at WCRC's West London base.

After leaving 34028 to WCRC's team at Southall, D6515 returns home light engine: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service...3/detailed
At the moment I cannot trace on RTT when Eddystone's loaded test train will run nor the route it will take. However. Southall to Didcot (turning on triangle of lines there) and return has been used before and there are current rumours of a night time run there fairly soon after it's safe arrival. We'll have to wait and see what happens I suppose.
SLL believe that, all being well, it has been pencilled in for the Swanage Belle on Wednesday 10th September! Here's hoping for a faultless tow to Southall and a faultless loaded test train workout.

Not heard anything about BR (ex-LU) BSK support coach 35011 recently so, presumably, that it still undergoing necessary conversion work at Herston prior to taking up it's new main line support coach role. Perhaps another D6515 trip to take it to Southall or will it be attached to the returning Swanage Belle if ready in time?

 

WCR support coach 80217 currently en route to Southall to join 34028.

 

Well, my informant was wrong about train 0Z28 [how appropriate!].
34028 is leading with D6515 coupled to it as 'insurance'.
Passed through Brockenhurst around 6 minutes late according to RTT.

 

https://cs.rhrp.org.uk/CarriageSurvey/displaycarriage.php?Ref=T92RU3XFHBWMKDOCVPNJ

 

Bit of footage has appeared:

I'm no expert but that looks to be doing alright.

 

Another video (taken on Parkstone platform): [copyright of the videographer of course]
34028 Eddystone was only a few minutes late on occasions but, in the main, kept to it's schedule.
According to RTT '28 with D6515 arrived at WCRC Southall around 5 early.
Here's hoping nothing adverse will be found on inspection - which, I suspect, is being undertaken as I write this.
D6515 was due to depart back to Swanage light engine shortly but the return schedule is no longer traceable on RTT so am not sure if it's coming back this afternoon or not.
On Swanage Railway's working timetable - D6515's move back has been cancelled and no replacement appears at the moment.

 

With no other steam at Southall (and seemingly no path for anything to arrive) could we see her on the Norwich to Stratford job on Saturday?

 

I may have misheard a video, but the platform discussion with a footplate member on Clapham Junction platform, during the signal stop, seemed to mention a possible loaded test train on Thursday night with the first rail tour on 10th to Swanage. No talk of hauling Saturday's train. Can't remember now which video it was unfortunately
As usual, we'll have to wait and see if my hearing was OK!

 

Just spotted on the Light Engine Movements, ECS and Test Runs thread -

Also D6515's return from Southall to Swanage just appeared on RTT for Monday (8th): https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U63626/2025-09-08/detailed

 

I'm sure I looked at the times on Realtime a few days ago ,and the Norwich to Stratford train on Saturday, and it was booked for 95 mph and no stops long enough for water.Now it's 60 and nearly a hour at Leicester Humber Road

 

34028's loaded test train seems to have arrived safely at Didcot - albeit around 12 minutes late. Much (all?) of this delay was due to pathing problems with late running services and I don't believe any can be down to Eddystone.
Currently working it's way around Didcot's triangle of lines with the tail end diesel hauling the entire consist to Didcot North Junction from where we can only hope that '28 has a clear run back to Southall WCRC. Unfortunately, the late arrival has a knock-on effect in that it is now out of it's scheduled path. Hey ho.

 

Load 10 plus 478xx behind her tonight.

 

Well Done SLL and team Swanage...... 61 years Welcome back Eddy

 

With 34028 back at Southall it would be interesting to find out the overall impression of the test. It seemed to go well and that the loco was not pushed to high speeds although I could be wrong there.
I believe '28 will be allowed up to 75 mph once allowed out on fare paying duties.
Tonight's outing did not clear greens all the way in either direction with the driver appearing to face cautionary signals at times - even though TRAKSY showed no trains in front for much of the journey eastward.
Just have to look forward to Wednesday's "Swanage Belle" now so that Southern Locomotives Ltd. can start earning funds from it's investment.

 

There's a few clips showing defiantly got shifting towards 75mph. Have a look at the second half of the video here

 

I am told that 28 ran very well last night and achieved the required 75mph plus 10% .

 

The apparent slow 'trundle' through Maidenhead, in the first half of the video, was due to the signaller routing the Down direction test train through the Up Relief Platform 4.
This 'wrong line' move [fully signalled of course] enabled it to by-pass a late running terminator, in Down Relief Platform 3, which had been scheduled to go into the reversing siding before the test train got there. Well done to the Thames Valley Area Control Centre in Slough in keeping the test running and only adding a minute or two delay [slower running over diverging points possibly].
The second half of the video shows '28 back where she seems to want to be and still capable of getting a reasonably heavy train into the 80's.
Well done to all concerned. Just waiting to greet her in Swanage this Wednesday (10th).