Rail Freight in Hampshire

John Dedman and Pete Nurse share with We Are Railfans images from their latest book: Rail Freight in Hampshire by Amberley Books.

Rail Freight in Hampshire is the much anticipated sequel to our first sojourn into Rail operations in the south of England (explored also in Rail Rover: Wessex Ranger - to be featured in a future article) in which John Dedman and Pete Nurse  combined together their photographic collections amassed since they both pointed cameras at the passing railway scenes. This new volume concentrates, as the title points out, on the varied freight that is conveyed on the lines of Hampshire from 1980 to 2020, perhaps an area of the country not immediately known for a plethora of freight trains.  Operations on the main line through Eastleigh and Southampton and beyond are still busy, Freightliner trains to and from the Container Terminal keep the tracks shiny. Also featured are freight trains around the Portsmouth area which is off the beaten track for most railway photographers. The assortment we used to enjoy is illustrated with the views within as indeed is the types of locomotives that made our pulses race when they appeared in the viewfinders from the vantage points that afforded the best positions to capture the shots we can enjoy contained here. There are photos included from other local railway photographers who covered other areas of the county.

Always in search of new places to record the passing of the MOD Train, the erstwhile Bedenham Bomber, today 73140 ,looking spruce in large logo which rather suited them, passes on the way to the exchange sidings a mile further on. Viewed from Gregson Avenue road bridge on a day perfect for a good exposure. (Pete Nurse)

Dock Gate 20 access road provides a great view point, to the left out of sight the adjacent Freightliner Depot gives a great view of the locos on site. However our attention is focused on this wonderfully varied train including some Grainflow wagons and further back four Yeoman PGA's. Railfreight livery numbers didn't wear well so identity is difficult but this is 47014 and is making its own oil change by the stain on its side. 11 March 1987 (Pete Nurse)

Time was that Bevois Park was a hub of activity not least with the nearby Swathling Ford Transit Plant sending new vans for loading onto flat wagons for forward travel around the Country. 33113 is the motive power here as the whole ensemble slowly exits the Yard onto the Main line enroute to Eastleigh Yard. (Pete Nurse)

LPG was transported to the Potteries at Stoke until they switched to natural gas to fire the kilns. The 6M23 10:30 Fawley Refinery to Longport Junction ran twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays usually made up of ten or eleven TCA and TDA bogie LPG tanks. On 4 June 1987 it is approaching Campbell Road bridge at Eastleigh hauled by 47193.

Marchwood on the Fawley branch still retains its semaphore signals and manually operated level crossing gates. On 19 September 2013 66001, newly painted into DBS livery has charge of 6B93, the 09:38 Eastleigh to Fawley 100 ton tanks loaded with crude oil from Holybourne.

60045 'The Permanent Way Institution' in its EWS livery at Totton after crossing the River Test with 6B93 Eastleigh to Fawley Refinery on 19 December 2013. The train consists of empty gas oil TTA tanks and loaded crude oil TEA bogie tanks.

A nice summer evening in 1987 and I couldn't resist a visit to Fareham Station to observe the passing of the Didcot to Fratton coal working. It duly turned up running to time made up of 7 HEA's in the charge of Railfreight grey large logo 37693 and looking nicely photogenic and destined to become my favourite picture in the portfolio of Fratton's long gone coal workings. I recall I waited for the return working too! Note the Limestone Pile in the ARC Depot. (Pete Nurse)

On 13 May 2017 it was the turn of GB Railfreight Aggregates Industries 66711 Sence with the gypsum as it approaches Mount Pleasant crossing with 4Y19 12:02 Mountfield Sidings to Western Docks.

The Departmental Grey livery was brightened up with the addition of the yellow band on the upper bodyside, this became known as the Dutch livery as it was similar to that used in Holland. A very clean 33030 has charge of what is thought to be 7V84 08:42 Eastleigh to Meldon Quarry ballast with six Seacows as it sets out on its long journey on 20 April 1993.

Colas pair 70808 and 70804 are pulling out of the loop after a signal stop at Southampton Up Yard. It is the 6Z30 15:26 Westbury to Eastleigh Engineers made up of ballast wagons with Network rail Autoballasters at the front. 12 August 2014.

Treading where many Railway Photographers have gone before on the Fawley Refinery branch. This is of course the level crossing adjacent to Marchwood Station, itself worthy of a portrait, and a great location. The object adding the cream on top is 47002 bringing a long line of tanks out from the refinery and passing a robust gantry supporting those lovely semaphores. 28 April 1987. (Pete Nurse)

Rail Freight in Hampshire with 180 images like those above, is available to purchase via Amberley Books: https://www.amberley-books.com/rail-freight-in-hampshire.html