10th May 2024
Diesel Gala & Beer Festival 2024: Staying at the foot crossing near Corfe, we see visiting Class 24 no. D5054 "Phil Southern" on the head of the stock forming the 12.39 Swanage to River Frome train. "Western" D1015 "Western Champion " is on the tail. The train is 85 minutes late at this stage, thanks to the earlier train failure.
I knew this locomotive way back in my trainspotting days when it was Train Heating Unit TDB968008 and based at Newton Abbot. During the ASLEF train strike in 1982 I got to know it very well as I dared to explore the yard at Newton Abbot, crawling around all over the tracks and climbing into this locomotive, walking from cab to cab! Crazy to think about this now but at the time the whole station was completely deserted. I understand now that it was withdrawn that year and would have departed soon after. Preservation was never contemplated then of course.
I knew this locomotive way back in my trainspotting days when it was Train Heating Unit TDB968008 and based at Newton Abbot. During the ASLEF train strike in 1982 I got to know it very well as I dared to explore the yard at Newton Abbot, crawling around all over the tracks and climbing into this locomotive, walking from cab to cab! Crazy to think about this now but at the time the whole station was completely deserted. I understand now that it was withdrawn that year and would have departed soon after. Preservation was never contemplated then of course.
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Also in: Swanage Railway, Dorset
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