Eastleigh works is now a hive of activity following its resurrection from closure and one of the works pilots is Eastleigh stalwart 07007 seen here in the works yard on the 20th February 2014.
Locomotive History
Fourteen 0-6-0 diesel electric shunting engines (D2985 – D2998) were built in 1962 by Ruston and Hornsby specifically for dock yard shunting at Southampton Docks. 07007 was originally D2991 and it entered traffic in July 1962 allocated to Southampton Docks MPD. It transferred to Eastleigh when Southampton Docks closed. With the drastic reduction in wagon load traffic through Southampton Docks in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s the class started to become surplus and four locomotives 2988/91/92/98 were condemned in May 1973 without receiving there 1973 TOPS numbers. Three of the locomotives condemned in May 1973 were broken up at Eastleigh works (one in 1973 and two in 1976) however 2991 was converted to a mobile generator for use around Eastleigh works and continued in this roll until the mid 1980’s when it fell out of use. It managed to avoid being broken up and was purchased for preservation. It has since been purchased by Knights Rail Services who in 2009 overhauled 2991 , repainted it in rail blue and numbered it 07007, its number allocated under the 1973 TOPS renumbering scheme but never carried.

Tags:   20th February D2991 07007

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Basking in the winter sunshine in the sidings at Ruddington on the1st February 2014 is class 08 13180.

Locomotive History
13180 was built at Derby works and entered traffic in October 1955 allocated to Derby MPD. Two months later it transferred to Saltley however its stay was brief as it was back as a Derby engine in March 1956. In June 1956 it transferred to Cricklewood East where in December 1959 it was re-numbered D3180 under the 1957 re-numbering scheme. It would remain at Cricklewood until November 1967 when it returned to Derby. Its final transfer to Doncaster was in October 1971 where it was renumbered 08114 under the 1973 TOPS scheme and from where it was withdrawn in November 1983. 08114 managed to evade the scrap yard and by 1993 was at the Great Central Railway at Loughborough and has since made the short journey to the Great Central Railway (North).

Tags:   1st February 13180 D3180 08114

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Eastleigh yard pilot 08904 engaged in a spot of shunting, 20th February 2014.

Locomotive History
08904 was built at Horwich works as D4134 and entered traffic in June 1962 initially allocated to Bedford MPD, however five weeks later it was transferred to Cricklewood where it was to stay until May 1970 when it transferred to Willesden where it would spend the next nineteen years until July 1989. Its next move was to Old Oak Common for a ten year spell until June 1998. In the last ten years it has been well travelled with spells at Plymouth, Harwich, Wembley, Acton, and Eastleigh where in August 2010 it failed with traction motor problems. It was moved up to Toton for storage and spent most of the next nineteen months dumped in the Training Compound. In March 2012 it was moved to Crewe EMD for an E exam and repair and reappeared at the end of October 2012 when it was moved back to Eastleigh being reinstated to traffic on the 4th November 2012.

Tags:   20th February D4134 08904

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150232 is stabled between duties at Bristol Temple Meads, 6th February 2014.

Tags:   6th February 150232

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150263 has arrived at platform 7 at Bristol Temple Meads, 6th February 2014.

Tags:   6th February 150263

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