HISTORIC HAMPSHIRE SHUNTER ARRIVES AT SWANAGE TO STAR IN THE DIESEL GALA & BEER FESTIVAL - 9th-11th May 2008

Press Release from Andrew P.M. Wright - dated 6th May 2008
Official photographer & press officer, Swanage Railway.
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Eastleigh motive power depot based Class 07 0-6-0 No 007 stands at Corfe Castle on 6th May 2008

A diminutive diesel locomotive that supplied electricity to the massive Eastleigh railway works during the power cuts of the early 1970s miners' strike has arrived on the Swanage Railway to star in its annual diesel gala and beer festival - hauling brake van rides at Swanage throughout the three-day event.

It's the first time that the Class 07 0-6-0 wheel arrangement shunter has been out of the historic Hampshire works since 1971 - the last year of a working Swanage branch line under British Rail and the year that decimalisation saw the end of pounds, shillings and pence.

With a 1970s TOPS number of 007, the 46 ton shunter resplendent in the early 1970s British Rail livery of blue and yellow is licensed to thrill railway enthusiasts during the three-day diesel gala and beer festival that takes to the rails of the relaid Purbeck Line from Friday 9 May, 2008.

Class 07 0-6-0 No. 007 arrives by road from Eastleigh at Norden on 6th May 2008
Photograph courtesy Steven Whittingstall

No. 007 arrived at the Norden station road/rail interchange after a road journey from Eastleigh on Tuesday 6 May, 2008. After the final passenger train left Norden park and ride for Swanage at 5.10pm, the shunter ran light engine down to Swanage.

With a top speed of 20 mph, No. 007 was built by Ruston & Hornsby at its Lincoln works in East Anglia in 1961 - the year that the Communists put up the controversial Berlin Wall between East and West Germany.

The 46-ton shunter - which has a six cylinder V6 diesel engine producing 275 brake horsepower - was supplied new to British Railways with the locomotive number of D2991 and was sent to work freight trains at Southampton Docks.

It was one of 14 of the shunter class to be based at Eastleigh and used at the large Hampshire port.

Class 07 0-6-0 No. 007 arrives at Corfe Castle from Norden on 6th May 2008

A larger version of the diesel engine in the Class 07 shunters was used to power British Rail's Class 74 electro-diesel locomotives which hauled permanent way trains and through London trains down to Corfe Castle and Swanage between 1967 and 1969.

D2991 replaced the Second World War 'Yankee' tank 0-6-0 wheel arrangement steam locomotives built in the USA under the 'lend-lease' agreement and sent to Britain and then continental Europe after the historic D-Day invasion of France in June, 1944.

In the early 1970s with the arrival of the TOPS computerised locomotive numbering system, D2991 was renumbered 007. The shunter was used at the Eastleigh motive power depot from 1961 through to 1971 - spanning the steam and diesel eras.

While based at Eastleigh motive power depot, No. 007 was also used to shunt the neighbouring Eastleigh Works when its Class 08 shunters were not available because of maintenance or repair.

In 1971 - the last summer of a Swanage branch operated by British Rail - the shunter was withdrawn from active service and put into storage at Eastleigh. That seemed to be the end of the line for No. 007.

The Class 07 shunters were increasingly less seen at Southampton Docks during the late 1960s and early 1970s because of freight traffic being carried in containers rather than the traditional wagons and box vans.

But, only a year or so after being put into storage at Eastleigh, No. 007 was brought out of mothballs to supply DC power to keep the tools and machinery working at Eastleigh locomotive, carriage and wagon works during the power cuts of the national miner's strike during 1972 and 1973.

After keeping the machinery at Eastleigh Works operating during power cuts due to the early 1970s miner's strike, No. 007 was put into storage and mothballed around 1974.

In 1979, the diminutive but powerful shunter was purchased by the Eastleigh Locomotive Preservation Society and restored for use in shunting the steam locomotives that the group was restoring at Eastleigh Works.

Richard Sinclair, who lives in Eastleigh and looks after and maintains the historic diesel shunter, with the Swanage Railway team at Corfe Castle. Standing in front of the loco are (left to right) Richard Sinclair, Dave Gravell, Graham Froud and James Cox. Leaning from the cab of the loco are Graham Froud, Richard Sinclair, Dave Gravell and James Cox.

No. 007 is owned by Knights Rail Services - based at the Eastleigh locomotive, carriage and wagon works which was closed by Alstom in 2006 - and Richard Sinclair, who lives in Eastleigh, looks after and maintains the historic diesel shunter.

Eastleigh Works is now used for the storage and maintenance of a variety of railway equipment, locomotives and units. No. 007 is used when rail vehicles at the works need to be shunted.

Richard explained: "The Class 07 diesel shunters were popular because they were small, very powerful and could run on tight curves with ease because of their short wheelbase.

"No. 007 is historic because it must be a record breaker - not many British Rail locomotives have been based in the same place, without leaving, for almost 40 years."

Eastleigh Works is now used for the storage and maintenance of a variety of railway equipment, locomotives and units - 007 being used when vehicles at the large Hampshire works need to be shunted.

One Class 07 shunter is still registered on the books of Network Rail at Manchester.

Some six or seven Class 07 shunters are preserved and among the places they can be seen are the Avon Valley Railway and at St Leonard’s near Hastings in Kent.

Cheers! Preparing for the three-day diesel gala and beer festival are, from left, Peter Frost, Phil Thrower, Graham Cope and Matt McManus.

The annual three-day Grand Diesel Gala and Beer Festival will see history made on the relaid Purbeck Line when the largest number of main line diesel locomotives to ever visit the Swanage Railway haul an intensive train service.

Seven main line diesel locomotives will be visiting Swanage to join the volunteer-run railway’s stable of three resident diesel locomotives for the fund-raising event which runs from Friday to Sunday, 9 to 11 May 2008, inclusive.

All but one of the visiting diesel locomotives are running down to Swanage from the national railway network via the Swanage Railway’s connection with the national railway system between Norden and Furzebrook.

The guest diesel locomotives – Classes 73, 50, 37, 20 and 07 – are travelling from Barrow Hill and Derby in the Midlands, the Severn Valley Railway as well as Eastleigh. The Class 07 shunter No. 007 is scheduled to haul brake van rides at Swanage throughout the diesel gala.

As well as a wide range of beers and ciders, non-alcoholic refreshments will also be available in both the beer tent and the nearby Harman’s Cross village hall.

Special one, two and three-day rover tickets for unlimited train travel will be available, as will be normal return and single fares between stations.

One day rover tickets are £18 for adults and £15 for concessions while two-day rover tickets are £25 for adults and £20 for concessions. Three-day rover tickets are £35 for adults and £28 for concessions.

Concession fares apply to children aged three to fifteen, inclusive, and adults aged 60 and over. Further details of the event - as well as the train timetable - are available by clicking here.

The following 25 photos showing the movement of Class 07 No. 007 from Norden to Corfe Castle are courtesy of Swanage Railway press officer and official photographer Andrew P.M. Wright.

The following 4 photos showing the arrival of Class 07 No. 007 at Norden are courtesy of Swanage Railway volunteer and guard Steven Whittingstall.