Drsatan
Established Member
At around 15:30 today at Romsey station, I noticed two DB 66s top-and-tailing about 11 to 15 ballast wagons as I was walking past the station. So I walked onto platform 1 (where Salisbury-bound trains depart) the platform to investigate, saw the train at the westward end of the platform, and discovered that the rear locomotive was shut down and had a tail-lamp affixed, indicating that it was being hauled. I noticed someone (probably the driver) sitting in the rear cab who didn't seem to mind me walking about and taking photos of the train. In fact, this was the first time I'd seen any train at Romsey station on Christmas day.
A few minutes later, he emerged from the rear cab while using his mobile, and entered the front one. A strange noise was emitted from the locomotive so I assumed he was trying to start it, but failed. While talking to someone on his mobile, he then went into the rear cab. I assumed the train was going to Westbury, but then I noticed that the signal at the eastward end of the platform was green and indicating for the Eastleigh line, raising the possibility that the train was reversing direction and would head towards Eastleigh yard.
The train could have been operating in connection with the Southampton tunnel widening works, but were there any other booked possessions in the area that could explain the train's presence, or indeed why it was standing at Romsey station?
Thanks
A few minutes later, he emerged from the rear cab while using his mobile, and entered the front one. A strange noise was emitted from the locomotive so I assumed he was trying to start it, but failed. While talking to someone on his mobile, he then went into the rear cab. I assumed the train was going to Westbury, but then I noticed that the signal at the eastward end of the platform was green and indicating for the Eastleigh line, raising the possibility that the train was reversing direction and would head towards Eastleigh yard.
The train could have been operating in connection with the Southampton tunnel widening works, but were there any other booked possessions in the area that could explain the train's presence, or indeed why it was standing at Romsey station?
Thanks
