THE failure of Class 47 No. 47580 at Weymouth on the ‘Dorset Coast Express’ train on August 23 saw main line-approved Class 33 No. 33012 summoned from the Swanage Railway to act as a ‘Thunderbird’ loco.

With the errant 47 removed, the ‘33’ hauled the heavy 10-coach train, with ‘A4’ No. 60009 Union of South Africa on the other end, to Southampton, where the ‘A4’ and support coach was dropped off, so it could return to Southall via Andover using the schedule route.

No. 33012 continued via Basingstoke to Clapham Junction, where the train terminated.

PICTURE: JAMIE SQUIBBS

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