John Oram's photos with the keyword: Class 450

At a time when we are struggling out of Covid but shackled by a fuel shortage, movement remains restricted and autumn is closing around us, photography is a challenge and one is happy with a record shot. It was a prematurely gloomy evening with steady rain when I snatched a couple of pictures at the grubby Portsmouth & Southsea. The dot matrix indicators made little sense but South Western Railway Class 450 emu 450031 was possibly going to form a service to Southampton. Its livery contrasts with the adopted SWR colours on a Class 440 unit at the high-level platform which I read off as 440038. TZ70_2_P1000719E

At a time when we are struggling out of Covid but shackled by a fuel shortage, movement remains restricted and autumn is closing around us, photography is a challenge and one is happy with a record shot. It was a prematurely gloomy evening with steady rain when I snatched a couple of pictures at the grubby Portsmouth & Southsea. The dot matrix indicators made little sense but South Western Railway Class 450 emu 450031 was possibly going to form a service to Southampton. TZ70_2_P1000716E

South Western Railway class 450/0 Desiro 450003 forms a service for Brockenhurst at Eastleigh's platform 2. Two and a half years after SWR took over the franchise, the South West Trains liveries survive on many units. 200_3_P1120360E

Invariably on a Sunday there are a lot of trains at rest at Fratton. On this occasion, the emus of the former South West Trains were all in the livery of the defunct franchise as the changes arising from the advent of South Western Railway, around three weeks previously, were just beginning. Class 450 Desiro unit 450027 was amongst those at the much reduced site, the former expanse of which was some years ago replaced by commercial properties and new roads. 200_3_P1020952R

This is pretty much the classic shot of the approach to Havant from the Waterloo lines and much repeated online but soon to be a thing of the past in this exact composition. 20 August 2017 saw the transfer of the franchise from Stagecoach's South West Trains to South Western Railway owned by FirstGroup and MTR Corporation. Rolling stock changes are planned but, for the time being, this morning service was formed of Class 450 Desiro emu 450118 leading 450036 and 450006 all in the outgoing livery. 200_3_P1020941E

Freightliner Class 66 66502 'Basford Hall Centenary 2001' stands at Eastleigh with containers while South West Trains Desiro Class 450 450112 waits for a fast train to pass before departing to Waterloo. 200_P1030984

With more than 40 years of memories behind me, it is perhaps not surprising that I think something of the spirit, romance, whatever you wish to call it has gone out of the railways. I can never really accept Class 153 as 'a train' and, similarly the emus in the south seem utterly devoid of character. Still, I have a self-appointed mission to document what I can before it too passes into history. One can not deny that South West Trains units look bright and clean so perhaps they just need to be in a setting to produce a more interesting photograph. This was what was going through my mind for this picture of Class 450 Desiro 450025 at Eastleigh with the 1528 to Portsmouth Harbour. P1180994

As the evening light fall across Clapham Junction, the beautiful 4-VEP 3417 contrasts with the more recent Class 458 Juniper 8019 and Class 450 Desiro 450081. Most of my photographs today were taken across the sun and through the windows of the station footbridge. TZ30_P1010274

Eastleigh is a place I can reach easily at short notice and I am determined to record periodically the place and its visitors in the early 21st century. Equipment and colour schemes come and go and, one day, my photographs, amongst thousands of others, might be a valuable source of reference. To take some of these photographs requires some motivation which is not immediately forthcoming from South West Trains which I find unremittingly dull in spite of the outwardly bright and clean appearance. This picture is as much about the station as the train but I had doubts about posting it. I like the reflection of the waiting figure in Class 450 Desiro unit 450109 at platform 2 which was joined by the 5 cars of Class 444 Desiro 444026 before departing with the 1511 to Waterloo. P1180846