I did the trip with a friend from Worcester, and we joined the train in Dorridge near Birmingham - which was not too bad in the end since it saved us the very early start (04:45 in Derby!) and was the first pickup stop after the loco change in Saltley: until there a Class 66 hauled the train.
London Midland Bombardier Turbostar Class 172/2 No. 172 219 in Dorridge
Chiltern Railways Bombardier Turbostar Class 168/0 No. 168 003 passed Dorridge without stopping
168 001 followed a couple of minutes later
So there it came: Train 1Z50 arrives in Dorridge at 07:37 Uhr (4 mins late), headed by 50007 "Hercules" and 50050 "Fearless".
Apart from the interesting locos, the train also took a rather unusual route: Derby - East Midlands Parkway - Loughborough - Leicester - Nuneaton - Coleshill Parkway - Saltley (loco change) - Dorridge - Banbury (last pickup point) - Oxford - Didcot - Reading (bypass) - Basingstoke - Andover - Salisbury (bypass) - Romsey - Eastleigh - Southampton (operational stop) - Bournemouth (first set-down stop) - Wareham, and then on the Swanage Railway via Corfe Castle to Swanage. On the way back pretty much the same reoute was used, only between Eastleigh and Basingstoke the direct route was used.
Corfe Castle, pretty impressive even from the train
The nae plate of 50007...
... and the one of 50050
I also took photos of some coaches: Riviera Trains Mk 2 TSO (Tourist Standard Open) No. 5998, still in Anglia Railways livery
Riviera Trains Mk 2 RFB (Restaurant / First Class / Buffet) No. 1203, in BR Intercity livery
Riviera Trains Mk 2 FO (First Class Open) No. 3345, formerly of Virgin Trains
After arrival, the long train (12 coaches) was pushed back: here is 50050...
... and 50007 at the end
Another historic Diesel loco was standing on the neighbouring track: here's the name plate...
The 50s came back into the station: 50007...
... and 50050
And here is the loco to the name plate: Swanage Railway "Crompton" Class 33/0 No. D6515 (33012) "Lt Jenny Lewis RN"
Class 33 meeting: Class 33/2 ("Slim Jim") No. 33201 and Class 33/0 No. D6515 (33012)
33201 again This loco had a fair bit of shunting to do, since no track was long enough to stage the train for the locos to run around to the other end. Additionally, there were a couple more special trains running that day tht needed a bit of the space at the station
Meanwhile, another coach: Riviera Trains Mk 2 FO (First Class Open) No. M3390 "Constable", in rather fresh "Oxford Blue/Cream" livery
Swanage Railway Class 08 No. 08436 and Class 33/1 No. 33111 "Hot Dog" were staged at Swanage. With 33111, all Class 33 subseries were present!
Drummond Locomotives Limited LSWR Class M7 No. 30053 was undergoing some maintenance
08436 and 33111 again from the other side
30053
33201 takes an empty set to the platform that Swanage Railway SR "Battle of Britain" Class No. 34070 "Manston" had to take towards Orfe Castle later
30053 again from the side
Name plate of 34070
34070 goes on the train
Yeat another coach: Riviera Trains Mk 2 BSK (Brake van / Standard Class corridor) No. M35469, in Carmine/Cream livery
34070 leaves Swanage bound for Corfe Castle
Another shot of the train leaving
A bit difficult was taking a photo of Swanage Railway SR U Class No. 31806, it was only possible across the parking lot
Nice poster at Swanage station
The cab of 33201 through the side window
Another train that went from Swanage to Corfe Castle and back was the Class 108 unit of 51933+56504, here it arrives at Swanage
Cab photo of the unit, through the window (which was open in this case)
Swanage Railway SR Maunsell U Class No. 31625 was staged without tender at Corfe Castle
And then it was already time for the return journey, which would (as 1Z52) get us back to Dorridge a few minutes after 9 pm.
50050 and 50007 near Ashurst shortly before arriving in Southampton
I hope you like the photos, the trip was brilliant!