Words and photo by Mark Richards

The Eastleigh 100 event over the weekend of 23-25 May 2009, celebrating the centenary of Eastleigh Works, is likely to be remembered as the biggest railway event of the year. An impressive line up of diesel, electro-diesel and steam locomotives were on site joined by a number of Southern Region EMUs, all enjoyed over a fabulous sunny Bank Holiday weekend.

Many of the classes of both steam and diesel locomotives associated with Eastleigh were present with Bullied Pacifics of Merchant Navy, Battle of Britain and West Country classes represented along with more modern traction in the form of Class 33s, 73s and of course the once ubiquitous VEPs that were for so long the mainstay of the Southern Region.

The Inter City Railway Society had its own stall over the three days selling our full range of railway books and also GB Bus Group publications. Eastleigh 100 saw the launch of our Special Edition Locomotive Data File which was produced specially for the weekend. This proved popular along with our 2009 Pocket Datafile, which is clearly becoming established as a reference of choice for enthusiasts. Over the three days we met many hundreds of railway enthusiasts including, it was pleasing to note, many of our own members too! It was a successful weekend on the stand with able help provided by Trevor Roots, Peter Meyer, Jim Fitch, Martin Hall, Dave Barlow, Mike Avis, Simon Mutten and Mark Richards. Thanks also to our Chairman, Carl Watson, who organised the stand and was there to help with the set up and break-down and was on hand throughout the weekend.

Saturday appeared the most popular of the three days with long queues waiting to gain access to Eastleigh Works long before the official opening of 10am. In addition three railtours ran to or stopped at Eastleigh (details here) bringing many more hundreds of enthusiasts. The station area was extremely busy all day with many South West Trains staff and British Transport Police present to control the crowds. It was good to see that South West Trains were allowing enthusiasts full access to and from the station.

In addition to the locomotives and multiple units present all weekend, there was a display of classic cars on Sunday and free shuttle buses brought heritage vehicles and customers to the site. The free buses ran to and from Eastleigh and Southampton Airport Railway Stations to the event on each of the three days. Also appearing over the weekend were a number of traction engines and steam rollers were also on display and children weren't forgotten either with train rides on a miniature railway. For the adults there were brake van rides and many of the locomotives on display were open for visitors to take a look in the cabs.

The event closed at 5pm on Monday but for anyone lucky enough to still be on site or in the vicinity they would have heard at 5.15pm a deafening cacophony of horns and whistles as many of the locomotives on site marked the end of what had been a very enjoyable and successful weekend.