SOUTHERN STEAM: 50 The final flourish steam 2.pdfEurovision song contest winning statistic in this...

Southern Steam – the final flourish -1- 2017

SOUTHERN STEAM: The final flourish

50


SOUTHERN STEAM – The final flourish

CONTENTS

Beginners Luck Alan Varley 3

1966: Stanier Black 5's on the LSWR Bevan Price 5

May-67 David Lloyd-Roberts 7

18th June 1967 revisited Frank Price 7

Last Saturday of Steam Don Benn 9

Prior to the Bournemouth electrification Martin Barrett 10

The Final Days Martin Barrett 24

The Grand Flourish Michael Rowe 48

Introduction- David Ashley

In this special supplement, we commemorate the 50th anniversary of the end of Southern steam. In what may become a ritual in the production of these commemorative booklets, we look again at the events that happened in the anniversary year (1967):

In the world of sport, Foinavon, a 100-1 outsider, won the Grand National. Whilst I would not consider myself an avid sports fanatic, I can vividly remember the 1967 European Cup Final when Celtic came from behind to beat Inter Milan 2-1. In the political world, the pound was devalued from $2.80 to $2.40 (Remember the pound in your pocket), Harold Wilson decided to apply for EEC membership and was vetoed by Charles De Gaulle – again. In the transport world, forty died in the Hither Green rail crash and the Torrey Canyon oil spill caused major damage in Cornwall to the eco system and the tourist industry. In the world of entertainment, pirate radio became illegal and the BBC introduced Radio 1,2,3 and 4. They also introduced colour television broadcasts on BBC2. The first edition of “Just a Minute” was broadcast. It is still going now, and with the same chairman, Nicholas Parsons, aged 93. Keith Richard and Mick Jagger were jailed for possessing illegal drugs. In what is unlikely to be a precedent, we can add another Eurovision song contest winning statistic in this anniversary year, with Sandie Shaw winning with “Puppet on a String”

My own experiences of the end of steam were - at best – mixed, and Southern steam really did not endear itself to me: living in Nottinghamshire at the time, and with limited means, dictated that out-and-back journeys were the only option. I made a single attempt to sample steam travel with a return journey from Waterloo to Bournemouth in October 1966. However, with speed rarely exceeding 50mph, time was lost throughout, and making a return to Waterloo before nightfall required baling out of the down train at Brockenhurst (50 minutes late), and returning to Southampton on a stopping train – which in retrospect was the highlight of the day, with spirited running behind the ubiquitous 76026. Thankfully, some of our regular contributors fared better, and have provided articles that recreate the spirit of the time.


Alan Varley recalls his early experiences of the Atlantic Coast Express between Waterloo and Salisbury. Bevan Price experienced unusual Cross Country runs between Reading and Bournemouth behind LMR Black 5s. David Lloyd Roberts explains one of his final steam runs from Bournemouth to Waterloo, while Frank Price describes a rail-tour to and from Swanage shortly before the end of steam. Don Benn recalls his final journey on the 0245 Waterloo newspaper train Readers will be aware that the late Martin Barrett produced a series of articles chronicling his experiences on the Bournemouth line during the final two years of Southern steam. We print here the next instalment of these articles, and also reprint his article covering the final nine days in July 1967, which were first printed in Milepost 14¾ and 15¼ Finally, Michael Rowe reminisces about his travels in 1966 and 1967 and brings together some of the exceptional activities that were recorded by him and other recorders at the time.

Beginner’s luck - Alan Varley

My first runs with the Atlantic Coast Express between Salisbury and Waterloo date back to the summer of 1962. Both were with Driver Saunders of Salisbury, both with the same quite substantial load, 13 coaches for 475 tons gross, and both with the same loco, 35014 Nederland Line. And the first, above all, set very high standards which I never again matched in over a score of other runs in both directions in the next two years. This first run was by some lengths the best. The ACE left Salisbury 4 minutes late and the hardest work was done in the first 20 minutes, with a fast time to Tunnel Junction despite some slipping and then 53/52 past Porton for an output of around 1700 EDHP up to Allington, and a full 90 maximum before Red Post. 18 50 though Andover was an excellent time with this load, enabling even time to be attained by Whitchurch, although the effort from Hurstborne to Worting was not quite up to the level of the earlier climbing. There was another high maximum after Basingstoke and then some irregular speeds with several easings. At Woking, with 25 minutes remaining, a punctual arrival seemed possible but two severe signal checks, at Weybridge and Walton, put paid to that. With a conservative estimate of a time of a little under 9 minutes from West Byfleet to New Malden the net time comes out as 74¾ minutes – not a record by any means but nevertheless a fine time with this load and a mouth-watering introduction to the Atlantic Coast Express. A month later I timed the down train (Table 2, run 1). With an almost punctual start there was some restraint at first but as so often happened the ACE caught the 1054 departure from Waterloo before the latter crossed to the slow line platform at Woking. Outputs of around 1400 EDHP were enough to get us up to 80 by Milepost 44, well sustained on towards Basingstoke, so that Driver Saunders actually braked here – was there, maybe, a fleeting sighting of a distant ahead? At all events 64 at Basingstoke and 60 over the summit at Worting, compared with a more normal 70/65, hampered the initial acceleration on the West of England line – we were around 30 seconds slower from Basingstoke to Overton than might have been expected. After that, though, it was back to high speed with 88 at Andover and 92 below Porton. The minimum at Grateley was good with this load but not exceptional. Helped by a fast approach to Salisbury the Worting Jc-Salisbury time was 27 39, which might be qualified as “normally fast” – despite the slow early stage. Net time was around 76 minutes, or 75½ if the Basingstoke braking was indeed a check.


Table 1 Salisbury-Waterloo

Train

Atlantic Coast Express Date

12.6.62

Load

13/432/475 Loco

35014 Nederland Line

M C Miles

m s mph ave

83 40 0,00 Salisbury 0 00

82 32 1,10 Tunnel Jc 3 13 36/53 20.5

78 12 5,36 Porton 08 30 52 48.4

75 40 8,03 Allington 11 25 56 54.9

72 49 10,93 Grateley 14 08 68/90 64.0

67 56 15,93 Red Post Jc 17 53 82 80.0

66 20 17,29 Andover 18 50 87 85.9

62 40 21,05 MP 62½ 21 45 70 77.3

61 00 22,57 Hurstbourne 22 55 79/69 78.2

59 06 24,53 Whitchurch 24 30 70 74.3

55 44 28,07 Overton 27 33 71 69.6

52 28 31,26 Oakley 30 10 76 73.1

50 20 33,38 Worting Jc 31 50 78 76.3

47 60 35,89 Basingstoke 33 40 85/88 82.1

44 00 39,65 MP44 36 18 85/79 85.7

42 15 41,47 Hook 37 38 80/76 81.9

39 67 43,83 Winchfield 39 26 79/83 78.7

36 40 47,16 Fleet 41 53 82 81.6

33 19 50,42 Farnborough 44 19 80 80.4

31 00 52,67 MP 31 45 59 77 81.0

28 00 55,67 Brookwood 48 15 85 79.4

24 25 59,31 Woking 50 52 79 83.5

21 52 62,02 W Byfleet 52 52 82 81.3

19 08 64,58 Weybridge 56 44 12*sigs/35 39.7

17 08 66,57 Walton 61 44 20*sigs 23.9

13 27 70,34 Hampton Ct Jc 67 08 50 41.9

12 03 71,64 Surbiton 68 39 54 52.0

09 64 73,87 New Maldon 71 03 60/65 55.8

07 22 76,42 Wimbledon 73 30 63 62.4

03 75 79,88 Clapham Jc 77 00 43*/50 59.3

01 29 82,37 Vauxhall 80 33 38* 42.1

00 08 83,63 Waterloo 84 02

20.7

A few months later Ian Bliss also enjoyed a bright introduction to ACE running (Table 2 run 2). The load was still 13, though less well filled than in the summer. This driver’s style (it was probably Allen of Salisbury, if the roster was adhered to) was quite different: hardly any speeds over the 85 SR limit but very hard work uphill and on the level. This run was checked much earlier, at Esher, but then produced a 1700 EDHP climb through Woking (perhaps a little more at first, easing over the summit) and 80+ speeds on the level through Fleet. This run too braked for Basingstoke but recovered more energetically and again turned on the power to go over Grateley summit at almost 70 from a relatively slow speed through Red Post Junction. The approach to Salisbury was taken quite gently, probably because the train was well on time; net time was 75 minutes, but the running was worth the 74½ that would have been possible with a stop like that of run 1.


Table 2 Waterloo-Salisbury

Run n°

1 2

Train

1100 Waterloo-West 1100 Waterloo-West

Date

4.7.62 18.10.62

13/431/460

35009 Shaw Saville Load

13/432/475

Loco

35014 Nederland Line

M C Miles

m s mph ave m s mph ave

00 08 0,00 Waterloo 0 0 0 0

01 29 1,26 Vauxhall 3 47 34/50 20.0 4 04 32/55 18.6

03 75 3,75 Clapham Jc 7 19 41 42.3 7 32 44* 43.1

07 22 7,21 Wimbledon 11 29 52 49.8 11 28 58 52.8

09 64 9,76 New Maldon 14 08 60 58.5 14 00 62 60.4

12 03 11,99 Surbiton 16 20 62 60.8 16 06 68 63.7

13 27 13,29 Hampton Ct Jc 17 31 67/72 65.8 17 12 70/22*sigs 70.9

17 08 17,06 Walton 20 44 71 70.3 22 42 55 44.8

19 08 19,05 Weybridge 23 06 33*sigs 50.5 24 46 62/72 57.8

21 52 21,61 W Byfleet 26 34 52/56/47*sigs 44.3 26 58 70 69.8

24 25 24,32 Woking 29 34 52 54.2 29 15 7270 71.2

28 00 27,96 Brookwood 33 37 57 53.9 32 17 73 72.0

31 00 30,96 MP 31 36 42 60 58.4 34 49 70 71.1

33 19 33,21 Farnborough 38 45 69 65.9 36 40 75 73.0

36 40 36,47 Fleet 41 28 76/78 72.0 39 09 81 78.8

39 67 39,80 Winchfield 44 07 75/76 75.4 41 36 82/80/82 81.6

42 15 42,16 Hook 46 00 75 75.2 43 24 78 78.7

44 00 43,98 MP44 47 24 80 78.0 82

47 60 47,74 Basingstoke 50 19 64* 77.3 47 39 64* 78.8

50 20 50,25 Worting Jc 52 44 60 63.3 49 59 63 64.0

52 28 52,37 Oakley 54 47 63 62.0 51 58 69/67 64.1

55 44 55,56 Overton 57 32 75 69.6 54 36 79 72.7

59 06 59,10 Whitchurch 60 16 82 77.7 57 15 83 80.2

61 00 61,06 Hurstbourne 61 41 85 83.0 58 39 86 84.0

62 40 62,58 MP 62½ 62 47 81 82.9 59 44 82/85 84.2

66 20 66,34 Andover 65 24 88 86.2 62 25 83 84.1

67 56 67,70 Red Post Jc 66 23 80 83.0 63 26 76 80.3

69 00 69,10 MP 69 67 25 84 81.3 64 31 80 77.5

72 49 72,70 Grateley 70 17 68/65 75,3 67 23 70/69 75.3

75 40 75,60 Allington 72 48 74 69.1 69 49 75 71.5

78 12 78,27 Porton 74 47 85/92 80.9 71 49 85 80.1

82 32 82,53 Tunnel Jc 78 12 45* 74.8 75 18 42* 73.4

83 40 83,63 Salisbury 80 23 30.2 77 59 24.6

1966: Stanier Black 5s on the LSWR – Bevan Price.

Run 1 was on the Poole - Newcastle service, which at that time was booked for a Black 5 south of Banbury. The train was booked to change at Banbury to a diesel loco., and continue north via the Great Central route. Black 5s had replaced ex-GWR motive power when the Banbury to Birmingham area was transferred from Western to London Midland Region. I rode on this train from Bournemouth Central as far as Reading West. (The train used Reading west Curve, and continued via Oxford)


44780 was a Tyseley loco, presumably having worked south on the previous day. In summer 1966, electrification work was still progressing on the Bournemouth line, and tsrs & signal checks were fairly common. With a heavy 11 coach load, I consider the performance satisfactory, if not outstanding. The checks between Eastleigh & Winchester Jn may have been caused by the preceding 11:53 Southampton Terminus - Alton. Inevitably, time was lost as far as Basingstoke, but 44780 then regained over 9 minutes on an admittedly leisurely schedule to Reading West. (And this remains the current fastest steam time on that final section.) Run 2 was on the summer Saturday Poole - Sheffield Midland service. Somewhat surprisingly, a Shrewsbury Black 5, 45145 had found its way onto this train, and the load of 12 coaches plus a parcels van was a definite challenge for a Class 5. I only rode this service between Southampton Central & Basingstoke. Once again, I would call the performance creditable rather than outstanding., and just over 2 minutes were lost between Winchester & Basingstoke. Looking through old issues of Railway Observer, I noted that a Black 5 even managed to appear on a Waterloo - Bournemouth service during 1966. I wonder if anyone timed it? (I can’t find anything on the RPS database)..

Run 1 2

Date 23-Jun-66 01-Jul-66

Train 10:30 Poole - 10:42 Poole -

Newcastle Sheffield Mid.

Loco 44780 45145

Load 11/380/- 12+1v/412

Recorder B. Price, ?/12 B. Price, ?/14

Miles m c Location Sch

m s mph Sch

m

s mph

0.00 108 01 BOURNEMOUTH CEN. 0 0 00 2L/tsr15

1.26 106 60 Boscombe 4 01

1.80 106 17 POKESDOWN 4 5 25

0 00

3.66 104 05 CHRISTCHURCH 7 4 03

0 00

6.96 101 04 Hinton Admiral 6 43 40

9.46 98 44 NEW MILTON 11 10 38

0 00

12.45 95 45 Sway 5 19 42

14.21 93 64 Lymington Jcn 7 21 59

15.23 92 63 BROCKENHURST 9 8 40

0 00

19.93 88 07 Beaulieu Road 6 56 56/60

22.61 85 32 Lyndhurst Road 9 47 54

25.53 82 39 Totton 13 27 50*

26.09 81 74 Redbridge 14 13 46*

27.84 80 14 Millbrook 17 00 33*

28.79 79 18 SOUTHAMPTON CEN 23 19 42

0.00 79 18 SOUTHAMPTON CEN 0 0 00 5L 0 0 00 2L

1.83 77 09 St. Denys 5 36 31 5 46 34

3.20 75 59 Swaythling 7 57 39 7 58 41

4.11 74 66 Southampton Airport 9 03 46 9 06 41

5.54 73 33 EASTLEIGH 14 11 40 14 11 41

0 00 3L/sig10 0 00 RT

9.34 69 49 Shawford 9 00 38 8 28 38

12.46 66 41 WINCHESTER 14 13 51 13 13 32


Miles m c Location Sch

m s mph Sch

m

s mph

12.46 66 41 WINCHESTER 0 00 4L 0 00 2L

s stop 3:37 - 4:35

14.71 64 23 Winchester Jcn 7 54 30 5 39 38

20.94 58 07 Micheldever 18 07 44 15 35 41

23.03 56 00 Roundwood Box 20 52 46 18 36 40

26.55 52 40 Wootton Box 25 15 56 23 48 46

28.70 50 28 Worting Jcn 29 05 tsr 25

27 40 tsr 30

31.30 47 60 BASINGSTOKE 29 33 09 30 32 30

0.00 51 35 BASINGSTOKE 0 0 00 9L/70

4.93 46 41 Bramley 7 14 57/52

8.28 43 13 Mortimer 10 41 89/72

13.59 37 68 Southcote Jn 15 53 44

14.54 36 72 READING WEST 27 17 58

All speeds estimated from rail joints.

May 1967 – David Lloyd-Roberts

David recalls a run from Bournemouth to Waterloo. He says the driver would have been changed at Southampton. His recollection was that the locomotive was well-driven, but not thrashed, as – of course- some were during this period. Date 06/05/1967 m c sch m s mph

Train 1833 Bournemouth 64 27 Winchester Jn. 23 56 56

Loco 34024 61 48 Wallers Ash Box 26 43 61

Load 2,10,331/355 59 00 Micheldever 30 10 69

Recorder D Lloyd-Roberts 56 32 Roundwood 32 21 63/74/69

m c sch m s mph 50 20 Worting Jn. 39.5 37 22 64/66

109 05 Bournemouth 0.0 0 00 12L 47 60 Basingstoke 39 45 80/76

106 60 Boscombe 3 35 40 42 20 Hook 44 24 76/78

106 20 Pokesdown 4 24 50 39 60 Winchfield 46 13 81/87

104 25 Christchurch 6 16 69 36 40 Fleet 48 36 82

101 00 Hinton Admiral 9 19 64/56 33 20 Farnborough 52 18 23pws

98 40 New Milton 11 55 60/58 31 00 MP 55 24 56

95 40 Sway 14 40 69/68 28 00 Brookwood 58 08 73/78

93 60 Lymington Jn. 16 23 66/64 24 27 Woking 64.0 61 06 69

92 60 Brockenhurst 17 17 68/71 21 60 West Byfleet

63 21 77

89 59 Woodfidley 19 58 68/69 20 40 Byfleet

64 18 81

88 00 Beaulieu Road 21 23 73/68 19 20 Weybridge

65 17 76

85 40 Lyndhurst Road 23 43 74/65 17 00 Walton-on-Thames

66 53 81

82 40 Totton 26 58 sig 45/47 16 00 Hersham

67 43 82

81 71 Redbridge 27 44 sig 45/ss35s 14 30 Esher

68 55 77

79 18 Southampton Cen. 35.5 34 51 13 27 Hampton Ct.Jn. 78.5 69 46 74

0 00 12 00 Surbiton

70 54 69

78 15 Northam Jn Box 3.0 3 38 9 60 New Malden

72 53 71

77 08 St Denys 5 25 41 7 20 Wimbledon

75 14 64/57

75 56 Swaythling 7 15 51 5 40 Earlsfield

76 58 62

73 36 Eastleigh 11.0 9 40 61/20tsr 4 00 Clapham Jn 89.5 78 56 40/53

69 49 Shawford 17 36 40 1 29 Vauxhall

82 20 43

66 40 Winchester 21 36 54 0*‘05 Waterloo 96.5 85 41 1E

18 June 1967 Revisited. – Frank Price

The 18th of June 1967 marked the last time steam visited Swanage in the pre-preservation area. The occasion was a Railway Correspondence and Travel Society railtour from Waterloo, just three weeks before the end of steam on the Southern Region.


1967 was the summer of love and flower power. Scott Mackenzie enjoined us to wear some flowers in our hair, the Beatles released Sergeant Pepper, and in the Kinks' 'Waterloo Sunset', surely a paean to the last days of steam, Terry met Julie at Waterloo station every Friday night. 1967 also saw the end of steam on the Southern Region and the finale of steam at London termini. A number of railtours were run in the final weeks and I felt that one of these had to be travelled on to mark the occasion. In 1967 I was a student at the University of Newcastle Upon Tyne – not the easiest place to start the journey, but at that time there were still overnight trains where it was possible to travel 'on the cushions' to London, taking advantage of a cheap return fare of 62/6d (£3.12½ in today's money). So, I caught the 2314 from Newcastle, Deltic hauled, arriving at Kings Cross at 5am. Crossing London by tube to Waterloo allowed time for breakfast before joining the stock of the special. For the first leg, we had 73029 and 34023 and, after unusually travelling via East Putney to Wimbledon to pick up the mainline, we headed down through Cobham and the Portsmouth direct line through Guildford and Petersfield to Fareham. It was a glorious sunny day, and we later learnt that a number of lineside fires had been started near Haslemere which were attributed to our train. At Fareham, our two engines came off to be replaced by 34089. During a photo stop at Southampton Central 34108 was added for the trip via Bournemouth to Wareham, where 34108 was detached and 80146 added to the rear of the train. Then on to Worgret Junction and down the branch to Swanage where participants swarmed over the tracks to get photos. No hi-vis jackets or concerns about trespass then! Our 12-carriage train meant that 80146 was well off the platform and under the road bridge at the north of Swanage station. We then retraced our steps to Wareham where the train reversed and the standard tank was detached before we continued to Weymouth, pausing by the shed to set down those who wished to look around. Like the others on the Southern, the shed closed to steam on 9 July.

Date 18/06/1967 miles sch m s mph

Train RCTS Railtour 35.90 Basingstoke 36 52 61/78

Loco 35013 41.50 Hook 41 20 76

Load 12,397/435 43.85 Winchfield 43 06 83

Recorder Mark Warburton 47.20 Fleet 45 26 85

Driver P Terry 50.45 Farnhorough 47 47 82

miles sch m s mph 52.70 MP 31 49 53 57tsr

0.00 SALISBURY 0 0 00 55.60 Brookwood 52 33 75/79

1.10 Tunnel J 4 4 35 32 62.05 Woking 54 55 27 72

5.45 Porton 10 19 47 62.05 West Byfleet 57 36 75

8.10 Allington 13 26 55 63.30 Byfleet 58 35 77

10.30 mp 73.25 15 41 61 64.60 Weybridge 59 39 72

10.95 Grateley 16 19 66.60 Walton-on-Thames 61 18 75

15.95 Red Post 20 10 82/76 69.30 Esher 63 21 78

17.35 Andover 21 15 79 70.35 Hampton Ct.Jn. 64 10 76

21.10 MP 62.50 24 16 65 71.65 Surbiton 65 13 74

22.60 Hutrstbourne 25 32 74 73.95 New Malden 67 03 70

24.50 Whitchurch 27 06 71 76.50 Wimbledon 71 07 10sig

28.10 Overton 30 02 75 78.10 Earlsfield 73 57 /35sig

31.30 Oakley 32 30 79 79.80 Clapham Jn 73 77 27 40

33.40 Worting Jn. 34 34 19 e/56tsr 82.40 Vauxhall 81 12 To MR

83.70 Waterloo 80 85 22

For our return, we had two Bulleid light pacifics: one un-rebuilt and one rebuilt, 34023 and 34108. They took us via Southampton and Romsey to Salisbury, where we again reversed and changed engines for the last time - to Merchant Navy 35013, formerly 'Blue Funnel' but now like most of its contemporaries minus its nameplates. We had a planned 80-minutes non-stop run to Waterloo and we made a good start, covering the 58 miles from just before Andover to New Malden at an average of 74mph, with a maximum of 85mph at Fleet, but a succession of signal checks in the London suburbs meant that the final time was just over 85


minutes. There is a log of the run, by M Warburton, printed below. Arrival back at Waterloo was just after 9 pm, rather late and almost twelve hours after we had started. Still 'a grand day out': six different engines and 350 miles of steam was good value for the ticket priced at four pounds, on what turned out to be the last society railtour before the end of steam on the Southern. Then it was time to return to Kings Cross for the 0005 newspaper and parcels train to Newcastle, Peak hauled. Little did I think at the time that 25 years later I would again depart Waterloo behind a Bulleid pacific or that 42 years later I would be at Wareham to see the first through steam-hauled train to Swanage in the preservation era. But as they say, they are different stories.

THE LAST SATURDAY OF STEAM – Don Benn

The last few weeks of Southern steam were a frantic time, as we chased the remaining steam locos to get as many runs as possible, forsaking lineside photography in the process. The last Saturday morning saw us on the 2.45 am train from Waterloo behind Rebuilt West Country class 4-6-2 No. 34095 Brentor which had earlier arrived with the last steam hauled 6.15 pm from Weymouth. Our crew were Gordon Porter and fireman Randall. Gordon was one of the ‘fast‘ men who never carried a watch but could always be relied on the produce great performances whatever the condition of the engine. He gave me what I consider to be my best 100 mph run with steam: 103 mph near Fleet with No. 35028 Clan Line with the 365 ton 5.30 pm from Weymouth on 12th December 1966. His normal mate was Tom Moult but on this night, he wasn’t around. At departure time, I counted 129 passengers, mostly enthusiasts, all hoping for a good run as Gordon Porter was driving. It was raining and we weren’t banked out of Waterloo so the start was very slow and nothing special was noted to Woking, except for a lively 75 after Raynes Park. From Woking though, still in the rain, we ran very well to Basingstoke, reaching 75 mph at milepost 31 and 90 mph after Fleet, where steam pressure was down to 130 lbs. Even so we ran from Woking inside even time and then gave me my fastest actual time to Winchester of 18 minutes 13 seconds for the 18.80 miles with a nice spell in the 90s down the bank. We were eight minutes early at Winchester and during that time word came back that Gordon Porter had requested my presence up front and so for the last time on that damp and misty morning I rode on the footplate of an engine on the main line, and with my favourite driver as well. It could hardly have been any better. Details of this section are shown in the log. (The log for the complete journey appears as run 30 on page 38)

Date Saturday 8th July 1967

Train 245 am Waterloo to Bournemouth

Loco Rebuilt West Country class 4-6-2 No. 34095 Brentor

Load 3 coaches and 4 vans, 178 tons tare 190 tons gross

Crewe Driver Gordon Porter and fireman Randall, Nine Elms MPD

Weather Damp and misty

Recorder DB from footplate

miles sched mins secs speed regulator cut off boiler steam chest

0.00 Winchester 0.00 00 00

¼ 50 230 50

1.23 St Cross Box

02 14 59/60 full 40 200 190

tsr 46* shut 22 210 0

2.47 Shawford Jct

03 30 44* ½ 25 200 160

3.12 Shawford

04 21 60½ ¾ 25 200 180

3.55 MP 70

04 42 68 ¾ 25 205 190

4.55 MP 71

05 32 78 full 25 210 200

sigs 35* shut 25 230 0

6.06 Allbrook Box

07 26 40 ⅓ 25 215 140

6.96 Eastleigh 11.00 09 08

net time 8 minutes


The Bournemouth Line electrification June 1965 to July 1967

Martin Barrett

Rumours were going around that steam would finish at the end of May – hence the flurry of ‘last’ steam railtours, so I booked the week off work so I could spend all my time on the LSW, and it was on Friday evening I left early to catch 1723 from Waterloo (run 1). This week it had 34024 in charge with a light load of only nine coaches, but due to the density of traffic in the evening peak it made the usual sedate progress barely exceeding 60 mph before Woking, then gently falling to 49mph by MP31. It appears the regulator was eased even more as speed dropped to 45mph by Farnborough and didn’t recover much before Basingstoke. Despite all this, we had recovered one of the two minutes late start by Worting Jn and eventually after reaching a maximum of 69mph at Wallers Ash, we stood five minutes approaching Winchester Jn. The journey forward to Southampton was no better – it looks like an easy turn for the fireman. If I thought that was slow then 0830 down (run 2) with 34060 on Saturday 20 May, with Driver Sullivan in charge according to Mr Bloxham, soon dispelled my illusions. Albeit it had 13 vehicles, but one tsr and one signal check with speed barely exceeding 60 mph saw us through Worting Jn in 64½ minutes – although a little more effort was made up to MP31. From Wootton, we seemed to coast down through Eastleigh and another couple of tsrs ensured we arrived at Southampton in over 100 minutes. After three extra minutes detaching the ‘boat portion’ running was definitely better with Bournemouth being reached in 33½ minutes with a maximum of 72mph down the bank. With only five on beyond Bournemouth, no more time was lost to Wareham, arriving 7 minutes late. Third time lucky! Sunday morning saw me on 1130 from Waterloo (run 3) with 34090 on only seven. Even running local line to Wimbledon (and passing Clapham Jn at 52mph), we still beat the 18-minute schedule to Hampton Court Jn and with speed in the low 60s, MP31 passed at 64mph after passing Woking at 59mph, we eventually passed Hook in only 46m21s, over 10 minutes quicker than the previous day. Needless to say, we sat outside Basingstoke for a few minutes. Sometimes single line working actually works very well, and today it did. Having stopped in the loop at Wallers Ash, we went through the SLW and only lost four minutes on the normal schedule to Winchester. Of course, things never go according to plan all of the time, so with two tsrs, local line running from St Denys and a stop outside Southampton, overall ten minutes was lost from Waterloo. By slick running, most of this was regained by Bournemouth. Monday 22 May, 0835 from Waterloo (run 4) – 35003 on 9. Appalling start to the journey with signals before and after Clapham Jn together with the tsr – a further three minutes lost to Surbiton in addition to the 3¼ minutes late start. Never mind – we went out of Surbiton like a rocket reaching 76mph after Byfleet – not the usual experience and picked up five of the lost minutes by Woking. We then stood over five minutes in Woking so once again we shot out of the station reaching 67mph at MP31 before the 60mph tsr before Farnborough, from where we powered away reaching 82mph before a check spoilt the run to Basingstoke – we were inside even-time by Hook. We stood nearly eight minutes at Basingstoke, but once again the driver made the most of a clear run reaching Winchester in under 20 minutes with a maximum of 88mph after Wallers Ash – another five minutes here! Things calmed down then until a sudden burst of speed to 78mph before Brockenhurst re-energised me. A quick 75mph through Hinton Admiral provided a fitting climax to an excellent run.


Having returned to London, I decided on a valedictory trip to Salisbury so I joined 1535 down (run 5) which by now was an electro-diesel pushing 8 TC coaches. It barely needed to exceed 60 mph to keep time here, but interesting to note that tsr after Clapham Jn had gone, but been replaced by another before Byfleet. I was very fortunate to have made such a good run earlier in the day. Run No 1 2 3

Fri Sat Sun

Date 19 May 1967 20 May 1967 21 May 1967

Train 1723 Waterloo 0830 Waterloo 1130 Waterloo

Loco 34024 34060 34090

Load 9/301/328 12+BG/429/460 6+BG/230/245

m ch location sch m s mph sch m s mph sch m s mph

0 11 Waterloo 0 0 00 2 late 0 0 00 1½ late 0 0 00 1L/LL

1 29 Vauxhall 3 49 31/45

3 48 27/44 3 18 34/53

4 00 Clapham Jn 7 8 03 27 7 8 13

7 6 52 52/49

tsr 25

tsr 15

5 47 Earlsfield 11 13 41

13 08 34 8 36 57 XTL

7 25 Wimbledon 13 37 49

15 52 44 11 04 34

8 60 Raynes Park 15 20 53

17 42 51 13 10 48

9 60 New Malden 16 27 57/58

18 52 53 14 19 53

11 00 Berrylands 17 45 56

20 13 57 15 39 59

12 00 Surbiton 18 48 56

21 17 56 16 40 57

13 27 Hampton Ct Jn 18 20 10 61 18 22 37 62 18 17 53 66

14 28 Esher 21 18 60/62

23 45 60 18 54 68

16 00 Hersham 22 47 60

25 14 62/27s 20 14 64

17 00 Walton 23 48 59/57

27 04 29 21 10 65

19 09 Weybridge 26 04 59

31 12 40 23 22 61

20 34 Byfleet 27 15 64

32 47 50/51 24 31 65

21 60 West Byfleet 28 28 62

34 16 50 25 45 61

24 25 Woking 31 03 56

37 14 51 28 19 57

24 60 Woking Jn 32 31 35 53/56 33½ 37 48 52/49 34 28 51 59/65

28 00 Brookwood 35 11 53

41 41 50/52 32 00 62/66

31 00 MP31 38 41 49/52

45 14 50/60 34 49 64/69

33 20 Farnborough 41 22 45

47 38 59 36 53 62/57

36 40 Fleet 45 32 48/55

50 50 62/66 40 13 58/60

39 60 Winchfield 49 16 51

53 56 58 43 37 53

42 20 Hook 52 09 55/52/59

56 25 62/58/66 46 21 58/64/ss 2m31s

47 60 Basingstoke 57 57 54

61 42 58 61 57 31

63 64 00

50 20 Worting Jn 62 60 57 47 60 64 27 51 5½ 5 13 41

52 40 Wootton 63 49 45

67 06 48/60 8 09 49/58

56 00 Roundwood 67 47 55

70 49 58 11 56 56

58 00 Micheldever 69 47 64

72 43 65/66 13 52 66/69/s

60 15 Weston 71 46 67

74 43 62 16 19 37/43

61 49 Wallers Ash 73 02 69/ss 5m6s

76 11 60/67 19 37*

64 23 Winchester Jn 80 82 02 24/36 76 78 38 64 22½ 25 01*

66 40 Winchester 83½ 86 13

80 38 62 25½ 29 27

84½ 87 40

27½ 30 45 -/43

tsr 50

tsr

tsr 26

69 49 Shawford 5 03 56/62/8s

84 03 50/60/t 5 55 38/55/t

73 33 Eastleigh 10½ 11 10 25 84½ 88 41 27 9½ 11 26 27/35

74 60 Southampton Apt 13 10 41/50

91 11 40 13½ 14 07

14½ 14 30

75 56 Swaythling 14 25 48/s

92 32 48/54 2 22 34/41

77 09 St Denys 16 41 35

94 15 50 5 10 17/XLL

78 19 Northam Jn 17½ 18 14 90 95 32

5½ 7 42 /ss2m27s

79 18 Southampton 21 20 45 93½ 100 14 8½ 14 03

* via loop - ss 59s & 24s ZW10, SLW


Run No 2 3

Sat Sun

Date 20 May 1967 21 May 1967

Train 0830 Waterloo 1130 Waterloo

Loco 34060 34090

Load 10/330/360 ex Shmptn 6/202/215

5/165/180 ex Bmth

m ch location sch m s mph sch m s mph

79 18 Southampton 97½ 107 25 12½ 19 25 -/37

tsr 12

81 74 Redbridge 5 29 44/51 5 6 48 18

82 40 Totton 6 17 50

8 08 38

85 32 Lyndhurst Road 9 36 53/64

11 52 59/62

88 00 Beaulieu Road 12 16 58/66

14 24 56/66

92 65 Brockenhurst 16 46 58 20½ 19 32

23½ 21 00

93 60 Lymington Jn 17 17 49 56 2½ 2 38 33

95 45 Sway 19 50 51/64

5 11 53/65

98 45 New Milton 22 50 60 10½ 8 41

11½ 9 20

101 00 Hinton Admiral 25 10 72/62

4 11 63/66

104 28 Christchurch 28 06 66 10½ 7 41

11½ 9 10 /30

106 23 Pokesdown 30 13 45 3½ 4 53

4½ 5 25

106 60 Boscombe 30 57 37

2 07 19/32

108 01 Bournemouth 37½ 33 32 6½ 4 58

43½ 39 30 /38/sigs 29

110 53 Branksome 5 45 33

112 00 Parkstone 7 40 56/62

113 62 Poole 10 10 15

12 11 15 /42

116 00 Hamworthy Jn 4 07 39

118 60 Holton Heath 7 14 60/s

120 70 Wareham 10 10 39

Tuesday morning and 0835 had 35008 on the usual load of nine (run 6). Only a moderate run out to Surbiton and the journey on to Woking was now spoilt by tsr at Byfleet. No improvement after Woking with stop at Winchfield for some unknown reason, but still only three minutes late from Basingstoke which was all recovered by Winchester thanks to speed in high 70s coming down the bank. Just for some variation, we had local line running from Shawford Jn to Eastleigh followed by the usual overtime at Southampton. This was followed by a standard run on to Poole. Wednesday morning and 0835 once again! (run 7) 35007 on nine. This time there was a little more interest as we wandered across to the Windsor lines and back again and were then badly checked approaching Clapham Jn. Having unusually reached 65mph by Raynes Park we suddenly came to an abrupt stop. Did the fireman lose his shovel or something? Anyway, after a quiet recovery and a restrained run to Woking the journey suddenly burst into life. Leaving Woking we reached 67mph before easing back to 63mph at MP31 and after 60mph tsr at Farnborough, roared away into the low 80s before Basingstoke – 24 minutes was better than average. However, this paled into insignificance as we left Basingstoke with such vigour that we breasted Wootton at 61mph and then accelerated away to reach 91mph after


Wallers Ash. Just 3 seconds over 19 minutes to Winchester – really exceptional. After that the run went back into the ‘usual’ category with running similar to the previous two days.

Run No 4 5 6 7

Mon Mon Tues Wed

Date 22 May 1967 22 May 1967 23 May 1967 24 May 1967

Train 0835 Waterloo 1535 Waterloo 0835 Waterloo 0835 Waterloo

Loco 35003 E6012 pushing 35008 35007

Load 8+BG/297/310 2x4TC units 403+421 8+BG/297/310 8+BG/300/315

m ch location sch m s mph sch m s mph m s mph m s mph

0 11 Waterloo 0 0 00 3¼ late 0 0 00 3 late 0 00 2 late 0 00 1L/sig

1 29 Vauxhall

3 05 36/52 3 18 -/54 3 37 36/57 4 23 31/33/s

4 00 Clapham Jn 7 7 50 15/t 7 6 48 38 7 04 41 9 57 22

tsr & sigs 6

5 47 Earlsfield

12 17 40/45/s 8 52 57/61 9 00 55/56/s 12 45 42

7 25 Wimbledon

14 46 42 10 45 53/52 11 19 37 14 45 60

8 60 Raynes Park

16 42 54 12 21 59/65 13 17 52 16 11 65

16 55 emerg

18 03 stop

9 60 New Malden

17 44 57 13 17 64 14 21 56/61 19 36 29/45

11 00 Berrylands

19 07 55 14 33 56/53 15 37 54 21 22 42

12 00 Surbiton 18 20 53

15 42 55 17 28 23 22

19 21 20

17 55 24 10

13 27 Hampton Ct Jn 3 2 48 50 18 17 02 68 3 03 45 3 04 50

14 28 Esher

4 03 59 18 06 65 4 24 53 4 24 56

16 00 Hersham

5 29 67 19 37 59 5 52 66 5 54 63

17 00 Walton

6 24 67/71 20 40 58 6 45 67/72 6 51 66

19 09 Weybridge

8 23 68 23 12 53/21s 8 43 71/t 9 08 25/t

20 34 Byfleet

9 23 75/76 25 52 11 18 21 12 07 30

21 60 West Byfleet

10 22 75 27 45 50/59 13 21 43/58 14 01 50/56

24 25 Woking 18½ 13 22

34 30 57 16 45 17 37

20 18 50

38 36 45 21 00 /s 20 15

24 60 Woking Jn

1 28 32 1 15 25 2 02 25 1 39 34

28 00 Brookwood

5 28 63 5 43 52/50 6 30 58/59 5 53 56/67

31 00 MP31

8 13 67/61t 9 12 53/58 9 38 58/t 8 45 63/72/t

33 20 Farnborough

10 24 62 11 34 52/66 11 53 61/59 10 44 62

36 40 Fleet

13 14 75/82 14 51 59/52 15 09 62/65 13 34 75/82/78

39 60 Winchfield

15 43 77/79 18 16 54 18 45 stop 16 03 80/82

19 05

42 20 Hook

17 36 78/82/24s 20 55 58/61 23 58 53/72/25s 17 56 79/83/42s

47 60 Basingstoke 31 24 13

29 27 30 31 31

24 00

33 31 55

34 20 28 25

50 20 Worting Jn 5½ 4 41 46

5 13 44 4 50 52

52 40 Wootton

7 22 53

8 02 50/62 7 17 61

56 00 Roundwood

10 50 62

11 39 60 10 17 74

58 00 Micheldever

12 35 74

13 34 62 11 54 77

60 15 Weston

14 17 82

15 32 71/78 13 31 82

61 49 Wallers Ash

15 20 83/88

16 43 76/77 14 35 88/91

64 23 Winchester Jn 21½ 17 17 81

18 55 72 16 26 82

66 40 Winchester 25 19 58

21 38

19 03

27 25 00 -/51

25 05 -/40 26 10 -/48

tsr

tsr 37 XLL tsr 46

69 49 Shawford

5 02 48/65/t

5 37 40/49/XTL 5 09 51/58/25t

73 33 Eastleigh 10 9 55 22/40

11 23 23/37 10 27 29/42

74 60 Southampton Apt 14½ 12 32

14 25

12 52

15½ 15 05

14 40 13 45

75 56 Swaythling

2 18 34/47

2 19 40 2 39 30/36/s

77 09 St Denys

4 18 44

4 14 51 6 13 20/ss53s

78 19 Northam Jn 5 5 43

5 37 /s 11 24 /s

79 18 Southampton 8½ 8 58 9 31 15 33


.. Run No 4 6 7

Mon Tues Wed

Date 22 May 1967 23 May 1967 24 May 1967


Loco 35003 35008 35007

Load 8+BG/297/310 to Bmth 8+BG/297/310 to Bmth 8+BG/300/315 to Bmth

8/265/275 ex Bmth 8/265/275 ex Bmth 8/268/275 ex Bmth

m ch location sch m s mph m s mph m s mph

79 18 Southampton 12½ 15 50 -/38 17 25 -/38 21 10 -/38

tsr 17 tsr 19

tsr

81 74 Redbridge 5 7 00 23 6 42 25 6 35 21

82 40 Totton

8 18 35 8 13 37 7 45 39

85 32 Lyndhurst Road

11 58 55 12 03 54/66 11 13 59/67

88 00 Beaulieu Road

14 16 69/78 14 25 64/74 13 29 66/75

92 65 Brockenhurst 19 19 00

19 13 18 28

22 21 40

21 40 22 35 /s

93 60 Lymington Jn 2½ 2 42 32 3 15 33 3 23 30

95 45 Sway

5 18 54/66 5 58 54/65 6 07 45

98 45 New Milton 8 13 62 8 55 61 9 16 61

101 00 Hinton Admiral 10 27 75 11 09 76 11 34 75/77

104 28 Christchurch 13 21 58 14 00 64/66 14 20 64

106 23 Pokesdown 15 35 46 16 04 49 16 24 49

106 60 Boscombe

16 14 46 16 43 45 17 04 36/ss 1m48s

108 01 Bournemouth 25 18 39

19 17 23 37

31 30 10 /40 27 25 /37 31 25 /39

110 53 Branksome 6 6 25

6 23 5 44

7 6 50 /33 6 45 /37 6 15 /38

112 00 Parkstone 3 3 16

3 03 3 03

? 3 45 /45 3 20 /47/s 3 40 /42

113 62 Poole 4 3 55 4 28 4 02

Later that afternoon I joined 1530 down (run 8) as far as Southampton in order to sample the local to Bournemouth. It went in bursts – up to 75mph, shut off and coast to 60mph, then open up again. In this fashion, we reached Winchester in just under 76 minutes despite slowing to 15mph for the tsr at Weybridge and turning to the local line at Basingstoke. We barely needed to exceed 60 mph to keep time to Southampton. 1716 local (run 9) had 2-6-4 standard tank 80133 on only three – not exactly a difficult task, but a 7½ minute late start followed by an extended stop at Millbrook and a minute’s stop before Redbridge ensured this was stretched to 12 minutes leaving Redbridge. Brisk running between the stations – only Beaulieu Road was missed out – allowed seven of the lost minutes to be regained by Pokesdown, only for five of them to be lost standing outside Bournemouth. Thursday morning dawns and 0835 (run 10) has yet another different MN – this time 35028. After a brisk start, checks intervened so only one minute of the 2½ minute late start was recovered by Surbiton. Obviously, things were not going well as further checks and the tsr meant we lost over three minutes to Woking on the ridiculously easy schedule of 18½ minutes. However, a clear run to Basingstoke with speed reaching the mid-70s allowed us to regain all of the lost time. Once again, we had a fast run to Winchester. Today we had a slower acceleration taking ¾ minute more to Wootton passed at 56mph, but then went like the wind, passing Wallers Ash at 93mph so we were only just over ¼ minute slower to Winchester than the previous day – another excellent effort. The run on to Poole was very similar to those earlier in the week, 78mph before Brockenhurst and 81mph down Hinton Admiral bank. The afternoon followed the same pattern as Wednesday with 1530 to Southampton (run 11) with D1922 in charge. Slightly different driving technique, but the same result – around 76 minutes to Winchester. 1716 (run 12) had 4-6-0 standard 75076 in charge today, but


Run No 8 10 11 13 14

Wed Thurs Thurs Fri Fri

Date 24 May 1967 25 May 1967 25 May 1967 26 May 1967 26 May 1967

Train 1530 Waterloo 0835 Waterloo 1530 Waterloo 0835 Waterloo 1518 Waterloo

Loco D1923 35028 D1922 34025 73092

Load 11+BG/400/425 8+BG/297/318 10+2 BG/398/420 8+BG/302/318 10/333/355

m ch location sch m s mph m s mph m s mph m s mph sch m s mph

0 11 Waterloo 0 0 00 1 late 0 00 2½ late 0 00 3 late 0 00 1 late

0 00 1½L

WLXTL

1 29 Vauxhall 3 21 35/48 2 58 38/53 3 32 34/44 3 27 35/53

4 08 30/45

4 00 Clapham Jn 7 7 26 30 6 29 39 8 02 28 7 11 42

8 15 42/38

5 47 Earlsfield 9 42 55/58 8 32 54 10 20 50 9 19 47

10 31 44

7 25 Wimbledon 11 34 56 10 25 60 12 16 56 11 22 52

12 42 50/49

8 60 Raynes Park 13 05 60/59 11 56 60/s 13 48 59 12 56 59

14 27 53

9 60 New Malden 14 07 61/60 13 25 38/42/s 14 49 59/60 13 56 63

15 33 61

11 00 Berrylands 15 20 64 14 11 37 16 09 52 15 09 60/s

16 51 58

12 00 Surbiton 16 16 67 17 24 17 17 56 17 08

17 53 59

18 00

18 10

13 27 Hampton Ct Jn 18 17 23 76 2 54 48 18 40 62 3 16 40

19 11 64

14 28 Esher 18 20 70 4 12 58/64 19 47 61/57 4 50 47

20 19 63

16 00 Hersham 19 37 74 5 39 57/s 21 19 60 6 39 52

21 47 60

17 00 Walton 20 29 69 7 12 29/20s/28 22 22 56 7 48 53/54

22 49 59

19 09 Weybridge 22 48 30 11 39 25 25 35 26 10 26 36

25 45 25

tsr 15 tsr 20

tsr 16 tsr 22

tsr 23

20 34 Byfleet 27 27 18 15 58 30 10 22 13 36 25

29 11 28

21 60 West Byfleet 29 35 45 18 03 41/51 32 09 50 15 53 40/48

31 44 31/38

24 25 Woking 32 13 59 21 50 34 48 67 19 48

36 38 repair

24 00

21 30

40 40 engine

24 60 Woking Jn 34 32 41 65 1 31 30 35 15 65 1 16 26

42 22 27

28 00 Brookwood 35 34 72/75 5 56 57/63 38 08 71/54 6 01 52

47 54 42

31 00 MP31 38 08 67 8 58 62/67 41 13 55 9 18 56/61

51 59 45

tsr

tsr

tsr

tsr 59

33 20 Farnborough 40 20 56 11 05 62 43 28 60 11 34 61 54 32 57/61

36 40 Fleet 43 37 67/72 13 59 73/74 46 23 76/78 14 41 65/66 57 49 59/64

39 60 Winchfield 46 28 62 16 42 69/72 49 02 66/60 17 39 64 60 58 62

42 20 Hook 48 57 57/64 18 52 69/76 51 29 62/67 20 04 62/65 63 31 60/64

sigs 20 XLL

sigs 39

47 60 Basingstoke 56 43

24 31 56 44 54 27 44

68 54 60/s

28 15

31 55

50 20 Worting Jn 60 60 12 52 5 22 45 59 27 59 5 32 46

72 17 33

52 40 Wootton 62 31 60/63 7 58 56 61 38 62/77 8 19 50

76 03 38

56 00 Roundwood 65 59 57 11 05 71 64 29 75 11 44 66

80 13 54

58 00 Micheldever 67 55 67 12 38 83 66 08 73 13 25 76

82 14 65

60 15 Weston 69 47 74 14 07 91 67 56 60/s 15 03 82

84 08 72/74

62 00 Wallers Ash 69 57 74 15 05 93 69 25 54 16 07 84 85 20 72

64 23 Winchester Jn 75½ 73 10 75 16 55 81 72 20 60/32s 18 03 85 87 38 67/30s

66 40 Winchester 78½ 75 55

19 18 76 11

20 12

90 48 36

80½ 79 45

27 50 -/49 79 35 -/44 26 25

tsr 40

tsr 48

tsr 36 tsr 45

tsr 47

69 49 Shawford 5 34 52/67 5 14 53/65 6 11 48 5 27 51/58/33s 95 05 57/65

73 33 Eastleigh 10 9 16 61 9 03 57 10 11 60 10 43 36/47 98 55 55

74 60 S'hmpton Apt 10 28 62/66 11 06 11 34 53 12 45

100 18 59

11 55

13 35

75 56 Swaythling 11 26 62/21s 2 18 36/44/s 12 44 49 2 25 39/44

101 21 55/58

77 09 St Denys 14 18 42 4 34 23 14 36 45 4 35 37/ss20s

102 55 58

78 19 Northam Jn 15½ 16 00

6 41 16 28

7 55 /sig

104 15

79 18 Southampton 19 19 22 9 55 19 29 11 28 107 47

.


Run No 9 10 12 13 14

Wed Thurs Thurs Fri Fri

Date 24 May 1967 25 May 1967 25 May 1967 26 May 1967 26 May 1967

Train 1716 Southampton 0835 Waterloo 1716 Soton 0835 Waterloo 1518 Waterloo

Loco 80133 35028 75076 34025 73092

Load 3/100/103 8+BG/297/318 to Bmth 3/100/103 8+BG/302/318 to Bmth 10/333/355

8/265/273 ex Bmth 8/270/280 ex Bmth

m ch location sch m s mph m s mph m s mph m s mph m s mph

79 18 Southampton 0 0 00 7L /23 0 00 /36 0 00 12L /s25 0 00

0 00

80 14 Millbrook 3 2 57

3 22

3½ 5 40 /22

6 45 /29

/37

/28

2 25 sig

2 08 sig

3 25 stop

2 30 stop

tsr 23 tsr 18 tsr 23

tsr 21 tsr 23

81 74 Redbridge 4 6 30 6 51 5 35 6 37 23 6 47 28/31/s

4½ 6 45 /24

5 50 /23

82 40 Totton 1½ 1 51 8 10 35 2 02 7 46 42 8 15 16

2 2 15 /48

2 45 /50

85 32 Lyndhurst Road 6 5 04 11 47 57 4 51 11 36 50/59 14 05 44/52

6½ 5 25 /47

5 10

88 00 Beaulieu Road 4 15 46/61 14 03 67/78 3 58 50/64 14 17 55/67/25s 17 11 47/60/s

92 65 Brockenhurst 10½ 9 44 18 45 9 18

20 32

22 37 28

11 10 10 23 00

23 55

sigs 19

93 60 Lymington Jn 2½ 2 10 36/45 3 17 30

2 46 33 25 05 30

95 45 Sway 6½ 5 02 6 04 48

5 22 52/63 28 03 42/46

7 5 15

30 27 sig

54

30 50 stop

98 45 New Milton 4½ 4 39 9 02 69/68

8 27 58 34 13 40

5 4 55 /52

101 00 Hinton Admiral 5 4 08 11 09 79/81

10 48 71/72 37 18 63

5½ 4 20 /42

/54s

104 28 Christchurch 5½ 5 38 14 04 60/65

13 46 60/62 42 02 sig

6½ 5 50 /36

42 20 stop/30s

106 23 Pokesdown 5 3 57 16 07 53

16 01 39 47 02 28

6 4 15 sigs

sigs

106 60 Boscombe 1 30 24/34 16 48 38

16 52 24 48 05 28/30

3 18 sig 18 12 sig

50 00 sig

8 33 stop 19 00 stop

50 35 stop

108 01 Bournemouth 5½ 10 25 22 17

20 46

52 48

32 45 /37

27 55 /35

110 53 Branksome

6 22

6 30

7 05 /37

7 15 /35

112 00 Parkstone

3 07

3 03

3 55 /43

3 35 /45

113 62 Poole 4 02 4 08

departure was 12 minutes late this time and being 17 minutes late leaving Redbridge, I baled out at Brockenhurst, not being sure to reach Bournemouth for the up working. The running was slightly better than Wednesday. By Friday morning it appeared Nine Elms had run out of Merchant Navy’s as WC 34025 was turned out (run 13) , although it made little difference on only nine vehicles. Driver Pilcher was in charge and the running was rather lacklustre with only 63mph at New Malden and 54mph between Surbiton and Woking. However, a reasonable effort was made to breast MP31 at 56mph, but speed then stuck in the mid-60s all the way to Basingstoke. The running to Wootton was rather laboured as well; passed at only 50mph, but at least 85mph was attained by Winchester Jn and Winchester was still reached in only 20m12s. Then, as earlier in the week, we ‘tootled’ along to Poole with nothing much of note.


Having returned to Waterloo, being the Friday prior to a bank holiday, there was a 1518 relief to Bournemouth running (run 14). This was loaded to ten with only Standard ‘5’ 73092 in charge – I had a funny feeling that the following 1530 was going to get a poor run and I wasn’t disappointed! The start wasn’t too bad with 64mph at Hampton Court Jn, but recovery from the tsr at Weybridge was laboured and eventually we stopped at Woking for four minutes to repair the engine – it wasn’t lack of steam, maybe the injectors. 45mph was reached at MP31 followed by around 60mph until checked approaching Worting Jn and then after a burst to 74mph another check approaching Winchester which had taken nearly 91 minutes – we were now in 1530s path. Eventually we arrived in Southampton in 107m47s. It is hard to find any redeeming features about the run to Bournemouth with multiple signal delays and the 28 or so miles taking nearly 53 minutes! It is worth noting that 1622 relief with 34034 and Driver Fordrey in charge reached Winchester in just over 64 minutes with 75mph at MP31, 90 mph after Hook and 97mph after Wallers Ash. What a difference an hour makes! And now the up runs. On Friday 19 May, having arrived in Southampton at 1913 off 1723 down, it was a very quick dash to pick up 1730 Weymouth (run 15) that left only three minutes later – if it had been on time I would have missed it. 35007 on 12 went up the bank around 50mph and with only one tsr took 40 minutes to clear Worting Jn. After a brief check, approaching Basingstoke, we then had a clear run all the way to Waterloo in 47½ minutes apart from the 20mph tsr before Clapham Jn. No heroics, but speed in the mid-70s with a maximum of 78mph at Byfleet – a competent run. On Saturday 20th May, having travelled down on 0830 from Waterloo, I joined 1118 Weymouth at Wareham (run 16) with 2-6-0 Standard 76069 on four. Despite having only a

Run No 16 17 18

Sat Sun Mon

Date 20 May 1967 21 May 1967 22 May 1967

Train 1201 Wareham 1531 Bournemouth 1212 Poole

Loco 76069 to B/mth D1922 75077 to Bmth

34025 ex Bmth 34018 ex Bmth

Load 3+BG/127/132 to Bmth 11/363/380 3/99/102 to Bmth

9+BG/329/355 ex Bmth 10/339/360 ex Bmth

m ch location sch m s mph sch m s mph m s mph

120 70 Wareham 0 0 00 3 late

118 60 Holton Heath

3 11 64/70

116 00 Hamworthy Jn

5 54 43/54

113 62 Poole 10 9 35

12 11 25 /47

0 00 8L /37

112 00 Parkstone

2 57 45/47

3 35 28/34

110 53 Branksome

4 47 37/60

6 18 32/50

108 01 Bournemouth 10 8 18

10 05

22 23 20

0 0 00 2L 24 10

106 60 Boscombe 4 32 35 3 42 46 3 56 38

106 23 Pokesdown 5 20 44 4 19 56 4 40 47

104 28 Christchurch 7 44 53/48/51 6 18 62/58 6 48 60/53

101 00 Hinton Admiral 11 38 49/44 9 28 67/64 10 24 54/45

98 45 New Milton 14 51 53/60 11 40 75/77 13 34 51/56

95 45 Sway 18 01 57 14 03 66/63 16 57 52

93 60 Lymington Jn 19 47 65 15 40 67 18 52 59/63

92 60 Brockenhurst 20 43 64/54/63 16 33 69/78 19 51 62/65

88 00 Beaulieu Road 25 29 54/61 20 20 75/78 24 26 59/65

85 32 Lyndhurst Road 28 04 51/55 22 23 65/32s 26 52 60/69

82 40 Totton 31 22 50 25 52 37 29 46 51/46

81 74 Redbridge 32 11 49 26 52 42 30 35 47

79 18 Southampton 35½ 36 14 31 17 34 44


. Run No 15 16 17 18

Fri Sat Sun Mon


Train 1730 Weymouth 1201 Wareham 1531 Bournemouth 1212 Poole

Loco 35007 34025 D1922 34018

Load 11+BG/400/440 9+BG/329/355 11/363/380 10/339/360

m ch location sch m s mph sch m s mph sch m s mph m s mph

79 18 Southampton 390½ 0 00 2L 0 0 0

0 0

0 0

78 19 Northam Jn 3 3 54 4 4 12

3 19

3 00 /tsr

77 09 St Denys 5 25 36 6 04 33 5 13 34 5 01 33

75 56 Swaythling 7 47 44 8 24 42 7 03 59/65 7 16 45/50

74 60 Southampton Apt 9 05 48 9 45 47 8 02 57/sig 8 31 47/s/xLL

73 33 Eastleigh 11 10 39 50 11 11 35 40 9 48 39 10 42 27

tsr 22

tsr 25

tsr 19

XTL

69 49 Shawford 17 32 41 18 46 41 16 35 58 16 15 53

66 40 Winchester 21 41 48/50 22 53 50 19 31 69/ 19 45 58

64 23 Winchester Jn 24 18 49 25 26 51/53 ZW 22 23 ss 1m37s 21 56 61

121 24 00 SLW /46 tsr 19

61 49 Wallers Ash 27 35 53 28 35 52 29 55

26 50 42

30 25 SLW X UP

60 15 Weston 29 17 50 30 16 51/53 33 51 51 28 51 47

58 00 Micheldever 31 51 52 32 49 51 36 07 61 31 25 55/56

56 00 Roundwood 34 12 50 35 12 50 37 56 66/79 33 36 55/68

52 40 Wootton 37 46 63 38 49 62 40 42 75 36 54 64/59

50 20 Worting Jn 39½ 39 58 61/50s 40½ 41 03 58 44 38 ss 1m52s 39 11 61

47 60 Basingstoke 42 37 53 43 30 65/72 52 43 22 XTL 41 25 69/79

42 20 Hook 47 58 66/69 48 17 68/70 58 04 82 45 40 78

39 60 Winchfield 50 11 67/75 50 26 69/73 59 54 85/91 47 47 79/82

36 40 Fleet 52 56 72 53 09 68/70 62 09 88/89 50 14 78/82

33 20 Farnborough 55 41 69 55 58 68 64 31 72 52 42 77/79

31 00 MP31 57 38 67/75 58 04 63/65 66 19 78/90 54 27 78

28 00 Brookwood 60 12 73/69 60 52 63/60 68 26 88/s61 56 43 84

24 60 Woking Jn 63½ 62 54 75 64½ 64 02 65 71 19 75 59 16 76

24 25 Woking 63 17 75/77 64 28 65/67 71 42 77 59 38 78

21 60 West Byfleet 65 17 75 66 48 62 73 33 85 61 30 85

20 34 Byfleet 66 15 78 67 58 65 74 25 87 62 23 87

19 09 Weybridge 67 14 74/72 69 07 64/60 75 17 90/87 63 17 83

17 00 Walton 69 04 75 71 18 64 76 49 93 64 55 84

16 00 Hersham 69 54 74 72 14 64 77 30 85 65 42 79/s

14 28 Esher 71 12 68/70 73 37 65 78 37 80 66 56 65

13 27 Hampton Ct Jn 78½ 72 13 66 79½ 74 42 63 79 28 78 67 58 62/s

12 00 Surbiton 73 27 63/62 75 59 63 80 29 81/85 69 19 56

11 00 Berrylands 74 25 63 77 01 58 81 13 82 70 21 60/s

9 60 New Malden 75 36 62 78 16 61 82 11 79 71 43 51

8 60 Raynes Park 76 33 61 79 16 60 83 01 69/s 72 53 55

7 25 Wimbledon 78 05 51/53 80 47 55 85 02 31/21xLL 74 26 59/61

5 47 Earlsfield 80 08 50 82 54 48 88 46 48/59 76 15 59

tsr 21

tsr 21

tsr 12

4 00 Clapham Jn 89½ 83 02 29/52 90½ 85 50 32/46 90 25 53/59 80 23 26/50

1 29 Vauxhall 86 56 38 89 57 39 93 34 36/s 84 23 41

0 11 Waterloo 96½ 90 02 97½ 92 54

97 08

87 17

month left before withdrawal this put up a very spritely show with 70mph before Hamworthy Jn, 47mph up Parkstone bank and 60mph before Bournemouth. WC 34025 took over there with the load increased to ten. The run to Southampton was disappointing with speed falling from around 50mph to only 44mph at the top of Hinton Admiral bank and speed hardly


exceeded 60 mph thereafter, so with a clear run it managed to lose almost a minute. There was a slight improvement after Southampton with speed rising to the low 50s, but it still took 41 minutes to clear Worting Jn. The driver was content to go along around 70 mph to Woking from where, being almost on time, speed was reigned back to the mid-60s so, despite the tsr approaching Clapham Jn, Waterloo was reached a minute or so early and you can’t complain about that. On Sunday 21st May, with so few steam workings, I returned home on 1531 from Bournemouth (run 17) with D1922 on 11. It looks so easy when you sail up Hinton Admiral bank in the mid-60s, and reach the high 70s downhill, so, despite a check, Southampton was reached in just over 31 minutes. After waiting time for ten minutes we set off in haste, but with a signal check approaching Eastleigh and a tsr the other side, we stopped at Winchester Jn in 22½ minutes to wait for the single line – this was substantially less than the two previous runs took to pass. After a quick transition over the single line we reached 79mph after Roundwood and then got stopped for two minutes at Worting Jn. Obviously, things weren’t going well as we ran local line to Basingstoke before turning to the through line. For once the driver now had the chance to use the full power of his 47 to best advantage and we ran the 33½ miles from Hook to Raynes Park in just under 25 minutes (average speed 80mph) with speeds in excess of 90mph, only interrupted by a slight check at Woking. This is one of the few Class 47 runs on the LSW where I have recorded running like this. All good things come to an end and we were turned local line at Wimbledon but even so we only took 17½ minutes in from Hampton Court Jn – a very good effort. On the next three days, I returned from Poole on 1118 from Weymouth. Interestingly the

Run No 19 20 21

Tues Weds Weds

Date 23 May 1967 24 May 1967 24 May 1967

Train 1212 Poole 1212 Poole 1730 Weymouth

Loco 76005 to Bmth 76011 to Bmth 35013

35028 ex Bmth 35003 ex Bmth

Load 3/99/102 to Bmth 4/132/140 to Bmth 11+BG/390/421

9/301/320 ex Bmth 11/370/390 ex Bmth

m ch location m s mph m s mph m s mph

120 70 Wareham

118 60 Holton Heath

116 00 Hamworthy Jn

113 62 Poole

0 00 4½L /41 0 00 6½L /39

112 00 Parkstone 3 15 40 3 57 34

110 53 Branksome 5 22 40/55/5s 6 10 39/51

108 01 Bournemouth 10 32

10 04

22 15

24 15 0 00 2L

106 60 Boscombe 3 52 30 3 41 39 3 56 43

106 23 Pokesdown 4 34 45/59 4 25 4 37 50/61

104 28 Christchurch 6 41 57/60 6 33 59/60 6 43 57/58/56

101 00 Hinton Admiral 10 07 56/51/57 9 59 56/51 10 09 57/52

98 45 New Milton 12 52 55/64 12 48 61/64 12 56 60/57/65

95 45 Sway 15 49 61/55 15 44 60 15 50 64/59

93 60 Lymington Jn 17 41 59 17 27 66/63 17 34 62/64

92 60 Brockenhurst 18 42 61/64 18 23 65/67 18 32 62/65

88 00 Beaulieu Road 23 36 50/58 22 43 62/70 23 10 58/63

85 32 Lyndhurst Road 26 26 49/55 24 58 57/61 25 37 60/64

82 40 Totton 30 20 33 28 09 55 28 47 46

81 74 Redbridge 31 20 42 28 55 53/34s/37 29 38 46

79 18 Southampton 36 00 33 49 34 08


Run No 19 20 21

Tues Weds Weds

Date 23 May 1967 24 May 1967 24 May 1967

Train 1212 Poole 1212 Poole 1730 Weymouth

Loco 35028 35003 35013

Load 9/301/320 11/370/390 11+BG/390/421

m ch location m s mph m s mph m s mph

79 18 Southampton 0 0

0 0 0 0

78 19 Northam Jn 3 31 /tsr 3 42 /tsr 4 35 /tsr

77 09 St Denys 6 02 22 5 50 6 37 31

75 56 Swaythling 8 50 42 7 53 47 9 12 46

74 60 Southampton Apt 10 08 50/52 9 05 51 10 30 50

73 33 Eastleigh 11 39

10 31 54 11 58 51

tsr 20 tsr 40

tsr 38

69 49 Shawford 19 18 43 15 29 52 17 30 47

66 40 Winchester 23 32 46/48 18 57 56 21 15 53/56

64 23 Winchester Jn 26 22 43 21 19 55 23 39 55

tsr 21 tsr 22

tsr 15

61 49 Wallers Ash 32 40 31 26 14 39 30 02 32

60 15 Weston 35 00 44 28 10 48 32 14 47

58 00 Micheldever 37 38 55 30 47 53 34 59 49

56 00 Roundwood 39 45 61/66 33 01 55/67 37 18 55/64

52 40 Wootton 43 02 63/58 36 23 66 40 54 61/63

50 20 Worting Jn 45 19 59 38 34 61 42 57 61

47 60 Basingstoke 47 46 64 40 45 76/83/80 45 22 65/80/76

42 20 Hook 52 17 77 44 52 83/85/82 49 44 80/82/79

39 60 Winchfield 54 22 72/69 46 38 87/90/86 51 38 82/84

36 40 Fleet 57 08 75 48 50 89/91/88 54 00 82

33 20 Farnborough 59 46 74/70 51 00 92/93 56 33 75/77

31 00 MP31 61 40 72/76 52 31 88/95 58 22 74/79

28 00 Brookwood 64 05 74 54 27 92/s54 60 42 76/73

24 60 Woking Jn 66 37 82 57 34 69 63 23 75

24 25 Woking 66 59 82/85 58 01 70 63 47 74/79

21 60 West Byfleet 68 49 79 60 02 76 65 45 77

20 34 Byfleet 69 46 79 61 00 77 66 43 79

19 09 Weybridge 70 43 81/76 61 59 73 67 41 76/74

17 00 Walton 72 28 80 63 49 74 69 29 78

16 00 Hersham 73 15 75 64 35 77/76 70 16 79

14 28 Esher 74 28 72 65 44 77 71 33 69

13 27 Hampton Ct Jn 75 28 70 66 42 69/s 72 33 67

12 00 Surbiton 76 39 67 68 00 58 73 45 66

11 00 Berrylands 77 34 65 69 01 59/s 74 39 67/68

9 60 New Malden 78 45 62 70 21 54/s 75 46 67

8 60 Raynes Park 79 45 61 71 35 46/s 76 41 66/s

7 25 Wimbledon 81 18 54/57 73 43 34/40 78 43 21

5 47 Earlsfield 83 14 50 76 37 38 81 56 42

tsr 19 tsr 16

tsr 19

4 00 Clapham Jn 86 13 24/45 80 22 23/45 85 32 28/46

1 29 Vauxhall 90 33 40 84 52 34/5s 89 52 36

0 11 Waterloo 93 19

90 58 93 32

Larger engine, 75077 performed less well than the 2-6-0s to Bournemouth. On Mon 22ndMay, 34018 took the train forward with ten on (run 18). A fairly competent run to Southampton with speed falling to 45mph by MP100, and into the 60s onward to Southampton. Apparently, Driver Mercer told Mr Bloxham, who was also recording the run, that the Bournemouth men had ‘filled the box up’, which had only burned through by Southampton. However, the eight minute late departure from Poole had now turned into 11


minutes late leaving Southampton. Driver Mercer certainly tried hard up the bank despite running local line from Eastleigh to Shawford, reaching 61mph before the tsr before Wallers Ash. Speed had risen to 55 mph by Roundwood and after easing from 68mph to 59mph before Worting Jn (still 11 minutes late), a splendid effort followed with speed in the upper 70s/low 80s all the way to Hersham where we caught something up, but fortunately it didn’t cause much delay. The 31¾ miles from Basingstoke to Hersham had only taken 24m17s at an average of over 78mph. We eventually recovered 9 of the lost minutes by Waterloo and were only two minutes outside the pre-slow down schedule. The following day 35028 took over on a lighter load of nine (run 19). This looked like being a sprightlier affair, but an unexplained slowing to 33mph through Totton rather spoilt the first part of the journey. The start from Southampton was excruciatingly slow and it took no less than 32m40s to pass Wallers Ash – only 17 miles. Suddenly things improved and we breasted Roundwood at an impressive 61mph and with a clear run to Waterloo (with only the tsr before Clapham Jn) ran the 50¼ miles from Worting Jn in 48 minutes exactly, the 38 miles from Basingstoke to New Malden taking only 31 minutes at an average speed of 73½mph – going through Woking at just about maximum speed was quite thrilling! By the time Wednesday arrived the load from Bournemouth had increased to 11 with 35003 in charge (run 20). Definitely the best steam run this week with speed only falling to 51mph at MP100 and an almost clear run into Southampton, but still seven minutes down leaving there. The tsr around Shawford had gone up to 40mph by now so a better run was possible at the lower end of the bank, but the tsr before Wallers Ash still spoilt the climb, although we did recover to 55mph by Roundwood. After Worting Jn 35003 was opened out and we had Run No 22 23 25 26

Thurs Thurs Fri Fri


Train 1212 Poole 1817½ Brockenhurst 1212 Poole 1730 Weymouth

Loco 76005 to Bmth 34004 76005 to Bmth 35008

35007 ex Bmth 3/99/102 35028 ex Bmth

Load 3/99/102 to Bmth

5/165/172 to Bmth 12+BG/432/455

10/335/358 ex Bmth 12/402/439 ex Bmth

m ch location m s mph sch m s mph m s mph m sigs mph

113 62 Poole 0 00 6½L /38

0 00 5L /38

112 00 Parkstone 3 34 34/42

3 31 35/42

110 53 Branksome 5 50 40/57

5 40 40/54

108 01 Bournemouth 9 27

9 18

22 35

24 45 0 00 3 late

106 60 Boscombe 3 28 42

4 07 32 3 58 36

106 23 Pokesdown 4 05 51

4 47 47 4 37 54/65

104 28 Christchurch 6 09 64/65

6 47 64/66 6 36 63/59/61

101 00 Hinton Admiral 9 18 59/52

9 53 63/56/59 9 50 58/54

98 45 New Milton 12 05 53

12 27 56/ss8m23s/37 12 33 55/63

95 45 Sway 14 59 63/56

29 22 34 15 30 59

93 60 Lymington Jn 16 48 60/58

31 41 57 17 15 63/62

92 60 Brockenhurst 17 49 65/77

32 37 67/80 18 12 64/73

0 0 00 1½L /69

88 00 Beaulieu Road 21 48 72 7 6 03

36 27 75/78 22 23 66/69

7½ 6 15 /59

85 32 Lyndhurst Road 24 05 57/71 5 4 06

38 29 62/71 24 38 57/63

5½ 4 40 /50/s 36

82 40 Totton 26 57 51/47 5 5 13

41 16 53 27 37 58

5½ 5 50 /29

81 74 Redbridge 27 43 50 1½ 1 52

42 01 51/58/s 28 19 56/s20

2 3 05 /50

79 18 Southampton 31 57 6 5 10 46 31 32 58


Run No 22 24 25 26

Thurs Thurs Fri Fri


Train 1212 Poole 1730 Weymouth 1212 Poole 1730 Weymouth

Loco 35007 35030 35028 35008

Load 10/335/358 12/402/439 12/402/439 12+BG/432/455

m ch location m s mph m s mph m s mph m sigs mph

79 18 Southampton 0 00 0 00 1L 0 00 0 00

78 19 Northam Jn 3 08 /tsr 4 40 /tsr 3 25 /tsr 4 30

77 09 St Denys 5 07 31 6 53 33 5 21 34 6 25 40

75 56 Swaythling 7 28 42 9 04 46 7 32 47 8 38 46

74 60 Southampton Apt 8 48 51 10 13 56 8 43 54/s 9 51 50/45s

73 33 Eastleigh 10 13 56/42s 11 30 61/35t 10 15 28/30t 11 30 46/50t

69 49 Shawford 15 07 54 16 58 50 16 37 54 16 05 55/56

66 40 Winchester 18 26 60/57 20 25 60/s 19 46 63/65 19 29 55/ss1m32s

64 23 Winchester Jn 20 40 58/21t 23 35 29/19t 21 46 62/17t 26 22 16/23t

62 00 Wallers Ash 25 53 39 31 00 30 27 04 37 32 46 37

60 15 Weston 27 57 47 33 33 39 29 01 51 34 51 47

58 00 Micheldever 30 33 51 36 33 50 31 20 62 37 27 54

56 00 Roundwood 32 55 52/65 38 49 54/69 33 14 66 39 43 54/61

52 40 Wootton 36 29 61 42 07 62/57 36 05 78 43 19 54/47

50 20 Worting Jn 38 48 56/58/55 44 26 58 38 02 63 46 00 51

47 60 Basingstoke 41 23 64/80/78 46 53 66/82/78 40 18 70/85 48 32 66/74/68

42 20 Hook 45 43 81/84 51 10 79/82/80 44 26 82/86 53 20 70/72/67

39 60 Winchfield 47 32 83/90 53 00 82 46 12 87/93 55 31 74/75/71

36 40 Fleet 49 48 86/83/86 55 18 87 48 21 90/94 58 12 74/76

33 20 Farnborough 52 07 82/84 57 45 74/77 50 32 86/90 60 52 71

31 00 MP31 53 47 82/84 59 34 75/80 52 03 85 62 48 69/72

28 00 Brookwood 55 58 80/82/55s 61 53 78/s 54 03 94/16s/22 65 28 65/50s

24 60 Woking Jn 58 58 63 64 37 56/s 60 08 17/s 68 58 56

24 25 Woking 59 24 69 65 21 39/24/s 61 38 27/40/s 69 26 62

21 60 West Byfleet 61 20 85 69 48 49 66 43 33 71 38 73

20 34 Byfleet 62 13 88 71 14 54/s 69 18 30 72 38 77

19 09 Weybridge 63 08 79/77 72 37 53 71 12 47 73 38 71

17 00 Walton 64 52 78/75 74 54 66 73 35 69 75 29 75

16 00 Hersham 65 38 79 75 50 67 74 28 67/75 76 16 77

14 28 Esher 66 49 77 77 10 69 75 44 71 77 27 76

13 27 Hampton Ct Jn 67 49 69 78 12 66/s 76 45 68/71 78 23 73

12 00 Surbiton 69 03 65 80 07 31 77 56 69 79 30 71

11 00 Berrylands 70 00 64 81 48 42 78 49 66/60 80 22 68/s

9 60 New Malden 71 13 57 83 21 53 79 59 62 81 37 49

8 60 Raynes Park 72 18 57 84 28 57 80 58 62/64 82 52 47

7 25 Wimbledon 73 51 57 85 56 60/64 82 21 60/63 84 35 53/57

5 47 Earlsfield 75 48 53/22t 87 41 61/37t 84 06 47/38t 86 36 50

4 00 Clapham Jn 78 43 31/47 89 56 37/52 86 24 40/55 88 33 45/52

1 29 Vauxhall 82 39 41/10s 93 44 37 89 51 44 92 14 30

0 11 Waterloo 87 00 96 57

92 34 95 30

the luxury of passing Basingstoke at 76mph. Speed rose into the 80s and hit 90mph after Fleet. Unusually this high speed continued through Farnborough with a drop only to 88mph at MP31. Having reached 95mph we then caught the distant for Woking bringing us down to 54mph. However, speed rose again into the 70s until after Hampton Court Jn when we gradually got slower and slower – a pity really after such a good middle part to the run – the 19¾ miles from Basingstoke to Brookwood only took 13m42s at an average of 86½mph! Later that day I joined 1730 from Weymouth at Bournemouth with 35013 on a healthy load of 12 (run 21). It was in good form clearing MP100 at 52mph and, with a clear run, needed only easy running to arrive at Southampton in 34 minutes. After a very slow start and a very cautious 15mph over the tsr before Wallers Ash, speed reached 55mph by Roundwood and


with a clear road until Wimbledon, rolled off the 38 miles from Basingstoke to New Malden in 30m24s at an average of 75mph without any excess speeds – an even better run than 35028 on Tuesday. On Thursday 25 May, 1118 from Weymouth had 76005 in charge as far as Bournemouth for the second time this week – another good run, but not as good as the previous Saturday (run 22). 35007 on ten took over from Bournemouth still 6½ minutes late and this turned in a superb run reaching Southampton in under 32 minutes, speed being 52mph at MP100 and 77mph after Brockenhurst, so we were only 2 minutes down leaving Southampton. Despite the tsrs, running was good in between reaching 56mph through Eastleigh, 60mph at Winchester, but breasting Roundwood at a disappointing 52mph. However after Basingstoke 35007 was opened out reaching 90mph after Winchfield. As usual Woking managed to delay us, but only down to 55mph, so with a clear run – we must have beaten the Portsmouth line train for once – we raced away to 88mph through Byfleet. Despite the tsr before Clapham Jn and a severe check approaching Waterloo we arrived in exactly 87 minutes, eight minutes early. Another superb run with 34 or so miles from Basingstoke to Hampton Court Jn run at an average of 78mph despite the Woking check. Due to late running on the down, I ended up on the 1742 local back from Bournemouth to Southampton in the evening (run 23). This had 34004 in charge on three – this loco (very clean as usual) seemed to spend an inordinate amount of time trundling up and down with locals. It certainly went alright reaching 69mph between Brockenhurst and Beaulieu Road. 1730 from Weymouth (run 24) turned up with 35030 on 11. After a slow start, it performed as well as the morning train between tsrs, but caught something up approaching Winchester Jn so it took 44½ minutes to Worting Jn after which it stormed away to reach 87mph by Fleet. We were eased here and soon ran into trouble by Woking – did we catch up the late running Salisbury – so effectively the good running ended there. The good news was 20mph tsr approaching Clapham Jn had been lifted to 40mph. For the final time this week, I joined 1118 Weymouth (run 25) at Poole on Friday with 76005 in charge again – an almost identical run to Bournemouth despite load being five. 35028 took over at Bournemouth with the load now 12 – probably being heavier due the upcoming bank holiday weekend. Nearly eight minutes late, 35028 set off with a vengeance – 66mph after Christchuch and a minimum of 56mph at MP100 being the best of the week. Then we were suddenly brought to a stand at WA371 signal after New Milton for 8½ minutes and after another check at Sway we had taken over 31 minutes to Lymington Jn. Thankfully Driver Pilcher wasn’t discouraged and he blazed away to 80mph around the curves at Woodfidley and 78mph after Beaulieu Road, so less than 15 minutes had elapsed after passing Lymington Jn to arriving Southampton. Being nearly 20 minutes late off Southampton, I expected we had lost our path completely and a check approaching Eastleigh seemed to confirm this, but 65mph after Winchester and 66mph over Roundwood it seemed that all was not lost. Once again fireworks after Basingstoke with speed reaching 94mph after Fleet and again at Brookwood, but disaster struck – a severe check through Woking so what could have been an 85-minute run took 92½ minutes. However, the 19¾ miles from Basingstoke to Brookwood were reeled off in only 13¾ minutes at an average speed of 86mph. To complete the eight days, I joined 1730 from Weymouth with 35008 on 13 on leaving Bournemouth three minutes late (run 26). With the heaviest load of the week it put up a creditable performance only falling to 54mph at MP100 and with no excesses, reached Southampton in 33 minutes with one check. After a steady start, we were stopped approaching Winchester Jn. After the tsr, we did well to reach 54 mph by Roundwood, although this may have winded the loco as speed dropped to 47mph before Worting Jn. Gently accelerating to the mid-70s steady progress was made until a slight check approaching Woking from which speed recovered to 77mph by Hersham. With another slight check at New Malden we eventually took 95½ minutes to Waterloo.


Run No 27 Run No 28

Mon Mon

Date 22 May 1967 Date 22 May 1967

Train 1651 Basingstoke Train 1838 Salisbury

Loco 76067 Loco 75074

Load 7+BG/260/265 to And Load 4+1 vans/153/160

7+2BG/292/270 ex And m ch location sch m s mph m ch location sch m s mph

47 60 Basingstoke 0 0 00 3L 83 43 Salisbury 0 0 00 2½ late

50 20 Worting Jn 5½ 8 05 28 82 32 Tunnel Jn 2 43 45/55

52 28 Oakley 11 50 42/47 78 00 Porton 7 48 53

55 40 Overton 12½ 16 27 77 40 Idmiston Halt 8 18 53

14 17 10 /47 72 49 Grateley 13 26 64/75

59 09 Whitchurch 5½ 6 17 66 20 Andover Jn 24 19 41

6 6 50

28 26 05

61 00 Hurstbourne

3 39 52/57 62 40 MP 5 22 51

WFN 40 sig

10 22 sig 61 00 Hurstbourne 7 13 65/61

11 20 stop 59 09 Whitchurch 9 00 65

66 20 Andover 11½ 13 27 55 40 Overton 12 30 61/58

21 24 50 52 28 Oakley 15 47 62/s

69 00 MP

6 05 46 50 20 Worting Jn 19 18 11 45 XLL

72 49 Grateley 9½ 11 35 47 60 Basingstoke 23 22 06

10½ 12 00 /62

28 28 40

77 40 Idmiston Halt 8 7 42 42 20 Hook 7 03 61

8½ 8 10 /32 39 60 Winchfield 9 27 64/70/67

78 00 Porton 1½ 1 47 36 40 Fleet 12 21 69/71/68

3 2 20 /64/26s 33 20 Farnborough 15 10 70/69/72

82 32 Tunnel Jn 6½ 6 38 37 31 00 MP31 17 04 70/71

83 43 Salisbury 9 8 45 28 00 Brookwood 19 37 66/67

24 60 Woking Jn 22 37 61

24 25 Woking 26 23 26

29 29 05

21 60 West Byfleet 3 43 63

20 34 Byfleet 4 50 73

19 09 Weybridge 5 53 69/75

17 00 Walton 7 43 74/70

16 00 Hersham 8 33 73

14 28 Esher 9 50 72

13 27 Hampton Ct Jn 14 10 52 67

12 00 Surbiton 12 08 63

11 00 Berrylands 13 05 64

9 60 New Malden 14 15 66/64

8 60 Raynes Park 15 10 65

7 25 Wimbledon 16 32 58

5 47 Earlsfield 18 26 49/25s

4 00 Clapham Jn 27 21 22 27/55

1 29 Vauxhall 25 06 42

0 11 Waterloo 33 28 05

To finish with here is my one diversion of the week to Salisbury. Having left 1535 from Waterloo at Basingstoke I joined 1651 to Salisbury with 76067 on eight (run 27) – a heavy load for a small engine. It didn’t like it and it took eight minutes to clear Worting Jn at only 28mph. We were losing time over each section and the stop outside Andover didn’t help. Here the engine ran forward and attached another van. Fortunately, the engine ran well downhill reaching over 60mph after Grateley and Porton but still arrived Salisbury 11 minutes late. Finally, having heard all the exploits of 1838 from Salisbury (run 28), what turns up but Standard ‘4’ 75074 – albeit on only five. The running was really quite good, with 53mph being maintained up the 1 in 140 past Idmiston and 75mph down into Andover. A steady


mid-60s over the rising grades to Oakley allowed the schedule to be achieved to Basingstoke and whereas 23½ minutes on to Woking doesn’t sound very exciting, at least we were rolling along at 70mph and beat the schedule by 2½ minutes. A quick dash followed to Waterloo with 75 mph being reached after Weybridge. At least it beat the total disaster with the same engine on 28 March which managed to lose 45 minutes on the journey! So, after all the effort was it worth it? Well, we learnt that steam had another six weeks to go although the number of turns was reducing weekly. Some drivers were obviously having a ‘last fling’ with quite a few 90mph+ speeds recorded although mostly overall journey times were still not outstanding.

July 1967: the final days – Martin Barrett

On 9 July 1967 at 1747 the 1411 from Weymouth arrived In Waterloo behind the last Merchant Navy 35030 with the last Weymouth-Waterloo steam hauled service. This article Is my personal record of the last ten days or so travelling between Waterloo and Weymouth by various trains with many varying forms of traction - a large percentage of them steam. To set the scene; at the beginning of July there were nominally 61 working steam locomotives still allocated to Southern Region sheds divided as under

Merchant Navy 6 Standard Class 4 (2-6-0) 10

West Country/Battle of Britain 18 Standard Class 3 (2-6-0) 1

Standard Class 5 10 Standard Class 4 (2-6-4T) 10

Standard Class 4 (4-6-0) 4 Standard Class 3 (2-6-2T) 2

Realistically, only the 24 Pacific locomotives would be allocated to the Waterloo - Bournemouth expresses, although in an emergency a Standard Class 5 could deputise. Of these 61 locomotives, I only recorded runs behind 17 of them in the 10 days. On 10th July all these locomotives were withdrawn, with none being transferred to the North West. One can imagine that with only a few days of life left that their mechanical condition could be rather poor and those which would still 'go' would be flogged to death. In addition to the steam locomotives, the services were maintained by Class 47 diesels on the Bournemouth line with Class 33 diesels on TC stock assisting at times, and Warship diesels on the Exeter line services. It should be noted that 10 to 12 vehicles were the norm on the route for expresses in 1967, and anything less was quite unusual. To enable you to savour the atmosphere I have constructed this article in the form of a diary so the logs, which are grouped together for ease of presentation, may be rather detached from the text. The schedules are shown with each run, but since 1965 they were inflated to take account of the electrification works, so I have included the pre-1965 schedules in order that a more honest assessment may be made of the performance data. Pre-1965 Schedules

Waterloo 0 0 Bournemouth 0

Clapham Jn 7 7 Lymington Jn 17

Hampton Court Jn

18 18 Brockonhurst 0

Woking 30 Southampton 34 19

Woking Jn 28 Northam Jn 3.5 3.5

Basingstoke 28 Eastleigh 10 10

Worting Jn 52 5.5 Winchester 20

Winchester Jn

66 >66 21 Wortlng Jn 37 23

Winchester 69 24 Woking Jn 58 46

Eastleigh 73 Hampton Court Jn

67 55.5

Northam Jn 78 Clapham Jn 77 65

Southampton 81 0 Waterloo 84 72

Brockenhurst 19

Lymington Jn 17

Bournemouth 34


Table 1

Run 1 3 5 7

Date 30/06/1967 02/07/1967 03/07/1967 03/07/1967

Train 1723 Waterloo 1630 W'loo 0835 Waterloo 1530 Waterloo

Loco 34087 D6521 35030 D1921

Load 12,396/426 8TC,268,285/359 12,372/390 11,355/380/497

m c sch ms mph m s mph sch m s mph sch m s mph

0.00 Waterloo 0 0 00 9L 0 00 1L 0 0 00 1L 0 0 00 RT

1.29 Vauxhall 3 18 32/44 3 00 - 3 10 33/44/15s 3 16 34/46

4.00 Clapham Jn 7 7 29 39* 6 44 35* 7 10 21 16 7 7 14 36*

5.40 Earlsfield 9 38 50 9 03 - 14 11 38 9 18 50

7.20 Wimbledon 11 44 54 11 17 - 16 35 46 11 20 53

8.60 Raynes Park 13 23 55 12 52 57 18 16 54 13 01 54

9.60 New Malden 14 50 28 14 00 - 19 31 47 14 14 47

tsr 15 tsr12 tsr 14 tsr 20

11.00 Berrylands 18 52 30 18 51 - 23 58 29 17 18 35

12.00 Surbiton 18 26 32 18 45 45

20 40 43 20 22 - 19 27 01

13.27 Hampton Ct.Jn. 18 22 22 52 21 49 52 3 3 11 41 18 20 13 60

14.30 Esher 23 38 - 22 54 - 4 42 52 21 29 63

16.00 Hersham 25 10 60 24 15 - 6 19 57 22 47 63

17.00 Walton-on-Thames 26 13 56/53 25 10 65 7 21 59/56 23 45 61/59

19.20 Weybridge 28 40 57 27 08 69 9 41 61 25 59 64

20.40 Byfleet & New Haw 29 54 61 28 10 72 10 50 65 27 07 66

21.60 West By fleet 31 10 59 29 13 - 12 02 63 28 19 59

24.27 Woking sigs 30 18.5 15 28 - 30 30 55 57

34 41 34 31 26 66 20 16 59 -

24.60 Woking Jn. 32 35 54 40 31 53 - 1 46 26 34 31 26 59/64

28.00 Brookwood 40 12 48 34 56 63 6 22 53 34 38 61/64

31.00 HP 44 04 45 37 49 61 9 27 60/70 37 30 61

33.20 Farnborough 46 39 56 39 51 67 11 28 68 39 39 63/66

36.40 Fleet 49 57 60/62 42 38 71 14 14 70 42 42 63/67

39.60 Winchfield 53 07 61/62/t 45 22 72/t 17 00 67/71 45 42 62

42.20 Hook 56 01 36/56 47 51 40 19 12 67/72 48 10 60/62/52

47.60 Basingstoke 31 24 44 - 53 56 54

62 42 53 53 18 59 33 27 32 - sigs 26

50.20 Worting Jn. 62 65 36 50 55 53 56 51 5 32 44 60 56 55 43/37

52.40 Wootton 68 23 47 58 15 57 8 11 57 60 26 41/63

58.00 Micheldever 74 10 69 63 12 68 12 54 77 67 29 36s

60.11 Weston Box 76 00 74/76 64 55 78 14 29 82 70 01 54/56

61.48 Wallers Ash Box 77 08 74 66 05 75 15 30 85/88 71 36 54/57

64.27 Winchester Jn. 80 79 16 82 68 19 70 21.5

17 28 80 75.5 74 30 55

sigs 45

66.40 Winchester 83.5 81 46 - 70 57 - 25 20 07 - 78.5 77 40 -

84.5 83 10 - 80 37 - 27 26 48 - 80.5 80 11 -

tsr 41 tsr40 tsr 46 tsr 41

69.49 Shawford 5 32 55/83 5 52 52 5 29 48/65 5 25 48/52

73.36 Eastleigh 10.5 8 50 82 9 27 72 10 10 18 20s/30 10 10 03 47

74.65 Southampton Apt 14 13 47 -

9 49 74 10 36 73 15 14 20 - 11 39 51

75.56 Swaythling 10 48 57 11 34 60 2 24 36 12 52 50

sigs sigs sigs

77.08 St Denys 12 40 37 13 14 50 4 08 59 14 43 36

78.15 Northam Jn Box 17.5 14 26 - 15 05 - 5.5 5 29 15.5 16 46 -

78.32 Tunnel Jn Box 14 57 - 15 47 - 6 04 - 17 18 -

sig stop 0-20

79.18 Southampton Cen. 21 17 52 - 18 03 - 9 8 56 - 19 23 16 -


m c sch m s mph m s mph sch m s mph

Southampton Cen. 25 22 09 - 25 37 - 13 16 43 -

sigs sigs

81 71 Redbridge 5 5 32 49* 6 00 30 5 6 01 44

82 40 Totton 6 18 53* 6 56 34 6 49 52 */58

85 40 Lyndhurst Road 9 35 60 63 10 28 55/65 10 04 57

88 00 Beaulieu Road 12 04 60/70 12 53 61/63 12 52 53/70

90 00 MP 13 50 67 '68 14 43 63 75

92 66 Brockenhurst 19 17 01 - 18 28 - 19 17 48 -

22 38 - 22 21 30 -

93 60 Lymington Jn. 2 30 35 2.5 3 44 28

95 40 Sway 5 00 50 6 29 53/65

98 40 New MiIton 7 54 65 9 19 63

100 00 MP 9 14 69 10 39 69

101 00 Hinton Admiral 10 03 74 11 28 76/77

104 25 Christchurch 12 57 56* 14 10 63*

106 20 Pokesdown 15 05 52 16 10 52

106 60 Boscombe 15 47 - 16 47 45

sigs sigs

108 05 Bournemouth 18 34 - 25 20 41 -

.

Table 2

Run No 8 18 23

Date 03/07/1967 05/07/1967 06-Jul '67

Train 1716 ex Southampton

Loco 73037 75075 75075

Load 3,101/105 3,101/105 3,101 105

m c sch m s mph m s mph m s mph

79 18 Southampton Cen . 0 0 00 3.5L/31 0 00 1.5L/36 0 00 5L/38

80 10 Millbrook 3 3 00 - 2 23 - 2 19 -

3.5 3" 08 -/38 2 54 -/45 2 35 /48

81 71 Redbridge 4 3 47 - 3 25 - 3 14 -

4.5 4 12 -/25 3 43 -/25 3 32 /26

82 40 Totton 1.5 1 55 - 1 50 - 1 47 -

2 2 25 -/50 3 10 -/51 2 17 -/50

85 40 Lyndhurst Road 6 5 08 - 4 42 - 4 50 -

6.5 5 31 - 5 15 -/ 53 5 16 -

88 00 Beaulieu Road 4 03 51 3 54 52 3 44 55

90 00 MP 5 59 63/70 5 46 68 5 35 67

sigs 48 sigs 50

92 66 Brockenhurst 11 8.54 - 9 17 - 8 35 -

11 9 43 - 12 20 - 10 03 -/sigs

93 60 Lymington Jn. 2.5 2 20 37/46 2 16 40/45 2 40 19/46

95 40 Sway 6.5 5 08 - 5 07 - 5 45 -

7 5 44 -/ 57 6 36 -/53 6 37 /54

98 40 New Hilton 4.5 4 34 - 4 48 - 4 34 -

5 5 24 - 6 25 - 5 56 -

100 00 MP 2 49 47/52 2 29 53 2 34 50/53

101 05 Hinton Admiral 5 4 19 - 4 04 - 4 06 -

5.5 5 02 -/57 5 17 -/57 4 47 -57

104 25 Christchurch 5.5 4 49 - 4 46 - 4 40 -

6 '5 17 -/40 5 56 -/41 5 47 -/40

106 20 Pokesdown 5 3 48 - 3 49 - 3 45 -

6 4 14 - 4 30 - 4 13 -

106 60 Boscombe 1 41 23/37 1 33 27 1 38 26/34

sig stop 3-53 sig stop 2-37 sig stop 4-13

108 05 Bournemouth 5.5 9 21 8 05 9 16


Run 13 10 12 15 17

Date 04/07/1967 04/07/1967 04/07/1967 05/07/1967 05/07/1967

Train York-Poole 0835 Waterloo 1500 W'loo 0835 Waterloo 1530 Waterloo

Loco 34095 35028 D818 35007 D1921

Load 11,374/395 11,376/395 to Bmo 7,235,255/335 10,312/326 12,388/410/527

Load 10,335/347 ex BM

M c sch m s mph m s mph sch m s mph sch m s mph

0 05 Waterloo 0 RUN 10 1L RUN 12 2L RUN 15 1L RUN 17 7L

1 29 Vauxhall 3 17 37/52 3 42 38/50 3 26 33 2 58 45/53

4 00 Clapham Jn 7 6 58 38* 7 20 36 7 .0 7 10 40* 7 6 35 35*

5 40 Earlsfield 9 05 49 9 38 49 9 05 55 8 44 52

sigs

10 53 59 10 38 55

7 20 Wimbledon 11 33 33 11 42 56 sigs

8 60 Raynes Park 13 56 43 13 16 57 13 05 3S 12 04 65

9 60 New Malden 15 22 36 14 30 37 14 22 33 13 02 55

tsr 19 tsr 20 tsr 17 Stop 0- 06 tsr 24

11 00 Berrylands 15 39 33/36 17 51 35 17 51 32 17 12 35

12 00 Surbiton 18 20 50 - 18.0 20 14 -

19 21 29 - 19 22 47 19.0 20 5S - 18 42 49

13 27 Hampton Ct.Jn. 3 00 44 20 55 55 2 59 52 18 20 09 61

14 30 Esher 4 24 54 22 05 59 4 16 60 21 15 66/69

16 00 Hersham 6 00 58 23 32 63 5 41 66 22 37 65

17 00 Walton-on-Thames 7 00 63 24 29 64 6 35 69 23 30 67/63

19 20 Weybridge 9 07 66/69 26 37 67 8 29 75 25 35 66

20 40 Byfleet & New H. 10 12 68/70 27 43 69 9 27 77 26 39 69

21 60 West Byfleet 11 18 67 28 50 66 10 28 73/74 27 47 65/61

24 27 Woking 18.5 14 29 - 31 50 - 18.5 13 40 -

20 16 47 - 33 03 - 20.0 17 11 - 30 14 65

24 60 Woking J 1 47 20 1 40 23 1 51 26 34 30 42 62

28 00 Brookwood 6 18 57/64 6 24 50/ 54

6 14 62 33 47 66

31 00 MP 9 03 61 9 51 53 8 58 69/74 36 36 64

33 20 Farnborough 11 20 65 12 05 65/69

10 53 71 38 31 74

36 40 Fleet 14 23 62/63 15 01 68/70 13 34 76/74/77 41 07 78/80

39 60 Winchfield 17 32 62/57 17 54 65 16 12 71 43 39 76

42 20 Hook 20 05 60,63 20 09 67/72

18 20 68/70 45 46 65/61/71

sigs 30 sigs stop 1-26

47 60 Basingstoke 31 27 20 - 25 42 31.0 28 05

33 33 13 - RUN 13 16L 33.0 34 34 - 51 03 58/56

50 20 Worting Jn. 5.5 5 24 48 6 04 36 5.5 5 32 40 60 53 38 58

52 40 Wootton 8 17 53 9 27 47/56 8 22 54 55 54 62

58 00 Micheldever 13 09 76/80 16 28 37

60 11 Weston Box 14 49 77 19 15 56 13 13 76/79 60 35 79

61 48 Wallers Ash Box 15 54 20 40 64/72 sig stop(3) 62 22 83

64 27 Winchester Jn. 21.5 17 55 84 23 04 71 63 15 79/80

sigs 29 75.5 65 22 75

66 40 Winchester 25.0 20 32 27 37 -

27.0 26 44 28 48 - 25.0 57 27 - 78.5 68 11 -

tsr 46 tsr 42 27.0 59 59 - 80.5 73 12 -

69 49 Shawford 5 18 51/67 5 43 48/56 tsr 42 tsr 43

sigs 16 sigs 21 5 13 53/65 5 30 51/64

73 36 Eastleigh 12 02 -

sig stop 2-55 sigs 49

10 .0 10 29 36/47 :

13 43 - 10.0 15 07 28/ 38 10 9 41 59

74 65 Southampton Apt 14.0 12 57 - 14.0 17 45 -

15.0 13 32 - 3 30 33/46 15.0 18 55 10 53 65

75 56 Swaythling 2 30 31/33 sigs

sigs -

XSL 4 56 42/48 2 23 34 12 04 41/47

77 08 St Denys 6 49 17 6 49 44 4 17 53 14 05 44

78 15 Northam Jn Box 5 5 9 06 8 15 - 5.5 5 39 - 15.5 15 41 -


Run 12 13 15 17

m c sch m s mph sch m s mph sch m s mph sch m s mph

78 32 Tunnel Jn Box 9 38 -

8 47 - 6 07 -

16 25

sigs

ss 13s 79 18 Southampton

Cen. . 9 12 11 - 11.5 13.02 9 8 39 - 19 20 28

13 16 18 - 13 12 49

81 71 Redbridge 5 5 14 47 5 4 57 52

sigs

82 40 Totton 6 02 51 5 54 31

sigs 14

85 40 Lyndhurst Road 9 24 54/66 11 05 53/65

88 00 Beaulieu Road 11 44 65/77 13 29 63/68

90 00 MP 13 23 73 15 15 62

sigs

92 66 Brockenhurst 19 16 56 - 19 18 41 -

22 20 36 - 22 23 41 -

93 60 Lymington Jn. 2.5 3 19 31 3 2 57 34

95 40 Sway 5 59 52/67 5 24 55/67

98 40 New Hilton 8 56 65 8 14 65

100 00 MP 10 14 67 9 32 71

101 00 Hinton Admiral 11 04 73/78 10 21 77

104 25 Christchurch 13 49 55* 13 08 61/62

106 20 Pokesdown 16 18 36 15 19 49

106 60 Boscombe 17 12 30 16 01 40

sig stop 3m02s

108 05 Bournemouth 25 20 37 25 24 58

31 30 57 -/40

110 52 Branksome 6 6 01 -

7 6 37 /31

112 00 Parkstone 3 3 33 -

3.5 3 58 /34

113 62 Poole 4 4 40 -

Friday 30 June 1967 My normal practise on Fridays was to leave work at Liverpool Street a few minutes early, walk to the Bank, and travel via the W&C (drain) to Waterloo to catch 1723 FO from Waterloo which, in theory, gave a six-minute connection into 1730 Weymouth - Waterloo at Southampton. However, on this evening, having heard of the exploits on 1815 Weymouth - Waterloo stopping train on previous days: 106 mph between Basingstoke and Woking!, I decided to travel to Brockenhurst to pick up the latter service. In Run 1, 1723 was formed by 12 Mk I vehicles (LMR based set) with a rather clean BB 34007 at the front. As normal with this train, very little was expected, especially out to Woking, having to thread through the intensive local service. Departure was nine minutes late, which gave some hope of a better run but, obviously, everything else was late as well because there was a severe signal check as well as the 15 mph tsr at New Malden and then we caught up the offending train again at Woking - and we had only just reached 60 mph! From being 13 minutes late at Woking, things did not Improve with an appalling 45 mph at MP31. The locomotive was obviously in poor shape despite its outwardly good condition. We ambled along barely gaining ½ minute to Wortlng Jn, but thankfully once over the hump at Wootton there was a marked improvement with five minutes being regained to Winchester with a maximum of 82 mph at Winchester Jn. Being still eight minutes late we were not hampered by the stopping DEMU in front and after the niggling 40 mph tsr at St.Cross a maximum of 83 mph was obtained after Shawford and only six miles from Winchester, albeit on a 1 In 252 falling gradient. Nothing out of the ordinary followed to Brockenhurst - regaining another two minutes and arriving only three minutes late .


After a 40-minute wait, 1815 from Weymouth came into view and to my disappointment it only had WC 34021 on, albeit exceptionally clean. The load was a feather-weight 6/210 tons

Table 4

Run No

2 4 6 9

Date 30/06/1967 02/07/1967 03/07/1967 03/07/1967

Train 1815 Weymouth 1936 Bournemouth 1118 Weymouth 1730 Weymouth

Loco 34021 34037 35023 35007

Load 6,195/210 EX Bomo 9,300/330 10,335/365 sch m s mph 11,367/395 sch m s mph

7,225/240 ex Soton


108 05 Bournemouth 0.0 0 00 RT/26 0.0 0 00 9L/32 0.0 0 00 1L

106 60 Boscombe 4 06 19t 3 58 /16t 4 07 /tsr

106 20 Pokesdown 5 35 - 5 28 - 5 47 28

104 25 Christchurch 8 07 56/60 7 48 64 8 03 63

101 05 Hinton Admiral 11 33 57 10 42 69 11 14 60

100 00 MP 12 41 49/53 11 35 66 12 18 53

98 40 New Hilton 14 26 52/61 12 53 74/79 13 56 57

95 40 Sway 17 31 58 15 13 75 16 51 62/59

93 60 Lymington Jn. 18.0 19 15 64 16 39 68/48s 18 35 64

92 60 Brockenhurst 0 0 00 RT 20 11 65 17 52 52 19 34 63/66

89 00 MP 4 54 74/77 23 33 71 21 21 71/72 23 06 64

88 00 Beaulieu Road 5 42 73/78 24 27 63/68 22 13 67 24 05 60/66

tsr tsr tsr stop 0-42

85 40 Lyndhurst Road 9 15 15/59 27 14 36/57 24 56 39/64 28 32 16/47

82 40 Totton 13 52 48/44 30 51 39/s 28 18 61 33 33 43

81 71 Redbridge 17 14 32 47 31.5 32 09 28/46 29 04 47/50 34 29 45

sigs 23/26 sigs

79 18 Southampton C 22 20 45 - 36.5 37 04 - 35.5 34 06 - 35.5 40 05 -

29 29 08 - 40.5 40 21 - 39.5 39 28 - 39.5 43 35 -

78 32 Tunnel Jn Box 2 43 - 3 13 - 2 44 - 3 18 -

78 15 Northam Jn Box 3| 3 22 - 4.0 3 44 - 4.0 3 14 - 3.0 3 42 -

77 08 St Denys 5 21 27 5 31 - 4 52 39 5 14 37

75 56 Swaythling 7 24 54 7 31 51 6 47 51 7 11 52

74 65 Soton Apt 10 8 42 -

11 9 51 -/34 8 38 57 7 52 61 8 19 58

73 36 Eastleigh 5 3 44 -

10 12 14 51/55 10.5 9 54 61/64 11.0 9 04 66/77 11.0 9 36 59/64

69 49 Shawford 5 49 54/57 13 57 51 12 19 75 13 22 60


66 40 Winchester 12 10 06 - 20.5 18 18 -

15 13 55 -/37 23.5 22 09 -/37 15 05 63 16 34 59

64 27 Winchester Jn. 5.5 4 53 - 6.5 4 54 - 17 02 69 18 46 58

tsr 17 tsr 28 tsr 19 tsr 32

61 48 Wallers Ash Box 10 42 55 9 20 50 22 11 48 22 39 50

60 11 Weston Box 12 07 68 10 57 58 23 55 54 24 19 56

58 00 Micheldever 13 57 75/79 13 07 66 26 06 64 26 30 61

56 00 MP 15 30 78/84 14 56 68 27 55 66 28 25 63/72

52 40 Wootton 18 09 77 17 53 75 30 41 81 31 29 71/30s

50 20 Worting Jn. 25 20 08 61 - SL26 26.0 19 52 65/60 40.5 32 28 57 39.5 34 23 45

sig slop 2-07 sigs

47 60 Basingstoke 29 27 27 -

36 36 49 - 22 17 67 36 19 18 36 43 72

42 20 Hook 5 41 86 26 28 86 41 22 80 40 51 86

39 60 Winchfield 7 20 97 28 11 89 43 08 86 42 36 87

36 40 Fleet 9 22 95 30 20 94 45 18 93 44 42 94/95

33 20 Farnborough 11 33 85 32 39 76 47 33 78 46 49 90

tsr 65 tsr 62 tsr 58 Isr -

31 00 MP 13 30 68 34 43 63 49 36 61 48 32 77

28 00 Brookwood 15 45 84/86 37 09 83/77 52 10 75 50 40 85/88

24 60 Woking Jn. 18 26 - 56.0 39 36 - 64.5 54 32 90 63.5 52 57 83


Run 2 4 6 9


24 27 Woking 26 19 15 -

53 19 82 29 26 10 - 39 58 82/79 54 52 85/s

21 60 West Byfleet 3 43 74 41 51 82 56 45 74 55 08 83/82

20 40 Byfleet 4 43 77 42 45 84 57 44 79 56 01 85

19 20 Weybridge 5 41 77 43 40 80 58 42 78 56 55 80

17 00 Walton-on-Thames 7 18 84 45 18 86 60 24 82 58 37 82/79

16 00 Hersham 8 05 80 46 02 82 61 08 82 59 22 81

14 30 Esher 9 16 81 47 09 77 62 16 77 60 29 82

sigs 22

13 27 Hampton Ct.Jn. 16 10 13 60 71 48 05 71 79.5 63 13 72 78.5 61 77

12 00 Surbiton 11 58 45 49 13 72 64 23 68/72 62 25 75/71

11 00 Berrylands 13 06 55 50 03 75 65 13 71/72 63 15 75/74

sigs 64 17 75

9 60 New Malden 14 31 51 51 06 66 66 16 69

8 60 Raynes Park 15 32 60 52 01 62 67 09 65 65 05 74

7 20 Wimbledon 16 57 65 53 30 58 68 36 56/54 66 19 67/69

5 40 Earlsfield 18 43 60 55 15 63 70 33 58 67 56 63

4 00 Clapham Jn 26 20 28 40 83 57 01 40/56 90.5 72 18 33/53 89.5 69 35 39/52

1 29 Vauxhall 23 55 sig stop 61 18-62 58 75 59 42 73 19 35

sigs 2 sig stops sigs

0* ‘05 Waterloo 33 27 07 - 90 74 55 - 99.5 79 37 - 96.5 76 13 -

and this showed lightning acceleration (Run 2) with 77 mph being reached only four miles from the start. Despite a 15 mph tsr at Lyndhurst Road and a signal check later, Southampton was still reached one minute early where an additional van was added. By now the three passenger vehicles were very full and it was fortunate that I had boarded earlier to get a milepost seat! A series of brisk start-to-stop runs followed but after the Winchester Jn tsr the engine was opened right out to accelerate from 17 mph to 79 mph, only falling by one mph at the summit. Far from being winded, a maximum of 84 mph was reached before being eased. True to form Basingstoke held us outside waiting for a platform. Here there is a dispute on whether the van attached at Southampton was detached or not - the train was so packed I couldn't move! Leaving Basingstoke once again acceleration was swift and with generally favourable gradients a maximum of 97 mph was reached at Winchfield with 95 mph maintained on the leveller stretches. This joyous romp was cut short by the tsr at Farnborough but another quick burst of power ensured a maximum of 86 mph before Woking reached in 19m.15s - an average of 72½ mph start to stop. Surprisingly this was faster than Tuesday’s or Wednesday’s runs, both of which were powered by Merchant Navy's with higher maximum speeds. The run into Waterloo was cut short at Hampton Court Jn by a train in front. Saturday 1 July Owing to the limited amount of steam activity, I spent the day In the North-West behind Stanier Class 5's and Britannia's Sunday 2 July Being train-lagged (another version of jet-lagged) by a very late arrival home on Saturday night, and bearing in mind the scarcity of steam on Sundays, I opted to travel down late to Bournemouth for 1936 return excursion. On the down journey, I was treated to what now Is a 'Class 33', D6521 on 8 TC's. These diesels were only used on Saturdays and Sundays in the summer when heating was not required. As seen in Run 3, with no signal checks whatsoever and only the two tsr's which applied on Friday, Winchester was reached in a very creditable time of under 71 minutes - about 8 minutes early. Running continued in the


Table 5

Run 11 14 16 17

Date 04/07/1967 04/07/1967 05/07/1967 05/07/1967

Train 1118 Weymouth 1730 Weymouth 1118 Weymouth 1730 Weymouth

Loco 34021* 34025 35028 35023

Load 11,368/399* 11,366/400 11,368/396 11,367/395

m c sch m s mph sch m s mph sch m s mph sch m s

mph

113 62 Poole 0.0 0 00 8L /46

112 00 Parkstone 3 07 42/40

110 52 Branksome 5 10 34/52

109 05 Bournemouth 10.0 9 09 -

22.0 23 13 -/30 0.0 0 00 20 late 0 0 00 1L

106 60 Boscombe 4 05 /tsr18 4 11 -/29/17tsr 4 30

106 20 Pokesdown 5 30 - 5 38 - 5 45

104 25 Christchurch 7 52 62/66 8 03 61/66 8 15 58/59

101 00 Hinton Admiral 10 52 65 11 09 64 11 42 56

100 00 MP 11 47 63 12 08 60 12 50 52

98 40 New Milton 13 11 65/73 13 35 64/75 14 27 60

95 40 Sway 15 44 71 16 08 73 17 18 65/64

93 60 Lymington Jn. 17 11 75 17 43 61 18 57 66

92 60 Brockenhurst 18 01 72 18 40 64 19 51 68

89 00 MP 21 08 78 21 55 76 23 09 72

88 00 Beaulieu Road 21 57 71/t34 22 43 72/77/t 24 02 65/69/t

85 40 Lyndhurst Road 25 23 41/63 25 19 37/57 26 59 36/35

82 40 Totton 28 43 61 28 57 49 30 40 52

81 71 Redbridge 29 26 49/53 29 45 51/55 31 26 53/54

79 18 Southampton C 35.5 33 45 - 35.5 33 56 - 35.5 35 27

39.5 38 41 - 0.0 0 00 1 late 39.5 38 30 - 39.5 39 15

78 32 Tunnel Jn Box 2 49 - 3 15 - 3 18 - 2 57

78 15 Northam Jn Box 4.0 3 16 - 3.0 3 39 - 4.0 3 51 - 3 3 24

77 08 St Denys 4 55 40 5 07 37 5 29 36 4 55 37

75 56 Swaythling 6 51 54 7 20 43 7 28 52 6 57 49

74 65 Southampton Apt 7 55 59 8 47 44 8 35 56/s23 8 11 52

73 36 Eastleigh 11.0 9 07 65 11.0 10 28 46/54 11.0 10 52 29 11 9 37 53/59

69 49 Shawford 12 38 66 15 01 53 15 45 62/29s 13 46 57

66 40 Winchester 15 36 61 18 38 50 20 26 35 17 02 60/62

64 27 Winchester Jn. 17 55 52 21 18 46 23 24 49 19 12 59

tsr 36 tsr 28 tsr 17 tsr

49

61 48 Wallers Ash Box 22 11 44 26 13 37 29 14 36 22 20 54

60 11 Weston Box 24 06 49 28 28 42 31 01 51 23 57 54

59 00 Micheldever 26 34 56 31 28 43 33 31 60 26 20 55/58

56 00 MP 28 46 55/65 34 12 45 35 30 63/71 28 28 55

52 40 Wootton 32 17 59/50 38 14 56 38 34 67 31 49 67

50 20 Worting Jn.

40.5 34 46 60 39.5 40 28 68 40.5 40 43 63 39.5 33 48 71

sig failure 2-56

47 60 Basingstoke 37 10 69 42 29 74/78/69 ss 4908-4918 35 49 78/83

42 20 Hook 41 33 78 46 59 72/70 56 40 66/68 40 00 82/78

sig stop 2-08

39 60 Winchfield 43 28 81 49 07 75/77 63 45 34 41 53 79/83

36 40 Fleet 45 52 80 51 45 75 67 24 67/75 44 16 82/85

33 20 Farnborough 48 18 78/t 54 29 68/t 70 08 73/t 46 37 83

31 00 MP 50 20 60/68 56 42 57 72 14 58 48 15 82/90

28 00 Brookwood 53 09 63/64 59 42 64/61 74 50 77/83 50 22 88/90

24 60 Woking Jn. 64.5 56 19 - 63.5 62 45 63 64.5 77 189

76 63.5 52 37

81

24 27 Woking 56 46 66 63 13 65/71 77 42 77 53 00

* 76006 to Bmouth - 4,130/138


Run 11 14 16 19


21 60 West Byfleet 58 55 77 65 26 68 79 38 82/80 55 22 49

20 40 Byfleet & New H. 59 54 79 66 28 73 80 33 82 56 44 60/sig

19 20 Weybridge 60 51 79/82 67 32 69 81 28 80/79 58 09 49

17 00 Walton-on-Thames 62 32 79 69 28 72 83 11 82 60 31 62

16 00 Hersham 63 17 82 70 22 72 83 56 80 61 26 67

14 30 Esher 64 21 79 71 38 69 85 03 76 62 45 70/71

ss 3m05s

13 27 Hampton Ct.Jn. 79.5 65 14 77 78.5 77 42 21 XL-RL 79.5 86 00 70 78.5 63 45 67

12 00 Surbiton 66 22 72 81 24 25XL-ML 87 09 69 64 56 65

11 00 Berrylands 67 15 67 83 10 42 88 02 71 65 50 67

9 60 New Malden 68 20 68 84 46 52 89 08 66 66 57 69/66

8 60 Raynes Park 69 16 62/63 85 55 54 90 06 58 67 50 70

7 20 Wimbledon 70 42 62 87 33 56 92 58 22s 69 07 65/69

5 40 Earlsfield 71 21 65 89 30 56 95 59 45/48 70 45 67

4 00 Clapham Jn 90.5 73 56 38/56 89.5 91 23 38/46 90.5 97 56 39/46 89.5 72 23 39/55

1 29 Vauxhall 77 29 39 94 24 33 101 54 37 75 54 40

0* 05 Waterloo 97.5 80 20 - 96.5 98 19 97.5 105 10 96.5 78 40 -

same vein with extended waits at Southampton and Brockenhurst. It Is worth noting the overall running time was only 2 hours 4 minutes with speed exceeding 75 mph only once. The return excursion was powered by WC 34036 with the modest load of only 9 vehicles and the driver was Myles of Eastleigh. As seen In Run 4, things were taken very easily to Southampton with speed falling to only 49 mph at the top of the 1 In 103 of Hinton Admiral bank and not a lot of energy shown thereafter. The start from Southampton showed more promise with 64 mph being recorded before Eastleigh before shutting off very early for Winchester. One may be forgiven for thinking that a few 'purple hearts' were dropped in his tea there, as he then went like the wind with speed reaching 68 mph before Roundwood and, after a cautious descent past Basingstoke, a maximum of 94 mph was attained at Fleet. Amazingly, a clear run was available all the way to Vauxhall with speeds in the 80's on the favourable falling gradients - Clapham Jn being passed 26 minutes early!! Waterloo was full up and the last 1¼ miles took nearly 14 minutes. Despite that, the average speed Winchester to Vauxhall start to stop was 63½ mph - a performance much above the average. Monday 3 July The week started, as it would for the next five days, with the 0835 Waterloo-Weymouth and back with 1118 Weymouth - Waterloo. The afternoon had a few variations that will become apparent later. This Monday, the 0835 was a heavy train with no less than twelve vehicles on a semi-fast service. MN 35030 was at the front (Run 5) and after an atrocious run out to Surbiton, things warmed up a little but only after Woking did a real effort produce some worthwhile results. A minimum of 60 mph at MP31 was good considering the load and speeds of around 70 mph enabled all the previously lost time to be regained by Basingstoke. There was a bit of a struggle up to Worting Jn, but once clear of Wootton, passed at 57mph, the fireworks really started with 88 mph after Wallers Ash. We only just failed to break 20 minutes to Winchester. Unfortunately, a signal check approaching Eastleigh spoiled things thereafter. After three-minutes overtime at Southampton taking water, an adequate run was made to Brockenhurst considering the load. Here copious amounts of oil were applied, as it appeared a bearing was getting warm. The start out of Brockenhurst to Lymington Jn has been known to take much longer than this in bad rail conditions on a rising gradient (See run 20). Despite these setbacks, a brisk run into


Bournemouth ensured an early arrival. After a wait of over an hour, I joined 1118 from Weymouth (run 6) with MN 35023 with load ten. A nine-minute late start was not helped by a 15mph tsr between Boscombe and Pokesdown, which fortunately was far enough west to ensure that the 60mph restriction could be achieved round the curve at Christchurch. An excellent effort was made up Hinton Admiral bank with speed rising to 69 mph before falling back to 66 mph at the summit. After a very fast 79 mph before Sway we were checked to 48 mph at Brockenhurst, probably by slow closing of the level crossing gates. This rather spoilt the run as the tsr (now raised to 40 mph) intervened at Lyndhurst Road. All this ensured that we were still nine-minutes late from Southampton. This certainly spurred the driver to great things - 66 mph by Eastleigh, 77 mph before Shawford - which meant actually braking for the 60 mph at St. Cross! Still undaunted, there followed an acceleration to 69 mph before the crippling tsr (19 mph) after Winchester Jn. 35023 blazed away again with speed still rising when breasting Roundwood at 66 mph. Fate struck yet again with a signal check to 18 mph at Basingstoke after a maximum of 81 mph before Worting Jn. At this point, I thought the driver would throw in the sponge but no - on the generally falling gradients, a maximum of 93 mph was reached at Fleet and after the tsr at- Farnborough another 90 at Woking Jn before a slight check from the Portsmouth line service in front. By now we were on time, and given such a ridiculously easy schedule, we did just enough to avoid any more checks. However, a time of under 80 minutes with no less than six checks was excellent and resulted in a nine-minute early arrival. Now the problem was how to get back to the west in order to catch 1730 from Weymouth at Bournemouth. My solution was to catch 1530 to Southampton and change there to 1716 stopping service. This had Its drawbacks as, firstly, the 1530 was Class 47 hauled and secondly there was only 20 minutes at Bournemouth. There Is little to say about the 1530 (Run 7) except that It managed to lose four minutes to Southampton with a maximum of only 67 mph. The 1716 local (Run 3) was better, however, with Standard Class '5' 73037 on a featherweight three vehicles and very energetic between stops - despite a few extended stops we were still early from Pokesdown only to wait, as usual, for a platform outside Bournemouth! The connection adequately made, MN 35007 turned up with 11 vehicles on 1730 from Weymouth (Run 9). The run to Southampton was decidedly poor with speed falling to 53 mph up Hinton Admiral bank and then braked to a stand on the tsr at Lyndhurst Road losing 4½ minutes. Whilst not as sprightly as the morning, by taking the tsr near Winchester Jn at 32 mph, Roundwood was passed at 63 mph, only half a minute slower. This time Worting Jn checked us to 30mph but mercifully we then had a clear road all the way to Waterloo and full use was made of it - 95 mph after Fleet, tsr at Farnborough almost ignored at 77 mph and 88 mph before Woking. Speed moderated slightly, as we were now early enough (six minutes early) to be in front of the Portsmouth line train, but this still resulted in a 16 minute early arrival in just over 76 minutes from Southampton - my best of the week. Tuesday 4 July I think I should point out that at this time I was living at Shenfield, and the journey to Waterloo took the best part of 1½ hours, so long days were out and I had to confine myself to trains at reasonable hours. Anyway, Tuesday dawned, and back to 0835 from Waterloo (Run 10) with yet another MN 35028 - the fourth out of the six left within 24 hours! This morning I decided to go on to Poole to fill in some time. The run was unexciting with no need to hurry and time in hand at most stations; the highlight being 84 mph at Winchester Jn and a good run from Southampton to Brockenhurst. It was also virtually impossible to keep the schedule from Bournemouth to Poole (all stations) with ten vehicles. On the return journey 1118 from Weymouth (Run 11) was the usual four coach portion with 76006 in charge. There was a spirited attack of Parkstone bank with speed only falling from 46 mph


to 40 mph up the 1 In 60. At Bournemouth, the portion was pulled back into the middle sidings whilst the main train arrived behind WC 34021. Once again, 34021 was in fine form with a minimum of 63 mph at the top of Hinton Admiral bank and a rather hair-raising 72 mph round the curve at Brockenhurst followed by a maximum of 78 mph round the curves at Woodfidley Gates. This progress obviously caught the signalman out as we had a check to 34 mph before the tsr at Lyndhurst Road. The time of 33m.45s was to be my fastest of the week to Southampton. Departure from Southampton was still eight minutes late and speed reached a creditable 66 mph at Shawford before the tsr after Winchester (bearing in mind the speeds over this tsr during the week varied from 17mph to 49mph I am not sure what the restriction really was!). An excellent recovery, considering the load, to 55 mph was achieved by Roundwood from where I had the impression the locomotive was winded somewhat with easy running to Worting Jn. From then on, speeds ranged in the upper 70's or lower 80's all the way to Surbiton apart from the caution exercised between the tsr at Farnborough and Woking. Many drivers tended to run easily after MP31 as it was sometimes difficult to see the signals when the steam was blowing down, but once sure of a clear run through Woking they usually opened up again. An absolutely clear run ensured a nine-minute early arrival In a few seconds over 80 minutes. After the abysmal performance of 1530 on Monday, I changed tack and caught 1500 Exeter service with Warship D818 in charge. With a load of only seven this was even worse than Monday's journey, although it did pick up a bit after Woking - 53 mph at MP31 is terrible. Baling out at Basingstoke, I waited for the York - Poole which duly arrived 16 minutes late with WC 34095 at the front. Despite the very slow start, we still managed to catch up something in front and we lost even more time on the easy schedule to arrive Southampton 21 minutes late. There was now no hope of reaching Bournemouth to catch 1730 from Weymouth so I alighted and had 1½ -hours ‘recovery time'. Seeing WC 34025 at the head of 1730 did not please me as It was known to be weak and appeared generally confined to boat trains and three coach locals, but here It was with 11 vehicles and only one minute late. Well, my prediction was correct - we struggled up to Roundwood with only 54 mph before Shawford and a poor 45 mph at the summit. It was obviously the engine and not the driver because he took the 60mph restriction at Worting Jn at 68 mph and managed to coax the engine into the middle 70*s so that we were on time by Woking. Then disaster struck and we came to a dead stand before Hampton Court Jn, followed by diversion to the slow line around a failed service on the Up main - I think It was the Salisbury with a Standard Class 4 in charge. We never recovered from this and arrived In Waterloo three minutes late. Wednesday 5 July The plan on Wednesday was a carbon copy of Monday. With the fifth of the available MN's 35007 at the head (Run 15), the 0835 yet again made an awfully painful start to Surbiton. However, after that a remarkable change occurred, with a maximum of 77mph through Byfleet, followed by 69 mph at MP31 starting from Woking and another maximum of 77mph after Winchfield. All this was to no avail as we sat outside Basingstoke. A cautious start from there only yielded 40 mph by Worting Jn but an improvement to 54 mph by Wootton and 79mph after Micheldever. Suddenly everything came to a stop. There appeared to have been a major signal failure – so we crawled all the way to Southampton Airport leaving there 38 minutes late. Needless to say, in circumstances like these, things usually go from bad to worse and so it proved. Despite some hard running when permitted, signal checks ensured no time was regained. The 1118 from Weymouth had not fared any better (Run 16) and this had a 20-minute late departure from Bournemouth with MN 35028 in charge. With what I would call normal running, the deficit was reduced by one minute on departure from Southampton. Now we were out of our path, it was soon apparent we were not going to get a clear run with two severe signal checks before Winchester Jn where the offending train turned off for Alton. After the tsr, a good recovery was made to Roundwood - passed at 63 mph - but lo and behold, there were more signal failures in the Basingstoke area with the


10½ miles from Worting Jn to Winchfield taking 23 minutes. Fortunately, from there onwards, there was only the tsr at Farnborough and a signal check at Wimbledon. After clearing MP31 at 58 mph speed kept around the 80mph mark until Hampton Court Jn and five minutes was regained between Woking and Waterloo, arrival being 26½ minutes late. This late arrival reacted onto 1530 back which departed seven late behind D1921 (Run 17). Despite over-braking for the tsr after New Malden and showing little energy before MP31 the whole seven minutes was regained by Worting Jn and Winchester was reached three minutes early. Of the continuation to Southampton little need be said. The 1716 (Run 18) had Class ‘4’ 75075 in charge and although nominally less-powerful, it was better suited to sharp start to stop runs with nearly every section being faster than on Monday. Thursday's run on the 1716 (Run 23) - included slightly out of chronological order for ease of comparison and presentation - again had 75075 in charge and achieved a very similar run. The 1730 from Weymouth (Run 19) had 35023 in charge and every evening there were more and more recorders and other enthusiasts on the train. We were all waiting expectantly for those magic three figures to become reality. As the days went by, we all knew that certain drivers wanted to go out in a blaze of glory. Up to Southampton the running was rather mediocre with a minimum of only 52 mph at the top of Hinton Admiral bank and a maximum of just 72 mph thereafter. Despite this, no time was lost to Southampton and departure was almost- on time. The climb to Roundwood could be described as steady with speed in the middle 50's - strange about the tsr though, taken at 49 mph! From Worting Jn, taken at no less than 71 mph, speed was gradually built up to the mid-eighties with once again the tsr at Farnborough taken at 82 mph! With obviously no alteration to the regulator, speed reached 90 mph before easing for Woking passed 10 minutes early. We then started getting signal checks - two to 49 mph from the Salisbury Waterloo which had left Woking only five minutes in front, but it must have gone reasonably well as our speed kept in the upper 60's and no discernible out-of-course brake applications were necessary - even to the extent that Clapham Jn - Waterloo only took 6m.17s: my fastest entry of the week, and the third run in under 80 minutes as well. Thursday 6 July It was 0835 again with MN 35008 In charge (Run 20). With yet another disappointing run to Surbiton, the departure from there was five minutes late and speed was gradually built up to 70 mph by Byfleet before shutting off for Woking, arriving there only one minute late. A similar pattern followed with only 55 mph at MP31 but speed gradually Increased again to a maximum of 75 mph before the signal check approaching Basingstoke. There was no need to do any more - we were rather early at this stage. A brisk start to Wortlng Jn and onwards to Wootton ensured a good run down the bank to achieve the first sub 20-minute run to Winchester of the week. Signal checks spoiled any further Interest to Southampton but a steady, if unspectacular, run followed to Brockenhurst. There then followed one of continuous bouts of slipping that these locomotives were famed for, especially in their un-rebuilt form - It took no less than 5m.11s to reach Lymlngton Jn - less than one mile away. Once finally under way the performance was steady but not startling but a diversion through the platform road at Pokesdown did nothing to assist. With the load reduced to only eight vehicles from Bournemouth the subsequent start-to-stop runs were brisk. A brief 15-minute wait, and the 1118 from Weymouth (Run 21) came into view with 76006 in charge again. With the same load, the climb up Parkstone bank was much slower than Tuesday and time was only just kept to Bournemouth. With an extended wait whilst the main portion arrived behind BB 34087, departure from Bournemouth was 4½ minutes late. Things were definitely not very well at the front end with speed dropping to only 47 mph up Hinton Admiral bank, and what with the signal check approaching Brockenhurst and the tsr at Lyndhurst Road, nearly four minutes were dropped to Southampton - the maximum speed of only 65 mph being quite unusual. The locomotive was obviously in no better health than


on Friday. Yet another 2½ minutes were lost at Southampton - and now over 10 minutes late, I feared the worst. I was not disappointed with speed only reaching 57 mph at Eastleigh before falling away to 46 mph before the tsr and only rising to 49 mph at the summit. After a brief 60 mph, a breather was taken with speed drifting down to 49 mph before Worting flyover. Poor- steamer 34087 may have been, but the driver coaxed her up to 82 mph before reigning back a bit before the tsr at Farnborough, taken at only 53 mph. Once clear of MP31 speed rose again to the mid 70's and with a clear road until in sight of Waterloo, all the lost time was regained. A time of 86m22s may not seem startling but when you remember the normal booking was 84 minutes, this effort with a very poor engine was extremely creditable. Once again onto 1530 (Run 22) with D1926 in charge. For a change, we had a driver who 'gave It some welly' but he received all the benefits of an enthusiastic man: with a signal check before Clapham Jn, over-braking for the tsr at New Malden, turned slow line before Basingstoke and a dead stand before Micheldever. In between, the running was sparkling with 85 mph at Byfleet, a minimum of 77 mph at MP31 and 88 mph thereafter. Despite all the delays, Winchester was reached 2½ minutes early. Little of consequence from there to Southampton, where I changed onto 1716 with 75075 in charge again (Run 23) - see earlier. Joining the 1730 from Weymouth (Run 24) there was a buzz of excitement. Apparently, this evening's driver, who was not renown for fast running, was on his last rostered fast steam run and some sort of encouragement (or inducement) had been given to him to persuade him to reach the magic ton. There was a certain briskness to the run as far as Southampton with a minimum of 56mph at the top of Hinton Admiral bank and a maximum of 75mph before Beaulieu Road. A signal check to walking pace ruined the run thereafter. For a driver with a lack of go, the start from Southampton was excellent as 35007 was opened out to reach 73 mph before Winchester. With the tsr taken at 46mph, speed recovered to 70 mph after Micheldever before falling back to 67mph at Roundwood. Far from being winded a maximum of 83 mph was achieved at Wootton, but then we were diverted to the slow line at Worting Jn, then returned to the main at Basingstoke. With a 10-coach train, without a flying start, to accelerate from only 25 mph to a high speed was going to need a lot of effort. The noise was deafening as speed rose to 83 mph at Hook, 90 mph at Winchfleld and reached a maximum of 98 mph at Fleet. It is alleged that in order to raise the speed from 90 to 98 the cut-off had to be increased to 40% and I am quite willing to believe this - from the reaction of passengers at Fleet just leaving a homeward commuter train. Firstly, they stared in amazement at the train - the noise must have been tremendous - then ran for cover, as blazing cinders and coal rained down around them! After the tsr at Farnborough, and with speed again rising to 75mph after MP31, we suddenly came to a stand at Brookwood. Obviously, all was not well - the driver looked around the locomotive - and on restart the front was clouded in steam. Despite the obvious loss of power, on a falling gradient, speed rose from 56mph at Woking to no less than 78 mph by Esher and with a clear run in a time of just over 84 minutes was achieved. I understand that the middle cylinder cover may have been cracked or blown off. If this is in fact correct then it must have been a very risky journey in from Brookwood. Friday 7 July Friday morning found 0835 in charge of MN 35003 (Run 25), the only working Merchant Navy not recorded that week, on a light load of only 9 vehicles. Once again delays caused loss of time to Surbiton, but, after a slow start, a maximum of 75 mph after Byfleet ensured a sub 14-minute run to Woking. Good hill-climbing achieved 62 mph at MP31 but easing thereafter only saw maxima around the 70 mark until the signal check approaching Basingstoke. A very poor start only produced 55mph by Wootton, but speed Increased to a maximum of 83 mph before a signal check approaching Winchester. Obviously, we were behind an all stations service off the Alton line, and numerous checks continued until Southampton. Being now ten minutes late, a little life was injected into the proceedings and,


although not startling, 2½ minutes was regained by departure from Brockenhurst.

Run No 20 22 25 27

Date 06/07/1967 06/07/1967 07/07/1967 07/07/1967

Train 0835 Waterloo 1530 Waterloo 08.35 Waterloo 1723 Waterloo

Loco 35008 D1926 35003 34093

Load 10,332/350 to BM 12,388/410/527 9,300/320 12,408/435

8,265/275 ex-BM

in c sch m s mph sch m s mph sch m s mph sch m s mph

0*05 Waterloo 0.0 0 00 1 late 0 0 00 1 late 0.0 0 00 2L 0.0 0 00 1L

1 29 Vauxhall 2 57 40/45/s 3 04 40/58/s28 3 10 37/55 3 20 34/47

4 00 Clapham Jn 7.0 7 05 37* 7 7 00 36* 7.0 6 47 37 7.0 7 18 35

5 40 Earlsfield 9 16 45 8 59 57/61 8 51 53/54/s 9 33 45

7 20 Wimbledon 11 25 53 10 44 56 11 25 35 11 47 47

8 60 Raynes Park 13 02 58/59 12 21 13 37 45/46 13 28 55

9 60 New Malden 14 11 42 stop 14 09-14 48 14 56 44 14 37 48


11 00 Berrylands 19 02 25/27 18 36 35 18 16 36 16 05 53

12 00 Surbiton 18.0 21 38 - 18.0 20 25

19.0 22 50 - 19 53 55 19.0 21 05 17 13 54

13 27 Hampton Ct.Jn. 3.0 3 03 50 18 21 10 70 3.0 3 10 47 18.0 18 36 60

14 30 Esher 4 22 58 22 08 75/80 4 29 57 19 42 63

16 00 Horsham 5 53 61 23 20 77/76 6 00 64 21 09 62

17 00 Walton-on-Thames 6 51 62/59 24 06 79 6 56 64/63 22 08 61/58

19 20 Weybridge 9 01 67 25 48 83 9 00 69 24 23 60

20 40 Byfleet&New Haw 10 06 70 26 42 85 10 02 72/75 25 34 64

21 60 West Byfleet 11 11 69 27 42 75/79 11 04 74 26 46 61

24 27 Woking 18.5 14 17 18.5 13 57

20.0 15 53 29 38 76 20.0 23 24 29 19 56

24 60 Woking J 1 50 22 34 30 00 77/81 2 07 24 32.0 29 52 54

28 00 Brookwood 6 53 48 32 32 75/80 6 49 56/63 33 42 49

31 00 MP 10 22 55 34 52 77/75/80 9 50 62 37 32 44

33 20 Farnborough 12 27 68/67 36 33 83/88/79 11 51 67/71 40 09 55/56

36 40 Fleet 15 21 69 38 53 80/83 14 40 68/72 43 41 55/59

39 60 Winchfield 18 11 67 41 14 80 17 25 68/71 47 07 54/55

42 20 Hook 20 23 70/75 43 02 84 19 36 69/73 49 52 54/57

sigs 43 sigs XSL 18* sigs 38/41

47 60 Basingstoke 31.0 26 23 - 31.0 25 52 -

33.0 31 35 - 50 23 22/32/17s 33.0 32 20 - 56 14 47

50 20 Worting J 5.5 5 02 49 60 56 11 39 5.5 6 06 43 62.0 59 36 42/40

52 40 Wootton 7 31 61 58 48 62/77/ss56 8 54 55 62 51 43

58 00 Micheldever 12 22 78 66 28 42 13 54 75 69 04 64

60 11 Weston Box 14 01 80 68 36 81/82 15 34 79/81 71 03 68/72

61 48 Wallers Ash Box 15 05 80/82 69 43 78/82 16 38 79/83 72 17 71/72

64 27 Winchester Jn. 21.5 17 07 76/54s 75.5 71 51 73 21.5 18 44 71/56s/57 ss75 37-78 18

66 40 Winchester 25.0 19 59 - 78.5 75 00 25.0 21 30 83.5 84 05

27.0 27 53 - 80.5 80 05 27.0 25 18 -/44 84.5 85 55


69 49 Shawford

5 40 s50/66

5 53 56/73 5 59 47/57 sigs

5 25 53/70

s 20

73 36 Eastleigh 10.0 11 00 40/51 10 9 17 69 10.0 10 54 33/20s/31 10.5 9 03 65

74 65 Southampton Apt 14.0 13 14 - 14.0 12 29

15.0 13 43 " 10 25 66sig 15.0 13 04 10 14 61

75 56 Swaythling 2 13 38/51 11 26 50 2 43 32 11 16 51

sigs sig stop 2-13

77 08 St Denys 4 21 28 13 39 37 9 47 35

ss 14 16-17 20

78 15 Northam Jn Box 5.5 6 31 - 15.5 15 32 5.5 11 34 17.5 20 30

78 32 Tunnel Jn Box 7 04

16 10

12 09 21 00

79 18 Southampton Cen 9.0 9 32 19 18 41 9.0 14 54 21 23 26


.

Run 20 22 25 27

m c sch m s mph sch m s sch m s sch m s

79 18 Southampton Cen 13.0 13 23 13.0 20 25

81 71 Redbridge 5.0 5 04 54 5.0 5 17 49

82 40 Totton 5 47 59 63 6 04 52

85 40 Lyndhurst Road 8 47 59/66 9 16 65/71

88 00 Beaulieu Road 11 06 65/73 11 28 68/72

90 00 MP 12 47 69/75 13 10 67/70

92 66 Brockenhurst 19.0 15 32 19.0 16 11

22.0 24 16 slipping 22.0 19 40

93 60 Lymington Jn. 2.5 5 11 26 2.5 3 03 34

95 40 Sway 8 08 50/63 5 22 61/75

98 40 New Milton 11 14 62 7 58 71/75

100 00 MP 12 37 69 9 13 74

101 00 Hinton Admiral 13 27 76 9 59 81/82/52

104 25 Christchurch 16 12 63 12 40 54

106 20 Pokesdown 20 09 10* via plat 1456 50

106 60 Boscombe 22 43 17 15 33 49

108 05 Bournemouth 25.0 26 51 25.0 17 46

31.0 33 38 -/39 31.0 25 37 -/40

110 52 Branksome 6.0 6 02 6.0 6 16

7.0 6 36 -/34 7.0 6 51 -/37

112 00 Parkstone 3.0 3 20 3.0 3 16

3.5 3 41 -/43 3.5 3 33 -/42

113 62 Poole 4.0 3 55 4.0 4 08

After Lymington Jn a good climb was made to Sway, passed at 61 mph, and with 82 mph down Hinton Admiral bank things were looking good. However, a touch too much on the brakes brought speed down to 52 mph before Christchurch which rather ruined the impetus up the 1 in 99 up to Pokesdown but, despite this, all the lost time was recovered by Bournemouth. Once again, the timings proved very tight onto Poole. For the third time this week 1118 from Weymouth (Run 26) had 76006 In charge, but for some unexplained reason it was 15 minutes late. A spirited effort regained nearly one minute by Bournemouth, but delays in attaching to the main train hauled by MN 35008 lost this again. Although there was a slow start, a minimum of 59 mph at the top of Hinton Admiral bank was followed by 75mph before Brockenhurst and 79 mph after, but the two tsr's only allowed half a minute gain. Still 15 minutes late off Southampton, it would need a run of 82minutes or so to achieve an on-time arrival. It was soon apparent that this was a distinct possibility with speed rising from 68mph at Eastleigh, to 76mph just after Winchester and, after slowing to 43 mph for the tsr, a minimum of 69 at Roundwood. After a little breather until after Basingstoke, the engine was worked up to 85mph by Fleet before, once again, the 60 mph tsr at Farnborough slowed progress. Fortunately, the road through Woking was clear and by now, only one minute late, speed rose to 84 mph at Byfleet. Here we started catching up the Portsmouth line train, but by careful driving we only experienced two checks: one to 65 mph at Weybridge and another to 40 mph at Wimbledon. Waterloo was reached five minutes early at 76m28s. Being Friday, instead of 1530, I could have a rest until 1723, but actually I took a trip on the 'Kenny Belle' from Olympia to Clapham Jn hauled by a Standard tank. Unfortunately, I did not record it. WC 34093 was at the head of 12 vehicles on 1723 (Run 27) and, for a change we managed a completely clear path until Winchester Jn - even the tsr at New Malden appeared to be off. Of course, on such an easy schedule, this did not encourage fast running and I got the impression that the controls were left totally unaltered from Hampton Court Jn until steam was shut off for Winchester Jn..


Table 7

Run 30 36 38

Date 08/07/1967 09/07/1967 10/09/1967


Loco 34095 D1924 3006 (REP)

Load 9,232/245 * 11,422/445/562 8,308/320

m c sch m s mph sch m s mph m s mph

Waterloo 0.0 0 00 0.0 0 00 1L 0 00 1L/45

1 29 Vauxhall 5 09 28/46 3 09 37/52 2 30 39/55

4 00 Clapham Jn 7.0 9 00 42 7.0 6 52 39 6 05 39/60

5 40 Earlsfield 11 09 56 8 47 59/61/60 7 43 58

7 20 Wimbledon 12 47 65 10 33 61/60 9 32 56/60

8 60 Raynes Park 14 04 71/72 12 00 62 11 03 59

9 60 New Malden 14 57 52/s 12 58 62 12 00 64

11 00 Berrylands 16 58 32 14 10 64 13 02 78/81

12 00 Surbiton 18 35 48 15 05 68 13 46 80

13 27 Hampton Ct.Jn. 18.0 20 17 34 16 12 74 14 43 83

sig stop 1-24

14 30 Esher 25 17 34 17 06 76 15 30 90/s81

16 00 Hersham 27 15 55 18 17 79 16 34 85

17 00 Walton on Thames 28 28 61 19 05 78/77 17 16 91/86

19 20 Weybridge 30 22 65/59 20 47 80 18 48 90/92

20 40 Byfleet 31 22 73/75 21 42 83 19 38 88

21 60 West Byfleet 32 30 72/s 22 37 79 20 31 82

24 27 Woking 37.0 35 47 XL-RL sigs 30

0 00 - 25 45 - 22 16 88

24 60 Woking J XL-ML/34 34 26 21 53 22 37

28 00 Brookwood 6 05 65 29 40 66/69 24 50 90

31 00 MP 8 37 74 32 20 67 26 50 85/93

33 20 Farnborough 10 18 82/85 34 10 76/81 28 22 85/80/85

36 40 Fleet 12 37 84/87 36 39 79/82 30 43 83/77

39 60 Winchfield 14 53 82 39 05 78 33 06 85/72

42 20 Hook 16 33 86/82/85 40 58 79 35 03 73/82

sigs XL-RL sigs 45

47 60 Basingstoke 29.0 22 17

0.0 0 00 46 03 55 39 21 63/70/56

50 20 Wortlng Jn. 7.0 4 50 53 60.0 48 38 58 41 42 59

52 40 Wootton 7 08 59 50 52 65 43 39 77

58 00 Micheldever 11 35 85 55 28 82 47 39 85

60 11 Weston Box 13 03 90 57 05 82 49 08 87

61 48 Wallers Ash Box 14 00 90/91 58 10 79/77 50 08 88/90/s

64 27 Winchester Jn. 23.5 15 50 88 75.5 60 12 79 52 02 63

66 40 Winchester 26.5 18 14 sigs

0.0 0 00 -/64 61 50 76 54 26 43/50

tsr 45 tsr 58 sigs 41

69 49 Shawford 4 24 60/78 64 48 66/71 58 00 72/81

sigs XL-RL

73 36 Eastleigh 11.0 9 09

0.0 0.00 83.5 68 06 67 61 00 67/tsr

74 65 Southampton Apt 2 42 57 69 16 65 62 07 76

75 56 Swaythling 3 31 65/74 70 15 55 62 56 72

sigs 15 sigs

77 08 St Denys 4 43 65 72 55 32 64 24 40

sig stop 0-54

78 15 Northam Jn Box 7.5 5 55 27 89.5 75 06 14* 67 35

78 32 Tunnel Jn Box 6 20 - 75 48 68 28

ss 1m40s ss 1-13 & 1-25

79 18 Southamton Cen 10.5 8 11 92.5 81 57 74 25

.


Run 30 31 33 36 38

Date 08/07/1967 08/07/1967 08/07/1967 09/07/1967 10/09/1967

Train 0245 Waterloo 0708 Bournemouth 0830 Waterloo 1230 Waterloo 1230 Waterloo

Loco 34095 34095 35023 D1924 3006REP

Load 5,166/172 ex Poole 11,363/385 11,422/445/562 8,308/320

m c sch m s mph sch m s mph sch m s mph sch m s mph m s mph

79 18 Southampton 0 0 00 0

0 00

80 10 Millbrook 2 08 41

2 30 36

/60

81 71 Redbridge 4 22 52

5 02 45/44 3 36 46

82 40 Totton 4 53 58/68

5 55 44 4 28 52/75

85 40 Lyndhurst Rd 7 36 64

9 21 58/71 7 17 61

88 00 Beaulieu Rd 9 43 80/82

11 26 68/72 9 14 85/68*

90 00 MP 11 09 75/83/s

10 48 74/85

92 65 Brockenhurst 20.5 13 58

0 0 00

15 48 56 12 55 60

93 60 Lymington J 2 30 37

17 16 52 55/54 13 56 55*

95 40 Sway 4 50 57/67

18 44 62 15 33 75/88

98 40 New Milton 10 7 57

0 0 00

21 17 73 17 45 87/91

100 00 MP 2 24 59

101 00 Hin Admiral 3 18 81/93

23 11 85/86 18 47 82

104 25 Christchurch 9 6 10 * 19 29 74/88

0 0 00 28 10 15s 21 58 59/72

106 20 Pokesdown 3 51 42 32 26 42 23 45 66

106 60 Boscombe 4 40 33 33 14 31 24 13 59

ss 2m03s ss1m51s

108 05 Bournemouth 10.5 10 55 - 37.5 39 44 - 26 18

0 1L/48

ss 30s

110 52 Branksome

6 6 49 -

7 7 17 /43

112 00 Parkstone

3 2 36 -

4 3 31 -/49

113 62 Poole

4 3 09 -

9 14 56 -/46

115 77 Hamworthy J

5 4 03 -

5.5 4 19 -

118 60 Holton Heath

3 40 69/s

120 70 Wareham

10 6 34 -

14.5 12 44 - 0 0 00 6L

122 00 Worgret J

3 2 08 45/69 3 3 17 32/56

125 70 Wool

8 6 27 - 8 8 08 -

9 10 03 -/66 9 11 03 45/42

130 24 Moreton

8 5 57 -

9 6 57 -/67 7 46 52/67

135 71 D'chester S

9 6 50 - 13 13 59

12 16 51 15 18 54

136 10 D'chester Jn

1.5 1 12 ~/56 1.5 2 14 -/42

164 20 Bincombe TS

4 01 44/82 6 01 38

166 31 Upwey

9 6 13 -

10 7 09 -/53 7 57 76

167 59 Radipole

3 2 16 -

4 2 45 - 9 07

168* 63 Weymouth 3 2 43 - 12 11 37

* 200yds beyond station

.


Table 8

Run 21 24 26 28

Date 06/07/1967 06/07/1967 07/07/1967 07/07/1967

Train 1118 Weymouth 1730 Weymouth 1118 Weymouth 1730 Weymouth

Loco 34087* 35007 35008* 34013

Load 11,368/398 ex Bmth 10,335/365 10,335/365 ex Bmth 11,366/400

m c

sch m s mph sch m s mph sch m s mph sch m s mph

113 62 Poole 0.0 0 00 2L/39 0.0 0 00 15L/44

112 00 Parkstone 3 28 33/31 3 13 41/40

110 52 Branksome 5 55 36/53 5 15 34/53

108 05 Bournemouth 10.0 9 51 10.0 9 07

22.0 25 06 -/19 0.0 0 00 2L 22.0 23 43 -/26

106 60 Boscombe 5 30 tsr15 4 45tsr 26 4 52 20tsr

106 20 Pokesdown 7 13 -/59 5 46 - 6 13 -/62

104 25 Christchurch 9 41 56/58 7 15 55/63 8 36 61/65

101 00 Hinton Admiral 13 15 53 11 15 61 11 44 63

100 00 MP 14 28 47 12 17 56 12 42 59

98 40 New Milton 16 11 54/61 13 48 62/67 14 06 66/75

95 40 Sway 19 14 57 16 41 56 16 37 66/61

93 60 Lymlngton Jn. 21 05 55/49s 18 29 62 18 16 64

92 60 Brockenhurst 22 15 59/65 19 26 64 19 12 64/79

89 00 MP 26 51 61 22 41 75 22 23 77

88 00 Beaulieu Road 27 52 57/62 23 31 67 23 12 69/70

tsr tsr tsr

85 40 Lyndhurst Road 30 00 33/52 26 29 34/55 25 45 39/49

82 40 Totton 34 01 50 30 14 51/47 29 42 46

81 71 Redbridge 34 50 51/54 31 01 49/50 30 34 43/46

sigs

79 18 Southampton 35.5 39 13 - 35.5 37 03 - 35.5 35 05 - 1.5L

39.5 45 4.1 - 39.5 41 02 - 39.5 39 13 - 0.0 0 00

78 32 Tunnel Jn Box - 3 30 - 3 14 - 3 42

78 15 Northam Jn Box 4.0 3 30 - 3.0 3 56 - 4.0 3 40 - 3.0 4

15

77 08 St Denys 5 11 35 5 21 45 5 14 40 6 00 39

75 56 Swaythling 7 12 48 7 07 57 7 01 58 8 12 44

74 65 Southampton Apt

8 22 56 8 07 61 8 00 65 9 30 48

73 36 Eastleigh 11.0 9 43 57 11.0 9 17 66/71 11.0 9 08 68 11.0 11 00 52/60

69 49 Shawford 13 44 55 12 38 70/73 12 19 75/73 15 05 59/57

66 40 Winchester 17 19 50 15 17 71 14 51 75/76 18 17 59

64 27 Winchester Jn. 20 00 46 17 07 69 16 37 70 20 57 37


61 48 Wallers Ash Box 24 24 37 20 12 55 19 53 53 25 24 44

60 11 Weston Box 26 35 44 21 42 61 21 22 62/68 27 15 49

58 00 Micheldever 29 24 48 23 43 68/70 23 32 67/70 29 45 54

56 00 MP 31 49 49/60 25 27 67 25 06 69/71 32 02 53/61

52 40 Wootton 35 50 51/49 28 09 83 28 08 64 35 38 57/52

50 20 Worting Jn. 40.5 38 06 60 39.5 30 12 s53-RL 40.5 30 22 59 39.5 37 05 56

47 60 Basingstoke 40 32 66/79 34 15 25 XL-HL

32 51 65/82 40 39 66/75

42 20 Hook 44 51 74 39 58 83 37 14 81/78 45 13 74

39 60 Winchfield 46 47 79/82 41 43 90 39 04 83 47 12 77/81

36 40 Fleet 49 15 79/72 43 47 98 41 23 85 49 39 79

33 20 Farnborough 51 49 74 45 54 85 43 48 74 52 13 71

tsr tsr 63 tsr tsr

31 00 MP 54 02 53/60 47 47 66/75 45 52 60 54 23 60

28 00 Brookwood 57 11 56

50 38 stop to examine

48 27 74/80

56 59 74

51 05

24 60 Woking Jn. 64.5 60 18 65 63.5 57 45 - 64.5 50 55 78 59 33 78

24 27 Woking 60 44 68 58 17 56 51 18 79 63.5 59 55 82

21 60 West Byfleet 62 49 73 60 45 64 53 10 82 61 44 84

* 76006 ex Poole 4,130/138 (both days)


. Run 21 24 26 28


20 40 Byfleet 63 50 74 61 53 68/69 54 04 84/s 62 35 87

19 20 Weybridge 64 51 72/69 63 07 68 55 09 65 63 28 83

17 00 Walton-on-Thames 66 43 75 64 53 75/73 57 04 75 65 05 85

16 00 Hersham 67 32 75 65 42 76 57 52 76 65 48 83

14 30 Esher 68 46 71 66 53 78 59 02 75/78 66 55 78

13 27 Hampton Ct.Jn. 79.5 69 45 72/67 78.5 67 49 72/76 79.5 59 57 75 78.5 67 49 72

12 00 Surbiton 70 57 70 68 54 72 61 04 72 68 57 71

11 00 Berrylands 71 49 71 69 43 73 61 55 69/71 69 47 71/73

9 60 New Malden 72 55 62/60 70 45 62 62 59 69 70 49 68

3 60 Raynes Park 73 55 61 71 39 65 63 53 67s 71 42 66

7 20 Wimbledon 75 21 61/65 73 03 61/62 65 28 40 73 04 60

5 40 Earlsfield 77 02 61 74 50 59 67 58 50 74 57 54

4 00 Clapham Jn 90.5 78 47 37/57 89.5 76 37 36/41 90.5 69 51 42/51 89.5 76 52 s37/45

1 29 Vauxhall 82 18 37/s 81 04 30 73 29 37 81 24 16

0* 05 Waterloo 97.5 86 22 - 96.5 84 12 - 97.5 76 28 - 96.5 85 35

At Southampton, it was like the 'Charge of the Light Brigade’. On arrival, at 1913½ the 1730 from Weymouth was already standing in the Up platform and watering had finished. Approximately 100 enthusiasts made the dash across the bridge and wedged themselves on an already crowded train with WC 34013 in charge. After 2¼ minutes in Southampton, we left one minute late. The run was rather poor up the bank with 59 mph before Winchester and 53 mph at Roundwood. Clearing Basingstoke at 66 mph speed was worked up to 81 mph before the tsr at Farnborough and, with a clear road through Woking, to 87mph at Byfleet. We caught the tail of the Salisbury train at Vauxhall but still managed to arrive 10 minutes early in 85m35s. Now for a change of plan - no bed tonight but a journey on 0245 Waterloo - Bournemouth news with driver Porter in charge. Meanwhile to pass the time, a quick trip to Woking to pick up the 1835 from Weymouth. It was a pity that we had barely left Woking when we were stopped for two minutes but despite this speed was worked up to 77 mph by Esher and virtually no time was lost to Waterloo. Saturday 8 July Saturday morning marks the only time I was nearly mugged! Having crossed Hungerford Bridge to Charing Cross, I was on my way back through the South Bank complex when I sensed someone running behind me. Luckily, I was able to run faster than him (and his three mates) and I only got a thump around the ear before arriving breathless on Waterloo concourse. News of driver Porter on 0245 had spread far and wide, and with only three coaches on the train, severe overcrowding was expected. However, it was thought that If the driver knew how many were on board he would “not produce the goods” so before the engine arrived from Nine Elms most of the passengers were on board and the doors closed. The locomotive was again WC 34095 (Run 30) - apparently, he had failed WC 34037 and this was the only one available. The 0245 dropped off one van at Woking, one at Basingstoke and two at Southampton. With the 0230 in front, care had to be taken not to catch it up! The run to Woking was quite inauspicious with only 72 mph after Raynes Park and then a signal stop before Esher. However, a maximum of 75 mph after Byfleet ensured no time lost to Woking - arrival at which was on the slow line. Turning main line at Woking Jn, the locomotive was opened up so that MP31, only 6½ miles from the start and up a 1 In 314 gradient, was passed at 74 mph with speed being piled on to reach the upper 80's before the signal check to arrive on the slow line at Basingstoke - nearly 23½ miles in 22m 17s - not


bad at half past three in the morning! The run on to Winchester was equally exciting with Worting Jn passed at 53 mph and, after a little breather, 34095 was opened out to reach 91mph after Wallers Ash and achieve even-time by a large margin, Even the short run onto Eastleigh was not without incident, with 64 mph before the tsr near Shawford, and no less than 78mph before turning on to the slow line at Allbrook. By comparison, 74mph after Swaythling was rather tame. During this time the 'hat' had been round with coins (and notes) being generously donated for the good effort - I think the crew probably made more than one week's pay in one night! At Southampton, we lost a large number of travellers who returned to Waterloo for 0830, but I stayed on board and indeed more fireworks resulted. A very fiery exit from Southampton ensured 52 mph by Redbridge and 58 mph (50 mph restriction) through Totton. The hump at Beaulieu Road was flattened at 80 mph and a little circumspection round the curves at Woodfidley Gates interrupted progress. Only by a whisker was even-time not achieved to Brockenhurst. Equally smart was the short run to New Milton, with the start-to-stop being as fast as any start-to-pass time recorded this week. The final fling was on the 5¾miles to Christchurch. I had the feeling that all systems were go when Hinton Admiral, only 2½miles from the start, was passed at 81mph. The maximum of 93 mph was reached only one mile from Christchurch - needless to say we missed the station by over 200 yards but nearly managed even-time over this short stretch. A quick shout of “wet rails” and we reversed back into the station. A quiet run followed Into Bournemouth. At this stage I should point out all this was done with a PMV 4-wheeled van attached nominally restricted to 75 mph! After a wait of almost an hour, the same locomotive and stock (minus two vans) formed 0708 to Weymouth calling all stations except Holton Heath. With little prospect of much steam traction in the Waterloo direction I decided to visit the far west for the first time that week (Run 31). With only a light load the engine was master of the schedule and despite fifteen minutes at Poole where a van was attached to the front from the siding, we were only 2½ minutes late at Dorchester, with speeds of 69 mph past Holton Heath, 69 mph approaching Wool, 66 mph between there and Moreton and 67 mph onwards to Dorchester, mostly on the rising gradients. For some reason, we stood 10 minutes but this was all the better for me as speed rose to 56 mph in the sharp dip down the 1 In 117 before falling to only 44 mph at Bincombe Tunnel. There was a lightning acceleration to 82mph before stopping at Upwey. With another quick sprint to Radipole, Weymouth was reached 5½ minutes late. I had a long wait for 1013 local (Run 32) and surprise, surprise, it was 34095 yet again and on only three vehicles again. This loco had left Weymouth at 1830 the previous evening and had only 4¼ hours in London, a one hour wait at Bournemouth and just over an hour at Weymouth - intensive use for a steam loco! Still apparently in fairly good shape, 40 mph was reached between Radipole and Upwey, and the summit breasted at 42 mph. Between Dorchester and Moreton there was an unexplained drop to 48 mph up the 1 in 200 but full advantage was taken of the downhill stretch to Wool to reach 75 mph. After a brief sprint to Wareham, interrupted by a signal stop, I abandoned the train to catch 0830 from Waterloo. This was much more of a challenge with MN 35023 on 11 (Run 33). For a train of this weight the schedule was tight and It should be noticed that 0708 from Bournemouth actually took less time from Wool to Dorchester including the Moreton stop than 0830 did non-stop. Station overtime, unloading many holidaymakers, did not help but after a creditable 38 mph at Bincombe Tunnel and 76 mph down the other side, Weymouth was reached 16 minutes late. Now a brisk walk round to 1212 local with Standard Class '5' 73092 on three again (Run 34). The lack of power or poor condition certainly showed with a miserable 22mph between Radipole and Upwey and only just reaching 30 mph at the summit. Despite this the three-minutes late start was regained by Dorchester! With running up-to and just-over 60 mph between stops time was kept with an on-time arrival at Bournemouth.


There now followed a few hours of inactivity with no steam to be seen, but the Channel Islands Boat Train was booked steam but didn't call at Bournemouth so I took a leisurely four hours to get to Southampton, whilst at the same time getting some rest. Only a few minutes late, the train arrived with MN 35023 on a good load of 12 vehicles. I didn't expect too much as the timings were very slack and with calls at Basingstoke and Woking, time would only have to be wasted. After a good start with 58mph before the tsr around Winchester Jn, only a maximum of 51 was achieved at Roundwood. Despite this, and easy running, Basingstoke was reached five minutes early. Another three minutes was gained to Woking with a maximum of 75mph at Fleet but after that a good effort was made with 79 mph at Esher and four minutes gained by Waterloo. Sunday 9th July It had been rumoured that steam had been rostered for the last Bournemouth Belle so many had reserved on it. Great disappointment ensued when It was learnt that “top management” had vetoed this, so D1924 was in charge (Run 36). The train was full and the driver actually drove the engine well using its power to the best advantage. However, to those who remember the riding of the Pullman stock, this was not to the comfort of the passengers! With the limits strictly adhered to, a maximum of 83mph was reached by Byfleet and after a signal check to 30mph before Woking, MP31 was passed at 67 mph. Speed rose to 82mph from there to Basingstoke passed in under even time despite another check to 45 mph. Speed was kept to around the eighty mark down the hill and Eastleigh was passed in the good time of 60 minutes. Now running 15 minutes early caused problems and five minutes of this was wasted but Southampton was still reached in under 82 minutes. The only spectacular happening onwards to Bournemouth was down Hinton Admiral bank, but this was cut short by a signal check to 15 mph at Christchurch. As usual, Bournemouth managed to hold the train outside for two minutes to ensure a late arrival. You would have thought with so many people on board and being such a historic trip, they could have paid a little more attention to the operating. With two hours or so to wait for the return Belle, most travellers went for a walk around Bournemouth but, being rather exhausted, I retired to the refreshment room. After some time, there was some action outside, so I went onto the platform to see MN 35030 arrive on the 1411 Weymouth to Waterloo - a total surprise as according to my information there were no up steam runs that afternoon. From the small number joining, it caught a lot of others out as well. With a modest load of only nine coaches (Run 37) and with most of the tsr's now lifted, a good start was made with a minimum of 61 mph up Hinton Admiral bank and 72 mph thereafter. Being Sunday, we managed to get a succession of checks from Lymlngton Jn to Southampton losing six minutes in the process. With a schedule of no less than 100½ minutes on to Waterloo, the late start from Southampton was going to cause no problems. We went steadily up the bank in the mid 60's passing Worting Jn in a few seconds over 30 minutes and ambled along in the mid-70's until seeing signals at Brookwood which plagued us all the way to Waterloo – the last 28 miles taking 36 minutes. Despite this, arrival was eight minutes early in 86¾ minutes: very fitting that the last steam hauled service to Waterloo should be hauled by the last Merchant Navy, which is where I started. That was the end of an era Postscript Two months later, I decided to take a trip to Bournemouth on a Sunday to see how the new electric service had settled in. I chose the equivalent to the 'Bournemouth Belle' – 1230 calling only at Southampton (Run 38). With a REP and only one 4TC the power/weight ratio was high


Table 9

Run No 32 34

Date 08/07/1967 08/07/1967

Train 1013 Weymouth 1212 Weymouth

Loco 34095 73092

Load 3,101/105 3,101/105

m c sch m s mph sch m s mph

168 63 Weymouth 0 0 00 2 late 0 0 00 3 late

167 59 Radipole 3 2 21 3 2 44

4 2 51 -/40 4 3 04 -/22

166 31 Upwey 4 2 50 4 3 43

5 4 00 5 4 17

164 45 Bincombe Tun Nth 3 34 42/56 5 01 30/47

162 10 Dorchester Jn 9 6 16 9 8 20

136 10

Dorchester Sth Box 7 25 reverse 9 20 reverse

7 28 9 29

135 71 Dorchester Sth 12 8 11 12 10 27

15 11 16 14 46

68/48/66 58/56/62

130 24 Moreton 8 6 27 8 7 24

8.5 8 03 -/75/sig 11 8 05 -/64

125 70 Wool 7 5 43 8 6 22

8 8 36 -/65 9.5 10 01 -/57

122 00 Worgret Junction 5 4 32 45/51 5 5 54 44/45

sig stop 1-14

120 70 Wareham 7 8 14 - 7.5 7 51

9.5 9 57 -/53

118 60 Holton Heath 3 56 52/57

115 77 Hamworthy Junction 9.5 7 21

10 10 59 /45

113 62 Poole 4.5 4 28

6.5 6 55 /37

112 00 Parkstone 4.5 3 55

5.5 5 26 /37

110 52 Branksome 4 3 14

4.5 4 31 /47

108 05 Bournmeouth 5.5 5 03

. Table 10

Run 29 35 37 39

Date 07/07/1967 08/07/1967 09/07/1967 10/09/1967

Train 1815 Weymouth 1600 Weymouth Q 1411 Weymouth 1440 Bournemouth

Loco 34095 35023 35030 3009 REP

Load 7,212/230 12,396/420 9,300/320 11,409/425


108 05 Bournemouth 0 0 00 1 late 0 0 00 25L

106 60 Boscombe 3 53 34 2 12 67

106 20 Pokesdown 4 31 59/65 2 38 69/74

104 25 Christchurch 6 30 59 4 18 65/77

101 00 Hinton Admiral 9 38 63 7 02 69

100 00 MP 10 38 61 7 53 69/75

98 40 New Milton 12 01 66/72 9 04 74/86

95 40 Sway 14 34 70/s 11 15 80

93 60 Lymington Jn. 19 16 14 47/44 12 40 57

92 60 Brockenhurst 17 31 48/67/s51 13 39 65/78

89 00 MP 21 27 56 16 44 69


Run 29 35 37 39

m c sch m s mph sch m s mph sch m s mph m s mph

88 00 Beaulieu Road 22 34 52/57 17 32 78/80

sigs 43

85 40 Lyndhurst Road 25 45/54

45 45/54 19 37 59/67

S2 40 Totton 29 17 49 22 32 50

81 71 Redbridge 32.5 30 04 53 23 18 49/59

ss 4-26 s29/49

79 18 Southampton Cen. 37.5 43 38 27 18

0 0 00 4 late 41.5 46 54 29 27 sigs

78 32 Tunnel Jn Box 3 17 3 23 2 30

78 15 Northam Jn Box 4 3 48 4.0 3 50 2 59

77 08 St Denys 5 31 37 5 24 41 4 04 54

75 56 Swaythling 7 37 46 7 16 55 5 25 72

74 65 Southampton Apt 8 51 51 8 19 63 6 11 80

73 36 Eastleigh 14 10 16 54 11.0 9 30 65 7 10 75/85

69 49 Shawford 14 25 57 12 53 69 10 03 82/86

66 40 Winchester 17 41 57/58 15 41 67/68 12 17 81/79

64 27 Winchester Jn. 27 19 56 53 23.0 17 34 66 13 51 83/85

tsr 33

61 48 Wallers Ash Box 24 08 40 20 01 65 15 46 80

60 11 Weston Box 26 15 44 21 23 66/63 16 50 83/85

58 00 Micheldever 28 58 51 23 24 67 18 23 82/86

56 00 MP 31 14 54/64 25 15 65/74 19 55 82

52 40 Wootton 34 45 56sig 28 16 67 22 11 93

5D 20 Worting Jn. 46.5 37 25 42 42.5 30 18 63 23 54 63

47 60 Basingstoke 50.5 41 52

52.5 49 00 32 35 66/71 25 58 80/98

42 20 Hook 7 51 65 37 34 69 29 34 97

39 60 Winchfield 10 03 70 39 45 75/72 31 06 100

36 40 Fleet 12 42 75 42 18 74 33 07 96/100

33 20 Farnhorough 15 17 74 45 07 66 35 09 85

tsr

31 00 MP 17 30 57/67

30 57/67 47 10 58/s ' 36 43 93/85

28 00 Brookwood 20 20 66 50 42 47 38 45 90/99

24 60 Woking Jn. 23 43 68 5 55 51 44 40 50 94

24 27 Woking 28 25 03

0 0 00 - 31 30 26 56 27 50 41 09 93/84

ss 1-56

21 60 West Byfleet 8 52 46 4 49 57 58 67/68

56 67/68 42 50 85

20 40 Byfleet 10 11 50 6 04 64 60 04 /sigs 43 42 88

19 20 Weybridge 11 55 52 7 15 64 62 43 33 44 32 89/86

17 00 Walton-on-Thames 14 02 64 9 15 71 65 24 62 46 02 92/90

16 00 Hersham 15 00 69 10 04 77 66 23 64/66 46 42 93

14 30 Esher 16 17 77 11 14 79 67 45 63/s 47 43 85

13 27 Hampton Ct.Jn. 16 17 09 75 16 12 07 76 83.5 68 54 56 48 35 78/71

12 00 Surbiton 18 12 74 13 13 72 70 18 58 49 39 75

11 00 Berrylands 19 05 66 14 04 69 71 17 63 50 26 79/82

9 60 New Halden 20 11 64 15 10 67 72 27 63 51 24 74

8 60 Raynes Park 21 14 65 16 06 61 73 23 62/53s 52 17 66

7 20 Wimbledon 22 32 64 17 36 58 74 54 56 53 38 64/71

5 40 Earlsf ield 24 13 58 19 26 60 76 48 55 55 11 69/70

4 00 Clapham Jn 26 26 12 43/47 26 21 10 39/49 93.5 78 36/46

46 36/46 56 39 44/66

1 29 Vauxhall 30 01 35 25 02 33 82 48 35/s 59 36 47

0* 05 Waterloo 33 33 53 33 28 43 100.5 86 45 61 38

and 90 mph was reached at Hampton Court Jn, before sighting a double yellow in the distance. This soon cleared, and passing Woking at 88mph in the down direction in only 22m16s was stunning. After breasting MP31 at 85 mph, speed was restrained after a brief 93mph and after slowing to 63 mph through Basingstoke there was a wild speed fluctuation


up Worting Jn passed in only 41m.42s - seven minutes quicker than two months previously. After touching 90 mph after Wallers Ash, signal checks spoiled the rest of the run to Southampton; running a little late there now followed some lively running. 60 mph was reached before the psr at Redbridge, followed by 75 mph before slightly over-braking for Lyndhurst Rd and then 85mph before the curves at Woodfidley and another 85 mph after. With a clear run through Brockenhurst, Lymington Jn was passed in under 14 minutes (even time), and once clear there was a brief 91mph after New Milton, but speed was allowed to drop to 74mph at MP100 before rising to 88mph down the bank. Reducing speed to the prescribed 60 mph at Christchurch, there was a brief 72 mph before falling to 59 mph at Boscombe and arriving Bournemouth in 26m.18s. For some reason 1440 from Bournemouth (Run 39) was 25 minutes late departing, this time with a heavier load of a 4 REP with 7TC's. Being so late there was an incentive to drive hard but after 77 mph around Christchurch, only 69 mph could be achieved at the summit. The speed restrictions were generally adhered to and only a slight signal check marred the run to Southampton. There was a slight check leaving Southampton, but thereafter we had a clear run all the way to Waterloo. Running was very enterprising with 80 mph through Southampton Airport being moderated to 75 mph at Eastleigh but thereafter speed fluctuating in the 80-85mph level with Roundwood being passed at 82 mph. After a brief 93 mph at Wootton, the 60mph restriction at Worting was just about observed. However, beyond Basingstoke fireworks really began with 100 mph at Winchfield and 99 mph after Brookwood, only interrupted by 85 mph in the Farnborough area. I think the ride through Woking at well over 90mph caused the driver to ease off, but after the hump at Weybridge we were up to 93 mph again! With a time of under five minutes in from Clapham Jn, Waterloo was reached in 61m.38s at an average speed of 77 mph - a time which would be hard to beat by steam!

The GRAND FLOURISH – The END of SOUTHERN STEAM Michael Rowe Introduction Finales are inevitably tinged with regret; a medley of nostalgia, sadness and what might have been, even when they portend significant improvements. Memories are equally suspect but Thursday 29th December 1966 remains remarkably vivid; a dull wet December day, an unusually quiet Waterloo Station, the purchase of a day return to Bournemouth accomplished quickly, a peremptory ticket check at the barrier and a gentle stroll to the platform end. Why a stroll and not a youthful trot? Southern Steam was being rapidly run down and final steam haulage was scheduled for less than six months ahead. (The Working Time Table, commencing April 18th 1966, was valid until June 11th1967 when full electric services to Bournemouth were to come into effect.) Post the introduction of extended schedules from June 1965 onwards, in recognition of delays for engineering works associated with electrification, to Bournemouth there had been a falling-off in locomotive performance standards. Theoretically crews were expected to work to pre-June 1965 standards, but for many there was scant incentive. During 1966, time had been found to make 25 trips from Waterloo, most of those during two short periods in May and July taking advantage of a ‘rover ticket’. Post July personal circumstances had changed: a house move from South London to Wivelsfield in Sussex, a change of job, although there was now an office desk in Central London, the Company’s main works were at Renfrew and Dalmuir in Scotland with job sites scattered around the World and not least the call of, or rather the chase thereof, the oval ball. With such a background, even if there were to be an ‘Indian Summer of Southern Steam’ personal


observations might be limited. Performances during 1966 had been somewhat of a ‘curates egg’, heavily influenced by progress on the electrification works. The first half of 1966 A return trip to Southampton on the last day of January was a dispiriting experience. Nevertheless, some overdue leave offered an opportunity for a few days travelling in May. Engineering works during the period Friday May20 to May26 involved speed restrictions at Esher in both directions, after Wootton Down until the 23rd, Wallers Ash Down from the 22nd, south end of Eastleigh station and varying between milepost 52 and 56 UP. West of Southampton, single line working using the Up line was in force between Hinton Admiral and Christchurch stations. However, despite the disruption this caused there was some footplate enterprise. Driver Saunders on Sunday, with the 09.30 from Waterloo (log I), despite the additional line occupation after Worting Jct, ran well between checks. His enthusiasm almost changed the day’s plan: a gentle return trip to Weymouth. (The previous day’s observations had commenced on Friday’s 18.30 from Waterloo and finished at Waterloo some 26 hours later.) Driver Saunders was due to take the 10.34 from Bournemouth back to London from Southampton, which headed by Merchant Navy No.35003 was already waiting, the station announcer intoning “This train will stop at Alton and Waterloo only.”. A trip over the ‘Mid Hants’ had appeal but in the end a trip to the seaside won out. Subsequently a member of the ever- increasing travelling ‘cognoscenti’ opined that Saunders had made a ‘spirited run’. There was certainly still plenty of variety: on the Monday: Standard Class 5 4-6-0 stopped for ‘blow ups’ at Mile Posts 33 & 47¼, eventually reaching Winchester just inside 100 minutes with the 15.30 Waterloo departure. The following day’s 16.45 ‘Royal Wessex’, with Driver Mills, arrived at Winchester a minute early (log II). Particularly pleasing was the acceleration up the 1/249 from Worting Junction to Wootton. Performance during the week between Southampton and Bournemouth hardly sparkled, although to be fair there was little purpose; if you were likely to be held for access to the single line section at Hinton Admiral. However, the Nine Elms crew on the Saturday morning 02.45 ‘Papers’ indulged themselves, both before and after the single line section, particularly up the 1/103 from the Christchurch start (log IV) with an attained 42mph. Log VI is the continuation of the Monday BR5, presumably with steaming matters under better control. Without the signal check, there would have been a two-minute gain to Brockenhurst and despite the single line running and lack of speed at the bottom of the 1/103 only a minute was lost on to Bournemouth. The crew were not a happy pair when approached at Bournemouth! West of Bournemouth, with no electrification works, schedules were unaltered ie as before June 1965. The running of Friday evening’s 18.30 from Waterloo from Bournemouth to Weymouth was the personal highlight of the six days. (log VII). The Weymouth crew, leaving ten minutes late with Merchant Navy No.35007, were clearly intent on ‘signing off’ on time. (Mr B. Harrison timed rebuilt West Country No.34024 on 12/5/67 with five coaches on the 18.30, departing Bournemouth five minutes late and arriving Weymouth on time. Times to the Poole, Wareham, Wool, Dorchester and Weymouth stops were 9 minutes-30 seconds, 9-15, 6-42, 11-06 and 10.28, total 47-01 compared with 35007’s 46-24 but the West Country was faster over the adverse Wool to Dorchester South section) Number 35007 touched 77 mph on the precipitous descent to Weymouth, definitely exciting as we left Bincombe tunnel! Some thirteen months earlier, after a run to Basingstoke on the 18.00 from Waterloo an end of platform discussion amongst some of the ‘cognoscenti’ produced the question “Is 80mph on the descent to Weymouth unusual?”. The questioner


presumably was Hugh Gould and his log (VIII) is reproduced, based on the excitement engendered by 77 mph - 82 mph would have left an impression! Log IX was part of the gentle day to Weymouth, running time Bournemouth to Weymouth 53 minutes 12 seconds, schedule 60½, much time spent at stations, on what was by then a beautiful day, the mist and damp of London a thing of the past. It would still be good to see a log of 35003 between Southampton and Alton. . Date log no. 22/5/66 log I 24/5/66 log II 29/12/66 log III

Train 09.30 16.35 10.30

Loco. Number BB4-6-2R 34052 MN4-6-2 35003 BB4-6-2R 34088

Coach tare/gross tons 9+1/311/330 11/368/395 9/305/330

Recorder M.J.Rowe M.J.Rowe M.J.Rowe

m.ch Location actual mph actual- mph actual mph

00.00 Waterloo 00-00 00-00 00-00

Vauxhall 03-30 03.58 04-50 slipping

03.71 Clapham Jct 06-47 07.51 08-07 (41)

07-17 Wimbledon 10-34 (60)(64) 11-58 (56) 12-19 (52)

12.02 Surbiton 16.03 stop 16-31 (68) 17-07 (67)

13.26 Hampton C Jt 03-17 to LL 17-43 (70) 18-13 (70)

14.31 Esher 07-25 sig stop 20-23 pws(12) 19-07 (78)

17.06 Walton 15.45 sig stop 25-33 (49) 21-21 (71)

Oatlands to TL 22-14

19.09 Weybridge 18-52 (56) 27-51 (63)(70) 23-07 (68)

21.53 West Byfleet 21-24 (64) 30-14 (69) 25-30 (60)

24.26 Woking 26-59 stop 32-37 (66) 28-19 sigs(60)

27.79 Brookwood 11.04 stops(37) 37-19 pws(23) 32-01 (60)(61)

31.00 Mile Post 31 15-00 (49) 43-21 (47) 35-01 (60)

33.18 Farnborough 17.08 (68) 46-23 (62) 37-01 (68)(73)

36.39 Fleet 20-00 (72) sigs 49-16 (71) 39-45 (72)(78)

39.67 Winchfield 23-00 (64) 52-05 (68) 42-28 (71)

42.14 Hook 25-16 (65) 54-11 (70) 44-28 (70)(76)

47.00 Mile Post 47 29-42 (71) (74)

47.63 Basingstoke 31.22 stop 58-52 (66) 49-00 (70)

50.23 Worting Jct 05.00 (46) 61-19 (61) 51-21 (64)

52.40 Wootton long pws 63-25 (64) 53-32 (59)

56.20 Roundwood 12-50 67-00 (67) 57-03 (61)sigs

58.09 Micheldever 14.20 (71) 68-38 (73) 60-11 (18)(42)

61.48 Wallers Ash 17.20 (86) 71-43 (71) 64-02 (55)(75)

64.40 Winchester Jt 22.25 pws (10) 77-18 pws(18) 66-17 sigs

66.47 Winchester 26.21 (51) stop 80-43 stop 69-38 sigs(38)

69.57 Shawford 04-33 (71)(76) 04-43 (64)(66) 73-10 (62)

73.45 Eastleigh 07-36 08-17 (64) 76-32

74.76 Soton Airport 09-47 stop

75,66 Swaythling 02-10 ( )(56) 10-32 sigs 78-33

78.14 Northam Jxt 05-15 16-30 82-13 sigs

79.19 Southampton 08-12 stop 20-11 stop 85-38 stop

Notes: LL local line TL through line Schedules: 09.30 Waterloo – Surbiton 18 mins, Woking 16, Basingstoke 30, Winchester 28½, Soton Airport 14, Southampton 8½ 16.35 Waterloo - Woking Jct 33 mins - Worting 62 - Winchester 82, Soton 20

Summary One Waterloo to Southampton Monday – Saturday ‘Milepost 30’ MJR

date train Loco load actual net mp31 max wtn max

25/7/66 08.30 35008 11/400 107-18 81 62 71 * 77

26/7/66 08.30 35029 11/395 99-50 79 47 * 72 62 80

27/7/66 08.30 34037 11/395 98-23 82 55 69 58 76

28/7/66 08.30 34040 11/400 95-48 76 61 70 38 * 82

29/7/66 08.30 34052 13/470 96-25 81 50 71 56 78

30/7/66 10.30 34044 12/455 94-19 75 64 76 _ * 85

Notes: * signal check,- ‘load’ coaches/gross tons, - ‘’actual’ ‘net’ Waterloo Southampton times, ‘mp31’ speed at mile post31, ‘max’ mph before Basingstoke, ‘wtn’ minimum mph at Woottton, ‘max’ max before Eastleigh. Schedule: Waterloo – Southampton: 08.30 93½ mins, 10.30 93 mins

Date log no. 21/5/66 log IV 27/7/66 log V 23/5/66 log VI

Train 02.45 Waterloo 08.30 Waterloo 15.30 Waterloo

Loco No. WC4-6-2R34037 WC4-6-2R34037 BR5 4-6-0 73080

Coach tare/gross tons 3+12 260/295 11/369/395 11/372/400



m.ch Location actual mph actual mph actual mph

00.00 Southampton 00-00 00-00 00-00

00.72 Millbrok 03-00 02-42 02-48

02.51 Redbridge 05-30 05-07 (47) 05-23

03.23 Totton 06-19 (53) 05-50 (51) 06-08 (48)sigs

06.14 Lyndhurst Rd 09-28 (62)(72) 09-07 (54)(60) 10-23 (10)

08.61 Beaulieu Rd 11-52 (66)(75) 11-50 (58)(67) 14-55 (40)(62)

13.46 Brockenhurst 16-29 stop 16-13 (59) 20-11 stop

14.41 Lymington Jct 02-52 (32) 17-15 (57)(52) 02-43 (32)(36)

16.26 Sway 19-13 (59) 05-40

19.25 New Milton 08-59 stop 21-57 (63) 08-55 (56)

21.66 Hilton Admiral single line * 24-08 (75)pws 12-17 (26) *

25.09 Christchurch 16-37 stop 27-31 (44)(45) 18-35 (26)(38)

27.05 Pokesdown 03-58 (42) 30-15 (38) 22-09 (30)

27.50 Boscombe 04-47 31-15 23-25

28.63 Bournemouth 06-48 stop 33-15 stop 26-00 Stop

Schedules: 02.45 Southampton - Brockenhurst 19 mins, New Milton 10, Christchurch 8, Bournemouth 10½ 08.30: Soton - Lymington Jct 1- Bournemouth 37½ 15.30: Soton - Brockenhurst 19, Bournemouth 25

Date log no 20/5/66 log VII 25/2/65 log VIII 22/5/66 log IX

Train 18.30 Waterloo 08.30 Waterloo 15.04 B’mouth

Loco No. MN 4-6-2 35007 BR5 4-6-0 73042 BR4 4-6-0 75065

Coach tare/gross tons 6/196/215 8/266/- 3/99/105

Recorder M.J.Rowe H.Gould M.J.Rowe

m.ch Location actua mph actual mph actual mph

00.00 Bournemouth 00-00 10ml(58) 00-00 4ml 00-00

Gas Works Jct 04.45 (40) 05.35 (40) 04-49

02.49 Branksome 05-13 06-09 (44) 05-52 stop

03.72 Parkstone 06-38 (74) 07-45 (63)(68) 02-38 49

05.60 Poole 09-13 stop(54) 10-05 stop 05-32 stop

02.15 Hamw’thy Jct 03-47 (43) 06-17 sigstop 03-05

04.79 Holton Heath 06-35 (72)(73) 11-14 (54) 06-23 (59)(62)

07.08 Wareham 09-09 sig/stop 13-40 stop 08-51 stop

01.07 Worgret Jct 02-53 (44) 02-59 (39) 02-37 (48)

04.79 Wool 06-56 (69)stop 07-14 (65)(57) 07-36 (59)stop

09.34 Moreton 06-11 (67) 11-44 (61)(64) 06-28 (52)(48) stop

14.79 Dorchester S 11-28 (78)stop 17-40 stop 07-10 stop

00.26 Dorch’ter Jct 01-15 01-42 (21) 00-58

Binc’e Tun SB 04-05 (59)(56) 05-05 (44) 04-23 (49)(42)

04.44 Upwey 05-50 (77) 07-05 (82) 06-54 stop

08.79 Weymouth 09-38 stop 10-12 stop 04-49 stop

Schedules: 18.30 Bournemouth – Poole 10 mins, Wareham 10, Wool 8, Dorchester 13, Weymouth 11 08.30 Bournemouth-Poole 10, Wareham 10, Dorchester 18, Weymouth 12 15.04 Bm-Branksome 6,Poole 5, W’ham10, Wool 9, D’ter 6, Upwey 9 W’mth 5

The steep climb out of Weymouth was invariably an operating concern; difficulties, particularly with Bulleid Pacifics slipping in Bincome Tunnel were not infrequent, such that a pilot if the train was due to stop at Dorchester South, or a banker for the boat trains, even if the load was below the stipulated 287 ton maximum; the 22.13 and the Sunday 17.48 to Waterloo were invariably piloted. The 17.48 (log X] was held outside Weymouth for five and a half minutes and then neither loco was particularly extended on the climb. The WTT allowed 12 minutes to pass Dorchester Junction, a time not kept on the comparison run by 34073 in 1963 (log XI). However, on Friday 21/5/66 West Country No.34036 with 270 tons tare and a Standard Class 5 4-6-0 as pilot passed Dorchester Junction in 11 minutes 17 seconds, speeds were 44 at Radipole, 31 minimum at the Tunnel signal box and 62 maximum before the Junction. Undoubtedly the 4-6-0 crew were keen to return to Weymouth and then home to bed asap. The continuation by 34036 on its own to Bournemouth was lethargic with time dropped over every section! Speeds could on occasion be high over the favourable stretch before Worgret Junction. The run timed by John Daykin (log XII) passed Dorchester Junction three minutes adrift but by mile post 127 was travelling at 80mph before being stopped for a signal failure at Wool. A


token was taken from there to Worgret Junction. It is difficult to estimate a net time to Poole, perhaps 39½ minutes, the running from Wareham to Poole was good, the other two runs (logs X & XI) failed to keep the start to stop ten-minute schedule between these two stations. (There is no detail on the RPS database of the 10-minute schedule being kept with more than six coaches). The 39-minute schedule from Weymouth Junction to Poole was probably a ‘counsel of perfection’, the 50½ minutes to the next stop at Southampton definitely not, but the initial nine minutes to pass Bournemouth challenging with 400 tons even given a good push from Poole. The best of the three runs (logs X, XI & XII) from Poole to Bournemouth was made by No.34098 unassisted. The single line section after Christchurch, perversely apparently spoilt the running on to Southampton during May 1966, the best performance was probably that of rebuilt West Country 34017 (log XV), the times from New Milton to Sway, to Brockenhurst and Southampton were all good with 395 tons. During the period from May 20-25 of ten UP runs from Southampton, the most meritorious were probably those behind Standard Class 5 4-6-0 No.73169 (log XVI) and Merchant Navy No.35023 (log XVII). The run behind No.73169 on the Saturday 17.13 from Bournemouth (15.50 ex Weymouth) came at the end of the long day. Stanier 5MT 4-6-0 No.45493 had run well with the Newcastle to Bournemouth from Basingstoke (log ‘Milepost’ 32¼ p.127) and the intention was to take it to Bournemouth and travel back to London on the 18.40- but as we drew into Brockenhurst, a very smart 73169 entered at the same time - it beckoned. The start from Brockenhurst was good with a 430-ton train: Totton passed in twelve minutes exactly, with 68mph attained, and the Southampton stop achieved in 16-57, schedule 20 minutes. Comfortably seated in the Restaurant Buffet Car, the run to Waterloo was competent, all sections within schedule, other than due to a signal stop before Basingstoke and an early arrival at Waterloo. The Weymouth crews on the 18.35 from Bournemouth on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday handed over at Southampton to Driver Ash from Eastleigh. Although he only managed one on-time arrival at Waterloo, it was not through want of trying. Actual times were 107 minutes 3 seconds, 96-54 and 102-33. Net times were 81, 77 & 80 minutes. (Summary three) The best was that behind Merchant Navy No.35023 (log XVII), with 64 mph attained past Winchester Junction after the pws at Eastleigh and 88 at Hook. Overall timekeeping [over 2078 miles involving 22 separate journeys] during the six-day period was poor: Bournemouth passengers were particularly badly served, as a result of the single line working. Of eight trains taken through to Bournemouth from Waterloo arrivals were one minute late, 2½, 10 and the remaining five between 19 and 25. When these delays are added to the extra 15-minute allowance in the timetable for the electrification works It is hardly surprising that the authorities at Waterloo were being besieged by disgruntled passengers. The second half of 1966 The major works associated with the forthcoming electrification were essentially complete by the beginning of the last summer of steam operation to Bournemouth and Weymouth. A return trip to Southampton on the second Saturday in July suggested a more available railway: in the Down direction, there was a pws to 15mph at Walton and another to 20 after Wallers Ash. Merchant Navy 35014 with 12/407/450 on the 10.30 passed Basingstoke in 57-23, but was then checked all the way to Southampton. A trip back to Basingstoke from Southampton behind Standard Class 5 4-6-0 73113 with 11/380/420 on the 10.54 Poole to Newcastle lost seven minutes on the Winchester to Basingstoke stage due to a signal stop followed by continuous checks from Wallers Ash to Basingstoke. The southbound 09.10


from Sheffield was on time at Basingstoke and behind BRCW Type 3 D6517 and lost three and a half minutes to Southampton, due to persistent signal checks, net time c.40 mins. The 13.30 from Weymouth arrived Southampton a few minutes down and left five minutes late on its over-generous 103½ minute non-stop schedule to Waterloo: actual time was 97-56, a net time 81 minutes. Merchant Navy 35003 with 10/339/370 attained 59mph at Roundwood, then after a pws to 23 at Wotton and signals before Basingstoke, 77 after Fleet. Milepost 31 was passed in 54-43, however Woking was not ready for us - to be fair we were early - the 6.4 miles from Brookwood to West Byfleet occupied 12 minutes after which there was a clear run to Waterloo, 21-14 pass to stop from Weybridge. Based on the day’s outing it seemed appropriate to take some annual leave later in the month. Date log no 23/5/66 log X 1/9/63 log XI 27/8/66 log XII

Train 17.48 W’mouth 17.50 W’mouth 17.50 ex Quay

Loco No Pilot to Dorchester Sth

WC4-6-2R34098 BR4 4-6-075065

BB4-6-2 34073 BR2-6-0 76056

WC4-6-2R 34017 BB4-6-2R34056*

Coach tare/gross tons from Bournemouth

8/266/295 12/396/430

11/368/400 as above

11 + 1/370/401 as above

Recorder M.J.Rowe M.J.Rowe J.H.Daykin

m.ch location actual mph actual Mph actual mph

00.00 Weymouth 00-00 (A) 00-00 00-00 (E)

01.04 Radipole 09-24 (36) 02-56 (31) 02-31 (32)(37)

02.32 Upwey 11-44 (36) 05-51 (28) 05-09 (31)(32)

Binc-be Tun SB 16-28 (22) 11-46 (22) 11-42 (8)

05.64 Monkton & C (50) 12-54 (59) 14-00 (48)sigs

06.50 Dorchester Jct 20-01 14-08

06.76 Dorchester S 21-01 stop (B) 15-33 stop (B) 15-57 (37)

05.45 Moreton 06-23 (73) 06-58 (72) 21-59 (69)(80)

10.00 Wool 10-15 (75)(72) 10-26 (78) 27-10 27-45

stop token(49)

13.72 Worgret Jct 13-52 13-41 35-05 (21) tok

14.79 Wareham 15-38 stop 15-32 Stop 37-24 (36)

03.09 Holton Heath 03-51 pws(46) 04-27 (52)(64) 40-55 (58)(60)

04.73 Hamworthy Jct 07-25 (55)(42) 08-01 (42)(49) 42-56 (51)

07.08 Poole 10-51 stop 11-14 stop (C) 46-38 stop (D)

01.66 Parkstone 03-45 03-40 (42)(38) 03-26 (42)(40)

03.11 Branksome 05-44 (35min) 05-47 (40) 05-27 (36min)

03.46 Gas Works Jct 06-20 (-- )(58) 06-22 (--)(50) 06-07 (48)

05.60 Bournemouth 09-47 stop 10-00 stop 10-21 sigs(31)

15.17 Brockenhurst 27-05 stop 24-14 stop 27-13 (63)


(A) stop before Radipole (B) time before reversal into platform (C ) banked by BR4 2-6-0 (D) banked by BR4 2-6-0 76007 (E) from Weymouth Quay Jct.17 ch less than from Weymouth station BB 4-6-2R 34056 banker to Bincome Tunnel Signal Box Schedules: 17.48 ex Weymouth Dorchester Jct pass 12 mins, Dorchester – Wareham 18, - Poole 10, Bournemouth 10. 17.50 dep. Same times. 17.50 ex Quay: Weymouth Jct Dor Jct 13 pass Poole 36, - Southampton 51

Date log no 30/7/66 log XIII 5/8/66 log XIV 23/5/66 log XV

Train 14.40 18.35 11.07

Loco No WC4-6-2R34024 MN 4-6-2 35028 WC4-6-2R34017

Coach tare/gross tons 10/335/360 van+11c/400/.. 10 + 1/368/395

Recorder M.J.Rowe G.F.Bloxam M.J.Rowe

m.ch location actual mph actual mph actual mph

00.00 Bournemouth 00-00 00-00 00-00

01.15 Boscombe 03.00 03-44

01.58 Pokesdown 03.45 (52) 04-11 (51) 05-10 stop

03.54 Christchurch 05-23 (63)(65) 06-03 (64)(65) 04-49 stop/pws

06.77 Hinton Adm’l 09-01 pws(14) 09-08 (64)(60) 08-25 (20)stop

09.38 New Milton 13-59 (52) 11-33 (65) 06-13 (43)stop

12.37 Sway 16-49 (68)(69) 14-08 (73)(70) 05-27 stop

14.22 Lymington Jct 18-25 (61) 15-45 sigs(21) 03-52 (52)

15.17 Brockenhurst 19-19 (61) 17-53 (45) 05-21 stop

19.76 Beaulieu Rd 23-22 (68)(75) 23-06 (67) 06-44 (60)(54)

22.49 Lyndhurst Rd 26-09 pws(20) 25-21 (65) 09-24 (65)(70)

25.40 Totton 30-04 28-51 (55) 12-04

26.12 Redbridge 30-59 (48)(53) 29-36 (51)(55) 12-47

27.71 Millbrook 34-26 sigs(15) 31-37 14-46



Schedules:14.40 B’mouth – Lymington Jct 19 mins-Redbridge 31½- Soton 36½ 18.35: Bournemouth-Southampton 35½ 11.07 B’mth -Pokesdown 4 mins, Christch’ch 4½, Hinton A 6½, New Milton 6½ Sway 6½, Brockenhurst 5½, Redbridge 15-Southampton 20

Date Log No 21/5/66 log XVI 24/5/66 log XVII 30/7/66 logXVIII

Train 17.13 B’mouth 18.35 B’mouth 14.40 B’mouth

Loco No. BR5 4-6-073169 MN 4-6-2 35023 WC4-6-2R 34024

Coach tare/gross tons 10 + 2 392/430 10 + 1 353/380 10/335/355



00.00 Southampton 00-00 00-00 00--00

01.05 Northam Jct 03-40 03-51 03-04

03.33 Swaythling 07-55 (43)(46) 07-27 (60) 06-40 (53)

04.23 Soton Airport 09-25 stop - pws(15) -

05.54 Eastleigh 04-24 stop 11-15 08-55 (64)

07.44 Allbroook 02-47 (32) - - (66)

09.42 Shawford 07-27 (45)(46) 16-40 (55) 12-14 (69)

12.52 Winchester 12-10 stop 20-00 (62) 15-00

14.59 Win Jct 05-07 22-08 (63) 18-53 sigs(60)

Wallers Ash 09-09 (45) 24-47 (64) 19-54 sigs(49)

21.10 Micheldever 14-04 (48)pws 28-17 (63) sigstop

Roundwood 16-34 (26) 33-50 sigstops 31-55 (B)mp57

Wootton 22-55 ( - )(67) 43-58 38-29 (68)pws

28.76 Wortng Jct 25-29 (60(67) 46-16 41-30 (33)(41)

31.36 Basingstoke 29-29 sig/stop 48-34 (74) 43-59 (74)(82)

37.05 Hook 07-38 (A)(60) 52-58 (79)(80) 48-17 (81)

39.32 Winchfield 10-00 (65) 54-45 (82)(88) 50-04 (81)

42.60 Fleet 12-57 (69) 57-08 (82)(84) 52-22 (87)(89)

46.01 Farnborough 15-57 (66) 59-32 (82) 54-35 (88)

48.19 MP31 18-08 (60) 61-13 (79) 56-07 (84)

51.20 Brookwood 21-02 (65) 63-23 (82) 58-10 (89)

54.73 Woking 25-23 stop 66-45 sigs(56) 60-42 (85)

57.46 W. Byfleet 04-47 (56) 68-54 (70) 62-37 (85)

60.10 Weybridge 07-22 (65) 70-49 (79) 66-02 sigs

62.13 Walton 09-15 (67)pws 73-24 pws(28) 70-10 sigstop

64.68 Esher 13-42 (38) 78-23 77-52 pws(16)

65.73 Hampton Ct Jc - 79-58 81-30

67.23 Surbiton 17-06 (58) 81-28 83-58

72.02 Wimbledon 21-52 (64) 89-56 (64) sigs stop(63)

75.38 Clapham Jct 25-17 89-56 95-18

79.30 Waterloo 31-37 stop 96-54 stop 105.14 stop

Notes: (A) LL to TL departing Basingstoke (B) Signal stops Micheldever 25-44/27-20, mile post 57 30-15/31-55, mile post 15½ 73-22/74.59 Schedules: 18.35 Southampton – Worting Jct 39½ - Woking Jct 63½ - -Hampton Ct Jct 78½- Waterloo 96½ mins. 14.40: 43½ - 69½ - 85½ - 103½ 17.11: Soton-Airport 10½, Eastleigh 5, Winchester 12½, Basingstoke 28, Woking 28. Waterloo 34. . :

July 25 to 30 1966 Total steam mileage recorded during this period was c 2,300 miles. The 08.30 from Waterloo was recorded each weekday, the 10.30 on the Saturday. Outline performance details are shown in ‘Summary One’ (full details ‘Milepost 30 p.47/8). Despite the net times from Waterloo to Southampton ranging from 75 to 82 minutes the 93-minute schedule was never kept, the closest being 79 seconds late, the worst 14¼ minutes. It was the norm at the time to ascribe poor punctuality to a combination of steam power, inadequate maintenance and inferior fuel; in practice, it was attributable to delays at three junctions, Woking, Basingstoke and Shawford plus the twin track section from Worting Junction to Shawford. Two afternoon runs on the 15.30 recorded actual times to the Winchester stop of 78-59 and 79-51 (schedule 78½), net times were 71 and 72 minutes, the pre-June 1965 schedule was 69 minutes. The performances were apparently (according to the cognoscenti) redolent of many Bournemouth crews at this time. The Winchester to Southampton stage was run in 16-47 and 15-57 - schedule 19 minutes. Final overall times to Bournemouth were 145-42 and 146-17, schedule 149 minutes. Maximum speeds were 71 and 72 before Winchester, 65 and 76 before Southampton, 61 and 69 before the Brockenhurst stop and 63 and 73 before Bournemouth. Overall net running times were 130 and 126 minutes, the pre-1965 allowance


was 126 minutes. Such running received mild derision from some of the ever-increasing number of enthusiasts, but operationally the footplate crews could hardly be faulted. Locos were West Country 34012 with 11/371/400 tons and Battle of Britain 34087 with 11+ 1/386/430. The Tuesday ‘Bournemouth Belle’ headed by Merchant Navy No.35030 and consisting of 12 vehicles, 485 tons Gross, also with a Bournemouth crew ran to Southampton in 97-51, schedule 92½ minutes, net time was 88 minutes, speeds were 51 at milepost 31, 47 at Wootton and 72 maxima at Shawford. The Pullman supplement was clearly an unjustifiable personal luxury. The continuation of Wednesday’s 08.30 from Waterloo (log V) produced the best time of the week to Bournemouth. From Waterloo to Southampton the net time was the longest of the week, with a five-minute late arrival at Southampton. The crew had expected to be relieved at Southampton; the driver was not pleased that he had to continue to Bournemouth. Unfortunately, as he had not read that morning’s notices for the continuation, he slowed to the 40 pws after Hinton Admrial, which had been lifted two days previous - without this he would have secured an on-time arrival at Bournemouth. There were six runs during the week from Bournemouth to Southampton. A long pws after Hinton Admiral caused major delay; the best actual time was 36 minutes seconds (schedule 35½) the most interesting Driver Hooper with West Country 4-6-2 34024 (log XIII ) It was difficult to estimate a net time, but probably 29 minutes. Six runs from Bournemouth to Southampton produced overall times of 48minutes-00seconds, 55-23, 36-56, 36-02, 36-11 & 36-49. Schedules were 41 minutes; 35½ on the next four and 36½. The first two, the 15.25 on the Sunday and 12.35 on Monday were badly delayed by signals, including a five-minute stop at Milepost 104 and another of one minute at MP84 on the Monday. The other four runs all suffered the very inconvenient pws to 15-20 mph. The best, other than Driver Hooper’s effort on the Saturday, was by the Weymouth driver on the Tuesday 18.35 with Merchant Navy No.35026 with 11+1/386/420; Christchurch was passed 5-58 at 65 mph, the pws observed at 15mph, Sway in 18-38 at 56 and after 75 maximum Lyndhurst Road 27-36 before a signal check to 30 and Southampton reached in 36-56, Net time 31 minutes. The eleven UP runs from Southampton are listed in Summary Three; the outstanding run in detail (log XIII). Only two produced net times less than 80 minutes, and six were 84 minutes or more - they would not have kept time pre-June 1965. Driver Harry Pope on the Thursday with Battle of Britain 34087 and 11/371/400 made a typically good start: Shawford in 13-08 at 60mph before signals in the distance checked progress, but Worting Junction was passed in 34-31 at 49 after a pws to 37. Without exceeding 79 mph he passed Woking in 55-52 at 68 following slight signals before, Hampton Court Junction in 71-11 at 20mph after a pws to 17 before and reached Waterloo after further checks in 90-08, fifteen minutes early. Harry Pope was a personal favourite, one of the old school: he was then 64 and retired shortly afterwards to look after Mrs Pope. On that particular day, he stepped down from the footplate, offered me tea, asked where all the porters were and apologised to the departing passengers for the absence of porters - and being 15 minutes early. The log of Harry’s 73-33 from Southampton to Waterloo in 1963 with Merchant Navy 35016 and 495 tons is on page 218 of D.W.Winkworth’s book on the Bulleid Pacifics [DWW]. Mr Winkworth suggests that there might have been an error of one minute in the start time, perhaps but Harry was definitely capable of passing Northam in 3-00 and Eastleigh in 8-48. Fast starts and firm braking were his forte. Driver Hooper’s effort on the Saturday (log XVIII), also with an over generous schedule, was definitely an attempt to produce some sparkling running. The intent was to adhere to all speed limits and he was disappointed to find he had touched 89mph as the speedo had shown 85, a view endorsed by Brian Smith who was with him. The time of 15 minutes


exactly to pass Winchester, even allowing for only 10 coaches, may be close to a fastest steam time - the running from Basingstoke to West Byfleet redolent of the Atlantic Coast Express at its best. Overall timekeeping had been good throughout the week, even allowing for Southampton’s inability to let the 08.30 from Waterloo have access to a platform in time. The overall level of performance was not quite up to that required pre-June 1965 but far better than in May. Until the end of 1966 Opportunities during the next few months were limited. On the 20th August Driver King with West Country 34017 and 12/401/440 drove a packed Saturday train to Southampton in 96-46 schedule 93. There were three pw slacks in force but it was all a ‘bit of a struggle’, speed barely exceeded 60 mph before Micheldever, the net time: 87 minutes. A return trip to Basingstoke, rather than continuing to Bournemouth from Southampton, appeared a better prospect. The 10.42 Poole to Sheffield had ‘unrebuilt’ West Country 34102 with 11/371/400. Scheduled running time with stops at Southampton Airport, Eastleigh and Winchester was 55½ minutes, actual 50-16, net 49. A competent performance. Opportunities to travel behind un-rebuilt Light Pacifics were becoming rarer. The following 11.10 Bournemouth to Newcastle arrived on time with BR Standard 9F 92002 at its head; now that was rare. Return to Southampton, to catch the 14.40 from Bournemouth was by DMU. The 15.21½ (the dichotomy of the WTT half-minute exactitude on a Railway in a state of flux) left fifteen minutes late, with Merchant Navy 35008 with 10/338/370 and ran to Waterloo in 90-25. There were slight signal checks before Winchester, Worting and Woking, signal and a pws to walking pace at Esher and signals before Vauxhall. Worting Junction was passed in 34-58, Farnborough in 47-45 at 86, before a pronounced easing after a maximum of 89 on the level before. There were signals on at Woking and a severe slack at Esher, but Driver King had redeemed himself. Moving house and the rugby season, let alone work commitments, precluded another day out until the 4th of November. There was fog in the Weybridge area, local line working from Woking to Basingstoke amongst other things. a return trip to Southampton on the 10.30 and 14.35 from Bournemouth was a dispiriting experience, 11L Down, 23½L Up. The only bright spot in the day was a return trip to Brockenhurst from Southampton. Standard 5 73085 on the 11.30 from Waterloo ran to Brockenhurst in 16-38 with 67mph at Woodfidley, albeit with a light train of 7/242/265. The return was with the 13.52 from Bournemouth, BR4 2-6-0 76005, 4/131/140. Brockenhurst to Southampton in 21-47, schedule 22, with stops at Lyndhurst Road and Totton; running time 20-32, schedule 21. net 20 - there was a signal check before Totton, maximum speed before Lyndhurst Road 65. At the time, it seemed a satisfying few minutes. The 10.30 from Waterloo on December 16 had Merchant Navy 35028 with 11/369/400 and a cheerful welcome from Fred Prikett. Driver Prikett was always regarded as an extremely knowledgeable engineman. Some years later, Clive Groome recounted how as a young aspirant he feared being technically questioned by Driver Prikett when sitting in the lobby. Fred had a clear run to Hook, passed in 45-03 without exceeding 66. Despite signal checks at Basingstoke and Micheldever - to 23 and 26mph - and a pws at Eastleigh a punctual arrival was still on with Swaythling passed in 85-11. But the Southampton gremlins decided otherwise, 100-36 to the platform. The continuation to Bournemouth took 35-32 with a pws to 22 after Sway. Fred was concerned at Bournemouth that there was an overheated bearing, and said he had thought so from passing Brockenhurst. .


The return on the 14.35 was with Battle of Britain 34089 with 12/402/440, Bournemouth to Southampton took 36-54 following a 75 second stand for signals after Millbrook. The continuation to Waterloo was accomplished in 95-35, there was a stop of 2¼ minutes for signals before Winchester Junction and after further checks it required 45¾ minutes to pass Worting Junction, the next 43 miles to Wimbledon were then run in 38 minutes without exceeding 76 mph. 110 miles per hour ? Later that day Driver Porter was to run somewhat faster, but he had done even better earlier in the week. The Monday (12/12/66) high speed run is well documented: a log by Alan Wild in [DWW], plus logs recorded by Don Benn and J. Baybrooke are on the RPS data base. There is only Hugh Gould’s log for the Friday. The details for the Wednesday are from a file of material that came from Sid Nash. It appears that Inspector Andrews was responsible for the timing, presumably mileposts only and perhaps in the excitement the numbers became confused hence the corrected log on the file. Whether ‘City of Truro’, ‘Flying Scotsman’ or ‘Mallard’, it seems inevitable that any steam speed record will be questionable. Certainly a personal memory is being told in confidence that Driver Porter was aiming for the Post War steam speed record of the 112 mph descending from Stoke by an A4. .

Date 12/12/1966 14/12/1966 16/12/1966

Train 17.30W’mouth 17.30W’mouth 17.30W’mouth

Loco MN 35028 MN 4-6-2 35028 MN 35028

Load tons 9+2 348/375 10/329/350 12/395/-

Recorder D.Benn See note H.F.Andrews ? H.Gould

original log recons truct.

location actual mph actual mph actual mph actual mph

Basingstoke 40-07 83 37-57 83 34-37 88

milepost 47 38-29 86

mp 46 41-20 93 39-07 95 93

mp 45 39-44 97

mp 44 40-20 100

mp 43 43-16 92 40-55 103

Hook 43-48 93 38-34 91

mp 42 41-31 101

mp 41 44-34 95 42-05 105 42-05 105

mP 40 42-39 106*

Winchfield 45-19 98 42-15 107 39-58 96

mp 39 42-39 108 43-13 106* 97

mp 38 46-25 102 43-18 109 43-46 109*

mp 37 104 43-46 110

Fleet 47-18 100 44-15 108 42-14 91

mp 36 sigs 44-55 105*

mp 35 44-55 100

Notes: 14/12 Hand written note from Basing to mile post 35.Top reads “(Inspector) H.F.Andrews sent. 5.30 ex Weymouth, 14/12/66 10 on 329/350 Porter 9E (from Soton)” RHS margin has “Full 25% (170” by mp43 “ (170) “ and by mp38 “45% (185 ”.There is a note below “long stop Farnborough track failure. There is another note “Suggested reconstruction” those are the second figures given from mile post 41 onwards. * average speeds. ’actual’ times are from Southampton

The stroll to the end of the platform on the Thursday after Christmas found Driver Prikett in charge of 34088, by all accounts, even though fairly recently it had been a ‘royal engine’; a very poor machine. Fred was his usual affable self, one could not but feel sorry for senior men who were witnessing the rundown of steam. Many were opting for diesel and/or electric training as soon as possible. Fred had been driving fast trains to Bournemouth for over a decade. There is a log of him as driver with the 08.20 from Waterloo in the Railway Observer of 1956 (RO XXVI p.340) when the performances were being assessed with reference to the proposed one stop two-hours overall schedule to Bournemouth. The start was delayed by eight minutes and with 9/305/330 Southampton was reached 30 seconds late, Net time 78 minutes. (log III )


The first three months of 1967 By the start of 1967 the new power (signal) boxes at Eastleigh and Basingstoke were installed and fully commissioned, the Bournemouth ‘remodelling’ complete and long welded track laid between Woking and Brookwood on the through lines. Some Peak hour electrics commenced running to Basingstoke from 2/1/67. Steam hauled services from Waterloo were limited to 05.30(SX) 08.10, 08.35, 11.30, 13.30, 15.30(SX), 15.35(SO), 18.30, 21.20(SO) & 22.25. The night newspaper/parcels remained steam hauled. (The inter regional services were rationalised from 6/3/67. All diesel) Whilst the first opportunity to visit Waterloo did not occur until the third Saturday in January, the grape vine suggested that there were some lively performances. Driver Porter was in charge of the 18.35 from Bournemouth on the previous Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Thanks to the late Geoff Bloxam, there are logs on the RPS Database from Southampton for all three evenings, the outline numbers are included in Summary Three. Gordon Porter’s runs were remarkably consistent, other than where signal checks interfered: 68-70 mph on the uphill section to Roundwood and 90-94 mph on the favourable sections from Worting Junction to Hampton Court Junction. Net times over this stretch were 28-29 minutes, The personal Saturday experience was pedestrian by comparison, albeit the trains ran to time. The rundown of steam was now well advanced. The ‘Bournemouth Belle’ had been rostered for diesel haulage since the end of the year. A Brush 4 with 9+1/416/430 ran to Southampton in 88-22, there were three pw slacks and minor signal checks. After a slow start 87 mph was reached at Esher, matters were then taken more calmly: the 93-minute schedule, with much of the route now fettled, was a luxury. Return from Southampton was behind Battle of Britain 34052 with 9/304/330, actual time 93-30, 87 net. The following Saturday (were the grounds unfit or was I injured, I do not recall?), the 11.30 from Waterloo with Battle of Britain 34090 and 10/337/355 ran to Basingstoke in five seconds under the hour; there was only one pws after Farnborough, and the next three stages to Winchester, Eastleigh and Southampton in 28-10 24 net, 10-16 and 9-05, schedule 25½, 15 & 9. Maximum speed was 74 before Winchester. The return on the 14.40 from Bournemouth was similar, 101-30 to Waterloo, schedule 103½, net 91. Two return trips to Basingstoke in the middle of February followed the same pattern: easily maintaining schedule with minimal effort. For many commuters, compared with the previous year - a pleasant experience, for the train timer ennui. In 1965 an evening out was a trip on the 18.00 to Basingstoke returning to London either on the 16.55 from Bournemouth or the 18.35 from Salisbury. By 1967, steam options were reduced: the 17.09 to Basingstoke returning on the 18.35. During the period from March 9 to June, early departure from the London office desk was possible on five evenings. Driver Gale, with West Country 34098, on the 9th March and 10/334/370 almost kept time on the 17.09 - he was 90 seconds adrift at Hook. His return on the 18.35 - a Nine Elms crew worked the 17.09, which terminated at Basingstoke, and relieved a Salisbury crew on the 18.35 from that City - was rather better.(logXLIII). He knew he was being timed: his comment at Basingstoke before departure was “Don’t expect me to do more than 85 mph”. 85 mph with a Standard - they were even by the mores of the time particularly unloved - seemed a pretty good prospect.


Driver Gale’s 21-19 from Basingstoke to Woking and continuation to Waterloo in 29-49 - after delays at Weybridge - came at the end of a good day. Driver Walker on the 10.30 Down, with MN 35013 and 10/337/370 (logXXII) after initial delays, ran the 44.3 miles from Woking to Winchester pass to pass in 34-58 without exceeding 75mph. Despite the normal delays for the Southampton bottleneck, the arrival was only 23 seconds adrift. The continuation to Bournemouth was badly checked, 32-45 to pass Brockenhurst at walking pace, from where it took 19-03 to Bournemouth. Speeds were 36 on the 1/103 after Lymington Junction, 77 maximum after Hinton Admiral, 57 for the Christchurch restriction and 48 minimum afterwards. Driver Walker’s return to London with the 13.35 from Weymouth was equally good. With an eleven-coach train 371/400 and Merchant Navy 35008, the start from Bournemouth was slow: 7-23 to Christchurch passed at 64, the minimum afterwards was 63 and Sway passed in 15-16 at 64 (Christchurch pass to Sway pass 8.8 miles in 7-53). The reward for such enterprise was a stop at Totton for nearly 4 minutes and a time of 42-53 to the Southampton stop. The subsequent late departure probably facilitated a clear road to Worting Junction passed in 31-28 (logXLIX). (bettering a personal best of 31-42 with West Country 34104 and 6 + 4/323/360 dating back to 31/8/63) The 70-mph attained after Winchester Junction was very satisfying, the fall off to 54 at Roundwood disappointing to the recorder, although the late start from Southampton was already recovered. Net time to Waterloo was 76 minutes, the actual 80-01, eight minutes early. With further steam replacements forecast for the end of March there was a sense that this might have to be the final flourish if there was to be one. Two days leave (March 22 & 23) offered some opportunity, although domestic priorities/authorities were calling, in practice a day and a half! The 10.30 from Waterloo on each day with Merchant Navy 35007 ran to Southampton in 97-14 (86net) and 93-25, (85net) The 18.35 from Bournemouth offered more. The Weymouth crew (logXXXIV) passed Totton in 26-07 without exceeding 70mph, the Christchurch Sway time was eight minutes exactly with 62½ minimum after 62 through Christchurch. Driver Boyce relieved the Weymouth crew at Southampton (log L) and improved on Walker’s time to Worting Junction by 64 seconds, even allowing for the comparatively light consist 9+1/330/360 a testimony to Merchant Navy 35007’s excellent steaming reputation. The 11.07 from Bournemouth (logs XL & XLI) afforded a pleasant spin in sunny weather with Drivers Fordrey and Turner behind West Country 34037 and Merchant Navy 35012 from Southampton to Basingstoke. The over-generous timetable allowed 57½ minutes running time with three intermediate stops, actual running times were 43-47 and 45-38, c 90 secs was lost before Basingstoke through a pws and signals. Friday March 31, for some forgotten reason, provided an opportunity for an afternoon trip to Bournemouth. The 15.30 from Waterloo had Standard Class 5 No.73043. The ‘cognoscenti’ were present in numbers milling about the loco, “not worth bothering about, awful engine” was the proffered advice. It seemed to offer possibly the last personal experience (as indeed proved to be the case) of a ‘five’ to Bournemouth. (log XXIII). Not the best of 4-6-0 performance but 3L by the WTT at Winchester, right time Southampton. The continuation to Bournemouth was badly served. Woodfidley passed in 14-40 at 62 before a long pws led to 22-08 to Brockenhurst. From the restart, there were signals on at Lymington Junction but Pokesdown was passed in 20-21 (Christchurch in 18-19 at 63 with 50½ at Pokesdown) before a long stand resulting in 30-01 to the Bournemouth stop. Personal experiences over the years between Southampton and Bournemouth tended to be disappointing, but at times the performance could be brisk. Logs XXVIII, XXIX & XXX all made during March, from Geoff Bloxam, exhibit excellent running with good minima after


Brockenhurst and maxima in the eighties before the Christchurch slack. Drivers on the first two were Elstom from Bournemouth and the redoubtable Gordon Hooper. The return on the 18.35 on March 31 was undistinguished; the best came from the Weymouth crew. With Merchant Navy 35028, 10+2 396/430, they passed Totton in 27-22 after 56½ minimum after Hinton Admiral and 70 maximum after Brockenhurst. There was a pws 21 before Millbrook Southampton reached in 33-25. The continuation, with a Nine Elms crew reached Waterloo in 99-28 (85½ net). April 3 to the timetabled end. The number of departures, scheduled for steam haulage from Waterloo, was reduced even further post 3/4/67 i.e. 08.10. 08.35, 12.35(SO), 23.35(SO) Partial electric services were introduced from that date, the first revenue earning electric service ran to Bournemouth on 1/4/67. Fortunately, the next available evenings in London coincided with Driver Chapman rostered for the 17.09 from Waterloo and the return from Basingstoke on the 18.35 from Salisbury. On the Thursday evening, work issues ensured that the outward journey was not by steam, the return most certainly was; 18 minutes 23 seconds probably the fastest ever actual time by steam between Basingstoke and Woking.(log XLVIII). Logs XLIII and XLIV are the fastest times personally recorded prior to 1967 between the two stations. Merchant Navy 35007 continued from Woking to Waterloo in 32-17, somewhat of an anti-climax, a lengthy pws leaving Woking, local line to Walton then 78 at Surbiton and a Harry Pope type finish from Clapham Junction, 6-19 pass to stop. The following evening, Driver Chapman had West Country 34021 on the 17.09.(logXIX). Summary Two below highlights two issues: consistent running to the end on June 11, (the original date for the introduction of the new ‘electric’ timetable,) and the increasing numbers of enthusiasts keen to sample the final days of Southern steam. Schedules were 34 minutes to Woking and the running time to Basingstoke - stops at Farnborough, Fleet and Hook - 40 minutes with one minute allowance at each stop. Summary Two

17.09 Waterloo-Basingstoke 1967 Full logs on RPS Database

date gross loco Wat-Wok (net) Wok-Bas (net Driver/recorder

09/3 370 34098 32-42 (28½) 43-43 (40¼) Gale/Rowe

28/4 395 34021 27-23 (27½) 42-46 (38½) Chapman/Rowe

02/5 400 34108 30-44 (27) 49-00 (45¾) Thom/Rowe

11/5 11/- 34052 32-18 (27) 40-43 (37½) /Harrison

12/5 318T 34052 31-02 (28¾) 39-40 (39) Doust/Bloxam

17/5 352T 34102 33-19 (29¾) 39-14 (39¼) Rickman/Bloxam

18/5 352½T 34102 28-29 (26¾) 37-33 (37½) Rickman/Bloxam

19/5 321T 34102 31-18 (28¾) 39-50 (37½) Rickman/Bloxam

23/5 353T 34089 34-03 (31) 41-57 (42) Steward/Gould

25/5 353T 34013 35-17 (32) 42-25 (40) Turner/Gould

30/5 11/- 34089 31-06 (29) (37¼) /Harrison

31/5 351T 34052 28½) 37-44 (37½) Hughes/Gould

01/6 395 34060 33-06 (27¾) 43-33 (38½) Knight/Rowe

06/6 350T 34004 33-27 (31) 37-51 (38) /Howlett

08/6 395 34016 36-04 (30) 40-51 (41) /Rowe

Driver Chapman set off from Basingstoke with Standard 5 on the 18.35 from Salisbury (log XLIV) as if intent on repeating his success of the previous night. (log XLVIII). Hook was passed only 16 seconds slower than with Merchant Navy 35003, but then steam pressure began to fall and the rest was more gentle, finishing half a minute behind Driver Gales run, after being three quarters of a minute up at Hook. From Woking, Chapman, with a clearer road than the previous evening, a pws initially such that it took 8-00 to pass Weybridge,


then 84 at Esher, 66 at Raynes Park, 73 at Earlsfield, passed Clapham Junction in 20-23 at 41 and reached Waterloo in 26-30. The following Tuesday, passed-fireman Thom with West Country 34108 and 11/366/400 ran to Woking in 30-44 after a slow start and a pws to 21 at Earlswood. The 11 miles from Hampton Court Junction to the Woking stop run in 10¼ minutes with 75mph after Weybridge. Time was then dropped on the stopping stages: Bulleid Pacifics were hardly ideal with a 400 ton train on stopping train duties, let alone for a relatively inexperienced passed-fireman. The 18.35 from Salisbury (log XLV), unusually loaded to 9/297/315, ran via the local line, although the speed restriction through Farnborough was unlikely to be a concern with the Standard 4. In practice to pass milepost 31 in eighteen minutes exactly was satisfactory. Saturday afternoon (6/5) beckoned but steam was now becoming scarce. The most interesting prospect on reaching Waterloo shortly before 15.00 hrs seemed the 15.00 to Basingstoke and then the Newcastle Poole to Bournemouth. The Warship D806 with 10/336/375 ran to Woking in 31-07 net 26, the Brush 4 D1923 8/267/295 played with its light train. Not a good way to spend half a day return ticket to Bournemouth on but there was no alternative. The 18.35 UP had West Country 34024 with 9 + 1 332/355. The Weymouth crew ran to Southampton in 34-09, Totton passed in 26-55 before signals and a pws. The continuation to Waterloo with the Nine Elms crew, after a slow start to Northam Junction, passed Eastleigh in 9-41 at 62 before a long pws at 20. The recovery was steady: Micheldever 30-12 at 64, Worting 37-22, after 71 maximum, 88 before Fleet 48-35 before a pws to 25. From there with a clear road and 82 before Weybridge and 80 at Walton, Waterloo reached in 85-42. - 28 shillings and sixpence well invested after all ! Three weeks were to pass before time could be spent at Waterloo but the announcement that the new timetable would not be implemented until July 10 offered a short stay of execution! The Saturday 08.30 was still a steam roster: on the 13th Geoff Bloxam timed it with West Country 34104 10/323 and Driver McMail, (logXXIV). The acceleration to 65 mph at milepost 31 and 82 after Hook implied a sense of urgency, but as often, checks led to a late arrival at Southampton. The original light Pacifics were becoming rare - numbers 34023 and 34102 to be precise. Thanks to Geoff Bloxam, there are logs of 34102 at work on the 17.09 on the 17/18 & 19 May, the best evening probably the 18th, (log XX) Also, No.34023 (logLIII) was entrusted with the 17.50 from Weymouth. The Weymouth crew ran unchecked from Bournemouth to Southampton in 32½ minutes. Driver Giles attained 67mph after Eastleigh, the recovery from the pws was more measured with Roundwood passed at 62. The running onwards to London, with the one pws check at Farnborough, was good: net time 78 minutes - an appropriate testimony for the now preserved loco. Two other Geoff Bloxam logs are tabled (log LII & LIV). Driver John Pilcher with Merchant Navy 35028 and 12/401 tons tare, achieved a net time of 73¼ minutes. Checked by signals initially, the 65 before the Winchester Junction pws was credible, the 69 achieved afterwards at Roundwood better and the 79 at Wootton unusual. The ‘flight’ onwards to London included several miles at 90 and a maximum of 92 at Brookwood. Driver West (logLIV) produced similar speeds, albeit with a larger loco and a lighter train, a performance well within the pre-1965 timetable requirements. on the adverse section to Roundwood, onwards to Waterloo a boat train ahead may well have inhibited progress. A personal return trip to Bournemouth on Saturday May 27 was unexceptional. The Down 15.30 with Battle of Britain 34060 and 12/397/430 ran the Waterloo- Winchester-


Southampton-Brockenhurst-Bournemouth stages in 82-06, 17-56, 20-21 and 20-22. Net 75,17,18,& 20½ minutes. The pre June 1965 schedules were 69, 17, 19 & 21. The Weymouth crew with Merchant Navy 35008 11 + 2/409/438 ran to Southampton in 31-54 (logXXV), the only check, a slight one, for signals. The first personal run timed within the pre-1965 scheduled 32 minutes for over two years. Logs XXXVII, XXXVIII & XXXIX are three runs from previous years. The first with Battle of Britain 34077 on Easter Monday 1963 maintained the 32-minute timing despite a slow start, 16-14 to pass Sway. The 80mph through Brockenhurst remains vivid 54 years later! The second is Harry Pope with West Country 34053 making up time lost by a long pws after Christchurch. The stock rode the curves through the forest well; not sure about the tea and coffee cups in the Restaurant Car. The third, with Merchant Navy 35004 and a 470 ton train, on a very damp misty, fog in London on Christmas Eve in 1964 scrupulously observed the 60 mph restriction through Christchurch and only fell to 59 afterwards. The 22mph check at Lymington Junction was scant reward. The continuation to Waterloo with 35008 was pedestrian, but punctual. With only pws checks to 40 after Eastleigh, to 16 after Winchester Junction, to 54 after Worting Junction and a clear road Waterloo was reached in 92-38, 84net. Basingstoke pass to Waterloo accomplished in 45½ minutes without exceeding 77mph. Two final runs behind steam on the 17.09; Thursdays June 1 and June 8 featured Driver Knight with the normal eleven coach train (log XXI). There was an emergency stop at milepost 21 for a reported open door and a 2¼- minute stop before Basingstoke station. Otherwise the running was better than schedule. 34013 with the same load dropped time on all stages as far as Winchfield, but then, after most commuters had left the train ran to Hook in 5-01 and Basingstoke in exactly nine minutes with 62mph at milepost 47..

Date Log No 28/4/67 log XIX 18/5/67 log XX 1/6/67 log XXI


Loco No. WC4-6-2R34021 WC4-6-2 34102 BB4-6-2R 34060

Coach tare/gross ton 11/363/395 11/352/- 11/360/395

Recorder M.J.Rowe G.F.Bloxam M.J.Rowe


00.00 Waterloo 00-00 00-00 00-00

Vauxhall 03-44 (40)(51) 03-48 (34)(51) 03-22 (35)(48)

03.71 Clapham Jct 07-17 (40) 07-12 (38)pws 06-59 (39)

07.17 Wimbledon 11-09 (57) 12-58 (23)(48) 11-04 (54)

09.57 New Malden 13-37 (66) 15-37 (62) 13-45 (60)

12.03 Surbiton 15-40 (67) 17-46 (65) 15-59 (62)

13.26 Hampton C Jt 16-51 (64) 18-49 (73) 17-11 (66)

14.31 Esher 17-51 (64)(67) 19-47 (75) 18-07 (66)(68)

17.06 Walton 20-13 (66) 21-57 (72) 20-30 (67)(65)

19.09 Weybridge 22-10 (64)(72) 23-42 (70)(75) 22-21 (65)(71)

21.00 Mile post 21 24-26/ 25-20

emergen cy stop

21.53 W. Byfleet 24-21 (66) 25-43 (74) 28-24

24.26 Woking 27-37 stop 28-29 stop 33-06 (44)stop

03.53 Brookwood 06-49 (47) 06-31 (53) 06-20

05.54 Mile post 31 10-28 (53) 09-44 (56)(62) 10-32 (50)

Sturt Lane Jct 11-59 - slow 12-02 (54)

08.72 Farnborough depart

14-16 15-23

stop 12-33 00-00

stop 13-55/ 15-20

stop

02.52 Mile post 36 04-56 (52) (56) 05-05 (47)

03.21 Fleet depart

05-53 06-43

stop 05-53 00-00

stop 05-52 07-21

stop

02.41 Mile post 39 04-16 (54) (54) 04-30 (47)(50)

03.28 Winchfield depart

05-39 06-15

stop 05-18 00-00

stop 05-45 07-12

stop

02.27 Hook depart

04-38 05-18

(49) 04-52 00-00

(47) 04-51 05-28

(46)

03.66 Milepost 46 05-40 (64)sigs (56) 05-48 (56)sigs

05.49 Basingstoke 12-19 stop 08-57 stop 13-07 stop


Schedule :Waterloo-HCJct 18½ mins - Woking ar.34/dep.35, Farnborough ar 14/dep 15, Fleet 6/7, Winchfield 6/7, Hook 5/6, Basingstoke 9.

Date Log No. 9/3/67 log XXII 31/3/67 logXXIII 13/5/67 log XXIV


Loco No. MN 4-6-2 35012 BR54-6-073043 WC4-6-2R 34104

Coach tare/gross ton 10 337/370 11 + 1 399/435 10/323/

Recorder M.J.Rowe M.J.Rowe G.F.Bloxam


00.00 Waterloo 00-00 00.00 00-00

Vauxhall 03-17 ( - )(53) 03.41 03-44 (33)(49)

03.71 Clapham Jct 06-40 (40) 07.36 (40)(47) 07-28 ( - )pws

07.17 Wimbledon 12-27 pws(13) 12-10 sigs(41) 13-15 (22)(54)

09.53 New Malden 15-41 (63) 15-21 (54) 15-54 (61)

12.02 Surbiton 17-43 (70) 17-49 (56) 18-00 (67)

13.26 Hampton Ct.J 18-48 (72) 19-11 (59)(60) 19-04 (73)

14.31 Esher 19-40 (75)sigs 20-16 pws(29) 20-01 (71)()74)

17.06 Walton 23-55 (20)(52) 24-35 (42) 22-12 (73)

19.09 Weybridge 26-02 (64)(71) 27-20 (50)(57) 23-57 (69)

21.53 W.Byfleet 28-13 (69) 30-06 (57)sigs 26-02 (69)

24.26 Woking 30-32 (74)(70) 33-07 (47) 28-35 (63)(60)

27.79 Brookwood 33-32 (71)(70) 37-41 (48) 32-08 (63)

31.00 Milepost 31 36-04 (71) 41-32 (47) 34-56 (65)(69)

33.18 Farnborough 37-55 (72)(69) 44-01 (56) 37-04 (61)(B)

35.39 Fleet 40-43 (71)(72) 47-29 (60)(58) 39-59 (70)(74)

39.67 Winchfield 43-31 (69)(64) 50-53 (55)(52) 42-38 (78)(75)

42.14 Hook 45-43 (66)(71) 53-25 (55) 44-28 (79)(82)

47.63 Basingstoke 50-26 (65) 59-46 (49) 50-02 sigs(22)

50.23 Worting Jct 52-58 (58) 63-05 (43)(44) 55-00 sigs(26)

Wootton 55-18 (56) 66-16 (44) 59-07 sigs(21½)

Roundwood 58-48 (65) 70-46 (50) 63-32 (63)(69)

58.09 Micheldever 60-23 (70) 72-51 (57) 65-10 (77)

Wallers Ash 63-20 (75) 76-16 (66) 67-43 (88)sigs

64.40 Winchester Jt 65-30 (71) 79-41 (64) 69-40 (54)sigs

66.47 Winchester 67-20 (66) 81-22 stop 71-57 (56)sigs

69.57 Shawford 70-10 (68)(70) 04-58 (60)(65) 78-57 (19)pws

73.45 Eastleigh 76-50 pws(14) 08-46 pws(52) 83-30 (71)

75.66 Swaythling 80-22 (56) 11-06 (62)(64) 85-37 (55)

78.14 Northam Jct 83-55 (A) 13-48 88-45 (C)


Notes: (A) Signal stop before Southampton 87-20/91-10 (B) Cross over renewal pws 60 mph (C) sig stop 90-52/92-30 Schedules: 10.30 W’loo-Woking Jct34 mins-Worting60-Win Jct 78½-Soton 93 15.30 W’loo-Woking Jct34-Worting60-Win Jct75½-Winchester 78½, Soton 19

Four more weeks Whilst the further postponement of the new timetable can have been less than a joy for the long-suffering inhabitants of Southampton and Bournemouth, for the ever-increasing number of travelling enthusiasts it represented a stay of execution. Certainly, it seemed worth taking some precious annual leave. The four days (Monday June 19th to Thursday 22nd) fully justified the investment in a seven day ‘Rover’ ticket. The days planned format was the same ie 08.35 Waterloo to Poole, return on the 11.25 from Weymouth, Waterloo to Bournemouth by the 15.30 and the 17.30 from Weymouth back to Waterloo. On the Monday, there was a major signal failure in the afternoon twixt Winchester and Worting Junctions. The 16.35 from Waterloo was severely delayed after the twelve-coach electric had made a bright start with 90mph after Weybridge, the following two days, signal failure over, the 15.30 had a Brush 4 and a Crompton, on the Thursday for further variety a Warship on the 15.00 to Basingstoke and a Brush 4 from there on the Newcastle to Poole. If not steam, at least diversity. On the Thursday, a missed train to London from Wivelsfield, led to a change of plan and just catching the 11.25 Weymouth at Bournemouth after a trip via Worthing, Fareham and Southampton on a mixture of EMUs and DMUs. The 08.35 was hauled by Merchant Navy’s 35007 and 35023 twice. (for Monday and Tuesday see logs XXV and XXVI.) Driver Groome reached 94 before Winchester Junction.


Driver Giles, with Inspector Brewer on the footplate, was limited to 85mph. He was however significantly quicker between Southampton and Bournemouth. Driver Groome on Wednesday had a lighter train 8+1 296/320. The running was consistently good - the best being 20-38 to Winchester with a maximum of 86, and 08-13 to pass New Milton from the Brockenhurst start, actual time to Bournemouth was 20-11, net 18½. Log XXVII was a particularly enthusiastic performance by Driver Skinner, timed by the late John Daykin, who wrote in his note book leaving Surbiton and Woking “pasting” and at Farnborough “blowing” after noting “shut off”. Certainly the starts from Surbiton, Woking, Basingstoke and Brockenhurst were vigorous!

ate Log No 19/6/67 log XXV 20/6/67 logXXVI 30/6/67 logXXVII


Loco No MN 4-6-2 35007 MN4-6-2 35023 MN 4-6-2 35023

Coach tare/gross ton 10 + 1 363/390 10 + 2 360/390 8 + 1 291½/320 *

Recorder M.J.Rowe M.J.Rowe J.Daykin

m.ch location Actual mph actual mph actual mph

00.00 Waterloo 00-00 00-00 00-00

Vauxhall 03-19 (39)(50) 02-58 (38)(52) 03-08 (38)(51)

03.71 Clapham Jct 06-47 (40) 06-20 (40) 06-24 (41)

07.17 Wimbledon 10-51 (57) 10-19 (56) 10-24 (58)(61)

09.53 New Malden 13-30 (66)pws 12-52 (63)pws 13-26 (8)pws

12.02 Surbiton 16-32 (30)stop 18-36 (12)stop 20-23 (33)stop

01.24 Hampton Ct J 03-11 (44) 03-08 (54) 02-47 (48)

02.29 Esher 04-29 (51) 04-28 (51) 03-54 (60)

05.04 Walton 07-12 (63) 07-11 (64) 06-21 (69)

07.07 Weybridge 09-16 sig(53) 09-05 (66)(67) 07-57 (70)

09.51 W.Byfleet 12-12 (49)(55) 11-23 (66)sus 09-51 (80)

12.24 Woking 15-42 stop 15-01 stop 13-11 (sig)stop

03.53 Brookwood 06-41 (51) 06-18 (54) 05-10 (66)

06.54 Mile post 31 09-51 (60) 09-32 (59)sigs 07-45 (75)

08.72 Farnborough 11-52 (69) 11-48 (54) 09-29 (78)(80)

12.13 Fleet 14-37 (75) 15-13 (63)(66) 12-09 (78)

15.41 Winchfield 17-24 (66)pws 18-18 (65) 14-34 (75)pws

17.68 Hook 20-17 (23) 22-05 pws(12) 17-09 (34)

16.54 Mile post 45 24-50 (52)(54) 26-48 (56)sigs 20-50 (57)sig

23.37 Basingstoke 28-51 stop 31-12 stop 28-06 (stp)stop

02.40 Worting Jct 05-33 (54) 05-29 (44) 05-03 (49)

Wootton 08.09 (58) 08-10 (54) 07-31 (60)

Roundwood 11-36 (68) 11-44 (65) 10-35 (74)

10.26 Micheldever 13-03 (81) 13-20 (77)(85) 12-03 (79)

Wallers Ash 15-36 (91)(94) 15-58 (81) 14-31 (85)

16.57 Winchester Jt 17-21 (87) 18-09 (64)sigs 16-34 (67)

18.64 Winchester 20-12 stop 21-32 stop 19-24 (C)

03.10 Shawford 05-51 pws(40) 05-59 pws(41) 05-19 pws(42)

06.78 Eastleigh 09-55 (60) 10-17 sigs(59) 08-47 (65)

08.29 Soton Airport 12-03 stop 12-25 stop 10-31 stop

00.70 Swaythling 02-30 (39)(46) 02-47 sigstop ( - )(55)

02.24 Northam Jct 06-09 12-20 sigstop 05-36


00.72 Millbrook 03-07 02-41 02-15 (39)

92.51 Redbridge 05-30 (49)sigs 04-56 (50) 04-34 (44)

03.23 Totton 06-35 (10)pws 05-39 (50) 05-19 (50)(58)

06.14 Lyndhurst Rd 13-37 (41) 10-53 (10)pws 08-56 sigs(29)

08.67 Beaulieu Rd 16-37 (58) 13-41 (59)(B) 15-49 stop(45)

Woodfidley 18-10 (67)(A) 15-08 (70)(69) 17-33 (64)(68)

13.46 Brockenhurst 22-20 stop 18-54 stop 19-52 stop

00.75 Lymington Jct 03-19 (31)(34) 03-25 (36)(39) 02-40 (38)(49)

02.60 Sway 06-05 (50) 06-00 (55) 04-58 (58)(64)

05.59 New Milton 09-14 (56) 08-47 (67) 07-37 (72)

08.20 Hinton Adm’l 11-40 (68)(74) 10-49 (81)(85) 09-39 (78)

11.40 Christchurch 14-40 (59)(60) 13-25 (58)(60) 12-41 (54)(58)

13.39 Pokesdown 16-49 (50) 15-27 (51) 14-53 (48)

14.07 Boscombe 17-39 16-19 (42) 15-38 sigstop

15.22 Bournemouth 20-24 stop 18-52 stop 19-18 stop

foot of 1/150 57½mph –top 56 (B) foot 1/150 60 mph - top 59 (C) load reduced to 7 + 1 at Winchester. Schedules: Waterloo-Surbiton 18 mins, Woking 18½, Basingstoke 31, Winchester 25, Soton Airport 14, Southampton 9, Brockenhurst 19, Bournemouth 25.


Date Log No 4/3/67 logXXVIII 7/3/67 log XXIX 16/3/67 logXXX


Loco No MN4-6-2 35007 MN4-6-2 35013 MN4-6-2 35007

Coach tare/gross tons 9PC+2BV/425/ - 10/336/ _ 10/335½

Recorder G.Bloxam G.Bloxam G.Bloxam


00.00 Southampton 00-00 00-00 00-00

00.72 Millbrook 03-00 (36) 02-43 (39)(46) 02-51 (35)

02.51` Redbridge 05-14 (52) 05-16 sigs(46) 05-09 (49)

93.23 Totton 06-58 (51) 05-58 (49) 05-54 (52)(56)

06.14 Lyndhurst Rd 08-54 (60)(68) 09-04 (59)(67) 08-56 (60)(71)

08.61 Beaulieu Rd 11-18 (65) 11-30 (65) 11-16 (69)

Woodfidley 12-42 (74) 12-51 (75)(B) 12-36 (75)(B)

13.46 Brockenhurst 15-38 (59) 17-56 pws(16½) 18-03 pws(21)

14.41 Lymington Jct 16-32 (58) 19-28 (39) 19-37 (37½)

16.26 Sway 18-30 (54)(58) 21-46 (54) 22-10 (41)(51)

19.25 New Milton 21-09 (69) 24-23 (75) 25-01 (66)

21.46 Hinton Ad’ral 23-12 (82) 26-18 (86) 27-09 (80)

25.09 Christchurch 25-58 (56)(58) 28-52 (66)(68) 29-55 (60)(62)

27.05 Pokesdown 28-10 (50) 30-42 (61) 32-06 (43)

27.50 Boscombe 28-49 (43)(A) 31-14 (61)(60) 32-47 (45)

28.63 Bournemouth 33-52 stop 33-51 sig/stop 35-14

sig stop Gas Works siding 30-25/31-10 (B) pws at Mile Post 97½ Schedules: 12.30 Soton-Lymington Jct 17 mins – Bournemouth 37½ 10.30 Soton-Lymington Jct 17 mins-Bournemouth 37

The 11.25 from Weymouth post-June 11 was diagrammed for a BR Class 4 2-6-0 from Weymouth to Bournemouth. Logs XXX11 & XXXIII (Monday and Wednesday) illustrate, one run barely maintaining the 10-minute schedule from Poole to Bournemouth and the other gaining a minute. West Country No.34024 with 360 tons (logXXXI) and no rear end assistance for the 1/60 gradient - even allowing for the signal check - would barely have kept time but as the Weymouth crew said at the time “We did not want to pull the fire apart before handing over to our Nine Elms mates”. Such consideration was not always shown; former Somerset and Dorset trains of the past terminating at Bournemouth West had no such limitations, a full out attack on the ‘short and sharp’ Parkstone bank was a regular event. Date Log No 30/7/66 logXXXI 19/6/67 logXXXII 21/9/67logXXXIII

Train 13.30 Weym’th 13.25 Weym’th 13.25 Weym’th

Loco No. WC4-6-2R34024 BR4 2-6-0 76009 BR4 2-6-0 76005

Coach tare/gross ton 10/335/360 3/98/100 3/99/100



00.00 Poole 00-00 00-00 00-00

01.66 Parkstone 04-02 (39) 03-48 (37)(30) 03-38 (40)(37)

03.11 Branksome 06-20 (31)min 06-20 (27)min 05-33 (45)

03.46 Gas Works Jt 06-58 (49)sigs 06-53 45)(49) 06-05 (56)(61)

05.60 Bournemouth 11-02 stop 10-13 stop 08-47 stop

The eight UP runs: four on the 11.25 and four on the17.30 from Weymouth between Bournemouth, Southampton and Waterloo, were described in Milepost 32 “Man or machine”; an outline of the performances onwards from Southampton is included in Summary Three, which compares these eight with a week in 1963, three successive evening runs in May and an intensive week in July from 1966 plus three evenings timed by Geoff Bloxam with Gordon Porter at the helm. How good were the eight? The regular running up to 90mph in 1967, anticipating the new line speed to be brought in with the new timetable, is very noticeable. June 19th illustrates this well: Clive Groome peaked at 94 before braking for Winchester on the 08.35 Down and touched 90 at Milepost 38 on the 11.25 UP. Ted Dente on the badly-delayed 17.30 UP that evening reached 90 at Milepost 38 and 91 at Milepost 35. To travel at 90 on three steam hauled trains in one day was a unique personal experience. However, the Bulleid Pacifics were designed for 90 mph running and Ted Dente on the Tuesday evening with a poorly-


steaming 34024 reached 87 at milepost 38 with only 120 psi in the steam chest and then shut off and coasted to the pws at Sturt Lane. Previously he had coasted from Milepost 54 to Worting Junction. Later when boiler pressure was restored 92 was attained between West Byfleet and Weybridge - a speed he repeated on the Thursday with Merchant Navy No.35007. It is arguably the 17.5 miles uphill stretch from Eastleigh to Roundwood at 1/252 that proffers a measuring stick for locomotive performance. The ultimate recorded performance was probably that of Merchant Navy No.35028 in 1965 with 11/429/445 (DWW p.218), when Driver Hooper managed a steady acceleration from 61 at Eastleigh to 76 mph at Roundwood. The best performances during the four days were by Driver Giles with 35007 and 365 tons when from the pws to 24 at Winchester Junction 71 was attained at Roundwood, and apparently still accelerating. Driver Dente with RFO and 25% reached 64 at Roundwood from observing the pws at 20. Driver Hooper is reported to have used RFO and 28% in 1965 if a memory of a conversation with Mr. B.L. Smith who was on the footplate at the time is correct. Overall, the four days provided what appeared likely to be a final personal farewell to Southern Steam. The net times from Southampton to Waterloo of 73 to 82 minutes with five locomotives: three Merchant Navy’s and two West Country’s, all of which might best be described as well past their best - certainly the two West Country’s. However, plans can change, or in this case work priorities. Friday 30th - seated in the London Office - offered an opportunity to have an evening trip to Southampton. On arrival at Waterloo there was a greeting from one of the ‘cognoscenti’. “You missed a 106 mph.” This was a reference to Driver Burridge’s two runs on the previous evenings’ 18.15 from Weymouth. Summary Two (full logs Milepost 33 III Don Benn ‘Basingstoke to Woking). Driver Turner had 12/396/430 on the Friday only 17.23 and kept the 83½ minute schedule to Winchester with 37 seconds to spare. There were pw slacks at Esher and Hook and signals from a preceding train before Woking. Maximum speed before the Winchester stop was 78 and after a pws at Shawford 80 at Eastleigh and 17-50 to Southampton. schedule 21. The return featured some faster running. Driver Burridge with West Country 34021 with 7/187/205 on the 18.15 from Weymouth with West Country 34021 reached 75mph at Roundwood from the Winchester start. (DWW p.221). He then ran Basingstoke-Woking in 19-13 including a pws to 62 at Sturt Lane Junction. The three figure maxima, recorded on the two previous evenings, was not repeated but 96 was the fastest personal speed ever noted behind a light Pacific. Even this was not the end: work dictated, or rather a problem with a major industrial power plant, required a Sunday all-night visit to the West Country. It seemed sensible to ‘engineer’ it such that travel back to London was with the Monday 14.35 from Bournemouth. The strategy paid dividends. Even allowing for the comparatively light train, the running with Merchant Navy 35023 10/337/365 was outstanding. (log XXXVI). Particularly praiseworthy was the minimum of 67 at milepost 100 after 64 at Christchurch and the 80 at Sway. Christchurch to Sway pass to pass of 6-26 was definitely exciting. This was a foretaste of a splendid performance from Southampton to Waterloo by Driver Prior, with a net time to London almost equal to the 70- minute timing for the shortly-to-be-introduced electric service. From the Southampton start 35023 attained 75 (perhaps 77) before closing the regulator for the pws at St. Cross, - at which point the valves lifted. (log LI). Speeds after the pws to 19 at Winchester Junction were 67 before Micheldever, 63 at Roundwood and 80 at Wootton, and then following checks before Basingstoke, 94 at Fleet, 86 at Woking and 83 at Walton (log LI).


Later the same day Driver Bennet with the 17.30 from Weymouth and Merchant Navy 35007 10 + 1/345 tare ran to Waterloo in 76-10, probably the shortest actual time achieved post-June 1965. With only two pws slacks to 60 and a signal check before Worting Junction, the net time was 72 minutes. Driver Bennet’s speeds were 62 before the Winchester Junction pws,, 63 after 70 at Wootton, 94 at Fleet and 89 at Brookwood. . Work priorities dictated attendance at Cockenzie power station on the Wednesday; time for one last moment! The grapevine suggested that the Bournemouth Newcastle might be steam from Bournemouth to Reading: A quick rush to Waterloo then the 15.00 diesel to Basingstoke, West Country 34095 with 11/372/410 to Southampton and West Country 34025 with 10 + 1/369/400 on the 17.30 from Weymouth. The Bournemouth driver on the ‘Newcastle’, no doubt less than joyful with his Brush 4 replacement, ran poorly to Southampton and Driver Bennet with West Country 34025 was unable to repeat the brilliance of the previous evening, running to Waterloo in 98-17, net 86 minutes. 34025 was by all accounts a very poorly loco. Fifty years on memories, if not supported by notes at the time, can be unreliable. But on arrival at Waterloo a return back to Woking on the Alton electric and then the 18.15 from Weymouth was suggested. Viewed from fifty years later, a risky undertaking as the Cockenzie meeting required travelling on the midnight sleeper out of Kings Cross. Fortunately, Driver Lloyd with Merchant Navy 35030 with 3+4/209/220 was on time and without effort ran back to Waterloo in 28-28. arriving a few minutes early. The sleeper duly caught, a comfortable night’s sleep, a bright summer’s morning at Drem, a site car waiting and a proper breakfast in the site canteen - halcyon days indeed. Date Log No 22/3/67logXXXIV 27/5/67logXXXV 3/7/67 logXXXVI

Train 17.30Weymouth 17.30Weym’th 13.25Weymouth

Loco No MN4-6-2 35007 MN4-6-2 35008 MN4-6-2 35023

Coach gross/tare tons 9 + 1/330/360 11 + 2/409/440 10/337/365



00.00 Bournemouth 00-00 00-00 00-00

01.15 Boscombe 03-13 (43) 03-47 03-42 ( - )pws

01.58 Pokesdown 04-01 (59) 04-40 05-31 (16)

03.54 Christchurch 05-53 (61)(66) 06-30 (66) 07-45 (64)

06.77 Hinton Adm’l 09-00 (65)(62) 09-41 (60)(55) 12-54 (70(67)

09.38 New Milton 11-17 (65)(70) 12-16 (60) 12-54 (70)

12.37 Sway 13-53 (68) 14-56 (69)(66) 15-11 (80)

14.22 Lymington Jct 15-31 (64) 16-31 (68) 16-38 xigs(47)

15.17 Brockenhurst 16-24 (62) 17-21 (69)(70) 17-49 (52)(64)

Woodfidley 19-18 (68) 20-02 (74) 20-41 sigs(73)

19.76 Beaulieu Rd 20-42 (66)(72) 21-26 (68)(74) 22-09 (70)pws

22.49 Lyndhurst Rd 23-03 (64) 23-44 (62) 25-07 (38)(63)

25.40 Totton 26-07 pws 26-39 (53) 28-18 63}{61)

26.12 Redbridge 27-19 (25)sigs 27-22 (51)sigs 29-00 (49)

27.71 Millbrook 31-21 (20) 29-41 31-08 (47)


Schedules: 17.30 Bournemouth-Southampton 35½ mins 13.25 37 mins

Date Log No 11/4/63lgXXXVII 3/9/63lgXXXVIII 24/12/64lgXXXIX

Train 17.35Weymouth 13.30Weym’th 11.30Weym’th

Loco No BB4-6-2R 34077 BB4-6-2R 34053 MN4-6-2 35004

Coach tare/grosston 12/399/435 11/368/390 13/435/470

Recolrder M.J.Rowe M.J.Rowe M.J.Rowe


00.00 Bournem’th 00-00 00-00 00-00

01.15 Boscombe 04-15 (31) 03-15 03-38

01.58 Pokesdown -- - 04-23

03.54 Christchurch 07-17 (64) 06-09 (68)pws 06-21 (60)

06.77 Hinton Ad’l 10-43 (55)(51) 11-16 (28)(42) 09-37 (60)(59)

09.38 New Milton 13-27 (64) 14-47 (54) 12-05 (66)

12.37 Sway 16-14 (64) 17-53 (63) 14-44 (70)sigs

14.22 Lymington Jt - 19-34 (68) 18-03 (22)(32)

15.17 Brockenh’st 18-37 (80) 20-25 (73)(78) 19-37 (52)


19.76 Beaulieu Rd 22-26 (73) 24-16 (70)(82) 24-10 (62)(71)

22.49 Lyndhrst Rd 24-41 (70) 26-15 (77)(79) 26-28 (70)

25.40 Totton 27-22 (60) 28-53 (60) 29-21

26.12 Redbridge 28-02 29-41 30-06

27.71 Millbrook 30-15 (46) 31-52 32-16

28.63 Southamptn 31-53 stop 33-41 stop 34-18 stop

Schedules:17.35, 13.30, 11.30 Bournemouth-Southampton 32 mins

Date Log No 22/3/67 log XL 23/3/67 log XLI 22/6/67 logXLII

Train 11.07Bournm’th 11.07 Bourn’th 18.15 Weym’th

Loco No. WC4-6-2R34037 MN4-6-2 35012 BB4-6-2R 34060

Coach tare/grosston 7 + 2 268/295 9/306/335 5 + 2 209/230



00.00 Southampton 00-00 00-00 00-00

01.05 Northam Jct 03-32 03-38 03-50 (46)

01.68 St Denys 05-24 05-30 (41) 05-19 (44)

03.33 Swaythling 07-12 (50) 07-25 (49) 07-07 (56)

04.33 Soton Airp’t 08-41 stop 08-51 stop 08-20 stop

01.31 Eastleigh 04-07 stop 04-21 stop 03-50 stop

01.70 Allbrook 02-42 LL/TL 03-01 02-15 (38)

03.69 Shawford 06-33 (56)(60) 07-20 (50) 05-37 (62)(72)

06.38 Winchester 10-14 stop 11-29 stop 08-52 stop

02.07 Winch’ter Jt 04-27 (45) 05-01 (43) 04-20 pws(15)

Wallers Ash 07-39 (53) 08-15 (55) 09-29 (55)

09.48 Micheldever 11-24 (60)(59) 11-57 (60) 12-33 (72)(75)

Roundwood 13-18 (61)(68) 13-49 (62) 14-10 sigs(66)

Wootton 16-40 (65)pws 17-04 (73)pws 20-00 (49)stop

16.24 Worting Jct 19-47 (25) 19-55 (32)(39) 25-12 (49)

18.24 Basingstoke 23-45 stop 23-58 stop 30-00 stop

Schedules: 11.07Soouthampton-Soton Airport 10½mins, Eastleigh 5, Winchester13, Basingstoke 29. 18.50 10,5,12,29. -

Date Log No 9/3/67 logXLIII 28/4/67 logXLIV 2/5/67 log XLV

Train 18.35 Salisbury 18.35 Salisbury 18.35 Salisbury

Loco No BR54-6-073093 BR5 4-6-073043 BR4 4-6-0 75068

Coach/tare/grosston 6 + 1/233/250 5 + 1/197/210 9/297/315



00-00 Basingstoke 00-00 00-00 00-00

05.49 Hook 06-54 (68) 06-12 (76) 07-52 (56)

07.76 Winchfield 08-43 (82) 08-01 (83)(85) 10-06 (66)(70)

11.24 Fleet 11-10 (81)(82) 10-23 (82) 12-59 (68)

14.45 Farnborough 13-38 (79) 12-57 (79) 15-53 (68)(69)

16.63 MP31 15-18 (76) 14-40 (74)(76) 18-00 (61)sigs

19.64 Brookwood 17-28 (85) 17-05 (72)sigs 22-25 (35))(48)

23.37 Woking 21-19 stop 21-47 stop 31-43 stop *

Schedule: Basingstoke-Woking 27 mins * sig stop mp 24½ 27-35/29-52 Schedule Basingstoke – Woking 27 mins

Date Log No 2/9/63 logXLVI 9/4/65 log XLVII 27/4/67 log XLVIII

Train 11.00 B’mouth 16.55 B’mouth 18.35 Salisbury

Loco No WC4-6-2R34028 WC4-6-2 34041 MN 4-6-2 35003

Coachtare/grosston 11 + 1/388/410 10 + 1/363/385 5 + 1/197/215



00-00 Basingstoke 00-00 TL 00-00 Local L 00-00 Thro’ L

05.49 Hook 07-23 (70) 07-38 (68) 05-56 (87)(91)

07.76 Winchfield 09-23 (75) 09-45 (75) 07-31 (94)(101)

11.24 Fleet 11-56 (79) 12-22 (79) 09-32 (100)

14.45 Farnborough 14-25 (80) 15-03 (69)sl 11-35 (90)(92)

16.63 Milepost 31 16-08 (78) 16-57 (71) 13-03 (89)(100)

19.64 Brookwood 18-33 (75) 19-25 (80) 14-57 (97)sigs

23.37 Woking 22-40 stop 23-13 stop 18-23 stop

Schedules: 11.00 Basingstoke-Woking 25mins, 16.55 28mins, 18.35 27mins

Summary Two

Basingstoke Woking ‘Mile Post 33 III’ Don Benn logs, except A,B & C

date Train loco load actual net max mp31 max

7/3/57 16.30Ex MN 35030 11+1 21-04 21 84 82 88A

9/5/66 18,35Sl WC 34006 255 27-58 19¼ 95 48 87

14/6/66 18.35Sl BR5 73171 325 23-20 23¼ 71 67 74

16/6/66 18.35Sl WCR 34009 280 19-48 19 93 86 90


10/8/66 18.35Sl BR5 73088 325 22-48 22¼ 79 70 74

24/10/66 15.50W WCR 34034 445 29-56 25 63 62 67

29/12/66 18.35Sl BB 34057 185 19-14 19¼ 93 84 87

2/1/67 18.35Sl BR4 76066 345 26-50 26¾ 64 54 65

18/5/67 18.35Sl MN 35023 294T 21-42 21 92 62 94B

19/5/67 18.35Sl WCR 34104 360T 21-00 21 85 79 86B

24/5/67 18.15W WCR 34001 260 19-34 19½ 90 84 94

25/5/67 18.15W MN 35023 265 20-36 19¼ 95 84 93

6/6/67 18.35Sl WC 34023 240 22-26 21 89 42 80

14/6/67 18.35Sl WC 34102 235 21-30 18¾ 100 58 88

15/6/67 18.35Sl BR5 73029 235 21-39 19¾ 82 63 74

26/6/67 18.15W MN 35003 180 18-48 17½ 106 74 95

27/6/67 18.15W MN 35028 220 19-24 18½ 95 64 88

28/6/67 18.15W MN 35003 180 22-07 17½ 105 65 75

30/6/67 18.15W WCR 34021 220 19-13 18¾ 96 66 87C

A recorded by C.K.Dunkley, B recorded G.Bloxam, C recorded by M.J.Rowe Notes: ‘load’ gross tone except where ‘T’ tare, ‘max’ maximum speed mph before Mile Post 31, ‘mp31’ speed at MP31, ‘max’ maximum sped after MP31. 7/3/57: 35030, the shortest actual time on RPS Database pre 1966. ‘Ex’ FROM Exeter, ‘Sl’ from Salisbury, ‘W’ from Weymouth.

Date Log No 9/3/67 logXLIX 22/3/67 logL 3/7/67 logLI

Train 13.25Weym’th 17.30Weymouth` 13.25 Weymouth

Loco No MN4-6-2 35008 MN4-6-2 35007 MN4-6-2 35023

Coach tare/gross ton 11/371/400 9 + 1/ 330/360 10/337/365


00.00 Southampton 00-00 00-00 00-00

01.08 Northam Jct 03.30 03.28 03-16

03.33 Swaythling 07.10 (47) 06.45 (56) 06-51 (51)

05.54 Eastleigh 09-43 (59)) 08.55 (66)(67) 09-09 (66)

09.42 Shawford 13-12 (68)(67) 12-19 (65)(62) 12-20 (75)pwsA

12.52 Winchester 16-00 (69) 15-14 (65) 15-09 (67)(69)

14.59 Win Jct 17-52 (69)(70) 17-12 (65) 17-07 pws(19)

Wallers Ash 20-12 (66) 19-41 (64) 22-10 (46)

21.10 Micheldever 23-39 (58) 23-03 (64) 26-03 (64)(67)

Roundwood 25-39 (54) 24-48 (63)(71) 27-44 (64)

Wootton 29-20 (64) 28-03 (71)pws 30-41 (80)

28.76 Wortnig Jct 31-28 (63)pws 30-24 (44) 32-28 (64)sigs

31.36 Basingstoke 33-50 (60)(66) 33-08 (64)(75) 36-22 (19)(50)

37.05 Hook 38-19 (78) 37-49 (75) 41-23 (82)

39.32 Winchfield 40-08 (79)(83) 39-41 (78)(81) 43-06 (86)(90)

42.60 Fleet 42-34 (82) 42-15 (78)(81) 45-17 (92)(94)

46.01 Farnborough 44-59 (79) 44-41 (77) 47-35 (76)pws

48.19 Mile Post 31 46-45 (76) 46-28 (71)sigs 49-35 (60)

51.20 Brookwood 48-27 (82)(72) 50-31 (39)sigs 52-12 (77)

54.73 Woking 51-52 (74) 61-53 (2) 54-49 (86)

57.46. W.Byfleet 54-02 (72)pws 65-19 (62)(65) 56-48 sigs(74)

60.10 Weybridge 56-37 (40) 69-28 sigs(32) 58-48 (76)

Oatlands 58-05 (46) -

62.13 Walton 59-15 (54) 72-16 (59) 60-22 (82)(83)

64.68 Esher 61-47 (69) 74-41 (70) 62-21 (74)

65.33 Hampton C Jt 62-43 (68) 75-36 (78) 63-14 (69)

67.23 Surbiton 63-51 (65)(73) 76-45 (66) 64-20 (70)

69.57 New Malden 65-42 (70) 78-45 (68) 66-14 (72)

72.02 Wimbledon 68-03 sigs(20) 80-59 69-38 (56)

75.38 Clapham Jct 73-23 (41) 84-23 (41)(55) 72-27 (39)(49)

Vauxhall 76-57 88-02 75-49 sigs

79.30 Waterloo 80-01 stop 92-26 stop 79-39 stop

Schedules: 13.25 Southampton-Basingstoke 40½ mins-Woking Jct 64-HCjct 78-Waterloo 96. 17.30 39½- 63½- 78½- 96½. A pws at St.Cross 62, SV opened when Regulator closed.

Date Log No 26/5/67 logLII 7/6/67 logLIII 12/6/67 logLIV

Train 11.25 Weym’th 17.30Weym’th 11.25Weym’th

Loco MN4-6-2 35028 WC4-6-2 34023 MN4-6-2 35013

Coach/tare/gross/ton 12/401/- 10 + 1/365/- 10/336

Recorder G. Bloxam G.Bloxam G.Bloxam


00.00 Southampton 00-00 00-00 00-00

01.08 Northam Jct 03.27 03-47 03-31

03.33 Swaythling 07-41 (51)sigs 07-37 (51)(58) 07-14 (55)sigs

05.54 Eastleigh 10-33 (56)(28) 09-50 (64)(67) 09-56 (52)(57)

09.42 Shawford 16-42 (49) 13-33 (61)(63) 13-44 (63)


12.52 Winchester 19-52 (63) 16-50 (54) 16-40 (67)pws

14.59 Win Jct 21-47 (65)pws 19-08 (55)pws 19-06 (37)(18)

Wallers Ash 27-03 (16)(34) 26-11 (13)(35) 25-49 (42)sigs

21.10 Micheldever 31-22 (62) 30-44 (55) 30-01 (59)

Roundwood 33-04 (64) 32-40 (60) 31-54 (58)

Wootton 36-07 (79) 36-14 (67) 35-24 (68)

28.76 Worting Jct 38-03 (62) 38-29 (58) 37-23 (64)(63)

31.36 Basingstoke 40-23 (67) 40-53 (64) 39-51 (66)(73)

37.05 Hook 44-32 (82)(85) 45-28 (79)(80) 44-15 (79)(80)

39.32 Winchfield 46-11 (86)(90) 47-09 (83)(85) 46-01 (82)(85)

42.60 Fleet 48-24 (90)92) 49-31 (86) 48-26 (83)

46.01 Farnborough 50-35 (86)(88) 52-16 pws(45) 50-55 (69)sigs

48.19 Mile Post 31 52-09 (90)(86) 54-50 (47) 53-41 (39)(45)

51.20 Brookwood 54-06 (92) 57-47 (71)sigs 56-39 (76)(75)

54.73 Woking 60-39 sigs(30) 60-47 (76)(70) 59-30 (78)

57.46 W.Byfleet 65-55 sigs(27) 62-51 (79)(82) 61-26 (82)(83)

60.10 Weybridge 70-44 (44) 64-45 (82)(79) 63-20 (82)(76)

62.17 Walton 72-35 (57) 66-19 (82)(83) 64-56 (76)(79)

64.68 Esher 74-51 (73) 68-17 (82)(75) 67-04 (76)

65.73 Hampton C Jt 75-44 (68) 69-00 (75) 67-52 (71)

67.23 Surbiton 76-57 (67)(69) 70-10 (75) 69-00 (68)

69.53 New Malden 79-01 (64) 72-08 (69) 71-12 (64)

72.02 Wimbledon 81-27 (62) 74-31 (61) 73-39 (60)

73.53 Earlsfield 83-02 (62) 76-10 (62) 75-18 (58)

75.38 Clapham Jct 85-35 78-04 (45)(52) 77-27 (36)(50)

Vauxhall 88-46 sigs 81-36 81-16

79.30 Waterloo 92-33 stop 85-08 stop 85-04 stop

Summary Three

1967 Southampton – Waterloo Monday to Thursday ‘Milepost 33’ MJR

date train loco load actual net 1/252 wh ac wh n wh m

17/1 18.35 34098 360T 93-47 73¾ 68 29-39 28 94A

18/1 18.35 35013 358T 95-23 72¼ 69 36-07 29 92A

19/1 18.35 34036 356T 95-28 73¼ 70 28-41 28 92A

19/6 12.34 35023 365 97-56 80 62 43-10 29 90

19/6 18.35 35028 375 122-45 80- 61 37-22 29 91

20/6 12.34 35007 365 86-40 73 71 29-50 28½ 96

20/6 18.35 34024 400 89-35 80½ 54 28-52 28 92

21/6 12.34 35023 335 89-16 81 60 30-15 29 83

21/6 18.35 34018 390 105-18 82 58 47-16 29 82

22/6 12.34 35028 400 84-12 79½ 60 31-02 29 85

22/6 18.35 35007 430 88-50 75 64 29-00 28 92

1963 Southampton – Waterloo Wednesday to Friday and Tuesday MJR

28/8 12.40 35011 430 91-50 77 67 33-09 29½ 81

29/8 18.40 34090 425 90-06 87 53 36-40 33 70

30/8 18.40 34090 390 88-10 84 55 32-30 32½ 71

31/8 19.40 34010 330 86-42 78 66 30-26 30½ 76 *

3/9 14.40 34053 390 81-15 79 60 29-53 30 80

1966 Southampton-Waterloo 23/5-25 Mon to Wed 24/7-30/7 Sun-Sat MJR

23/5 18.35 34104 415 107-03 - 54 41-21 30 80

24/5 18.35 35023 380 96-54 77 64 35-35 29 88

25/5 18.35 35026 365 102-33 82 56 41-27 30 83

24/7 14.25 34040 290 98-18 89 50 38-58 33 79

25/7 12.34 34077 390 96-15 88 54 40-57 33 74

25/7 18.35 35026 420 92-38 84 57 34=15 31 81

26/7 09.24 34044 335 98-38 84 50 34-48 30 85

26/7 14.35 35008 400 86-26 82 58 32-20 30 78

27/7 12.34 35030 395 90-02 82 59 33-30 32 75

27/7 18.35 34008 435 90-16 85 56 35-09 33 74

28/7 10.28 34087 400 90-09 79 60 33-34 32 79

28/7 16.37 34040 485 91-36 85 51 32-34 31 82

29/7 10.28 35013 400 94-46 80 59 40-58 - 75

30/7 14.40 34024 355 105-14 71 69 40-00 27 89

Notes : ‘A’ timed by G.Bloxam ’train’- departure time Bournemouth, ‘load’ - tons gross, ‘actual’ ‘net’- overall times Southampton Waterloo, ‘1/252’ - maximum attained speed between Eastleigh and Roundwood, ‘wh ac’ ‘wh n’ - actual and net times, between Worting Jct and Hampton Court Jct, -‘wh m’ - maximum speed mph. Schedules: Southampton – Waterloo 1963 84 mins, ‘wh ac’ 31mins 1966-67: 14.25 (sun) 100½ mins, 09.24 103½, 10.28 106½, 12.34 97½, 14.35 96 16.37 96½, 18.35 96½ .

Other than between Waterloo and Weymouth via Basingstoke

Date Log No 19/3/67 log LII


Train SCTS SR Rambler

Loco WC 4-6-2R 34108

Coach tare/gross ton 7/-/250

Recorder M.Warburton

m.ch location actual mph

00.00 Brighton 00-00

00.60 London Rd 02-46 (42)

03.43 Falmer 07-06 (32)(71)

08.04 Lewes 13-46 slack(10)

11.03 Glynde 18-40 (64)

15.40 Berwick 22-53 (77)

19.51 Polegate 27-19 slack(25)

21.69 Hampden Pk 30-37 (55)

23.68 Eastbourne 34-09 stop

Date Log No 18/6/67 log LIII 20/3/66 log LIV

Train RCTS Farewell SR Steam RCTS Solent Rail Tour

Loco (s) BR5 4-6-0 73029 WC 4-6-2 34023

BR4 4-6-0 75070 U 2-6-0 31639

Load coach/tare/gross 12/397/435 9/300/325

Recorder M.Warburton M.Warburton

m.ch location actual mph actual mph

00.00 Waterloo 00-00 (36)(46)sigs(27) 50-26 stop

03.71 Clapham Jct 08-02 Windsor Line 42-13 (44) Windsor Lin

05-64 East Putney 11-52 ( - )(41) 38-52 slack (21)

08.41 Wimbledon 17-36 slack(13) 33-20/ 32-51

stop to set down

13.26 Surbiton 22-48 (65) 26-55 (45)(55)

14.50 Hampton Ct Jct 24-40 slack (25) 24-36 (26) TL

16.61 Claygate 27-24 (46) 19-36 (53) pws (26)

18.43 Oxshott 17-17) (44)(58)

20.27 Cobham 31-34 (61)(63) 13-44 (73)

22.53 Effingham Jct 33-51 (47) eased 11-43 (61)

23.55 East Horsley 35-19 (49) 10-44 (56)

26.69 Clandon 38-33 (68)75) 06-17 (53)

30.03. London Road 41-45 slack 02-13 (40)

31.27 Guildford 44-07 (30) pass 00-00

Date Log No 17/4/66 logLV 18/6/67 log LVI 8/7/67 log LVII

Train 10.30 Wat’loo RCTS Waterloo 11.26Port’h Hbr

Loco No WCR4-6-234038 BR5 4-6-0 73029 WCR4-6-2 34037

Loadcoach/tare/gross 9/300/- 12/397/435 9/270

Recorder H.Gould M.Warburton H.Gould


00.00 Guildford 00-00 44-07 (35)(60) 57-06 stop

01.16 Shalford Jct 03-43 (40) /54-07 WX10

01.59 Peasmarsh Jct 04-36 (43) 54-05/ stop

03.17 Farncombe 06-24 (49) 47-44 50-49 (58)

04.13 Godalming 07-29 (54) 49-21/ 54-10

sig stop 49-41 (57)

05.76 Milford 09-25 (49)(45) 6026/ 64-13

sig stop 47-59 (81)

08.11 Witley 12-19 (47)(57) 69-55 (60)max 46-17 (80)(79)

pws - (15)(26) (84)

12.55 Haslemere 21-18 (42) 74-10 (46)(81) 42-19 (50)(49)

16.42 Liphook 29-05 (70) 77-17 (75)sigs 36-30 (22)sigs

21.11 Liss 28-52 (78)sigs 82-02 (57)(32) 29-02 (35)sigs

24.46 Petersfield 33-00 (16) 85-48 (62)(65) 25-11 (70)

27.53 mp 58D 58¼Up 39-31 (34) (42)min 21-18 (39)(62)

Idswort Xing 43-14 (65) (75) 17-39 (53)

32.73 Rowlands C’tle 45-17 (52)(56) 94-18 (49)(67) 15-19 (49)

36.11 Havant 49-44 stop 98-46 stop 10-33 (54)

39.55 Portcreek Jct 05-54 (50(52)

42.37 Fratton 02-11 (30)

43.19 Portsmouth&S. 00-00

Whilst the majority of steam interest in 1967 was focussed on the Waterloo to Weymouth route, Bulleid Pacifics and Standard 5s continued to work over the rest of the Western Section of the Southern Region, particularly to Salisbury and on occasion over both the Portsmouth Direct and ‘Over the Alps’ via Alton. Log LII has West Country 34108 working on


the Central Section between Brighton and Eastbourne, actually achieving as per the RPS data base, a fastest steam time, albeit with a light train. Logs LIII and LIV, both recorded by Mark Warburton on RCTS specials include some sprightly running over the ‘New Guildford’ line. The net time, assuming no diversion via East Putney (ie 17 minutes to pass Hampton Court Junction), by the double headed train to a stop at Guildford 37 minutes. The Portsmouth Direct Line was used frequently as a diversionary route, particularly at weekends. Log LV was a Sunday diversion on the day before the final pre-electrification timetable came into force. Log LVI is the continuation of the RCTS Special. The return excursion, to Colne in Lancashire on the penultimate day of steam operation hauled by West Country 34037, was certainly a surprise to many. Thanks to Hugh Gould, we have a log of the event, the rapid descent from Haslemere to Godalming catches the eye. How good was the ‘Flourish’? Undoubtedly for those who took part or witnessed the final two years of Southern Steam, it was good initially, particularly during the 1965/6 winter period, but dispiriting compared with what had been before, albeit occasionally enlivened by some fine performances. For those who came to the scene in 1967 it was undoubtedly exciting. Geoff Bloxam timed 72 nonstop Southampton to Waterloo journeys from January 12 to July 7 1967. Thirteen of these produced Net Times of less than 75 minutes, 25 between 75 and 80, 20 between 80 and 84 and 13 greater than 84; the longest net time was 87½ minutes on two occasions, on 14/1/67 No.34001 substituting for a Brush 4 on the ‘Bournemouth Belle’ (9 + 2/418 Tare) kept the actual schedule: 95-32 vs 96½ minutes. On 9/6 West Country 34037 with 12 + 1/413 Tare took 99-04, schedule 96½ minutes. (Personal nonstop journeys made during 1967; were 17; five of which duplicated Mr.Bloxam’s. (ref. p.613 ‘Twentieth Century Southern Steam’ RPS Website,) There were occasions on which drivers handled very poor locomotives, and even the best of crews found it hard; Gordon Hooper for instance struggled with the feeble Battle of Britain 34088, on 6/3/67 with the 10.30 from Waterloo, passing milepost 31 at 56 mph before falling to 39 at Worting. Net time to Southampton was 88½ minutes. The following day with 35013 he accelerated up the gradient from Woking to MP31, 71 to 75 mph, net time to Southampton was 77 minutes. In the Up direction, Driver Dent’s comments on 34018 and 34024 were noted in ‘Milepost 30’. Geoff Bloxam included a note after a trip with the same driver and 34021 “140lbs of steam after Basingstoke, only 120 at Winchfield - a fine example of how this wretched engine could be made to go with diligent handling” (82 at Fleet). This was the third time it turned up with a good driver (see 13/5/67 and 16/6/67) who was prepared to make good use of a poor engine”. (Drivers Dominey and West). Maximum power outputs perhaps never reached the best of the past. Arguably the best climb ever recorded to Roundwood rested with Driver Hooper in 1965 (DWW p.219) Equivalent Drawbar Horsepower c.2130 (assuming R for coaches 11.8lb/ton). The similar calculation for Driver Prior on 3/7/67 gives an EDHP of c.1800. Driver McClaggan on 7/7/67 also with a ten-coach train produced a similar performance. The best starts from Waterloo timed in 1965 before the decelerations (logs in DWW p.191, 198 & 199) and in 1959 were never equalled. However, it is reasonable to claim that the running in 1967, even if it often bore scant relationship to timetable requirements, was as good overall as any past period. Thanks for the enthusiasm of the footplate crews - particularly Nine Elms - and others who kept some very ‘tired’ machines on the road.

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