THE VIEW FROM THIS SIDE

A Wessex Journey
The Former LSW route from London to Bournemouth and Weymouth,
plus other locations in the area.

Locations are mainly along the Southern Region Main Line between Southampton and
Weymouth and branches. Also there are views at Portsmouth, Salisbury, Yeovil Junction, and the Somerset and Dorset Railway at Templecombe, Henstridge and Sturminster Newton.
Loco and traction types are:-
Steam:- 'West Country', 'Battle of  Britain' (both of these in original and rebuilt form), 'Merchant Navy' (rebuilt), LMS Ivatt 2-6-2 tanks, BR Standard 4-6-0s of classes 5 and 4, BR Standard 2-6-0s of class 4, BR standard class 4 2-6-4 Tanks, a Black 5, and a BR Standard class 3 2-6-2 Tank.
Diesel:- 'Crompton' class 33s in original green and blue (plus 4TC sets to match), class 206 DEMUs, and 0-6-0DMs (on the Quay at Weymouth).
Special, interesting or otherwise rare features include:-
A number of locomotives that appear are now preserved , eg 41312.
Henstridge (Somerset and Dorset Railway) - pictures of this spot are very rare, colour ones even more so..
Steam on the Weymouth Quay Tramroad.
A Black 5 and an unrebuilt 'West Country' double heading.

Samples from this show. These images are compressed. Actual images on the CD are high resolution:-

Bournemouth Central on 5th July 1966. MN 4-6-2 35013 Blue Funnel leaves with the 0921 Weymouth to London Waterloo. The sort of view that was once possible from the trolleybus stop on Holdenhurst Rd.
 


 
 

Weymouth Quay Tramroad, 3rd July 1966. 2-6-2T 41298 and entourage. The Station Master has the blue serge suit and gold braid to prove it, the lower ranks have greasy jean jackets and (clean) flags to point at things with. The linen suit  striding across from the left gives the whole scene a faintly South American air. An LCGB excursion heads for the ultimate end of the line experience.
 

Henstridge (S&DJR), 13th November 1965. Class 4 4-6-0 75073 arrives with the 1230 Templecombe -  Bournemouth. This spot on the S&D received  very little attention from photographers. Views of any sort  are comparatively rare.
 


 
 
 

Yeovil Junction, 15th October 1966. MN 4-6-2 35026 Lamport & Holt Line on a return special from Exeter St David’s to London Waterloo. Everyday steam on the LSW West of England main line had ceased a few years previously, possibly this was the very last steam working until the 'heritage' era of the 1980s and 90s.
 
 

Wareham, 30th June 1965. 2-6-2T 41316 on the up side main line after running round the stock of its Swanage branch train.  Even more SR barrows are in evidence, and the nearest advert is exhorting us to hunt for Eldridge Pope's Huntsman’s Ales, as if any such encouragement were needed.
 


 
 

Weymouth, 4th July 1966. Class 4 4-6-0 75079 leaves with the 0815 schools train to Dorchester South. Imagine - going to school by steam train! In those balmy far off days, it was possible to slip through the gate in the wall by the signalbox, wave hello to the signalman and pop off a couple of shots like this all before breakfast. But it was a different world then.
 

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