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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