27th July 2003

Past Time Rail
V.S.O.E. Bournemouth Belle

Locos Used (1) D1015 'Western Champion', 59205 'L. Keith McNair' & steam: 34027 'Taw Valley'

Route:

Loco(s) Route
34027 (2) London Victoria - Grosvenor Bridge Jn - Stewarts Lane Jn - Longhedge Jn - ??? (3)
34027 (4) ??? - Clapham Junction - Barnes - Richmond - Twickenham - Feltham - Staines - Virginia Water - Chertsey - Addlestone Jn - Byfleet & New Haw - Woking - Farnborough (Main) - Basingstoke - Worting Jn - Andover - Salisbury
D1015 (5) Salisbury - Dean - Romsey - Chandler's Ford - Eastleigh - St Denys - Southampton Central - Redbridge - Brockenhurst - Bournemouth
D1015 Bournemouth - Brockenhurst - Redbridge - Southampton Central - St Denys - Eastleigh
D1015 (6) Eastleigh - St Denys - Southampton Central - Redbridge - Brockenhurst - Bournemouth - Branksome - Poole
34027 Poole - Branksome - Bournemouth - Brockenhurst - Redbridge - Southampton Central
D1015 (7) Southampton Central - St Denys - Eastleigh - Winchester - Worting Jn - Basingstoke - (reverse of outward route) - London Victoria

Notes:
(1) 34027 running numbered/named as 34045 'Ottery St. Mary'.
(2) Banked to Grosvenor Bridge Jn by 59205.
(3) Train stopped at signal on incline up to Clapham Jn Windsor platforms and loco could not restart train unassisted. 59205 utilised to push start the train.
(4) 59205 on rear.
(5) D1015 was named 'Sir Misha Black' by his son in a ceremony at Salisbury station, before taking the train to Bournemouth. 34027 ran light engine to Eastleigh via Southampton Central.
(6) The train was turned on the loop at Eastleigh and 34027 was attached to the train on the opposite end to D1015 so it was on the rear in light steam to Poole.
(7) Plus 34027 "in light steam". Problems with 34027 became apparent during the water stop at Southampton. It had used more water than it should have had. The decision was taken to use D1015 to haul the train and 34027 in light steam (it had been following the train light engine) back to London. There was a risk that 34027 might run dry if allowed to continue.

Sources : Andy Pullar & Grahame Arnold (on the tour Victoria - Bournemouth, Bournemouth - Poole - Victoria)

Tour Review
(from Andy Pullar)

I had resisted my wife’s nagging to be taken on the Orient Express for two reasons; the cost and the duff motive power. I had to give in gracefully when the PTR brochure was waived in my face with a dare you refuse glare close behind. As all things Southern and Hydraulic ( Plymothian that I am) are my railway passions I would have gone anyway but don’t tell the wife.

The train being so heavy it was not a surprise that difficulties were encountered with the steam loco on the outward and return. However the thrash as the driver fought for adhesion between Victoria and Clapham was well worth the delay.

Additional Western mileage between Bournemouth and Eastleigh was offered instead of leaving the train which added to the extra champagne quaffed by this move made for a pleasant way to spend the afternoon between the main events; the run to Salisbury by steam, the re-christening of D1015 'Sir Misha Black' in honour of the Western class designer and the return by steam from Poole to London (something I’d only experienced in videos but we won’t go there).

An inner groan was almost audible when it was announced that 34027 had been failed and the return from Southampton would be by diesel ; with visions of  a brush with my worst nightmare coming true and the hole in my pocket reminding me of the cost to my solvency. Then 'Sir Misha Black' glided past the picture window and dropped on the front. The double ching of this extravagant day out was instantly forgotten when D1015 was commandeered for the thrash back to Victoria. Slumped in an armchair of a real train wining and dining with hydraulic music playing in my ears. What a way to spend an evening.

Only problem is my wife now wants to go to Venice. Someone fit the necessary equipment to the Champion please!

Andy Pullar

Timings (Booked Only)
(from Grahame Arnold)

Location Booked Actual   Booked Actual
London Victoria 09.13d [P2]   22.11a [P2]
Grosvenor Bridge Jn 09/16     22/01  
Stewarts Lane Jn 09/19     21/58  
Longhedge Jn 09/30     21/56  
Clapham Junction 09/34     21/52  
Barnes 09/40     21/46  
Richmond 09/44     21/42  
Twickenham 09/49     21/39  
Feltham Jn 09/52     21/36  
Staines 09/59     21/25  
Virginia Water 10/07     21/17  
Chertsey 10w12 ~ 10w27     ?  
Addlestone Jn 10/33     21/09  
Byfleet & New Haw 10/36     21/06  
Woking 10/45     21/01  
Woking Jn 10/46     21/00  
Pirbright Jn ?     20/54  
Farnborough (Main) 10/56     20/49  
Basingstoke 11/10     20/34  

 

Location Booked Actual
Worting Jn 11/14  
Andover 11/33  
Tunnel Jn 11/49  
Salisbury 11L52a ~ 12L18d  
Tunnel Jn 12/24  
Dean 12/33  
Romsey 12/40  
Eastleigh East Jn 12*54 ~ 13*02  
Eastleigh 13.04a ~ 13.07d  
St Denys 13/12  
Northam Jn 13/14  
Southampton Central 13/16  
Redbridge 13/20  
Brockenhurst 13/30  
Bournemouth 13.45a ~ 14.12d [P3] ~ [P3]
Brockenhurst 14/28  
Redbridge 14/41  
Southampton Central 14/50  
Northam Jn 14/52  
St Denys 14/54  
Eastleigh 15.03a ~ 16.45d [P2] ~ [P2]
St Denys 16/54  
Northam Jn 16/56  
Southampton Central 16/59  
Redbridge 17/03  
Brockenhurst 17/18  
Bournemouth 17.40a ~ 17.43d [P3]
Branksome 17/48  
Poole 17.54a ~ 18.08d [P2] ~ [P1]
Branksome 18/16  
Bournemouth 18.20a ~ 18.25d [P2]
Brockenhurst 18*45 ~ 19*04  
Redbridge 19/18  
Southampton Central 19w23 ~ 19w52  
Northam Jn 19/55  
St Denys 19/57  
Eastleigh 20/03  
Shawford 20/09  
Winchester 20/14  
Worting Jn 20/31  

Timings continue in first table.

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