11th October 1975

Mid Hants Railway Preservation Society / 48518 Group
The Watercress Belle

DEMU Used 1036 (formed: MBSO-TSO-TF-TRB-TSO-MBSO)
Loco Used steam: 600 'Gordon'
Stock Used load 9 (SVR ex-GWR & LMS)

Route :

Traction Route
1036 Portsmouth & Southsea - Portcreek Jn - Cosham - Fareham - Eastleigh - Winchester - Basingstoke - Southcote Jn - Reading
1036 Reading - Didcot East Jn - (via station avoiding line) - Didcot North Jn - Oxford - Banbury - Leamington Spa - Dorridge - Tyseley - Bordesley Jn - St Andrews Jn - Proof House Jn - Birmingham New Street - Soho South Jn - Soho North Jn - Galton Jn - Rowley Regis - Stourbridge Junction - Kidderminster
Midland Red coaches Kidderminster - Bewdley
600 Bewdley - Highley - Bridgnorth
600 Bridgnorth - Highley - Bewdley
Midland Red coaches Bewdley - Kidderminster
1036 Kidderminster - (reverse of outward route) - Reading
1036 Reading - (reverse of outward route) - Portsmouth & Southsea

Notes :
(1) Bruce Nathan comments: The Severn Valley Railway was closed to the public on that day as filming was taking place for a Sherlock Holmes picture “The Seven Percent Solution”. This was set in Eastern Europe and Bridgnorth station had been renamed Tatabánya. The two Ivatt Moguls 46443 and 46521 were repainted red and had additional fittings including a ‘balloon’ chimney to give them a Continental appearance and both renumbered 60 116. Trains for the filming had priority and the Special was delayed at several passing loops, hence the late departure of the BR train from Kidderminster, although this was more than made up by Reading.


600 waiting to leave Bridgnorth for Bewdley (photo: Bruce Nathan)

Source : Bruce Nathan

Timings (Booked & Actual)
(from Bruce Nathan)

Location Booked Actual   Booked Actual
Portsmouth & Southsea 08.45d ?   22.36a ?
Portcreek Jn 08/51 ?   22/30 ?
Cosham 08/54 ?   22/28 ?
Fareham ??.??a ~ 09.04d ?   22.19a ~ ??.??d ?
Botley 09/12 ?   22/09 ?
Eastleigh ??.??a ~ 09.22d ?   22.01a ~ ??.??d ?
Shawford Jn ? ?   ? [SL] ?
Winchester ??.??a ~ 09.32d ?   21.52a ~ ??.??d ?
Worting Jn 09/47 [SL] ?   21/37˝ ?
Basingstoke ??.??a ~ 09.53d ?   21.33˝a ~ ??.??d ?
Southcote Jn 10/12 ?   21/16 ?
Reading 10.17a ~ 10.21d ??.?? ~ 10.26˝   21.08a ~ 21.12d 21.00 ~ ??.??
Reading West Jn ? [ML] ?   ? ?
Didcot East Jn 10/41 10/44   20/53 [ML] 20/44˝
Didcot North Jn 10/42 10/45   20/52 20/43˝
Oxford 10/54 10/54   20/27 20/34˝
Wolvercot Jn 10/59 10/57   20/32 20/32
Heyford 11/10 11/05˝   20/21 20/25
Banbury 11/21 11/15   20/10 20/15
Leamington Spa 11/40 11/36˝   19/48 19/54
Dorridge 11/56 11/50˝   19/31 19/42˝
Tyseley 12/06 12/03   19/24 19/35˝
Birmingham New Street 12c17 ~ 12c19 12.20 ~ 12.21   19c09 ~ 19c11 19.24 ~ 19.26
Galton Jn 12/26 12/31   19/59 19/15˝
Stourbridge Junction 12/40 12/50˝   18/45 18/59˝
Kidderminster 12.47a 12.58   18.35d 18.49˝

Midland Red Coaches

Location Booked Actual   Booked Actual
Kidderminster 12.55d ?   18.20a ?
Bewdley 13.05a ?   18.10d ?

Severn Valley Railway

Location Booked Actual   Booked Actual
Bewdley 13.45d ?   17.55a ?
Bridgnorth 14.40a ?   17.00d ?


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