July 2017 marks the 50th anniversary of the end of Southern Steam and I felt it a necessary mention on here seeing as contesdly the Waterloo - Weymouth route was Britains last fully worked steam mainline, with the exception of some pockets of steam in Lancashire.
On Sunday 9th July 1967, Merchant Navy Class, No 35030 Elder Dempster lines rolled into Waterloo with a train loaded with holiday makers and enthusiasts, this marked the final Waterloo sunset of steam on the southern region.
The steam locomotives were replaced by by the Bournemouth line electrification project utilising Push Pull 4TCs coupled to REPs as far as Bournemouth, where the REP was detached and a 33 coupled up to take it onto Weymouth. Also an influx of new VEPs and CIGs also assisted to replace steam and elderly prewar EMUs. An extensive program of CWR installation during 1966 - 67 as part of the program meant a raising of speed limits, enabling steam locos in various stages of decrepitude to regularly reach speeds of 90 - 100mph, faster than most had been permitted to run before, and long weeks of engineering work meant mainline express trains such as the Bournemouth Belle, were often re-routed over cross country secondary routes such as the Mid Hants Line. Further adding to the spectacle.
In their final years Locomotives were allowed to get into a parlious state, as portrayed famously by David Shepherds wonderful paintings, covered in soot and rust, and stripped of their nameplates.
The Video below also shows one of the highly engaging British Transport films as to what replaced steam.
50th Anniversary of the end of Southern Steam
- RowanTrodd
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Re: 50th Anniversary of the end of Southern Steam
Fantastic videos and a wonderful picture too (although a 9F, not really a Southern loco!). If any of you are around, there's a mini-revival in steam on the south coast this week:
Rebuilt Merchant Navy class Clan Line (contrary to the video, now with nameplate again) will be heading a Bournemouth Belle, complete with Pullman carriages on Wednesday. http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U ... 5/advanced
34046 Rebuilt Braunton (may still be masquerading as Lord Dowding 34052) heads Saturday's service Waterloo->Andover->Salisbury->Yeovil then Weymouth->Waterloo
On Sunday, Clan Line returns, running London->Yeovil via Salisbury and then Yeovil->Salisbury->Eastleigh(via C'Ford) ->Fareham->Petersfield->Waterloo http://www.uksteam.info/tours/t17/t0709a.htm
There are also a couple of London/Guildford services too, for any of you closer to Waterloo.
Rebuilt Merchant Navy class Clan Line (contrary to the video, now with nameplate again) will be heading a Bournemouth Belle, complete with Pullman carriages on Wednesday. http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U ... 5/advanced
34046 Rebuilt Braunton (may still be masquerading as Lord Dowding 34052) heads Saturday's service Waterloo->Andover->Salisbury->Yeovil then Weymouth->Waterloo
On Sunday, Clan Line returns, running London->Yeovil via Salisbury and then Yeovil->Salisbury->Eastleigh(via C'Ford) ->Fareham->Petersfield->Waterloo http://www.uksteam.info/tours/t17/t0709a.htm
There are also a couple of London/Guildford services too, for any of you closer to Waterloo.
- klambert
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Re: 50th Anniversary of the end of Southern Steam
Tah for the info, think I'll have a look a tomorrows steam tour.RowanTrodd wrote:Fantastic videos and a wonderful picture too (although a 9F, not really a Southern loco!). If any of you are around, there's a mini-revival in steam on the south coast this week:
Rebuilt Merchant Navy class Clan Line (contrary to the video, now with nameplate again) will be heading a Bournemouth Belle, complete with Pullman carriages on Wednesday. http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U ... 5/advanced
34046 Rebuilt Braunton (may still be masquerading as Lord Dowding 34052) heads Saturday's service Waterloo->Andover->Salisbury->Yeovil then Weymouth->Waterloo
On Sunday, Clan Line returns, running London->Yeovil via Salisbury and then Yeovil->Salisbury->Eastleigh(via C'Ford) ->Fareham->Petersfield->Waterloo http://www.uksteam.info/tours/t17/t0709a.htm
There are also a couple of London/Guildford services too, for any of you closer to Waterloo.
As an aside, I've always wanted to create a route based around the last days of southern steam
I despite not being built by the SR, I still count the 9Fs based on the Southern Region as Southern Engines.