Weymouth & Bournemouth steam: July 2021

Cheers! Yes the 47 seemed to be on full thrash, don't know if it was because it was running late...

 

I was on the trip Alan, I can confirm

It was, given the choice, I would much rather be late..
Les announced over the ridiculously LOUD tannoy, that we had made up two minutes on the climb and that we were only sixteen down now...

 

Yes - remember the 2012 run well (was it really that long ago?) The best bit was the non-stop run back from Eastleigh to Waterloo with Don & Jim Clarke in charge if I remember rightly.

It's a shame that the 9th July runs are not what they used to be. Yes - I agree that the sight of a Merchant Navy on the Southern main line in 2021 is a fine thing but the fact that they cannot engineer any paths down the main line from Waterloo to Woking and also seem to have to keep the diesel on the back all day does take the gloss off it rather.

 

I remember the brilliant 2012 run with the superb section from Eastleigh very well. My Dad and I joined the queue at the cab of 35028 at Waterloo to shake the hands of the footplate crew at the end of the day.
My Dad was over the moon that day as were most of the passengers. Unfortunately since he suffered a brain aneurysm in 2017 he does not remember any of the Main Line trips we travelled on over the years so I often show him YouTube videos of trips that we travelled on to try and trigger some memories. There is only one that triggers his emotions and it is of this excellent trip from 2012 as Clan Line races through Woking. He gets a lump in the throat and says to me "That is how they used to go through. Shaking the station to its foundations! The Bournemouth Belle used to hammer through Woking".
Due to the wretched virus we were unable to go out and see this years excursions so it has been good to see the images and videos captured on this thread. Thanks to everyone who ventured out. And here is a link to the 2012 run hammering through Woking:


Sent from my I3312 using Tapatalk

 

There is a YT video (I don't have it to hand at the moment) showing 'Tangmere' taking 11 coaches unaided up Upwey when the diesel failed at Weymouth. I think it was 2006, but could be wrong.

 

Apart from anything else, how lucky we are these days to have videos so easily available to show to family in situations like the one you describe.

 

We have this on our page, from 2009 mind…

https://fb.watch/v/1vs2gKOc9/

 

It was 9th July 2009 and I was on it. Someone doubted whether we would make unassisted and I said it anyone can Pete Roberts ( who was driving) can.

 

Sorry, yes - 2009, of course. Must have been exciting to be on! Did the passengers not window-hanging know it was unassisted at the time?

 

34067 also went unassisted from Weymouth on 1 August 2007. It was running an hour late due to time taken to send the engine to Yeovil to turn and service.
EDIT - looking at the picture it does seem to have something on the rear so probably not unassisted - but a wonderful noisy sight.

 

Indeed, but the comparison should surely exclude a trailing diesel ('dead' or 'alive') for the class 8 too, as it would have left a dud behind, as did 'Tangmere'? Have I missed something here as surely no-one would really expect a functioning diesel at the rear to just sit there all the way up? I believe most trains over nine coaches were banked up in steam days, but what was the heaviest to make it unassisted, I wonder.

 

That's a nice shot with green coaches but I spy a class 37 at the rear - was it dead? If so, that would be a record, surely?

 

Here's my contribution to the party

Neither train was a classic, viewed from the lineside, but it's wonderful to see another Merchant on the LSWR 54 years after "the end". Seeing BIL at work last week I'm reminded that when I first volunteered on the MHR in 1983, I was told she just needed 18 months work to complete the overhaul...

 

The 8th July 2017 End of Southern Steam run with 34046 took its load of 10 up Bincombe with a 33 dead in tow until the final part of the climb when it burst into life. Load 12 or 13 are we talking?

A diesel can sit in consist completely idle and unless called on by the lead loco driver will remain idle.

 

I was at Upwey for the event. 37.248 was at the rear. <BJ>

 

My footage of Friday's run. Filmed at Deepcut, Lenthay Road Crossing, Bincombe and Eastleigh. Enjoy