DIDCOT, NEWBURY & SOUTHAMPTON RAILWAY 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF CLOSURE GALA. 5-7TH MAY

Just thought I share an interesting bit of DN&SR trivia.

When the line was taken up a farm near Upton (just south of Didcot) bought a quantity of wooden sleepers for use in constructing a silage area. Fast forward 40 years and in the mid 2000's C&WR volunteers recovered several hundred of these timbers for re-use. They were incredibly good use considering they were mostly over 50 years old. Over the last 5 years we have installed several hundred of them on the Wallingford branch, so in a way part of the DN&SR lives on!

 

A further update on this event now says that 31806 will be the only visiting engine. I guess 3717 is still undergoing boiler work and the Std 4 tank is unavailable.

 

3717 was being tested last Friday at the NRM and i believe was seen out again a day or two after. Perhaps she may have been removed from the list as a precaution if not ready in time and may possibly still visit if completed. Unless of course the visit has been completely cancelled.

 

I know very little about the D,N & S line - must do some research. I assume that the locos selected for the event are typical of the classes that used to operate over this line. Were there any other classes that worked on it regularly? Someone told me that 9Fs used to haul to oil traffic from Fawley.

 

I would recommend this site for an introduction: The Didcot, Newbury and Southampton Railway The wikipedia page isn't bad either: Didcot, Newbury and Southampton Railway - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The best book is of course The Didcot Newbury and Southampton Railway by Karau, Parsons and Robertson, published by Wild Swan. This gives an excellent history of the line including the fascinating undeclared wars between the LSWR and the GWR that the DN&S got caught up in, and I believe also covers the locos used on the line regularly. Of course, 3440 (as it was at the time) was itself often used on the line in the 50s when not on railtours.

 

I saw in one of the mags that 5322 is currently being repainted into Black. Surprised very little has been said on this matter what with the usual frothing over paint on here.

 

More tongue in cheek as there was a lot of comments about her when she was originally restored, and as the May 12th Thread was written as I made the above post there hadn't been any mention of it on here.

 

Thanks Jamie - some good information there.

John

 

Just thought I'd bump this thread up to the top of the pile as it's coming up this weekend!!

 

I might be able to visit on Sunday but it depends on the car park and entrance fees. I'm really watching the pennies as I will be there on the 12th to have a go on 5322's regulator! In fact, there'll be three of us from the SVR signalling dept. coming to have a go...

 

31806 has arrived at Didcot.

And a little taster of 5322

5322 is only in this guise for the next two weekends,... don't miss it!

 

Unable to make this weekend but may be able to do next Saturday but could someone in the know advise what else will be in steam next weekend and if 52322 will be on the main line or the branch line with those gorgeous signals.

 

Had a good day up at Didcot yesterday. 5322 looked splendid but the worked stained appearance of 31806 was pleasing. Here are a couple of photos from the day: Flickr: DaveStubbings' Photostream

 

Didcot Railway Centre | News | Latest News
Come and have a drive and help raise money for two worthy causes.

 

Ok

 

Thanks for the info, will try and book the day off work now and all being well will be in attendance

 

Heres some images from the event,

Didcot Gala HDRs - a set on Flickr

Jason