End of steam at Bournemouth

8th July 1967 was a very sad day of course.

The end of steam on the SR, (but I think something did operate on the 9th?).

Don kindly sending me all the logs for the last weeks gives me the chance to look again at what I did on what became the last day of SR steam for me.

After an overnight and the special stop of the 08.30 at Woking we had a great run behind 35023 on the 08.30 Waterloo to Bournemouth.

There was then a long gap before we caught a demu from Bournemouth at 16.03 to Southampton, to catch 35023 at 17.57 to Waterloo.

So. Two questions.

Was that the day all of the "old team of gricers" spent part of the day on the beach at Bournemouth? I can remember doing that around that time.

And why did we catch an emu to Southampton to catch the "last" up train? I think it was because it was a Channel Islands Boat train that we were couldn't be certain would stop at Bournemouth?

I think some of us spent the day on the beach but others went through to Weymouth. I don't think th up CI called at Bournemouth but ran non stop Poole? to Southampton.

Here's some of the group at Bournemouth (the pretty one is now my wife and is not much changed after 42 years!). Mr T doesn't feature so I assume he went through to Weymouth.

We haven't changed much after 42 years, just put on a bit of weight & lost a bit of hair!

I confirm that the up CI ran non stop from Poole to Southampton Central.

John

donbenn wrote:I think some of us spent the day on the beach but others went through to Weymouth. I don't think the up CI called at Bournemouth but ran non stop Poole? to Southampton.

Here's some of the group at Bournemouth (the pretty one is now my wife and is not much changed after 42 years!). Mr T doesn't feature so I assume he went through to Weymouth.

I think that little boy sitting to the future Mrs B's left is me?

Indeed yes Wedgie. From the left sitting, Tony Leaver, Bob Randall, JB, Wedgie, JC. Standing Les Kent, unknown, unknown, Alan Hayes, John Randall (?)

Don

Good lord, we were all young once then lol. Seriously; we had you good people riding behind us.. And all this is good history!

Later the same day here's 35023 entering Soton on the up Channel Isles, some of the group standing right. Driver Pearce of Eastleigh gave us a good run up and for me anyway the end of Southern steam.

The one between Alan Hayes & me, is that not "Doze" Thompson?

John

Could well be but he was actually awake which was rare.

Don

And for those who remember such things (JT are you paying attention?) my feet are resting on my "fast" case.

John

I thought I recognized Tony Leaver in that shot of all of you - And if I hadn't have been given the answer to where was Bryan, I wouldn't have known that either - But great you guys having done what you did to keep the historical movements going! :Thumps Up:

johnc wrote:And for those who remember such things (JT are you paying attention?) my feet are resting on my "fast" case.

John

I remember that case!

Come on John, After all those years. Tell us what was in it!

And if you look closely JB is wearing an engineman's hat. Not sure where that came from!

Don

My case didn't anything exciting, just sanwiches, a flask & my timing board.

John

JC your fast case was legendary and must have covered many miles, although I thought it contained crisps!!

What a day that last Saturday was. After the frenzy of the 2.45d with Gordon Porter on 34095, then the panic at Winchester as we struggled to get the 8.30d stopped at Woking, an endeavour in which we were surprisingly successful. We were then treated to a ‘last hurrah’ by 35023 in the capable hands of Billy Hughes. Yes Bryan a number got off at Bomo whilst some of us carried on with Holland Afrika to Weymouth, hence the absence of some stalwarts from the photograph.

At Weymouth we were planning to come up with 35023 on the up Channel Islands but, like you, were worried that if we did not manage to get on at Weymouth we would miss the lot. Accordingly we set off to Southampton with a Std 5 and joined you all there. I thought the CI ran fast to Soton otherwise we would have joined at Poole. Did I miss something; if so wind the clock back!

So that was it for me as I did not come out on the Sunday. However personally I could not have had a more appropriate finale than coming up behind my favourite Merchant. I recall we all went down to NE and saw her come back on shed. I also have a group photo on 35007 but am not yet clear how I post photos!

As I left NE that evening I remember thinking that the day we had dreaded had come and it was all over. If someone had tapped me on the shoulder and said-:

“Don’t worry mate, you will still be traveling on the main line behind Bulleids in 40+ years time, and they will have even have built a new A1 pacific”

I would have nodded sadly and called for the men in white coats!!!

JT