Trainspotting

Worting Junction: 1961 and 1965

  Page 1: 1961
Ever since my first Southern sightings at Weymouth, Salisbury, and Eastleigh in 1952 and 1953, the South West lines from Waterloo had become great favourites. But by 1961, the writing was on the wall so far as the traditional Southern locomotives were concerned. The Bullieds had a few years to go, but how long would the Nelsons, Arthurs, and Schools last? So on an August Saturday in 1961, I borrowed my father's car, and set off early in the morning with brother and two friends. We hoped to find a location close to Worting Junction.

The alternatively plan, had we not been able to find a suitable spot, was to park the car at Basingstoke, and spend the day on the station. But by 9am we had found a splendid position adjacent to Battledown Flyover, and out came the primus for a bacon and egg breakfast. A good start to what turned out to be one of my best spotting days ever. And for most of the day the sun was shining. Later, even though my favourite Maunsell engines were long gone, I came back to the same spot in the summers of 1965 and 1966. But shortly after, by the late summer of 1967, Southern steam had gone. 
 
   SATURDAY 5th AUGUST 1961: BATTLEDOWN FLYOVER 
 
Down trains are listed first. BN is the Bournemouth line, SY the Salisbury line. 
 
 DOWN TRAINS   
 
  9.07   BN 34031 Torrington on Relief Waterloo-Bournemouth (8)
  9.12   BN 73085 Melisande on Relief Waterloo-Bournemouth (8)
  9.14   SY 35014 Nederland line on 8.05am Waterloo-Exmouth (11)..2 late
  9.27   BN 73083 Pendragon on 7.52am Waterloo-Weymouth (12)..32 late
  9.28   SY 35019 French Line CGT on 8.22am Waterloo-Ilfracombe (9)..7 late
  9.34   BN 76027 (BR 4MT 2-6-0) on 6.05am Birmingham-Bournemouth C (10)..12 late
  9.40   BN 34090 Sir Eustace Miss'n on 8.15am Waterloo-Bournemouth C (10)..23 late
  9.45   BN 34017 Ilfracombe on 8.30am Waterloo-Weymouth (10)..15 late
  9.54   SY 73110 The Red Knight on 8.35am Waterloo-Ilfracombe (12)..8 late
  9.57   BN 30913 Christs Hospital on 8.45am Waterloo-Lymington Pier (10)..7 late
10.06   BN DMU on 9.10am Reading-Portsmouth (6)..5 late
10.11   SY 35016 Elders Fyffes on 8.54am Waterloo-Ilfracombe (12)..8 late
10.18   BN 30856 Lord St Vincent on Waterloo-Southampton Docks (A) (11)
10.28   SY 35011 General Steam Navigation on 9.00am Waterloo-Sidmouth (12) 13 late
10.32   BN 73118 King Leodegrance on 9.24am Waterloo-Weymouth (10)..7 late
10.33   SY 30498 (S15 4-6-0) on 9.25am Woking-Salisbury (4)..12 late
10.38   BN 34071 601 Squadron on 9.15am Waterloo-Swanage (10)..19 late
10.43   BN 30854 Howard of Effingham on Waterloo-Southampton Docks (A) (10+v)
10.50   BN 73114 Etarre on 9.35am Waterloo-Bournemouth W (11)..19 late
10.56   BN 30921 Shrewsbury on 9.42am Waterloo-Lymington Pier (10)..19 late
11.00   BN 30927 Clifton on 9.25am Wimbledon-Weymouth (10)..16 late
11.07   BN 34102 Lapford on Waterloo-Southampton Docks (A) (10)
11.14   BN 34087 145 Squadron on 10.05am Waterloo-Bournemouth C (8)..5 late 
11.15   SY 34003 Plymouth on 10.15am Waterloo-Ilfracombe (13)..4 late
11.26   BN 30770 Sir Prianius on Waterloo-Southampton Docks (A) (9+v)
11.31   BN 34088 213 Squadron on 10.30am Waterloo-Weymouth (11)..4 late
11.35   SY 73117 Vivien on 10.35am Waterloo-Padstow (B) (12)..3 late
11.52   BN 73084 Tintagel on Waterloo-Southampton Docks (A) (11)
11.55   SY 34077 603 Squadron on 10.45am Waterloo-Seaton (11)..12 late
11.56   BN 30859 Lord Hood on 7.48am Wolverhampton-Portsmouth (10)
12.02   BN 34073 249 Squadron on 10.54am Waterloo-Swanage (10)..12 late
12.07   BN 76025 (BR 4MT 2-6-0) light engine (off 9.11am Portsmouth-Wolverhampton)
12.08   SY 35001 Channel Packet on 11.00am Waterloo-Ilfracombe (B) (13)..12 late
12.15   BN 30912 Downside on 11.05am Waterloo-Bournemouth W (10)..13 late
12.21   SY 34082 615 Squadron on 11.15am Waterloo-Plymouth Friary (12)..11 late
12.21   BN 5995 Wick Hall on 9.05am Birmingham-Portsmouth (10)..26 late
12.27   SY 31858 (N 2-6-0) on 10.29am Waterloo-Salisbury (6)..5 late
12.30   BN 6970 Whaddon Hall on 8.40am Wolverhampton-Portsmouth (9)..22 late
12.39   BN 30788 Sir Urre of the Mount on 11.22am Waterloo-Weymouth (11)..21 late
12.44   SY 34052 Lord Dowding on 11.45am Waterloo-Exmouth (13)..R time
12.44   BN 34025 Whimple on 11.30am Waterloo-Bournemouth W (11)..4 late
  1.05   BN 30906 Sherborne on the 12.00pm Waterloo-Lymington Pier (10)..12 late
  1.10   SY 34060 25 Squadron on 12.05pm Waterloo-Ilfracombe (9)..9 late
  1.10   BN 75077 (BR 4MT 4-6-0) light engine
  1.15   BN DMU on 12.13pm Reading-Portsmouth (6)..17 late
  1.29   SY 31895 (U1 2-6-0) on 11.54am Waterloo-Salisbury (5)..9 late
  1.33   BN 35020 Bibby Line on 12.30pm Waterloo-Bournemouth W (12P)..7 late
  1.38   BN 34004 Yeovil on 12.20pm Waterloo-Bournemouth W (10)..6 late
  1.44   BN 34093 Saunton on 12.35pm Waterloo-Weymouth (10)..7 late
  1.59   BN 30909 St Pauls on Unidentified Relief (LM stock) (9)
  2.00   SY 35006 Peninsular & Oriental on 1.00pm Waterloo-Ilfracombe (12)..R time
  2.10   SY 73086 The Green Knight on 1.05pm Waterloo-Exeter (8+3v)..3 late
  2.23   BN 34105 Swanage on 1.22pm Waterloo-Bournemouth C (10)..2 late
  2.38   BN 7317 (GW 2-6-0) on ? Sheffield-Bournemouth C (10)..25 late
  2.45   BN 35029 Ellerman Lines on 1.30pm Waterloo-Weymouth (12)..10 late
  2.51   BN 75068 (BR 4MT 4-6-0)on 1.48pm Reading-Portsmouth (4+6v)..11 late
  3.08   SY 30503 (S15 4-6-0) on 1.24pm Waterloo-Salisbury (8)..15 late
  3.12   BN 30850 Lord Nelson on 12.10pm Birmingham-Bournemouth C (10)..8 late
  3.27   BN 34028 Eddystone on 2.30pm Waterloo-Weymouth (10)..R time
  3.36   BN 76060 (BR 4MT 2-6-0) on 9.20am Birkenhead-Bournemouth C (7)..22 late
  4.03   BN 34089 602 Squadron on Royal Special (v+3P)
  4.15   SY 35013 Blue Fullel on 3.00pm Waterloo-Plymouth (12)..13 late
  4.20   BN 34046 Braunton on 9.30am Birkenhead-Bournemouth W (12)..43 late
  4.29   SY 34062 17 Squadron on 3.05pm Waterloo-Exeter (10)..19 late
  4.30   BN 35027 Port Line on 3.20pm Waterloo-Weymouth (v+10)..16 late
  4.44   BN 35003 Royal Mail on 3.30pm Waterloo-Bournemouth W (11)..6 late
  4.52   BN 30851 Sir Francis Drake on 8.35am Newcastle-Bournemouth W (10)..2 late
  4.56   SY 31610 (U 2-6-0) on 4.48pm Basingstoke-Yeovil Junction (3)..3 late
  5.00   BN 75066 (BR 4MT 4-6-0) on Empty stock (8)
  5.06   BN 31896 (U1 2-6-0) Light engine
  5.18   BN 7911 Lady Margaret Hall on 10.15am Bradford Exchange-Poole (11)..5 late
  5.23   BN 34085 501 Squadron on 4.20pm Waterloo-Bournemouth W (11)..4 late
  5.32   BN 35002 Union Castle on 4.35pm Waterloo-Weymouth (C) (13)..3 late
  5.41   SY 34109 Sir Trafford Leigh-Mallory on 2.54pm Clapham-Exeter Milk empties
  6.02   BN 31631 (U 2-6-0) on 5.10pm Reading-Southampton (6+5v)..11 late
  6.07   BN 30523 (H15 4-6-0) on Freight (27+b)
  6.08   SY 34108 Wincanton on 5.00pm Waterloo-Yeovil Junction (9)..2 early
 
(A) Ocean Liner Express..(B) The Atlantic Coast Express..(C) The Royal Wessex  
 
DOWN WATERLOO LINE: Things were not going too well on the down lines from Waterloo in the early morning. The 7.52am Waterloo-Weymouth (73083) was 32 late at Worting Junction, and the 8.15am Waterloo-Bournemouth Central (34090) 23 late. But from 9.45am, matters improved, though most trains were still slightly late. This pattern continued for the rest of the day. 

INTER REGIONAL SERVICES: Between 12.20pm and 5.20pm, 8 services came from or via the Western Region down the Reading West to Basingstoke line and continued on to either Portsmouth or Bournemouth. Three services ran almost to time, four were over 20 minutes late, and one, the 9.30am Birkenhead to Bournemouth, was 43 late. But some of these delays would no doubt have occurred on the approach to Basingstoke, where signalmen had the difficult task of getting trains off the Reading line into the station, without conflicting with Up line services to Waterloo.
 
 UP TRAINS   
 
  9.03   BN 34062 17 Squadron on 6.22am Bournemouth C-Waterloo (11)..2 late
  9.08   BN 34105 Swanage on 7.20am Bournemouth W-Waterloo (11)..1 early 
  9.26   BN 75068 (BR 4MT 4-6-0) on 7.30am Portsmouth-Reading (6)..2 late
  9.49   SY 30451 Sir Lamorak on 8.46am Salisbury-Waterloo (3v+5)..4 early
  9.51   BN 30859 Lord Hood on 8.05am Bournemouth C-Newcastle (12)..13 late
  9.58   BN 35017 Belgian Marine on 8.12am Bournemouth W-Waterloo (11)..3 late
10.03   BN 35029 Ellerman Lines on 7.34am Weymouth-Waterloo (A) (13)..2 late
10.06   SY 34011 Tavistock on 6.30am Exeter Central-Waterloo (8)..60 late
10.07   BN 76068 (BR 4MT 2-6-0) Light engine
10.20   SY 35013 Blue Funnel on 7.30am Exeter Central-Waterloo (12)..1 early
10.35   BN Hall? on 8.47am Pokesdown-Birkenhead (11)..24 late
10.43   BN 76013 (BR 4MT 2-6-0) on 9.00am Lymington Pier-Waterloo (10)..5 late
10.48   BN 76025 (BR 4MT 2-6-0) on 9.11am Portsmouth-Wolverhampton (7)..15 late
10.55   BN 34028 Eddystone on 9.20am Bournemouth C-Waterloo (10)..13 late
11.00   BN 34037 Clovelly on 8.35am Bournemouth W-Waterloo (10)..7 late
11.11   SY 34109 Sir Trafford L-Mallory on 9.03am Templecombe-Waterloo (v+8)..R time
11.17   BN 6923 Croxteth Hall on 10.13am Southampton-Reading (4)..4 late
11.22   BN 30850 Lord Nelson on 9.30am Bournemouth C-Wolverhampton (10)..R time
11.34   BN 35005 Canadian Pacific on 10.00am Bournemouth C-Waterloo (10)..7 late
11.41   BN 35008 Orient Line on 8.25am Weymouth-Waterloo (11)..10 late
11.45   BN 34046 Braunton on 9.30am Bournemouth W-Birkenhead (12)..7 late
11.49   BN 34085 501 Squadron on 9.15am Swanage-Waterloo (10)..6 late
11.58   BN 35027 Port Line on 10.15am Bournemouth W-Waterloo (12)..10 late
12.02   BN 76012 (BR 4MT 2-6-0) on 10.30am Lymington Pier-Waterloo (7+v)..10 late
12.13   BN  34103 Calstock on 9.20am Weymouth-Waterloo (12)..13 late
12.27   SY 75083 (BR 4MT 4-6-0) on 8.30am Exeter/Seaton-Waterloo (13)..54 late
12.33   SY 34108 Wincanton on 9.25am Sidmouth-Waterloo (9)..22 late
12.34   BN 30777 Sir Lamiel on Special to Coventry (10)
12.41   BN 34049 Boscastle on 10.50am Hinton Admiral-Waterloo (8)..25 late
12.49   BN 30851 Sir Francis Drake on 10.25am Poole-Bradford Exchange (11)..14 late
12.58   SY 30796 Sir Dodinas le Savage on 12.06pm Salisbury-Waterloo (7)..4 late
12.58   BN 30804 Sir Cador of Cornwall on 10.44am Bourne West-Waterloo (11)..17 late 
  1.05   SY 73081 Excalibur on 9.57am Littleham-Waterloo (?)..4 late
  1.11   SY 35025 Brocklebank Line on 8.10am Ilfracombe-Waterloo (12)..3 late
  1.16   BN 7317 (GW 2-6-0)on 11.00am Bournemouth C-Sheffield (11)..17 late
  1.18   SY 35010 Blue Star on 8.25am Plymouth Friary-Waterloo (9)..1 late
  1.28   BN 34021 Dartmoor on 11.00am Bournemouth W-Waterloo (9+v)..15 late
  1.38   BN 30913 Christs Hospital on 11.43am Lymington Pier-Waterloo (10)..13 late
  1.44   BN 30853 Sir Richard Grenville on 11.16am Bournemth W-Newcastle (11)..25 late
  1.45   SY 73111 King Uther on 1.08pm Andover Junction-Waterloo (8)..17 late
  1.55   BN 31631 (U 2-6-0) on 12.53pm Eastleigh-Reading (4)..18 late
  1.58   BN 75076 (BR 4MT 2-6-0) on 11.50am Bournemouth C-Birmingham (10)..14 late
  2.06   BN 73085 Melisande on 12.10pm Bournemouth W-Waterloo (11)..15 late
  2.14   BN 34053 Sir Keith Park on 11.00am Weymouth-Waterloo (12)..18 late
  2.15   SY 30523 (S15 4-6-0) on 1.00pm Salisbury-Basingstoke (4)..9 late
  2.20   BN 35021 New Zealand Line on 11.25am Weymouth-Waterloo (10)..19 late
  2.25   BN 34104 Bere Alston on 10.10am Weymouth-Waterloo (5+2v)..14 late
  2.30   BN 75074 (BR 4MT 4-6-0) on 1.11pm Portsmouth-Birmingham (9+v)..6 late
  2.40   SY 73117 Vivien on 8.55am Ilfracombe-Waterloo (13)..66 late
  2.52   SY  35003 Royal Mail on 8.30am Padstow-Waterloo (11)..20 late
  2.55   BN 30854 Howard of Effingham on ECS Southampton Docks (10.43am down)
  3.00   BN 75079 (BR 4MT 4-6-0) on 1.28pm Portsmouth-Birmingham (11)..9 late
  3.08   BN 30921 Shrewsbury on 1.28pm Lymington Pier-Waterloo (10)..3 late
  3.19   SY 35018 British India Line on 10.30am Ilfracombe-Waterloo(B) (13)..18 late
  3.23   BN 30863 Lord Rodney on 1.45pm Bournemouth C-Waterloo (9)..13 late
  3.26   SY 35026 Lamport & Holt Line on 10.48am Torrington-Waterloo (B) (13)..6 late
  3.26   BN 34040 Crewkerne on 1.05pm Bournemouth W-Waterloo (11)..9 late
  3.32   BN 34102 Lapford on ECS Southampton Docks (11.07am down) (9+v)
  3.39   BN  73084 Tintagel on ECS Southampton Docks (11.52am down) (9+v)
  3.52   BN 73114 Etarre on 12.20pm Weymouth-Waterloo (11)..27 late
  3.58   BN 34042 Dorchester on 1.23pm Swanage-Waterloo (10)..12 late
  4.01   SY 30498 (S15 4-6-0) on 2.47pm Salisbury-Waterloo (6)..5 late
  4.08   BN 34020 Seaton on 2.20pm Bournemouth W-Waterloo (10)..15 late
  4.20   SY 73110 The Red Knight on 11.30am Ilfracombe-Waterloo (?)..15 late
  4.28   SY  73119 Elaine on 11.45am Bude-Waterloo (B) (10)..6 late
  4.29   BN 5995 Wick Hall on 3.02pm Portsmouth-Nottingham (11)..7 late
  4.37   SY 35004 Cunard White Star on 12.00pm Ilfracombe-Waterloo (8)..12 late
  4.46   SY  35030 Elder Dempster Lines on 11.00am Padstow-Waterloo (B) (10)..16 late
  5.00   BN 34087 145 Squadron on 1.20pm Weymouth-Waterloo (11)..59 late
  5.15   BN 6970 Whaddon Hall on 3.40pm Portsmouth-Wolverhampton (9)..12 late
  5.18   SY 31895 (U1 2-6-0) on 4.05pm Salisbury-Waterloo (v+5)..4 late
  5.24   BN 34071 601 Squadron on 1.50pm Dorchester-Waterloo (11)..67 late
  5.29   BN 34048 Crediton on 3.10pm Bournemouth C-Waterloo (11)..36 late
  5.33   BN 34031 Torrington on 3.05pm Bournemouth W-Waterloo (8)..9 late
  5.34   SY 35007 Aberdeen Commonwealth on 1.45pm Exmouth-Waterloo (12)..15 late
  5.49   SY 35014 Nederland Line on 11.46am Plymouth Friary-Waterloo (10)..24 late
  5.49   BN 30912 Downside on 3.30pm Lymington Pier-Waterloo (8)..51 late
  5.55   BN 35020 Bibby Line on 4.30pm Bournemouth W-Waterloo (12P)..1 late
  
(A) The Royal Wessex..(B) The Atlantic Coast Express  
 
UP WEST OF ENGLAND LINE: There were problems on the West of England line during most of the day. The first Up train, the 6.30am from Exeter, was 60 late with 34011. And right on it's tail was 35013 on the punctual 7.30am from Exeter. Then the 8.30am Exeter/Seaton turned up 60 late on with Standard 4 no 75083 on 13 coaches. Probably a replacement loco at Salisbury.. From that point onwards, timekeeping varied between Right time and 22 late, with the exception of the 8.55am Ilfracombe to Waterloo, which was 66 late with 73117. Not a good day on the Exeter line.

UP BOURNEMOUTH LINE: Throughout most of the day, up trains from Bournemouth ran quite reasonably,  the exceptions being the 8.47am Pokesdown to Birkenhead, 24 late with a Hall, the 10.50am Hinton Admiral to Waterloo, 25 late with 34039, and the 12.20pm Weymouth to Waterloo, 27 late with 73114. But in the late afternoon, the 1.20pm Weymouth to Waterloo was 57 late with 34087, the 1.50pm Dorchester to Waterloo 67 late with 34071, the 3.10pm Bournemouth Central to Waterloo 36 late with 34048. And bringing up the rear, 30912 on the 3.30pm Lymington Pier to Waterloo was 51 late. There must have been some sort of problem beyond Bournemouth which had delayed the Up Weymouth line trains. The Lymington train, with 30912,  was a different matter. The 3.30pm from Lymington Pier was the return working of the loco off the 12.00pm down Lymington service from Waterloo, with 30906.  So why did 30912, which had gone down on the 11.05am Waterloo to Bournemouth West, turn up in place of 30906. My theory is that 30906 was not in the best of health. She was 14 late past Worting going down, 21 minutes behind the preceding train. And 30912 would have been available on Bournemouth shed.

HIGHLIGHT OF THE DAY: To me, the whole day was a highlight. But the particular moment that stands out was at 12.58pm. From the Bournemouth line, along came the 10.44am from Bournemouth West to Waterloo. Up front was King Arthur class 4-6-0 no 30804 Sir Cador of Cornwall. As the locomotive reached the girder bridge where the up Bournemouth line crosses the up and down Salisbury lines, under the bridge came the 12.06pm Salisbury to Waterloo, headed by King Arthur class 4-6-0 no 30796 Sir Dodinas le Savage. Two of the remaining King Arthurs, at the same spot at the same time. They ran side by side heading towards Basingstoke.  

Worting Junction 1965 page