Trainspotting

Hampshire Holiday: 1956

 
In July 1956, my parents chose New Milton, Hampshire, as our summer holiday destination. Since we didn't all fit into the family Morris Minor, I had to travel to and from Hampshire by rail. So on Monday 2nd July, I headed south from Birmingham, via Bath and the Somerset & Dorset, and at Poole, caught a local service to Christchurch.  My return journey home was on Friday 13th July, when I caught a non stop from Southampton to Waterloo, then over to Marylebone in time for a V2 on the Master Cutler to Rugby. A short walk from Central to Midland, then back to Birmingham New Street. So I had from Tuesday 3rd until Thursday 12th, to combine my interests of train timing and train spotting, in Hampshire. So the first thing I did was to buy a weekly New Forest Area runabout ticket, which gave me access to  Bournemouth, Weymouth,  Salisbury, Southampton, Basingstoke, and Portsmouth.

 
 MONDAY 2nd JULY 1956: 
  
Trains seen on the journey from Birmingham to Bath and Poole were: 31629 arrived Cheltenham Spa 1.35pm on the 10.10am service from Southampton Terminus, via MSJW. At Gloucester were 44847, 40489, 6918, 6917, 6803, 9300, and 2205. At Bath Green Park, 40568 & 34040, and 40509 & 73050 were waiting to take over the two portions of the Pines Express. 73047 was at Evercreech Jc, and 30274 & 43436 were outside Templecombe shed. 73052 was at Blandford on the 3.35pm Bournemouth West to Bristol, and 76013 was at Broadstone on the 4.30pm Bournemouth West to Brockenhurst. 73050 arrived Poole 4 early at 5.16pm on the 12 coach Pines Express. 34064 was at Branksome on the 3.20pm Waterloo to Weymouth (5). Outside BOURNEMOUTH shed were 30850, 30104, 30728, 30736, 30738, and 30260. 

In the evening, at SWAY, 34011 passed 7.57pm on the 5.30pm Waterloo to Bournemouth West (11). 31611 passed 8.16pm on the 7.40pm Bournemouth West to Basingstoke (8), 34043 passed 8.21pm on the 6.30pm Waterloo to Weymouth (13). 76013 passed 8.44pm on the 6.45pm Portsmouth to Bournemouth Central (9+v).

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 TUESDAY 3rd JULY 1956: 
 
AT SOUTHAMPTON CENTRAL: 
 
34094 called 10.29/10.32am on 9.20am Bournemouth to Birkenhead (8)
34091 called 10.30/10.34am on the 8.30am Waterloo to Weymouth (12)
76017 called 10.30/10.34am on the 9.33am Portsmouth to Cardiff
30287 called 10.36/10.445am on the 10.29am Southampton Terminus to Bournemouth C
31610 called 10.41/10.45am on 9.47am Salisbury to Portsmouth (7)
34095 called 11.02/11.10am on the 10.22am Bournemouth W to Waterloo (11)
32425 called 11.13/11.17am on the 9.40am Brighton to Bournemouth W (5)
76007 called 11.13/11.35am on the 8.10am Bristol to Portsmouth (7)
 
AT BROCKENHURST:
 
73114 called 11.55/11.57am on 9.30am Waterloo to Bournemouth W (11)
35010 called 11.58/12.01pm on 11.05am Bournemouth W to Waterloo (v+11)
 
AT ST DENYS:
 
30856 called 12.35/12.36pm on 9.54am Waterloo to Southampton Terminus
 
AT BASINGSTOKE:
 
34110 called 1.40/1.43pm on the 11.16am Bournemouth W to Newcastle (9)
35017 passed 2.00pm on 1.00pm Waterloo to West of England (14)
34105 passed 2.00pm on 11.30am Weymouth to Waterloo (11)
30825 called 2.10/2.12pm on 12.58pm Salisbury to Waterloo (5+v)
30773 arrived 2.15pm on 12.54pm Waterloo to Basingstoke (5)
35027 called 2.22/2.35pm on 1.30pm Waterloo to Weymouth (11)
30478, 30258, 31633, 30506, 30750, 30755, 30334 were seen around Basingstoke
 
IN SOUTHAMPTON AREA:
 
31805, 34109, 30862, 30501, 34045, 33020, 30513 were at Eastleigh. 
73114 called Winchester 4.49/4.51pm on 3.05pm Bournemouth W to Waterloo (10+v)
34040 called Winchester 5.02/5.04pm on 3.30pm Waterloo to Bournemouth W (10)
35022 passed St Denys 5.26pm on Up Bournemouth Belle.
34019 called Southampton 7.14/7.20pm on 5.35pm Weymouth to Waterloo (12)
34095 called Southampton 7.27/7.31pm on 5.30pm Waterloo to Bournemouth W (12)
30229, 30378, 30748, 30029, 30377,31620, 34107, 30475, 30852, 34021, 30541, 30543, 31809, 82015 were seen at various locations on the Bournemouth line during the day.

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 WEDNESDAY 4th JULY 1956: 
 
IN SOUTHAMPTON AREA:
 
34019 was seen near Totton 10.22am..4 late on the 8.30am Waterloo to Weymouth
34094 called Southampton 10.29/10.36am on 9.20am Bournemouth W to Birkenhead (8)
77s was seen at Redbridge Sleeper depot
2214 was seen at St Denys at 10.41am on the 9.07am Newbury to Southampton Terminus
32424 was seen at Eastleigh at 10.46am
 
AT BASINGSTOKE:
 
35012 passed at 11.47am on the 11.00am Atlantic Coast Express 
34019 passed at 11.49am on the 10.12am Bournemouth W to Waterloo
34021 passed at 12.00pm on the 9.20am Weymouth to Waterloo (12)
30851 called 12.15/12.19pm on the 10.54am Waterloo to Salisbury
30862 passed 12.28pm on an Up Southampton Docks to Waterloo Ocean Liner Express (6).
35029 passed at 11.26am on the 10.30am Waterloo to Weymouth (13)
30863 called 12.25/12.30pm on the 11.30am Waterloo to Bournemouth W (11)
 
IN THE SOUTHAMPTON AND BOURNEMOUTH AREAS:
 
34106 called Southampton 1.17/1.21pm on the 11.30am Weymouth to Waterloo
30040 was on the 2.08pm Brockenhurst to Bournemouth W, via Ringwood
30539 and 30327 were at Wimborne. 44107, 30301, and 75072 were seen at Broadstone
30739, 41248, 30127, and 35010 were seen at Bournemouth West
35022 was ready to work the 4.34pm Bournemouth Belle to Waterloo.
76028 worked the 4.30pm to Brockenhurst, via Ringwood
30863 called Brockenhurst 5.54/5.56pm on the 5.05pm Bournemouth W to Waterloo (v+11)
34006 called Winchester 7.09/7.11pm on the 5.30pm Waterloo to Bournemouth W (11) 
33016, 31633, 75077, 30258, 30491, 30368, 30791, 30483, 30788, 30780, 30523, 34047, 30690, 30127, 30543, 30482, 30800, 30802, 32151, 30284, 31619 were seen at various locations on the Bournemouth line during the day. 

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 THURSDAY 5th JULY 1956: 
 
SOUTHAMPTON CENTRAL: 
 
30728 called 2.56/2.59pm on the 1.50pm Bournemouth W to Brighton (5)
34094 called 3.21/3.25pm on the 1.25pm Weymouth to Waterloo
34105 called 3.17/3.22pm on the 1.30pm Waterloo to Weymouth
34093 called 6.07/6.10pm on the 4.35pm Waterloo to Weymouth, the Royal Wessex (13)
 
SALISBURY: 
 
35019 called 3.43/3.48pm on the 3.00pm Waterloo to the West of England
35007 called 3.47/3.55pm on the 2.30pm Exeter Central to Waterloo (12)
73112 arrived 4.25pm on the 1.10pm Exeter Central to Salisbury
 
SOUTHAMPTON AREA
 
30851 called Southampton 6.16/6.20pm on 5.05pm Bournemouth W to Waterloo (v+11)
31633 passed Lyndhurst Road 8.27pm on the 6.30pm Swanage to Basingstoke (10)

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 FRIDAY 6th JULY 1956: 
 
SOUTHAMPTON AREA:
 
30765 called Southampton 4.38/4.42pm on the 9.20am Birkenhead to Bournemouth W (10)
76010 called Brockenhurst 8.48/8.54pm on the 8.10pm Southampton to Bournemouth
34043 passed Brockenhurst 8.31pm on the 6.30pm Waterloo to Weymouth (13)
 
 SATURDAY 7th JULY 1956: 
 
BASINGSTOKE: UP LINE:
 
30742 called 11.29/11.35am on the 9.30am Bournemouth C to Wolverhampton (10)
30865 passed 11.32am on the 10.00am Bournemouth C to Waterloo (10)
34043 passed 11.38am on the 10.08am Bournemouth C to Waterloo (11)
30739 called 11.50/11.54am on the 9.30am Bournemouth W to Birkenhead (10)
34110 passed 11.53am on the 8.25am Weymouth to Waterloo (10)
30765 passed 11.58am on the 10.20am Bournemouth W to Waterloo (11)
30522 passed 12.02pm Unidentified service (10)
76025 called 12.03/12.05pm on the 10.30am Lymington Pier to Waterloo (8)
34004 passed 12.07pm on the 9.20am Weymouth to Waterloo (11)
30749 departed 12.12pm on the 12.12pm Basingstoke to Waterloo (8)
75075 departed 12.12pm on the 12.10pm Basingstoke to Reading General
30456 passed 12.22pm on the 8.30am Exeter Central to Waterloo (11)
30785 passed 12.27pm? on the 9.25am Sidmouth to Waterloo (11)

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BASINGSTOKE: DOWN LINE: 
 
30860 passed 11.27am on the 10.30am Waterloo to Weymouth
35009 passed 11.31am on the 10.35am Waterloo to Padstow/Bude (13)
6853 arrived 11.36am on the 8.40am Birmingham SH to Portsmouth (10)
34065 passed 11.42am on the 10.45am Waterloo to Seaton (10)
30786 departed 11.45am on the 8.40am Birmingham SH to Portsmouth (10)
6924 called 11.55/12.02pm on the 8.40am Birmingham Moor St to Portsmouth Hbr (10)
30515 passed 12.00pm on a down Southampton Docks empty stock (11)
34044 passed 12.04pm on the 10.54am Waterloo to Swanage (10)
35011 passed 12.08pm on the 11.00am Waterloo to Ilfracombe (13)
34106 passed 12.12pm on the 11.05am Waterloo to Bournemouth West (11)
73110 passed 12.17pm on the 11.15am Waterloo to Bude (13)
30859 passed 12.21pm on the 11.22am Waterloo to Weymouth (10)
6925 arrived 12.12pm on the 8.42am Wolverhampton to Portsmouth Hbr (10)
75076 departed 12.20pm on the 8.42am Wolverhampton to Portsmouth Hbr (10)
31628 called 12.25/12.27pm on the 11.27am Woking to Salisbury (6)
30862 called 12.33/12.35pm on the 11.30am Waterloo to Bournemouth West (11)
 
SOUTHAMPTON AREA:
 
35020 called Southampton 1.55/1.59pm on the 12.30pm Bournemouth Belle (12P)
30863 called Southampton 2.05/2.09pm on the 12.20pm Waterloo to Bournemouth W (10)
35015 called Southampton 2.08/1.12pm on the 12.35pm Waterloo to Weymouth (12)
31805 called Southampton 2.02/2.06pm on the 10.08am Cardiff to Portsmouth (10)
6312 called Southampton 2.10/214pm on the 10.08am Cheltenham to Southampton T
31634 called Southampton 2.14/2.18pm on the 1.28pm Lymington Pier to Waterloo (10)
34093 passed Winchester 2.39pm on the 1.22pm Waterloo to Bournemouth C
35027 passed Weston 2.49pm on the 1.30pm Waterloo to Weymouth
30742 departed Basingstoke 3.05pm on the 12.15pm Birmingham SH to Bournemouth C
76012 departed Basingstoke 3.20pm on the 11.45am Wolverhampton to Bournemouth C
34005 called Southampton 4.16/4.20pm on the 3.05pm Bournemouth W to Waterloo
30863 called Southampton 6.04/6.08pm on the 3.50pm Weymouth to Waterloo
30854 called Southampton 6.16/6.20pm on the 5.05pm Bournemouth W to Waterloo 
76026 called Southampton 6.14/6.28pm on the 12.10pm Sheffield Vic to Bournemouth (10)
35022 called Southampton 6.18/6.22pm on the 4.35pm Royal Wessex (13)

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 TUESDAY 10th JULY 1956: 
 
BOURNEMOUTH TO WEYMOUTH:
 
34005 worked the 10.30am Waterloo to Weymouth (7) and 3.50pm return (7)
30318 was seen at Poole.
At Weymouth were 30475, 30786, 34001, 34011, 34049, 30535, 34049, 7004, 5919, 5956, 6945, 6327, 4507, 4624, 1367, 1370.
On the return journey to New Milton, 30850, 30862, 30536, 30128, were seen in the Poole and Bournemouth area.
 
 WEDNESDAY 11th JULY 1956: 
 
HINTON ADMIRAL-WATERLOO-SOUTHAMPTON-NEW MILTON: Also TONBRIDGE:
 
34108 passed Hinton Admiral 11.37am on the 11.05am Bournemouth W to Waterloo (v+11)
34110 passed Hinton Admiral 11.48am on the 11.16am Bournemouth W to Newcastle (9)
76015 called Hinton Admiral 11.30am on the 10.29am Southampton to Bournemouth (6)
34067 passed Hinton Admiral 11.52am on the 9.40am Brighton to Bournemouth (7)
30523 called Hinton Admiral 12.08/12.09pm on the 11.36am Bournemouth to Southampton
34093 called Southampton 1.17/1.21pm on the 11.30am Weymouth to Waterloo (v+11)
35002, 35030, and 34108 were seen at Waterloo. 32493 was at Clapham Junction
30930 (11.30am ex Ramsgate) and 30931 were seen at Waterloo East at 3.00pm and 3.17pm respectively.
34083 worked the 3.15pm Charing Cross to Margate (11). 30772, 33030, 31915, 31916, 31743, and 31068 were seen in the Hither Green area. 31517 was at Tonbridge. 30922 worked the 3.20pm Hastings to Charing Cross (11).
At Waterloo, 30850 worked the 5.20pm Holland Africa Boat train, 73119 worked the 5.42pm to Salisbury, and 35013 the 6.00pm West of England service. Also seen at Waterloo were 30779, 30449, 30489, and 30245.
30858 and 30520 were seen at Nine Elms, 30693 at Woking, 73110 near Fleet. 82016 and 30783 were at Southampton, and 76028 worked the 8.10pm Southampton to Bournemouth
 
 THURSDAY 12th JULY 1956: 
 
CHRISTCHURCH: UP LINE:
 
34108 passed 12.48pm on 11.30am Weymouth to Waterloo (11+v)
30865 called 1.30/1.32pm on 1.05pm Bournemouth West to Waterloo (V+11)
32424 called 2.10/2.12pm on 1.50pm Bournemouth West to Brighton (5)
34043 passed 2.48pm on 1.25pm Weymouth to Waterloo (12)
30509 passed on Up freight (47+b) 
73118 called 3.30/3.32pm on 3.05pm Bournemouth West to Waterloo (11)
 
CHRISTCHURCH: DOWN LINE:
 
34005 passed 12.37pm on 10.30am Waterloo to Weymouth (12)
30491 called 1.09/1.10pm on 12.10pm Southampton to Bournemouth Central (3)
30862 called 2.13/2.14pm on 11.30am Waterloo to Bournemouth West (11+v)
35027 passed 2.30pm on the 12.30pm Bournemouth Belle (12P)
30690 passed 2.40pm on down freight (24+b)
30852 called 3.20/3.22pm on 1.29pm Fareham to Bournemouth West (4)

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 FRIDAY 13th JULY 1956: 
 
SOUTHAMPTON TO WATERLOO:
 
35022, 34040, 34045, 34093, 34106, 30852, 30729, 76011, and 7808  were seen in the Southampton and Eastleigh area, and at Waterloo and London area were 35001, 34020, 34065, 30763, 30779, 30847, 33038, 30694, 32499, 30320, and 30132.
 
MARYLEBONE TO RUGBY CENTRAL:
  
On the ex Great Central line from Marylebone, 60820 worked the 6.18pm Master Cutler (9), 69341, 67772, 80137, and 80138 were in the London area. London Transport locomotives seen included Benjamin Disraeli, and Lord Byron. SR 30483 was seen at Neasden.
  
RUGBY MIDLAND TO BIRMINGHAM NEW STREET:
 
At Rugby Midland, I saw Stanier 4-6-2's nos 46242 and 46247, Royal Scot no 46111, and Jubilees 45555, 45592, and 45716. I travelled on 45716, a 68A Carlisle Kingmoor locomotive, back to Birmingham New Street on the 7.00pm Euston to Birmingham (10+v)
   
 

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 JOURNEYS MADE: 2nd to 13th JULY 1956:  

date (1956)

loco (s)

 route from-to

 

2nd July

45056

Birmingham New Street-Bath Green Park

34040

Bath Green Park-Poole (40568 Pilot to Evercreech Jc)

30536

Poole-Christchurch

3rd July

34094

New Milton-Southampton

32425

Southampton-Brockenhurst

35010

Brockenhurst-Eastleigh

34110

Eastleigh-Basingstoke

35027

Basingstoke-Brockenhurst

73114

Brockenhurst-Winchester

34040

Winchester-Bournemouth Central

34019

Bournemouth Central-Southampton

34095

Southampton-New Milton

4th July

34094

New Milton-Basingstoke

30863

Basingstoke-Brockenhurst

30040

Brockenhurst-Bournemouth West via Wimborne

76028

Bournemouth West-Brockenhurst via Wimborne

30863

Brockenhurst-Winchester

34006

Winchester-New Milton

5th July

30728

New Milton-Southampton

31795

Southampton-Salisbury

76018

Salisbury-Southampton

30707

Southampton-New Milton

6th July

76010

Lyndhurst Road-New Milton

7th July

30742

New Milton-Basingstoke

30862

Basingstoke-Southampton

31634

Southampton-Basingstoke

76012

Basingstoke-Southampton

31809

Southampton-Salisbury

30732+30285

Salisbury-Southampton

76026

Southampton-New Milton

10th July

34005

Bournemouth Central-Weymouth

34005

Weymouth-Bournemouth Central

30850

Bournemouth Central-New Milton

11th July

30523

Hinton Admiral-Southampton

34093

Southampton-Waterloo

34083

Waterloo East-Tonbridge

30922

Tonbridge-Waterloo East

34093

Waterloo-Southampton

76028

Southampton-New Milton

13th July

34106

Southampton-Waterloo

60820

Marylebone-Rugby Central

45716

Rugby Midland-Birmingham New Street
 

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Above Left: The 1955 Southern Summer timetable (price One Shilling). It has had the tears and stains digitally removed. Above right: Part of the Waterloo to Weymouth page in a 1955 Working timetable, retrieved from a waste bin on Southampton Central station in July 1956.