THE BEGINNING OF THE END FOR SOUTHERN STEAM

摘要

New Year's Day 1966 was a glorious winter's day with a cloudless sky, bright sunshine and (best of all) Southern Region steam parading in front of me. My location was the cinder path that ran parallel to the Bournemouth main line at Southampton Central to the next suburban station at Millbrook. My reason for being there was to photograph the unusual sight of a non-stop passenger train passing through Southampton, the LCGB's 'Mendip Merchantman' railtour, bound for the Somerset and Dorset, which was scheduled through at 10.03, but duly emerged about 13 minutes late, hauled by a very clean Bulleid 'Merchant Navy' No. 35011 General Steam Navigation.