Slamdoors and semaphores

A misty morning at Brockenhurst station and a pair of class 442 5WES units 2414 and 2413 roll in with 1W32 0848 SuO Weymouth to Waterloo service.

1499 is a renumbered class 421 4CIG unit with a coach removed to make it a 3CIG set. Two were reconfigured soley for the Lymington branch. 1499 heads away from Brokenhurst with 2P17 1029 SuO Brokenhurst to Lymington Pier.

A class 423 4VEP unit 3539 runs into Brokenhurst with grafitti on the front corridor connection door. The working is 1B36 1005 SuO Bournemouth to Waterloo.

The new order for South West Trains, Desiro class 450 unit 450030 makes its station stop with a down train, 0754 SuO Waterloo to Bournemouth.

A Bournemouth bound unknown Cross Country working slows for its Brokenhurst stop formed of a pair of Voyager units, tilting 221141 and non tilting 220029.

I had returned to the carpark to move away from the station when my phone rang. It was the driver of the Lymington train, Phil. He had seen someone on the platform and wondered if it was me, it was. So I returned and took a trip down the branch. 1499 returns with 2P20 1044 SuO Lymington Pier to Brokenhurst.

1499 stands at platform 4b and Phil can be seen walking away to make a cup of tea before heading back to Lymington. To the left in platform 2 is 220003 working 1M70 1040 SuO Bournemouth to Crewe Cross Country.

1499 stands at Lymington Pier and will return at 1114 with 2P11 SuO back to Lymington. The journey takes 10 minutes. The branch headcode is 97. In the background is the ferry to Yarmouth on the Isle of Wight.

Back at Brockenhurst and Desiro units 450035 and 450030 have returned from Waterloo working 1B40 1105 SuO train to Bournemouth.

Out in the New Forest and 1499 heads back to Brockenhurst from Lymington with 2P24 1144SuO departure. This unit and sister 1498 were bought by SWT for use on the branch.

The earlier mist had burnt off into a warm sunny day. Phil takes 1499 back to Lymington, 1159 off Brockenhurst, 2P23 Sundays Only.

Class 423 4VEP units 3405 and 3458 depart Brockenhurst with a working I believe to be 1B23 1036 SuO Woking to Bournemouth.

An over bridge near Bottramsley and 1499 approaches forming 2P25 1229 SuO Brockenhurst to Lymington Pier. The set passes one of the common concrete p. way huts produced en-mass by the SR plant at Exeter. Mileposts 95 and 94 3/4 miles from Waterloo are visible.

Another move and to Lymington itself. Bathed in warm sunshine but with a cold wind, 1499 crosses the viaduct over the Lymington River with 2P27 1259 SuO off Brokenhurst. The set has just left Lymington Town station for the very short run to the pier.

Phil has put up the 97 headcode for one last time as he gets away from Lymington's Pier station with 2P30 1314 SuO off to Brokenhurst. He will have one more return run then goes home to Bournemouth on the cushions.

Another move and an unknown class 170 Turbostar passes over the River Itchen at St. Denys forming 1Y48 1519 SuO Southampton to Portsmouth and Southsea.

Under a cloudless sky a class 450 Desiro unit crosses the viaduct over the Itchen between Bitterne and St Denys stations. The unit is deployed on 2E44 1422 SuO Portsmouth and Southsea to Southampton all stations stopper.

Another move and another viaduct. Class 421 4CIG 1398 rumbles over the Hamble River Viaduct at Burlesdon with 2E48 1542 SuO Portsmouth and Southsea to Southampton class 2 local service.

Desiro class 450 unit 450045 passes the disused ex LSWR signalbox at Botley with a stopping service 1T43 1624 SuO Eastleigh to Portsmouth Harbour.

With fast fading light, class 423 4VEP units 3811 and 3536 slow for its Micheldever stop forming 1B51 1654 SuO Waterloo to Bournemouth service. Set 3811 leads.

The guard on board back set 3536 looks back at me as his train departs the otherwise deserted station.

A new day and a new location. Worting Junction to the west of Basingstoke is where the Salisbury and Exeter line bears right from the Southampton and Bournemouth road. An unknown class 221 Super Voyager passes by with 1O04 0505 from Manchester Piccadilly to Bournemouth running about 20 minutes late.

A twelve coach, 3 unit train passes heading for Basingstoke. 4VEP units 3811, 3534 and 3405 form 1G22 0745 Portsmouth Harbour to Waterloo.

A foot bridge passes over the railway here and forms a perfect viewpoint for traffic on the line below. 5WES cl;ass 422 unit 2410 forms 1B26 0755 Poole to Waterloo commuter service.

Another class of unit from the Desiro family is the class 444 five coach unit. 444030 and 444014 forms 1B19 0839 Waterloo to Southampton South West Trains service.

The sun was doing a fair job in making an appearance on this morning. It lights 220003 passing the "Worting Junction" sign on the left of the set. It is employed on 1M07 0846 off Bournemouth to Manchester Piccadilly.

The light had improved to allow the 300mm lens and the layout of the junction is shown. 66571 brings it train, 4E44 0901 Southampton Millbrook to Leeds Freightliner, off Battledown Flyover which carries the up line over the Salisbury route which uses the middle two roads looking left. On the far left is the down line to Southampton which goes straigh ahead.

On the up road, 450045 drops off Battledown Flyover with a Brighton to Basingstoke working, 1Y22, 0750 off the south coast town.