Poole
When I first started at my New Secondary School, Henry Harbin in 1982, I did not realise how much effect that school would have on my life. For the main reason was that the Waterloo - Weymouth Railway ran next door to the school. Ample train spotting then.... Hell Yeah. With a few detention's thrown in for good measure from teachers who caught me out of school during break times venturing to get the number of the loco shunting in the yard sidings running along side the school laneway, for my other train buffs at the rear gate. Hey at least I was a team player!!!!
Also the evenings that I used to spend down at the station with and without my younger brother "cabbing" and getting the occasional cab rides in a 47 down to the sidings where the loco would run round the train. These photos mainly aim around the time of 1982 - 1992 and cover the Electrification of the line from Branksome to Weymouth. Here they are.
Taken from Sterte Bridge looking towards Broadstone Junction an engineering gang is busy relaying the run-round/yard entry sidings at Poole. This would enable the interegional trains to gain entry to the sidings from the station end and not having to pull upto the semaphore signal and reverse onto the up line then into the sidings then running back into the sidings once the loco had cleared the points (see next photo). This was taken around late 1982.
This shot we see an unidentified 47 on the other end of the engineers train. The 2 sets of points from the down line to the up and the up into the sidings were also removed over subsequent weekends.
Taken from Sterte Road a BR blue 47 and its load of 60 foot track panels is sat on the old Quay line sidings, that at this point in time still intact.
An unidentified 33/1 propels a 4 TC down to Weymouth on a cold snowy winters day in 1983.
a 4TC prepares to slow for its stop at Poole behind an unidentified class 33 with snow on the ground.
An unidentified Class 47 in BR Blue on a mixed freight from Hamworthy bound for Eastleigh. Around 1982. This was taken from the footpath that runs adjacent to the railway and did provide some good viewing places.
A view that has changed considerably over the past 25 years. looking from the station footbridge an unidentified 47 prepares to reverse onto its rake of coaches for an inter-regional service to the North. The sidings on the far left used to go down to Poole Quay but have long since been removed. Compare the above shot with This shot of Poole from the extended platforms from 2005.
Intercity Scotrail liveried 47642 awaits in the carriage sidings at the head of its inter-regional train for permission to enter Platform 1 at Poole.
Pusher 33106 draws into Platform 2 with a service for Weymouth whilst a 4tc (with 33/1 at the rear) waits for the green in Platform 1.
Another pusher on the rear of the 4TC in the above photo leaves bound for Bournemouth.
Two shots of a frequent visitor to Poole behind 73114. The Venice Simpleon Orient Express Train. Why it came to Poole was to me unclear at the time. Mainly just to run round but I am not sure what workings these were. Note the Out of Use signal on the gantry over the up line. This would date the picture around 1986 - 87. Just after electrification of the route to Weymouth Class 73's were more of a visitor to Poole and Weymouth, mainly as the 33's were being pulled from the Bournemouth - Weymouth runs and thus loco shortages arrived as well as the new Class 442 Stock had still not arrived.
An Executive 47 leads our train into Poole.... "Why is this so important"? I asked myself. Well its hauling an 8 car TC. There was no class 33 spare to power it. The Service worked its way down to Weymouth where it terminated. Not sure what happened after that.
1210 Awaits to leave Poole with a service to Waterloo with on the newly electrifeid line.
Large Logo variant 47522 glides into the newly extended platform 1 at Poole on an unidentified Inter-regional working.
47578 The Royal Society of Edinburgh waits for the off on an unidentified inter-regional service.
47600 at arrives at Poole with an inter-regional service from the north. This would have been around the time just after the power had been switched on through Poole down to Weymouth.
2 InterCity liveried Class 73's haul a presumably failed Large Logo 47 into Poole Carriage sidings. Apart from an Inter-regional that was running late due tot he failed loco I am not sure what the working was.
Executive liveried 73 pushes a 4 Car TC unit in to the carriage sidings at Poole. The Class 442's trains were running by this time but not enough were available to run all the services so Class 73's and 4/8 car TC's were deputised for the Poole - Waterloo runs.
47831 waits to enter the reception sidings while an unidentified 73 comes out with a Poole to London Waterloo service.
More shots of the 73's deputising for the 442's.
Another failed Loco on an inter-regional service gets the R for the reception sidings. Not the Executive 47 has its rear marker lights still on!!!!
Two shots of the first HST run to Weymouth on summer Saturdays.
The return journey from Weymouth. 43188 in Intercity Executive livery sits at Platform 1 waiting to leave.
No look back at Poole should be without photos of the 442's before SouthWest Trains re-painted them. Here 2402 on a service to Waterloo. These units came in under the Network Southeast area although it was still officaly British Rail these were all painted in the new NSE livery. There was an awful amount of promotion for the onslaught of the Wessex Expresses as they were known. Badges, Rulers and other assorted Stationary pads etc. My proudest bit of Wessex Electric property is a Bournemouth - Weymouth Electrification tie that I was given. I still use the Wessex Electrics ruler this day :)
The Side of the MBRBS (Motor Buffet Standard with luggage space and Guards Comparment) had the Wessex Electric logo and the nameplate fitted.
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