Back on Southern Region Metals where she belongs... for the first time since being retired from service in August 1964, before being moved to the Barry Island 'Steam Graveyard', eventually moving to Carnforth Steamtown for restoration to main line condition between 2012 & 2017, BR(S) Rebuilt Merchany Navy no. 35018 'British India Line' returned to the Capital, to work a pair of "Railway Touring Company" Southern based railtours out of London Victoria, along her old stomping ground on the South Western Mainline to Weymouth.
This video sees the 4-6-2 at the head of both excursions, with the first being July 6th's 'Bournemouth Belle', running to Weymouth via Eastleigh and Bournemouth, and return from Southampton via Andover and Basingstoke - seen passing Test Lane foot crossing near Redbridge, shortly after restarting from Southampton Central at the first leg of the 'Up' trip to London, shortly followed by Putney on the Hounslow Loop line.
July 9th, exactly 52 years after the demise of Steam on the Southern Network, would then see another run to Weymouth with Bulleid's brilliance, this time running via Sailsbury to reach Yeovil Junction on the 'Down' run, where no. 35018 was detached, turned and serviced at the nearby Railway Centre, ahead of running 'Light Engine' tender-first to Weymouth, to work the return back to Victoria by the previous Saturday's outward itinerary, and is captured at Wandsworth Town, climbing away from Templecombe on the bank toward Sherborne during the morning run, and the Railway Centre itself during her 'pit stop'. The return to London is then captured at the foot of Upwey Bank, where Driver Pete Roberts had the regulator in the roof for the 1 in 50 climb to Bincombe Tunnel, making up time lost at Weymouth due to shunting manoeuvres, followed by her passenger drop off departure from Woking, on it's final leg toward the capital.
All shots filmed on July the 6th and 9th, in 4K with a pair of Panasonic VX870 and VX980 camcorders, with a pair of Takstar SGC-598 Microphones.
/ jpmediaphotography
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