Echoes of Steam: Steam on the Southern 1965/67 (55-mins) (AUDIO CD)
Ref: CDGW02
Features the sounds of loco action at Southampton, Ryde & Lyndhurst in the '60s. (Audio CD)
Track 1 (1.12) The station announcer 'sets the scene' at Southampton Central, broadcasting the services to London and Southampton Terminus, before our introductory music takes over to conclude Track One
Track 2 (1.53) We begin our recordings 'proper' on Saturday 12th June 1965 amidst teeming rain as Bulleid's Pacifics battle their wheel slip problems on the wet rails at Southampton. However, we start with two Standards: 4-6-0 no. 73112 at 14.08 with a Weymouth relief and 2-6-0 no. 76066 easing through on a down freight two minutes later at 14.10.
Track 3 (4.02) The Bulleid Pacifics had many claims to fame - one being their notorious tendency to wheel slip, especially in wet weather (or when crews realised they were being recorded!) The rain has now stopped but the wet conditions are still causing the Pacifics real problems, as Merchant Navy no. 35017 'Belgian Marine' takes an incredible 4 minutes to get out of the station with the down Bournemouth Belle!
Track 4 (2.03) Next, West Country no. 34018 'Axminster' draws out at 14.15 with a Boumemouth relief and is followed by 2-6-4 Tank no. 80138 passing on a down freight at 14.30. Then the station announcer calls the services for Southampton Terminus and London, before Standard 2-6-0 no. 76057 leaves with the Southampton Terminus service at 15.10.
Track 5 (2.44) Seven minutes later, at 15.17, the non stop service to Waterloo departs Platform One behind Standard 4-6-0 no. 73092, and after the Brighton and Portsmouth train is announced as following in on the same platform, a Bournemouth train, behind Merchant Navy no. 35023 'Holland Afrika Line', leaves at 15.23. Notice Phil Warrington asking the crew to whistle for the recording as the Pacific slips on the wet rails!
Track 6 [2:37) Standard 4-6-0 no. 73029 leaves at 15.55 with the Liverpool portion of the Pines Express for Bournemouth, and the 12.36 Cardiff to Portsmouth service is announced before getting away on time at 16.03 behind Standard 2-6-0 no. 76031. Then West Country no. 34044 'Woolacombe' drifts out effortlessly at 16.07, also for Bournemouth.
Track 7 (4.03) Standard 4-6-0 no. 73093 is next, arriving and then departing at 16.15 on a service from Waterloo, before 2-6-2 Tank no. 41284 pulls away at 17.10 for Eastleigh, and Merchant Navy no. 35017 'Belgian Marine' returns with the up Bournemouth Belle at 17.20. Maybe the Pacific has now found a dry spot on the rails, for this departure features little of the drama witnessed during the earlier 'down' working!
Track 8 (4.31) The way in which Bulleid's Pacifics responded to their final challenge was worthy of the great man himself, but they never did completely overcome their wheel slip problems. Listen to the first two of these engines, which are both heading for Bournemouth: Battle of Britain no. 34087 '145 Squadron' at 17.25 and Merchant Navy no. 35011 'General Steam Navigation' at 17.40. Then compare the almost effortless departures of Battle of Britain no. 34082 '615 Squadron' at 17.50 on a Channel Islands boat express from Weymouth to Waterloo, and fellow Merchant Navy no. 35030 'Elder Dempster Lines' leaving for Bournemouth at 18.10. Also notice the enthusiast telling Phil Warrington that they've 'broken up the carriage set' on this train - even with a station full of Bulleid Pacifics, people were still looking at the coaching stock!!
Track 9 (2.12) Next, two Standard 2-6-Os: 76057 leaves at 18.17 on a local to Salisbury (notice the same enthusiast now telling Phil Warrington that, after 'copping' Battle of Britain 35030, he 'only wants one now'!) and 76018 pulls out at 18.43 to Cardiff. And as the station announcer broadcasts the services at Platform One and Platform Two, we conclude our first visit to Southampton - we'll return to the Southern Main Line in February 1967, later in these recordings.
The Isle of Wight has been described as 'the island where time stands still', but, unfortunately for the railways, it did anything but that in the 1950s and 1960s, when the railway system, which had previously reached all four extremities of the island, only just evaded total closure and was reduced to a service between Ryde and Shanklin only. However, if this cloud did have a silver lining, maybe it was that the Class 02 steam locomotives continued working the route right up until the end of 1966 - giving enthusiasts the necessary warning and opportunity to record the locos for posterity.
Track 10 (3.19) It's now Saturday the 19th September 1965, and we begin our recordings at Ryde Pier Head. In the distance a hovercraft arrives from the mainland before Class 02 locomotive, no. 24 'Calbourne' departs at 15.25 towards Ryde Esplanade. This is then followed by locomotive no. 20 'Shanklin', departing at 15.30 for Cowes, and no. 29 'Alverstone' leaving at 15.35 for Ventnor. The sound 01 these Class 02 locomotives was greatly influenced by their Westinghouse brake pumps, the noise from which was totally separate from the sound of the engine.
Track 11 (2.36) Now we've moved inland, to Ryde St. Johns Rd, for a ride behind loco no. 24 'Calbourne' on a Ryde to Ventnor service, running around 10 minutes late out of Ryde. But first, a mischievous driver 'blows a crow' on the whistle of loco no. 29 'Alverstone' as he brings a service out of the station for Cowes. Then, with a whistle from the guard, we depart Ryde St. Johns Rd. station for Brading.
Track 12 (3.43) In this sequence we're still behind Class 02 no. 24 'Calbourne' on the Ryde to Ventnor train. The trip has obviously been 'edited down' for the sake of brevity, but here we're leaving Brading before arriving at Sandown.
Track 13 (3.10) Back on the platform now - at St. John's Rd and three more 02s pass through. No. 31 'Chale' at 16.20 for Pier Head: no. 35 'Freshwater', leaving 6 minutes late at 16.24 for Cowes and no. 28 'Ashey', also 6 minutes late, at 16.32 with a Ryde to Ventnor train.
Track 14 (2.03) We've now moved back north to the station at Esplanade. No. 20 'Shanklin' leaves at 17.15 for Pier Head, before no. 29 'Atherstone' follows 10 minutes later at 17.25, also for Pier Head, and 'Shanklin' returns at 17.30 for Ventnor.
Track 15 (1.19) Still at Ryde Esplanade, no. 35 'Freshwater' leaves at 18.10 for Pier Head, whilst no. 28 'Ashey' heads off, also for Pier Head, at 18.20.
Track 16 (2.01) In the next sequence, the no. 7 tram is heard, running past Ryde Esplanade station, before no. 28 'Ashey' returns at 18.23 for Cowes, no. 35 'Freshwater' leaves at 18.28 for Ventnor and no. 31 'Chale' leaves at 19.10 for Pier Head.
Track 17 (2.04) Our final recordings on the Island feature three more 02s: no. 20 'Shanklin' leaves at 19.18 for Pier Head, no. 28 'Ashey' leaves at 19.22 (or Cowes and no. 31 'Chale' departs at 19.28 for Ventnor three steam hauled passenger trains in 10 minutes - not bad, even for 1966!! However, soon Dr. Beeching would close the sections of the route between Smallbrook Junction and Cowes, and between Shanklin and Ventnor, leaving the 02s to soldier on between Ryde and Shanklin until the end of steam.
Track 18 (5.04) It's now almost 2 years later - the 4th of February 1967, and we're back at Southampton Central to catch West Country no. 34021 'Dartmoor' slipping away at 15.55 for Bournemouth. But steam seems to be at more of a premium than it was during our previous visit, since it's 18.10 before we encounter our next 'action', as 34047 'Callington' leaves with a York to Poole service. Then Merchant Navy locomotive no. 35023 'Holland-Afrika Line' draws in and departs at 18.14 with the 18.09 for Waterloo and fellow 'Merchant Navy', no. 35007 'Aberdeen Commonwealth' drifts out at 18.45 for Eastleigh.
Track 19 (1.54) Earlier in the same day we visited Lyndhurst on the northern edge of the New Forest, just south of Southampton on the Southern Main Line. Birdsong mingles with the steam, as Standard 4-6-0 no. 75076 is 10 minutes late on a Southampton to Bournemouth local at 13.25, and Merchant Navy no. 35008 'Orient Line' passes at 13.50 with the 11.30 Waterloo to Bournemouth.
Track 20 (3.38) And we end our recordings, still at Lyndhurst on the same day, with more Bulleid Pacifics at speed, beginning with Battle of Britain no. 34087 '145 Squadron' on a Waterloo train at 15.05. Interestingly, Phil Warrington left his tape running after this, as he tells his friend that he's hoping to record the locos whistling in the distance. Then, when Phil asks whether there's 'another one coming', his friend replies with a scornful 'diesel' and, after Phil remarks that 'we don't want this then, do we?', the recorder is abruptly turned off!! However, there would be more steam on the day, as this is then followed by what would be the last of the Battle of Britain types to be withdrawn - no. 34090 'Sir Eustace Missenden, Southern Railway' - running light towards Bournemouth at 15.25 (and this time Phil did manage to record the whistle in the distance!!) Then, finally, as Phil suggests that it's a 'bit dark' for a photograph, West Country no. 34102 'Lapford' flies past at 15.52 with a Waterloo to Bournemouth passenger express - after which we'll let the comments of sound recordist Phil Warrington and the fellow enthusiast at the line side speak for themselves.
Price: £12.24 (Including VAT at 20%)
Price: £10.20 Excluding VAT (non-EU countries e.g.Australia)
