More Salisbury Steam

During July 1988 Area Manager Gerald Daniels arranged for three weekends of steam operation based on Salisbury, the intention being to celebrate the 21st Anniversary of the end of steam on the Southern Region.
Although it hasn't proved to be the case, it was thought at the time that these could well be the last steam hauled trains between Salisbury and Yeovil since, due to restructuring the Salisbury area management was being disbanded ending Gerald Daniels work there, a pity as he had done much to promote rail travel in his area, and not just through running steam hauled trains!
The locomotives for these trains were to be 777 and 34092. As on previous similar events 777 wasn't ready in time and due the broken piston rings sustained whilst working out of Marlylebone 34092 missed the first weekend although it did make it to Salisbury in time to take part in working the Anniversary Pullman on 10th July.
Substituting for 777 was ex LMS 8F 2-8-0 48151, hardly a locomotive typical of the area in steam days, but typical or not, in the hands of the very enthusiastic Salisbury drivers who believed that they were having their last fling with steam we were treated to some remarkably fine running with this locomotive.
I didn't manage to get down to Salisbury until the final weekend and, in view of what transpired, I'm certainly glad that I did!
On each day the train ran diesel hauled from London so the first steam running on the morning of Saturday 23rd July 1988 was with 48151 from Andover to Salisbury.
In this recording the 8F is heard departing from Andover and beginning the climb to Grately.

This was followed by a run to Romsey and back with Unrebuilt Bullied West Country Pacific 34092 'City of Wells'.
In this recording 34092 is heard departing from Romsey heading back to Salisbury.

After an excellent run from Salisbury with 34092 in the afternoon we arrived at Templecombe where we had a photo run past before departing for Yeovil Jc.
Gerald Daniels had arranged for an inspection saloon hauled by a Class 33 diesel to proceed the train to this point and by virtue of the fact that from Templecombe to Yeovil the line was double track and signalled for reversible running this saloon, filled with video and film cameramen, was going run down the up(!) line to Yeovil and pace our train.
This recording was made soon after departure from Templecombe and you can hear 33050 begin to accelerate as 34092 reaches the double track section just beyond the station.
The driver on the Class 33 had been told that a speed of no more than 25 mph on the 1 in 100 gradient would probably be sufficient to keep ahead of 34092 but he reckoned without driver Ron Luckins who decided to turn this into a race! At the top of the 1 in 100 gradient about 2 miles from the start 34092 had reached 30 mph and on the easier gradients beyond speed soon passed a mile a minute.
As you might expect, a Class 33 on 1 coach had no difficulty keeping ahead of us but beyond Milborne Port where the gradient begins to fall towards Sherborne the driver of the diesel was instructed to slow down and allow us to overtake. Having allowed the entire train to pass he then found that it was no easy matter to catch up again!. He had to use full power on the falling gradient and it was only after we had passed through Sherborne station travelling at quite a high speed that he was able to get ahead and proceed us into Yeovil Jc.
The Southern Region Training Centre Film Unit produced a video of this run and if you can get hold of a copy after all these years it makes most entertaining viewing. Fear not, I do not appear in it!
The return from journey from Yeovil Jc. was even more entertaining with yet more very high speed running.

After the dismal weather we had experienced on the Saturday, Sunday 24th July 1988 dawned bright and sunny. The first thing on the agenda was a run to Yeovil Jc. and back with the ex LMS 8F 2-8-0 48151.
With Salisbury driver Fred Beavis in charge we had an excellent run with the climb to Semley being taken in fine style the summit being passed at a minimum speed of 45 mph.
On to Templecombe things got more interesting!
The 8F, with it's 4' 8½” driving wheels was restricted (in theory at least) to a maximum speed of 50 mph but despite this we passed non-stop through the loop at Gillingham at rather more than this and reached an even higher speed in the dip after Buckhorn Weston Tunnel!
As we came to a stand at Templecombe looking forwards I noticed various support crew, despite the lack of a platform on that side, leaping from their coach almost before we had stopped and hurrying towards their engine intent on seeing if anything had fallen off or melted. I turned to a friend who was at the opposite window but before I could say anything he described the same thing happening at his side!
Fortunately, although one bearing was found to be a little warm, no damage was done but after the locomotive owner and Mr. Beavis had a few words the rest of the run to Yeovil and back to Salisbury was taken at speeds rather nearer the locomotive's theoretical limit.
With the support crew members feeling a little calmer 48151 is heard departing from Templecombe and starting on the 1 in 100 gradient towards the summit near Milborne Port.

Returning from Yeovil Jc. we stopped at Gillingham for a 15 minute photo stop.
With all the passengers back on board 48151 is heard soon after departing starting on the climb to Semley, reached at a very creditable 28 mph.

Now for another go with 34092!
Our driver for the afternoon run to Yeovil Jc. and back was Don Macey who also wasn't prepared to let what could be his last chance for a run with steam pass without making it special.
Right from the start he soon demonstrated that he intended to give us as good a run as possible with 'City of Wells'.
34092 is heard in this recording reaching the summit at Semley.
This time 34092 was able to maintain speed above 60 mph right to the summit.

Once over Semley it soon became apparent that we were in for some more high speed running.
This next recording was made soon after passing through Gillingham as 34092 passes through Buckhorn Weston Tunnel and accelerating on the falling gradients beyond.
In view of the speed we achieved before Templecombe, which was sufficiently high that it had better not appear in print, I will say no more about this recording!
For those of us who were fortunate to be there, that weekend provided some amazing experiences and, for me, this was the most unforgetable. This is one of the recordings that I never imagined I would ever get the opportunity to make.

If you want to know a little more about what happened, there is some more information about this track in the notes to the steamsounds Volume 5 audio CD. Have a look at the notes to track 14!