CLASS 73 ELECTRO-DIESEL & 4-VEP ELECTRIC UNIT RETURN HOME - 12th May 2008

Press Release from Andrew P.M. Wright - dated 15th May 2008
Official photographer & press officer, Swanage Railway.
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Swanage signalman Andrew Moody displays a green flag to the four-coach VEP unit driver and the four-coach unit, resplendent in its rich British Rail livery of blue with yellow in the strong sunshine, is pushed by the the Class 73 electro-diesel No. 73 007 ‘Spitfire’ out of the headshunt siding and into the main platform at Swanage station on Monday 12th May, 2008.

By Andrew P.M. Wright

The scene was eerily reminiscent of the final days of steam at Bournemouth motive power depot during early July, 1967 – as the new electric traction in British Rail blue prepared to take over from the Bulleids and Standards completely.

But, it was not Bournemouth, it was Swanage. And it was a hot and still Monday mid-morning in May, 2008, rather than the ‘summer of love’.

Resplendent in its rich British Rail livery of blue with yellow in the strong sunshine, the four-coach VEP unit sat under the Northbrook Road bridge as the Class 73 electro-diesel No. 73 007 ‘Spitfire’ idled at its rear on Monday 12th May, 2008.

Resplendent in its rich British Rail livery of blue with yellow in the strong sunshine, the four-coach VEP unit sat under the Northbrook Road bridge as the Class 73 electro-diesel No. 73 007 ‘Spitfire’ idled at its rear. It's Monday 12th May, 2008.

Across the tracks, on the coal dock by the engine shed, Standard Class 4 tank No. 80104 was out of traffic for maintenance. The contrast between steam and the new Bournemouth line electric traction of July, 1967, was sharp.

In the main platform, rebuilt West Country class Bulleid Pacific No. 34028 ‘Eddystone’ waited to haul the 11.10am train to Herston, Harman’s Cross, Corfe Castle and Norden park and ride.

Rebuilt West Country class Bulleid Pacific No. 34028 ‘Eddystone’ passes the VEP unit and visiting Class 07 0-6-0 No 007 shunter at Swanage signal box on Monday 12th May, 2008.

With the sound of the guard’s whistle travelling in the slight coastal breeze, ‘Eddystone’ crept out of Swanage – past the signal box with signalman Andrew Moody handing the single line tablet to the driver and then past the VEP unit.

The contrast between steam and the new electric traction of the summer of 1967 was reminiscent of the first few days of July, 1967, before steam was ousted at the end of Sunday, 9th July, 1967.

Swanage signalman Andrew Moody displays a green flag to the VEP driver allowing the electro-diesel and the four-coach unit out of the headshunt siding and into the main platform on Monday 12th May 2008.

After the last carriage of the passenger train glided out of station limits, Swanage signalman Andrew Moody displayed a green flag to the VEP driver and the electro-diesel pushed the four-coach unit out of the headshunt siding and into the main platform.

As the sunshine poured through the glass of the 1938 station canopy on to the VEP, it was like going back in time to the summer of 1967 when the three and four coach TC (trailer control) push-pull stock started to visit Swanage on through London trains.

The four-coach VEP unit stands at Swanage station on Monday 12th May, 2008.

Hauled by Class 33, Class 73 and Class 74 diesel locomotives, the through trains continued to run down to Corfe Castle and Swanage until they were withdrawn by British Rail in early October, 1969. After that date, passengers had to change trains at Wareham.

After ‘Eddystone’s train reached Corfe Castle on that hot Monday morning at Swanage in May, 2008, the arm of the starting signal at the end of the long main platform form at Swanage jerked into the air.

Carrying the ‘98’ Swanage branch headcode dating from 1967 to the end of the branch line in 1972, the Class 73 with its VEP in tow were ready to depart Swanage at the start of its homeward journey after a fantastic three days on the relaid Purbeck Line. The special working’s Network Rail train code was ‘5Z751’.

The train arrives at Corfe Castle and pauses at the ‘up’ platform in order to allow ‘Eddystone’ to pass with the 11.50pm from Norden park and ride to Swanage.

At Corfe Castle, the train paused at the ‘up’ platform in order to allow ‘Eddystone’ to pass with the 11.50pm from Norden park and ride to Swanage.

With the Bulleid Pacific accelerating out of the station and into the sun, the Class 73 was given the road ahead by signalman Clive Morris as the red arm of the ‘up’ starting signal jerked upwards against the dramatic backdrop of the castle ruins.

The Class 73 was given the road ahead by signalman Clive Morris and the red arm of the ‘up’ starting signal jerked upwards against the dramatic backdrop of the castle ruins.

With the VEP in tow, the electro-diesel eased its way out of the station loop and into the cutting through the Challow Hill of the Purbeck Hills bound for Norden and then the connection with the national railway system at Motala between Norden and Furzebrook.

At Motala, Network Rail person in charge Alan Greatbatch and Swanage Railway deputy operations manager Mel Cox operated the groundframe with their respective keys to unlock the two catchpoints and allow the entourage to proceed on to Network Rail metals – passing Furzebrook at 12.14pm.

The train makes its way from Corfe Castle via Norden, Motala, Furzebrook and Worgret Junction to Wareham on 12th May 2008.

After a stop at Worgret Junction to operate the ground frame there, the train ran ‘wrong line’ on the ‘down’ track into Wareham before running on to the ‘up’ line and dropping off Alan Greatbatch at Wareham station at 12.41pm. The train then continued its journey eastwards – passing through Poole at 12.55pm and Branksome at 1.04pm.

The special train arrives safely at Wareham

The Class 73 delivered the VEP unit to South West Trains’ Bournemouth train care depot at 1.08pm. The depot was built close to the site of the old Bournemouth West station which was closed in 1965 because of electrification work and sadly demolished in 1970 to make way for the Wessex Way road.

The VEP unit would later be run up to the Wimbledon depot in London while the Class 73 returned to Southampton.

Behind the scenes in Corfe Castle signal box (left) with Clive Morris and in Swanage signal box with Andrew Moody on 12th May 2008.

To see the full set of photos, please scroll down to the bottom of the page.