31806 & 61306 "Mayflower" power through Hampshire | Steam Dreams Excursion 20/06/2021
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- Опубликовано: 9 фев 2025
- After a three year absence, Ex-SR U Class - 31806 would bring a little Maunsell Magic back to the mainline, as it joined Steam Dreams for their excursion to Portsmouth and Brockenhurst. Working with BR(E) B1 Class - 61306 "Mayflower", the pair top and tailed the consist for the day, as they worked along the south coast.
31806, based at the Swanage Railway in Dorset, has been absent from the mainline for over three years; its previous engagement being 'The Great Britain XI' in April 2018. In commemoration of the 55th anniversary of the closure of the Somerset & Dorset Railway, the U Class has been fitted with an LMS hooter style whistle - and has also regained its smoke deflectors, having operated this year so far without them. In addition, the locomotive also had a change of shed plate, from it's usual 71B code to 70D; the latter, representing Eastleigh from 1963 to 1973.
The tour started at London Paddington with 61306 at the helm, working through Reading and Basingstoke to Eastleigh, where 31806 would join the tail of the consist for the leg to Portsmouth. The U Class would then haul the tour to Brockenhurst via Bursledon and Southampton, before 61306 would work the consist back to Eastleigh. From there, 31806 would regain control for the charge back to Portsmouth. 61306 would then work the whole of the return route, with 31806 detaching from the tour at Eastleigh.
The cameras had an early start to the day venturing out to Swanage, witnessing 31806 departing on its light move to Eastleigh; subsequently caught at Norden Gates level crossing. Skipping along the south coast, 61306 is seen at the head of the tour as the B1 powered the consist past The Cams Mill in Fareham. Setting up at Netley, a crowd of enthusiastic locals gathered to witness 31806 lift the tour through the platforms, as it headed for Brockenhurst. Overtaking the tour while it paused in Southampton, a second bite of the cherry was to be had at Ashurst New Forest, as the U Class powered through. After the break at Brockenhurst, the cameras caught "Mayflower" hammering through Beaulieu Road, 18 minutes late, as it headed for Eastleigh. The tour recuperated over 10 minutes by the time it reached Burnetts Lane, resulting in a hasty camera set up as 31806 accelerated toward Portsmouth. With the evening wearing in, 61306 produced an impressive performence as it powered through Funtley, bursting out from the tunnel beneath the M27. A final dash to the west, saw 31806 heading tender-first back to Swanage at Poole, in a hurried fashion.
All footage filmed on Sunday the 20th of June 2021.
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Never seen a U class as smart as that. They were the stalwart of the southern region. Happy to be on passenger or freight. Great coverage as usual
Swanage do make a good job of looking after 31806. Thanks very much.
what a delight, i chased it all day. fantastic to see the u on the main line, you have done it again well done.
Was a pleasure to see her back out again. Cheers.
An excellent, varied and impressive selection of shots. Thank you for sharing the event that you captured, virtually from beginning to end, with awesome camera work.
Thanks very much for the kind words. Was a long day, but worth it.
31806 certainly did Swanage and its owners proud. Such a shame I never managed to see her. Fantastic video as per normal.
She really did produce an outstanding performence. She's scheduled to be out again in August.
Lovely film. Many thanks for sharing it.
Thank you
Brilliant Video of 61306 TnT 31806 I would certainly like the opportunity to see 31806 myself
Thanks very much. It's well worth a trip to see 31806.
Good to see the U boat out on the mainline looking and sounding great👍🏻Great shot of the lift out of Netley
It certainly is great to see her out, stretching her legs again. Thanks very much! Was skeptical as the platforms began to get busier, but glad with how it turned out.
Great video. Very enjoyable and lovely to see the U on the mainline once more.
Thank you. It really is fantastic to see the U out again.
Can I ask why he was slowed through Netley Station? Was it a signal or speed restriction or just on the grade?
Please note that I've seen a number of videos on RUclips of this tour and yours is the best by a long way, so thanks again regards Ian, Swindon.
Understood to be due to gauging - the track has been relaid a couple of times since a U Class last graced the rails east of Southampton. The kind words are much appreciated, thank you.
The U class was a great sight! I wasnt gonna miss it😅 I was very surprised at the loud bark from this beast, so small, yet so loud! I never saw it at speed, so this video will be my way of seeing it at speed!
Im also glad they refitted the deflectors, br livery u class with no deflectors doesnt look right, in southern livery it would, but without...
From a very pedantic viewpoint, 31806 shouldn't carry Southern livery, since she has a BR front end (type 4 blastpipe and cylinders, outside steam pipes and altered frames) which contributes to the noise she can make. Even still, would love to see it.
Really was refreshing to see the U out again.
Brillaint video! Great to see 31806 back on the main line. I saw the B1 at Taplow.
Thanks very much! It sure is
I'm quite surprised that Netley ended up being so busy; as I said on the day, I probably should have stopped at Hamble. Nicely put together video as always.
Certainly was a surprise - though it's good to see that steam still holds a prominent place in the local hearts. Thanks very much.
Saw this through Fareham, thank you for a nice video
Cheers
Excellent Video - you even caught me nodding off on the seat at Beaulie Rd station heading back East....lol
Thanks very much, Bryan! Was good to see you again.
Smashing video. You certainly got out and about to give us a great show with some impressive speeds. Nice to finish with the squeals from the wheels here at Poole. Ever since I was a little lad in the last days of steam, I’ve reckoned I’d recognise the Poole squeal anywhere.
Thank you! It was good to be out again. The shot at Poole was quite a surprise - was fully expecting a crawl through the platforms.
@@TheSouthernerYTChannel I bet. That was a good pass and a real squealer. Cheers!
Fantastic video my friend ✌😎
Thanks very much
excellent shots 👍
Thank you
Great coverage of this trip. Looks like a really impressive performance from 31806. Hopefully I will be able to see 31806 in action on the Main Line in the future. Couldn't make it out for this excursion.
Thanks very much!
The U is due out again later in the summer, for a few 'Dorset Coast Express' runs.
A cool pairing of locomotives
Lovely piece of film and cleverly edited. Occasionally the site was missing, so I spent a bit of time trying to work out exactly where you were, but nice to see little lineside clips. I think that’s the first time I’ve seen a special topped and tailed by a steam locomotive.
Thanks very much! There's a paragraph in the description which references the locations used for filming. However, a specific map refernece can be provided for any particular clip of interest.
Wonderful
Cheers
Awesome footage Matthew, Much better having 31806 on this instead of the originally planned Black 5 imo.
Thanks very much. She certainly produced a great performence.
Made my Day, thank you.
Cheers
One thing I notice is the u class has got a whistle sounding like a black 5 not a regular whistle like the King Arthur class
She has been fitted with an LMS hooter style whistle. As in the description, "In commemoration of the 55th anniversary of the closure of the Somerset & Dorset Railway, the U Class has been fitted with an LMS hooter style whistle".
I can see why mate
Superb!!
Thank you
Amazing footage, let's hope it isnt another 3 years before '806 gets to stretch her legs again!
Thanks very much, it was great to see her out again. Fingers crossed, though it depends on operators hiring the locomotive as well as Swanage's commitments.
The loco trundles into Netley on an up gradient with the regulator shut. Then it suddenly opens up. The next signal is, I think, E802 at Sholing so it can't have been a signal check. I wonder what happened.
most likely a speed restriction due to tight clearances through the platform
@@Christopher125 Hadn't thought of that. Someone posted some photos of the U at PMH and it looked pretty tight against the platform both buffer beam and cylinders.
Had a brief look at the route notes yesterday. Believe it was due to gauging.
@@TheSouthernerYTChannel Although they didnt have any problems there in the 60s of course! Fabulous video but my favourite shot was 31806 LE through Poole at the end-so evocative. many thanks.
Since then, the track has been relaid more than once, so may be a bit tighter than it used to be.
Thanks very much!
At first I was like 🤔 but the Stanier hooter doesn't sound too out of place. Was there a clearance restriction or a signal check thru Netley? Either way it was sounding great.
Awesome view of Mayflower coming out of the tunnel on the single track.
It's a strange, but quite welcome combination - as you say, it doesn't sound too out of place. Believed to be a clearence restriction at Netley.
Thank you; on a route that's quite limited for scenic locations, the tunnel shot at least offered some variety.
Very nice :)
Thanks
I’m in the thumbnail!
omg i was there too
Spotters spotted
Amazing sight. Looks like a great day out! :-)
Was great to see the U out again. It really was, if very long.
My Grandpa build a 5 inch gauge live steam model from scratch of the Mayflower. Would have loved to see the real thing. Aslo how do you know then there passing through Poole??
This website for tours and dates: railwayherald.com/railtours#
This website for timings: www.realtimetrains.co.uk/search/detailed/
Why did the U have a LMS Hooter??
Commemoration of the 55th anniversary of the closure of the Somerset & Dorset Railway
@@TheSouthernerYTChannel Oooh ok thanks for answering ✌🏻
No worries
What camera do you use for filming? The quality is great!
Panasonic HC-V770. Looking to upgrade.
@@TheSouthernerYTChannel Ok thanks!
@@harryc2210 No worries
Why has 31806 got an LMS whistle?
Commemoration of the 55th anniversary of the closure of the Somerset & Dorset Railway
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