Warship on the Mid - Hants

[Nacht-Zug-Fahr]

Good Afternoon !

Does anyone know if a class 42 Warship Locomotive ever traversed the Mid- Hants line during active service - maybe on a diverted Atlantic Coast Express ?

 

[Gloster]

Almost certainly not on the ACE as it was withdrawn at the same time as the service was turned over to diesel. It is just possible that a Warship might have used the Alton line with a Waterloo-Exeter, but effectively that would only happen if there was a blockage at Battledown or Worting and the Portsmouth Direct was also blocked. Even so it is highly unlikely as in those situations as there would be so many trains needing to work over the route that the Exeters would probably be the first to be cancelled or they would be reversed at Salisbury.

 

[norbitonflyer]

Almost certainly not on the ACE as it was withdrawn at the same time as the service was turned over to diesel. It is just possible that a Warship might have used the Alton line with a Waterloo-Exeter, but effectively that would only happen if there was a blockage at Battledown or Worting and the Portsmouth Direct was also blocked. Even so it is highly unlikely as in those situations as there would be so many trains needing to work over the route that the Exeters would probably be the first to be cancelled or they would be reversed at Salisbury.

Possible though if a Warship was at Waterloo when the blockage happened, as the WR would have wanted it back at Salisbury. (although the West London Line was available for an ECS or light engine movement)

 

[Gloster]

Possible though if a Warship was at Waterloo when the blockage happened, as the WR would have wanted it back at Salisbury. (although the West London Line was available for an ECS or light engine movement)

Or Reading via Staines. East of Basingstoke I think they would have gone via Reading or the Portsmouth Direct, while between Battledown and Tunnel Junction you could go via Romsey.

 

[Andy R. A.]

There is a photo of D814 Dragon at Butts Junction between Medstead and Alton with what is captioned the diverted 0719 Eastleigh to Waterloo on 05.06.66. The photo is in the book 'The power of the Warships' by John Vaughan, OPC ISBN 0-86093-590-6

 

[Bald Rick]

There is a photo of D814 Dragon at Butts Junction between Medstead and Alton with what is captioned the diverted 0719 Eastleigh to Waterloo on 05.06.66. The photo is in the book 'The power of the Warships' by John Vaughan, OPC ISBN 0-86093-590-6

And John Vaughan is alive and well, still taking photos around the Sussex West Coastway.

 

[Nacht-Zug-Fahr]

There is a photo of D814 Dragon at Butts Junction between Medstead and Alton with what is captioned the diverted 0719 Eastleigh to Waterloo on 05.06.66. The photo is in the book 'The power of the Warships' by John Vaughan, OPC ISBN 0-86093-590-6

Very interesting - thanks