Well reminded....! Something else now long lamented in todays world...
Not externally, as per the 442's, but behind the counter, perhaps, but not sure tbh this far down the line. I know someone who will know, so will ask if no one else confirms in the meantime!
Yes, they all had names, all themed by places on the lime.
Just googled some. The New Forest, The Solent and The Brooklands were a few examples. Wish I had my old P5 book to hand!
Yes, less haste etc!. Not helped by a couple of wee drams! Hope I have redeemed myself, as fast at this computer will allow me!
As always with thinks SR traction, the Blood and Custard website is an excellent place to go: https://www.bloodandcustard.com/BR-3TC-4TC-4REP-Bournemouth-1966.html
I can't answer that in truth. 63 was the Basingstoke stopper HC in my day, although I do recall having seen reference to 64 on this, or a-another web site in more recent times, but can not remember the details. It may have been in relation to a semi fast service, ie: limited stops after Woking perhaps, that's my best guess?
Oh well, was worth a shot at least.
Prior to the mid-1980s rationalisation and resignalling, they had to slow down to 60 through Eastleigh....due to the complex series of points and crossings and the sharp curve at the South end.
No, you're not dreaming....I saw her/it too (with Richard Burton playing the male lead).
As you say, 63 was the HC for the Basingstoke stoppers, which detached a unit from the the rear at Woking for Alton....and REPs were not permitted to work in multiple with other powered units. However, IIRC, on Sundays the Basingstoke and Alton trains ran separately to /from Waterloo on a half-hourly basis....giving an hourly service on each 'branch'. Therefore I'm wondering whether the service in your photo had either started from Working, or run via Chertsey due to engineering works.
I used to do a lot of intermediate cab loitering on both the Bournemouth and Portsmouth Direct lines in the mid-late 1970s....and I'm afraid the Southern Region EMU speedometers were not the most reliable. The speedos in adjacent cabs could often differ by up to 10 mph.
We’ve had a number of threads explaining that 850V was a myth, based on misunderstanding.
www.railforums.co.uk
I grew up in New Milton, so used REP+TC a lot in 1970s and 1980s, but from memory only twice did I ever travel on a train with just a REP unit. And yes at the time they really shifted (although nowadays having around 800hp per vehicle on express units is not uncommon).
That 850v is a myth! Misprint or magazine journalist error/misunderstanding. The Bournemouth electrification scheme was nominally 750v, same as the 1959-62 Kent Coast scheme. 660v elsewhere for decades. You might have got a voltage rise over 800v at substation DC busbars on no load, maybe. Timings were calculated based on 675v at the shoes. Having said that, I did read a trip report in the Railway Magazine around 1970 that mentioned 103 mph near Roundwood in the UP direction. By "accident" as you say.
