RTL to the Dorset Coast - 3-8.8.2024

August 2024 opened with a pair of Railway Timelines Limited tours to the coast of Dorset via the same route, 'The Bournemouth Belle' from Crewe and 'The New Forester' from London Victoria.

On Saturday 3rd August was 'The Bournemouth Belle', which ran from Crewe to Wembley behind Class 86 No. E3150 'Robert A. Riddles', and was then piloted the rest of the way to Poole by Class 92 No. 92004 'Jane Austen', with the 86 staying on the train to simplify the loco change. On the return, Class 50s No. 50017 'Royal Oak' and 50001 'Dreadnought' took it back to Southampton and then back to London via Andover respectively. Our first view is at Kilsby Tunnel south of Rugby, where history was made, as two BR Early Blue Class 86s passed each other on the West Coast Main Line for the first time in 60 years. E3137/86259 'Les Ross' was heading north with the Railway Touring Company 'The Cumbrian Mountain Express', and E3150 was heading south having paused for a passenger pickup at Rugby. E3150 is then seen passing the Grand Union Canal at Weedon and through Leighton Buzzard Station. The Class 92 leg is captured joining the South West Main Line at Byfleet & New Haw, accelerating through Cosham and heading through Southampton Central, Brockenhurst, New Milton and climbing Christchurch Bank. 50017 and 50001 are seen at Hinton Admiral, Foxhills Crossing, Romsey and Dean on the return leg.

On Thursday 8th August was 'The New Forester' from London Victoria to Poole and return, out via the Portsmouth Direct and back via Basingstoke. The outward leg was doubleheaded by Maunsell Schools No. 30917 'Ardingly' and BR Standard 7MT No. 70004 'William Shakespeare' as far as Southampton Central on the outward run, with the Brit hauling the rest of the tour solo. We see the pair making light work of Witley Bank through Haslemere Station, and passing Cosham. With the Schools having detached at Southampton, 70004 is seen at Beaulieu Road recovering from a stop at a red signal at Ashurst New Forest, and passing New Milton at speed.

Finally, some bonus footage of the North Somerset Railway on Wednesday 7th August. A short 2+5 HST set from the Esthwaite Branch Preservation Society, with power cars No. 43193 and 43197, had recently attended the NSR's Summer Diesel Gala, and would stay for the following week to work services on the Frome - Radstock line alongside Ex-GWR Manor No. 7829 'Ramsbury Manor'.

Chapters:
0:00 - Intro
0:05 - E3137/86259 & E3150 Kilsby Tunnel
0:43 - E3150 Weedon
1:06 - E3150 Leighton Buzzard
1:41 - 92004 & E3150 Byfleet & New Haw
2:28 - 92004 & E3150 Cosham
3:09 - 92004 & E3150 Southampton Central
3:58 - 92004 & E3150 Totton
4:36 - 92004 & E3150 Brockenhurst
5:23 - 92004 & E3150 New Milton
5:55 - 92004 & E3150 Christchurch Bank
6:25 - 50017 Hinton Admiral
7:00 - 50017 Foxhills Crossing
7:29 - 50001 & E3150 TnT 50017 Romsey
8:26 - 50001 & E3150 TnT 50017 Dean
8:54 - 30917 & 70004 Haslemere
9:45 - 30917 & 70004 Cosham
10:16 - 70004 Beaulieu Road
10:53 - 70004 New Milton
11:31 - Bonus
11:36 - 7829 Flowers Farm Halt
12:24 - 43193 TnT 43197 Mells Road
13:39 - 7829 Radstock
14:48 - 43197 TnT 43193 Hapsford Bank
15:33 - 43193 TnT 43197 Radstock

Thumbnail - 30917 takes water at Southampton while preparing to move to the North Somerset Railway, while 70004 departs with the train.

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This was recorded in Train Simulator using the Xbox Game Bar and edited using Microsoft Clipchamp in August 2024.