17th March 1963

Hampshire Railfans
???

Route :

Notes :
(1) Reported as 'the last run for 60022 'Mallard' before it was withdrawn for preservation' however this has been questioned by David Whittaker who comments: 60022's withdrawal date was 25/04/63 and on 15/04/63 I travelled behind 22 on an Edinburgh -K/X Easter Monday relief from Newcastle to York. Its last duty was, I believe, a Kings Cross - Doncaster parcels immediately prior to withdrawal, but it had been working regularly up to this point. This may instead have been its last railtour working prior to withdrawal?
(2) Route confirmation required. Some confusion exists in published records between this tour and the LCGB 'West Countryman' tour of 24th February 1963 which also used 'Mallard'. The above is believed to be correct for the route and organiser of the tour that ran on this date, contrary to what other published records may suggest.
Chris Lewis comments: I was on this trip with a school friend. It was organised by a man who did various special trains for enthusiasts. He lived in the Eastleigh/Southampton area. I lived in Portsmouth at the time. We caught a train to Eastleigh from Cosham to connect into it. It must have used the Eastleigh to Romsey line then onto Bristol via Salisbury and Bath. From here as it says we went to Swindon via Bath. From Swindon it passed through Melksham before Westbury unlike your description. We had permission to go around St Philips Marsh, Barrow Road, Swindon (plus works) and Westbury sheds. We did not have permission for Bath Road as it had become a diesel depot. But many of those on the train went to that shed anyway until the police arrived and they all ran back to the station along the main line.

Sources : John Clifford & James Hyde (from contemporary sources) & Chris Horsham

Photo Review

60022 near Bristol (photo: Terry Tribbeck)

From The John Debens Ticket Collection.

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