HDL Weymouth Envoy railtour

Above: Our preserved train approaches over the sinuous pointwork into London Waterloo, on the outward leg of our Weymouth Envoy railtour.

Above: The railtour awaiting departure from Hastings station, with motor coach Tunbridge Wells nearest the camera of Andy Armitage.

Above & below: With part of the Southampton dockyards visible in the background, we pass Redbridge station (above) and traverse the junction with the line to Romsey and Salisbury (below). Photos by Andrew Cameron.

Above: After serving Bournemouth, we were held briefly at a signal on the causeway across Holes Bay, just west of Poole.

Above: Upon arrival at Weymouth, the train was tidied… Photo by Don Benn.

Above: … and the water-tanks were refilled from the yellow hose-reels located beneath the platform canopy.

Above: 1001 was then shunted to the Jersey sidings, three-tenths of a mile beyond this vantage-point at the north end of the station car-park. In the foreground is the overgrown Weymouth Quay branch, and the signal giving access to the main line network therefrom.

Above: A similar view from the Hanover Road footbridge, visible in the previous photo.

Above: This view was actually taken later, and shows our train pulling forward upon departure from Jersey sidings, where it has been alongside a Class 150 Sprinter. Photo by John Chappell.

Above: Andy Armitage and the other HDL on-board staff stayed with the train while it laid over, and so did not have the opportunity to “go walkabout” in Weymouth. A well-earned sit-down with a cup of tea must have been welcomed at this point!

Above: Looking towards Weymouth station (out of shot to the left), we can see the facing points leading to the overgrown Weymouth Quay branch and its red signal, visible towards the upper right.

Above: From much closer, the red signal DR205 which would give access to the Weymouth Quay branch which is visibly waist-deep in grass at this point. A “STOP” board clipped to the nearside running rail is just visible.

Above: The street section of the Quay branch, or Tramway, appears to be in good condition. The overbridge carries a road over the River Wey which is to our right.

Above: The Weymouth quayside scene as viewed on this day.

Also, hover over this image to see a photo from 1983, borrowed from the History page, showing Hastings units 1032+1017 traversing the Weymouth Quay tramway, with the Thames-Piddle Executive Railtour on Saturday 19 March 1983 (Phil Barnes / HDL collection).

Hover your pointer over this photo (if you are viewing this page using a computer with a pointing device) to see a “Then & now” comparison. Alternatively, the comparison may already be animating for you!

It appears that Phil Barnes was able to climb a small concrete structure in Custom House Quay to achieve his 1983 photo which was taken from a higher vantage-point. 30 years and 4 months later, it was not possible to reach the same location as the staircase to its upper level has been closed off.

It is a pity that the 2013 photo does not show our train too…!

Above: Our seaside destination has sandy beaches, with holidaymakers enjoying the sunshine for as far as the eye could see along the shoreline of Weymouth bay.

Above: 1001 was routed back into platform 3 “on top of” another service for its return working.

Above: Don Benn captured motor coach Mountfield at London Waterloo as the tour awaited signal clearance for the final leg back to Hastings.