31806 & 61306 "Mayflower" power through Hampshire | Steam Dreams Excursion 20/06/2021

Описание: After a three year absence, Ex-SR U Class - 31806 would bring a little Maunsell Magic back to the mainline, as it joined Steam Dreams for their excursion to Portsmouth and Brockenhurst. Working with BR(E) B1 Class - 61306 "Mayflower", the pair top and tailed the consist for the day, as they worked along the south coast.

31806, based at the Swanage Railway in Dorset, has been absent from the mainline for over three years; its previous engagement being 'The Great Britain XI' in April 2018. In commemoration of the 55th anniversary of the closure of the Somerset & Dorset Railway, the U Class has been fitted with an LMS hooter style whistle - and has also regained its smoke deflectors, having operated this year so far without them. In addition, the locomotive also had a change of shed plate, from it's usual 71B code to 70D; the latter, representing Eastleigh from 1963 to 1973.

The tour started at London Paddington with 61306 at the helm, working through Reading and Basingstoke to Eastleigh, where 31806 would join the tail of the consist for the leg to Portsmouth. The U Class would then haul the tour to Brockenhurst via Bursledon and Southampton, before 61306 would work the consist back to Eastleigh. From there, 31806 would regain control for the charge back to Portsmouth. 61306 would then work the whole of the return route, with 31806 detaching from the tour at Eastleigh.

The cameras had an early start to the day venturing out to Swanage, witnessing 31806 departing on its light move to Eastleigh; subsequently caught at Norden Gates level crossing. Skipping along the south coast, 61306 is seen at the head of the tour as the B1 powered the consist past The Cams Mill in Fareham. Setting up at Netley, a crowd of enthusiastic locals gathered to witness 31806 lift the tour through the platforms, as it headed for Brockenhurst. Overtaking the tour while it paused in Southampton, a second bite of the cherry was to be had at Ashurst New Forest, as the U Class powered through. After the break at Brockenhurst, the cameras caught "Mayflower" hammering through Beaulieu Road, 18 minutes late, as it headed for Eastleigh. The tour recuperated over 10 minutes by the time it reached Burnetts Lane, resulting in a hasty camera set up as 31806 accelerated toward Portsmouth. With the evening wearing in, 61306 produced an impressive performence as it powered through Funtley, bursting out from the tunnel beneath the M27. A final dash to the west, saw 31806 heading tender-first back to Swanage at Poole, in a hurried fashion.

All footage filmed on Sunday the 20th of June 2021.