End of Southern Steam 40th anniversary July 2007

7th July 2007 to 9th July 2007

The 7th-9th July 2007 saw the commemoration of 40 years since steam ended on BR Southern Region. As well as five planned special trains, there were galas on both Mid-Hants and Swanage Railways.

Sadly, one special, Friday's Royal Wessex was cancelled, the Southern Sunset had to be curtailed when no 850 Lord Nelson suffered a major failure at Westbury, and this meant the last-minute cancellation of Monday's anniversary Waterloo Sunrise. However, the specials that did run were very well received and the two railway galas were superbly enjoyable.

No 34067 Tangmere climbs Gomshall Bank between Redhill and Guildford with the outbound Southern Phoenix railtour from London Victoria to Alton 2007-07-07 10:43:02	West Coast Railway Class 37 no 37248 Loch Arkaig takes over the Southern Phoenix railtour at Guildford 2007-07-07 11:29:14	No 34007 Wadebridge and Crompton Type 3 D6593 wait to take over the incoming Southern Phoenix railtour at Alton 2007-07-07 12:23:16	It's 1967 and an unrebuilt Bulleid Pacific is ready to pilot a Crompton Type 3 on a diverted Bournemouth line train "over the Alps" ...or is it? 2007-07-07 12:25:45
Merchant Navy Pacific no 35008 at Alton in reality no 35005 Canadian Pacific renumbered for the occasion. 2007-07-07 12:47:24	Merchant Navy Pacific no 35008 shunts into the sidings at Alresford 2007-07-07 13:38:01	West Country Pacific no 34007 Wadebridge rests at Alresford 2007-07-07 13:45:31	Merchant Navy Pacific no 35008 approaches Medstead & Four Marks with the return special train 2007-07-07 14:59:46
Merchant Navy Pacific no 35008 struggles to leave Medstead & Four Marks with the heavy return special train 2007-07-07 15:10:42	Eastern interloper at Medstead & Four Marks. A4 Pacific no 60019 Bittern had its first run in passenger service during the Gala 2007-07-07 15:12:45	BR Std Class 5 no 73029 (actually 73096 in disguise) carrying a replica of the homemade tin numberplates that were fitted to some engines in the final weeks of steam 2007-07-07 15:37:58	No 34067 Tangmere approaches Winchfield with the return leg of the Southern Phoenix railtour 2007-07-07 17:10:57
No 34067 Tangmere climbs into the South Downs at Finchdean on its way back to Waterloo with the Southern Phoenix railtour 2007-07-07 19:03:01	No 34067 Tangmere powers through West Byfleet on the final leg of the Southern Phoenix railtour 2007-07-07 20:19:04	Swanage Railway M7 no 30053 works a 2-coach shuttle between Norden and Harmans Cross. 2007-07-08 15:45:13	Ian Riley's BR Standard Class 4 2-6-0 no 76079 arrives at Harmans Cross while on loan to the Swanage Railway for its End of Southern Steam Gala 2007-07-08 16:02:49
BR Standard Class 4 tank no 80104 at the buffers after arrival at Swanage on a train from Norden 2007-07-08 16:17:05	Battle of Britain Light Pacific no 34081 92 Squadron (on loan from the North Norfolk Railway) waits to leave Swanage 2007-07-08 16:21:44	Interloper at the End of Southern Steam Gala, Type 3 no D6515 at Swanage 2007-07-08 16:35:37	BR Standard Clas 4 no 80104 waits for M7 no 30053 and BR Std 4 2-6-0 no 76079 to clear the single line at Corfe Castle 2007-07-08 17:41:11
Battle of Britain Light Pacific no 34081 92 Squadron (on loan from the North Norfolk Railway) arrives at Corfe Castle from Norden 2007-07-08 17:58:30	Caprotti BR Standard Class 5 no 73129 (on loan from the Midland Railway - Butterley) arrives at Corfe Cstle on a Norden-bound train 2007-07-08 18:23:50	East Somerset Railway's USA-lookalike no 30075 loaded up for departure (but still in steam!) 2007-07-08 18:48:48	As dusk falls, Merchant Navy Pacific no 35028 Clan Line storms through Micheldever on the return from Poole with the Waterloo Sunset railtour 2007-07-08 20:21:47