Old Romsey railways

Crampmoor

Halterworth

Romsey 2

Villages

Some friends of mine were discussing the fact that some locos on there way to the scrap yard were held in Romsey down yard at one time ,

Andrew writes   "As far as I know the only steam locos that were stored at Romsey  were 34053 Sir Keith Park and 76028, the reason being that on January 11th 1966 34005 was hauling them from Eastleigh to either Salisbury or on towards South Wales when (and this is quoted from the April 1966 Railway Magazine) "Some coupling rods stored in the tender of 34053 hit some bridges near Chandlers Ford, and after some consultation, the locomotives were parked in the east siding at Romsey station near the bridge over the A31" What I can recall is that they both stayed there for at least a month maybe longer. The Railway Magazine quote the standard as 76068 but I am pretty certain it was 76028."   What I was wondering does anyone in your circle have a picture of them at Romsey, we did not get one for various reasons, Id like to see a shot, no matter the quality .

Signal Box past and present

Romsey Signal Box Restoration Website

This shot taken in 1970 shows the block shelf in Romsey Signal Box complete with all instruments as it had been for many years, all were connected & worked - the shelf was rationalised after the line to Eastleigh was singled.

 

 

The lever frame at Romsey Signal Box - taken in 1970 , all the levers were in use - starting from the left side,  Down Halterworth signals , then down Redbridge signals , points & facing point lock, up Redbridge signals & then up Halterworth signals to the right - there are other levers for crossovers & dummy signals as well. All manual signals except WBW1 the outer home from Halterworth , which was electric , working in conjunction with Halterworth's WBV2.

The release for this & the crossovers were electric releases - hence the shorter levers

 

Taken inside Romsey signal box - we have signalman Ken Sessions working the frame - circa 1974 after the singling of the Eastleigh - Romsey line.

Ken sadly passed away in May 2018.  R.I.P

 

Romsey signal box lever frame & diagram showing the rationalization of instruments and the levers cut down to indicate electric signals - taken 7th August 1977

 

Romsey signal box in its new position in Brickwood Close

 

Other Romsey  railway photos

Near Tadburn Rd, February 2009

 

Ashfield bridge being rebuilt in April 2012. This was to cater for larger freight.

 

Class 158 unit No 158814 sits in the down platform at Romsey waiting to form a service to Southampton via Eastleigh - 29th May 2007 --- guard Andrew Moody ( right) chats with the train guard before departure .

 

Crompton class 33 - 33114 heads the diverted 09.00 Waterloo - Exeter westbound through Romsey - 11th August 1991

 

Ex LMS 8F 48151 at Romsey station in the up platform with an excursion - 30th June 1988

 

Brush type 2 No 31422 heads towards Southampton with a cross country train from Bristol, it has just passed Ashfield Road bridge & is near Lee - 14th April 1980

 

 

Hampshire DEMU 1101 passes Romsey empty stock for Salisbury off the Eastleigh line -- 20th March 1980

 

Looking north from Ashfield road bridge towards Romsey - showing the approach signals before the line curves towards the signal box & station .

 

We have a Western class 'D1070 Western Chieftan' passing

Greatbridge en-route to Fareham with road stone from Merehead , Somerset - 8th June 1975 .

 

This was taken at a building site at the bottom of Hillside Ave, March 1972 - It was just before the change over to electric signals - on the right is the up main advance starter semaphore signal , close to Sun Arch - to the left is the new down main inner home electric signal , with cross to denote not in service , and in the background the down branch inner home signal. This shows the transition to more modern equipment - such is progress , an unusual shot for sure .

 

Another shot from the building site (see above photo), this time looking east towards Halterworth , with the new electric signal posts without signal heads .

 

Strongs Brewery outing train 1972 outing to Margate - the last before take over by Whitbread. We have SR electric-4CIG 7420 , TLV 68203, 4CIG 7398 and for push power to Southampton, Crompton D6532 The train is moving from the up yard & will back into the station

 

Romsey Up Yard' photo of the Strongs train moving out of the yard over the road under the station -- this TLV ( Trailer Luggage Van ) contained all the nectar that would sustain the Strongs employees to Margate & back (aka beer)-- a well known perk of the trips ...

 

 

 

This is the Eastleigh breakdown train passing Romsey station en route back to Eastleigh , think this was taken after the Dunbridge incident with the tanks, photo taken from the down yard - looking west .

Push/Pull fitted Crompton diesel pushes a Waterloo - Bournemouth train away from Romsey towards Redbridge under the guidance of signalman Ken Sessions during diversions from the mainline.

Romsey diversions:- Signalman Ken Sessions is hand signalman for the day of mainline diversions via Romsey. This was necessary at the crossover from the down line to the up, as the crossover was not fitted with a facing point lock - as required for passenger work - hence Ken had to clip & lock the points manually, then give the hand signal to proceed.

Hampshire unit departs Romsey headed to Eastleigh as Crompton ( class 33 ) waits on the down road to follow it, once the DEMU clears the section to Halterworth. Photo taken during weekend diversions due to work on the mainline.

The Exeter to Brighton through train formed for 'Hastings ' DEMU stock led by 1037 passes Romsey station & takes the Redbridge line to its next stop at Southampton Central.