[dwb]

QUOTE I think I am right in saying the Navies wre taken out of service in '52 for a while, but on that I could be wrong.

I came across a reference to a Southern loco being taken out of service in the '50s for cracked axle problems when I was flicking through late 70s Railway World annuals last night. The chances of me finding the reference again are pretty much nil, but I would say BritHO is right.

David

 

[dwb]

QUOTE The most interesting 'foreign' motive power bought in were several Eastern region V2's I even have a photo somewhere of a V2 on the Bournemouth Belle, complete with nameboard

A clue - V2. The article I saw was "Gresley's 'Green Arrow'" by P.J.Coster published in The Railway World Annual 1979 by Ian Allen. One of the photos from the Ian Allen library (are you listening Black 5 man?) is of 60896 approaching Wimbledon with the up 'Bournemouth Belle" on 6th June 1953. The photo clearly shows the headboard "The Bournemouth Belle".

The caption also states that six V2s were sent on loan and shedded at Nine Elms and had "somewhat chequered career in strange hands".

David

 

[dwb]

QUOTE the Maunsell coaches could be seen behind ....

Did these coaches ever "escape" to other parts of the country on inter regional expresses, say Bournemouth to Leeds / York / Newcastle? I would be glad of an excuse for a set appearing in the West Riding. Most photographs taken in the 50s are focussed on the locomotive, not the train. I am not expert enough to tell if the coaches are not standard ER fare or not.

David