Reading Diversions 2015
| Although this is strictly not about Southern Electric rolling stock it does concern a period of significant special workings over Southern Electric territory! Over Easter (April 3rd - 6th) 2015 and the following Sunday (April 12th) there was another round of diversions around Reading leading to First Great Western West of England services running into and out of Waterloo. The majority of work at Reading was associated with remodelling the western approach to the station from the Berks & Hants and Basingstoke lines. However, unlike over the Christmas 2010 Reading blockade, this time High Speed Trains ran all of the way along the main line between Salisbury and Waterloo (i.e. via Surbiton and Wimbledon) rather than via Chertsey and Hounslow/Richmond. For this feature we are going to travel with Stuart Hicks Up line over the Easter weekend. |
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(above) Woking. 43040 leading 43174 on the 1O38 06:55 Plymouth to London Waterloo service on 4th April. (below) Surbiton. 43031 leading 43015 on the 1O40 06:45 Penzance to London Waterloo service on 3rd April. On this day the 1O39 07:48 Plymouth to Waterloo was cancelled at Andover. It was noticed in the nick of time this had a "long swing set" so it could potentially foul the 3rd rail. All HSTs that are to run on 3rd rail lines need to be "short swing sets". The rolling stock returned to the Western Region as 5O39 11:54 Andover to Westbury. |
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(above) New Malden. 43086 leads 43028 on the 1O41 07:41 Penzance to London Waterloo service on 6th April. (below) Raynes Park. 43003 leads 43009 on the 1O41 07:41 Penzance to London Waterloo service on 3rd April. |
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Wimbledon. (below) Just west of Wimbledon 43070 and 43002 on a slightly late running 1O39 07:48 Plymouth to London Waterloo service pass 43183 and 43025 on the 1V73 1207 London Waterloo to Penzance service on 6th April. |
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