Standard class 5 locomotive 73096 hauled 10 coaches from Poole station, departing at 09:00 to London Waterloo on the Cathedrals Express special.
This special train ran to mark the 36th anniversary of the last day of steam on the B.R. Southern region. The last revenue earning steam hauled service operated by B.R. on Southern metals was the 20:50 Bournemouth to Weymouth van train on 9th July 1967 which was hauled by 77014.
73096 left Poole station at 09:00 hauling the Cathedrals Express to London Waterloo.
The train arrived back in Poole 25 minutes late as it had been called upon to make additional stops at New Milton, Basingstoke and Christchurch due to disruption at Waterloo. This was the first steam hauled service from Brockenhurst to Bournemouth since 1967.
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1-1 73096 at the foot of Parkstone Bank having left Poole on time at 09:00 as 1Z96. This is the first time in over 36 years a steam locomotive has hauled a train up Parkstone bank without assistance from a banking engine.
1-2 73096 arriving back at Poole station as 1Z97 at 19:43. platform 2.
1-3 73096 standing at Poole Station, Platform 2.
The only apparent casualty on the journey was one broken window on coach no S5237, the last coach to arrive at Poole. Only the outer glazing was broken, the inner pane was still intact on arrival at Poole so no passengers were injured as a result of this incident.
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1-4 73096 uncoupled from the stock and ran round the train of coaches on the other siding, leaving the mainline free for other traffic.
1-5 73096 moving from Poole carriage sidings to the goods yard to be coaled. She paused briefly opposite Poole signalbox before entering the yard siding.
1-6 73096 in Poole yard, her tender being filled with 4 large sacks of coal from a lorry with a "HIAB" crane. 47488 stands behind her on the same siding silently waiting for her crew.
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1-7 A quick, simple and effective method of coaling a loco where there are no coaling facilities.
1-8 The last coal sack, now empty, being pulled away from the tender. It took a little over six minutes to load the four huge sacks of coal.
1-9 73096 and 47488 standing in Poole yard ready to form the ECS (Empty Coaching Stock) working back to Alton. (20:06 09 July 2003)
The train left Poole shortly after this photo, we saw 73096 heading back to the carriage sidings from the car as we were pulling out onto the Holes Bay road to head for home.
The train left Poole as 5Z98 with 47488 leading and 73096 on the rear to Eastleigh (Platform 2) where it reversed and ran with 73096 leading back to Alton.
This was a special day for many people both on the train and along the route, congratulations must go to the crew and all those who made this event possible. 73096 is indeed a beautiful locomotive and a credit to the Mid Hants and Steam Dreams, "Lang may her lum reek". Ozz Scott 9 July 2003.
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