#OnThisDay The last Bournemouth Belle 9th July

#OnThisDay  in 1967 the last Bournemouth Belle ran direct between London Waterloo and Bournemouth Central.

The Belle was a train formed of Pullman stock that first ran on Sunday 5 July 1931 and was one of the most famous named trains on the Southern region. The service originally was only scheduled to run during the summer months however due its great success the service was extended to run on all weekends and summer weekdays and in 1936, it became a year-round daily service.

35011 Hauling the Bournemouth Belle through Eastleigh (c) Geoff Dowling www.flickr.com/photos/geoffsimages/

When the Bournemouth Belle was reintroduced after the Second World War the service saw some major changes. The Southern Railway realised that the potential traffic to Southampton and its cruise ship terminals were too important to miss out on so additional stop at Southampton Central was added. The other major change to the service was the introduction of Oliver Bulleids faster and more powerful Merchant Navy class locomotives including our engine General Steam Navigation, that was a regular locomotive recorded as to haul the service. The size of the train grew considerably after the war with up to twelve Pullman cars weighing almost 500 tons tare weight combined with the requirement of fast acceleration and high top speed the Merchant Navys had a train were they could show off there best qualities. During the final days of steam, in the summer of 1967, the Merchant Navy power gave way to Class 47 diesels which worked the service until its demise.

British Railways: Today and Tomorrow.” Merchant Navy no. 35015 “Rotterdam Lloyd” leaves Waterloo with the Bournemouth Belle.

Sunday, 9th July 1967 was a historic day as as well as the last Bournemouth Belle it was  to be the final day of both steam traction’ on the Western Section main line.  To mark the occasion the  Southern Region had announced that the last day of this famous Pullman train would feature steam haulage. At the eleventh hour, higher management in British Railways thwarted this proposal, and the final ‘’Bournemouth Belle’’ services were hauled by Brush Type 4 No. D1924 (later Class 47 No. 47247).

General Steam Navigation was a often found hauling the Bournemouth Belle during her service career. One day the Society would love to recreate this on the mainline but to this we need your help. The Trailing Truck Transformers funding group continues to be our primary fundraising campaign with its objective of funding the restoration of GSNs trailing truck. The Society is pleased with the initial number of members who have signed up for blocks but are under no illusions that its still along way from being funded. We are offering a maximum of 30 members the opportunity to purchase a ‘Lot’ for £500. Members are welcome to purchase as many ‘Lots’ as they wish up to the maximum target amount.

Members of the Fund Group would receive a number of benefits including:

  • Certificate of membership of the ‘Trailing Truck Transformers’
  • Name engraved on a suitable brass plaque attached to the refurbished Trailing Truck
  • Regular updates on the refurbishment of the Trailing Truck
  • An invitation to a VIP day at the Swindon and Cricklade Railway to see the completed Trailing Truck once it is returned to the railway.

For details on how to become a Trailing Truck Transformer please click here.

Thank you

#OnThisDay 35011s rebuild was completed and gained boiler 1097

35011 on 13/02/1962 at Eastleigh. Copyright John Turner (https://www.flickr.com/photos/blue-diesels/)
#OnThisDay in 1959, General Steam Navigation re-entered service after rebuilding from it’s original form, which we are working to reverse. Attached to it was boiler 1097, one of the ten North British Boilers (of which 3 survive), and had seen service previously with Union Castle, Shaw Savill, and East Asiatic Company. It was kept with General Steam Navigation until withdrawal, and is now in our possession. Before we took ownership, the superheater header and elements were removed, we have since removed all the large tubes and the majority of the small tubes from the boiler, as well as the ash pans from the firebox. The boiler was lifted from the frames in October 2020, since when we have started on cleaning the inside of the boiler and firebox, prepping them for inspection later this year.
The original boiler fitted to General Steam Navigation, 1100, was the first Bulleid pacific boiler manufactured at Eastleigh. After removal from General Steam Navigation in 1947, it was used on Nederland Line, British India Line,, Peninsular & Oriental S.N. Co, French Line C.G.T, and Bibby Line. Unfortunately the first Merchant Navy boiler manufactured at Eastleigh was the only Merchant Navy boiler scrapped there, in 1965.
The Trailing Truck Transformers funding group continues to be our primary fundraising campaign with its objective of funding the restoration of GSNs trailing truck. The Society is pleased with the initial number of members who have signed up for blocks but are under no illusions that its still along way from being funded. We are offering a maximum of 30 members the opportunity to purchase a ‘Lot’ for £500. Members are welcome to purchase as many ‘Lots’ as they wish up to the maximum target amount.
Members of the Fund Group would receive a number of benefits including:
  • Certificate of membership of the ‘Trailing Truck Transformers’
  • Name engraved on a suitable brass plaque attached to the refurbished Trailing Truck
  • Regular updates on the refurbishment of the Trailing Truck
  • An invitation to a VIP day at the Swindon and Cricklade Railway to see the completed Trailing Truck once it is returned to the railway.
For details on how to become a Trailing Truck Transformer please click here.
Thank you

5 years of owning GSN

It was 5 years ago today that locomotive 35011 General Steam Navigation was officially signed over to the General Steam Navigation CIC. In the subsequent 5 years an incredible amount of work has been accomplished by our dedicated team of volunteers and supporters. The Society would like to take this chance to thank everyone who has ever been involved with the project for all there hardwork, passion and support. It is as a result of this progress the Society is more confident than ever before and together we will put the Steam back into General Steam Navigation.
You can join our efforts to restore this mighty beast by becoming a member in our Society for only £15 a year. You can find out more on our website https://35011gsn.co.uk/membership.html
Thank you