‘U-boat’ returnstomainline action on top-and-tailed train

WHILE it isfairlycommonpracticefor railtours to be topped and tailed by diesels, especially those of the‘forgotten tracks’variety where reversals are all part of the itinerary, use of steam in such circumstances on the network is rare.

However, it happened on Sunday, June 20 when Southall based B1 4-6-0 and U class 2-6-0 No. 31806 from the Swanage Railway worked a Father’s Day special from Portsmouth to Brockenhurst.