[Source: Nick Catford] Fawley Station Gallery 4: 22 March 1975 - 25 April 1976 old14.jpg) A further view of DEMU No.1124 at Fawley during the railtour of 22 March 1975. The hut on the right bears a sign proclaiming 'British Railways Southern Region'. The hut was no doubt a staff office or mess room and it has a telephone installed.
Photo from John Mann collection 19.jpg)
Class 3H DEMU No.1124 at Fawley during The Branch Line Society's 'Hampshire Railtour' of 22 March 1975. This is the powered end of the unit. Behind the driving cab is a vestibule with the three plain windows beyond being the engine room, through which there is a narrow corridor on this side and the cooler group on the other side. Behind the engine room is the guard's compartment and then passenger accommodation.
Photo by Ian James 12.jpg)
Fawley station I seen in December 1975, viewed from the end of the platform. For a branch terminus the platform was quite lengthy and could in theory (the releasing of locomotives had to be allowed for) accommodate an 8-car rake of Bulleid or BR Mk1 coaching stock. The presence of the two brake vans might suggest that some or all of the tanks were unfitted although by this date they were more likely in use as barrier vehicles. The vans are of the BR standard 20-ton type.
Photo by Nick Catford 13.jpg)
Fawley station in December 1975, viewed from the bufferstops. Visible here, left, is the headshunt for the release of locomotives from arriving trains. A common arrangement at most termini, incoming trains would draw to a halt before the points, ensuring that the locomotive did not strike the carriages as it reversed over the points onto the loop. Had it not been for refinery traffic, the run-round loop and the siding on the right would almost certainly have been removed when the line was dieselised.
Photo by Nick Catford 14.jpg) Looking north-west along Fawley's platform in December 1975. On the right a train of tanks is departing or preparing to depart; this is the same train seen in another same day view with two brake vans attached. The locomotive is the usual BRCW Class 33 diesel, a class popularly known as 'Cromptons' from Crompton Parkinson, the manufacturer of their electrical equipment. Unfortunately, and as was so often the case with diesels, the photographer failed to record details. Close examination suggests there is a barrier wagon behind the locomotive.
Photo by Nick Catford 17.jpg)
Looking along Fawley's platform towards the bufferstops on a damp day in December 1975. A Class 33 diesel is partially visible at the head of a train of tanks on the left. Visible on its cabside is the BR 'double arrow' logo and the number was probably on the bodyside behind the cab door at the other end and at this time may have been a 65xx or TOPS number. On the right can be seen the 'British Railways Southern Region' sign affixed to the wooden hut. The use of 'British Railways' wording, as opposed to 'British Rail' would suggest the sign had been present since 1964 or earlier. On the platform side of the hut is a telephone bell. External bellsets like this were once extremely common and, to a lesser degree, can still be seen. They are loud and their purpose is to summon staff to the telephone when away from the office.
Photo
by Nick Catford
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Fawley station building looking north-west from the approach road in December 1975. Present is the ex-LB&SCR van body and a number of tanks wagons including, left background, in the former goods yard behind the dock. The car left of centre appears to be a Simca 1000.
Photo by Nick Catford 20.jpg)
Fawley station on 25 April 1976, ten years after regular passenger services ceased. The occasion was the Lea Valley Railway Club 'Royal Wessex' railtour The tour used two Class 33 locomotives and two 4TC driving trailer sets plus a buffet car. The tour, which commenced and finished at Waterloo, took in a number of routes including Weymouth Quay. The 4TC sets were converted from ordinary Mk1 stock and were non-powered but with a driving cab at each end; their intended purpose was to provide the non-electrified Bournemouth - Weymouth leg of Waterloo - Weymouth services. The sets were compatible with certain EMU types and the Southern Region's diesel and electro-diesel locomotives. A 4TC, or a pair of them, would be pushed to Bournemouth by a powerful 4-REP EMU, uncoupled and taken forward to Weymouth by a Class 33. The return would involve the locomotive pushing to Bournemouth, where the reverse would apply. There was also a 6TC set, actually the prototype and formed of a hotchpotch of older stock, an 8TC set and, later, some 3TC sets. Fuller details are best read here. The hut on the right appears no longer to be used for its original purpose as the Southern Region sign has gone, as has the telephone bell. The concrete running-in board, apparently still in good condition, still proudly announces the location. Such boards were durable and in many cases continued to stand long after the station or line they were located on closed. They were unsuitable for souvenir hunters and, even if one could be removed, far too heavy for mounting on the lounge wall. Construction used standard moulds for board and stanchions, with letters being produced separately according to intended location. This method was cost-effective and required the minimum of tooling.
Photo by David Burrows from his Flickr photostream 21.jpg) Proving that the charms of nature can co-exist with industrial backdrops, this is Fawley at sunset on 25 April 1976. At the platform is the 'Royal Wessex' railtour, with Class 33 diesel No.33103 at its head. The tour train departed right time at 19:59 for Waterloo, where it arrived four minutes early at 21:49.
Photo by David Burrows from his Flickr photostream 22.jpg)
The entrance to Fawley goods yard taken on 25 April 1976. Points of note are the charming concrete fence posts, the delightful blue fencing, the setting sun reflecting off the storage tank and the work-of-art pipelines at right background. By this date the goods shed and other facilities had ben demolished. An added bonus on this day was the presence of a Ford Cortina Mk1.
Photo
by David Burrows from his Flickr photostream
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Fawley on 25 April 1976 with the 'Royal Wessex' railtour on the right. With two 4TC sets, a buffet car and two locomotives this train could well have been the longest passenger train to ever visit Fawley. On the left is one of the tracks leading into the refinery. On the Southern concrete lamp standards, note the hexagonal lampshades.
Photo by David Burrows from his Flickr photostream 24.jpg) The forecourt side of Fawley station on 25 April 1976. Whilst the station building resembles a public lavatory in black and white views, in colour it resembles a disused police station. At the platform stands the 'Royal Wessex' railtour; on the right can be seen the driving cab of one of the 4TC sets and coupled between it and the other 4TC partly visible far left is the buffet car. No doubt the buffet car did a roaring trade; they usually did on lengthy railtours such as this. On the road vehicle scene we have, left, a Chrysler Alpine which was actually a Simca 1308 rebadged for the British market and, right, a Ford Escort Mk1.Photo by David Burrows from his Flickr photostream Click here for Fawley Station Gallery 5:
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