After an impromptu stay on the Swanage Railway, Ex-LMS 'Black 5' Class 5MT - 44871 would be led away from the Purbeck branch line by West Coast Railways Class 47 - 47812.
44871 had piloted 'The Swanage Belle' down from London to the Isle of Purbeck on the 26th of June. En route, the 'Black 5' had caused numerous lineside fires. The worst of which came as the tour descended Christchurch Bank near Hinton Admiral, with 44871 sparking a fire in close proximity to high voltage electric control cables, subsequently damaging them, and knocking out all electrical power on the rail network in the area. This would result in no mainline services operating between Brockenhurst and Weymouth, bringing that section of the SWML to a complete standstill. As a direct consequence, Network Rail issued a request that 44871 be removed from the remainder of the tour, and be left at Swanage.
Having spent over a week stranded by the seaside, 44871 would be collected by Class 47 - 47812 to be returned to the north, working 5Z71 and bound for the Crewe Heritage Centre.
The consist was scheduled to leave before any of the SR's service trains, which provided the opportunity to catch 44871 being preppared under a strong morning sun. With 47812 in control, the consist would be bathed in light as it curved past Dickers Crossing. After a reversal in the Southampton area, 47812 would then lead the 'Black 5' up the Wessex Mainline, gliding through Lockerley with St John's Church in the background.
00:00 - On shed at Swanage
00:58 - 47812 Dickers Crossing
02:03 - 47812 Lockerley
All footage filmed on Thursday the 4th of July 2024.
