Our S&D 7F No. 53808 hauled a Special Train on Sunday 6 March 2022, on the Watercress Line. 56 years earlier – on Sunday 6 March 1966 – the very last trains had run on the S&D.

The passengers enjoyed two round trips of the line with a particular feature being a line-speed run through at Ropley on the second return journey. The passengers had alighted from the train to be able to observe this. On the platform at Ropley, former S&D staff visit the footplate and tell us about taking a 7F from Poole to Evercreech Junction.

The video covers both round trips – plus the run through – and finishes with the sun following 53808 into Alresford, highlighting the loco rather like a spotlight!

[Video by Rod Ormston and Roger Hardingham.]