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'Bournemouth Belle' leaving Waterloo
10^th October 1946

Scheduled to depart at 12.30pm, the 'Bournemouth Belle' (Waterloo - Bournemouth West) was the first Pullman express to be restored after the War and this is its fourth run (Thursday).

Post-War overall running times were longer with Bournemouth Central now reached in 2hrs 10mins (albeit 2hrs 5mins return). Consequentially the Bournemouth Belle was no longer the fastest train on the Bournemouth run. However, with up to twelve Pullman cars and an overall tare weight of almost 500 tons, it was the heaviest train on the route. The service met its end on 9^th July 1967.

Bulleid Pacific no.21C18 'British India Line' was built in May 1945, rebuilt February 1956 and withdrawn August 1964.

Ben Brooksbank (CC-by-SA/2.0)

Basingstoke train ready to leave Waterloo
20^th April 1948

From platform 15, the 1.54pm semi-fast to Basingstoke his about to depart from platform 14 headed by Urie H15 no.475 still in Southern Railway livery and without smokebox number-plate (built March 1924, withdrawn December 1961).

Ben Brooksbank (CC-by-SA/2.0)

Charing Cross - Margate express at Waterloo (East)
20^th April 1948

Just after Nationalisation, SR Maunsell class V 'Schools' no.916 'Whitgift' (built May 1933, withdrawn 29^th December 1962) is still in Southern livery; it is working the 1.15pm Charing Cross - Dover - Ramsgate - Margate (next stop Tonbridge).

Ben Brooksbank (CC-by-SA/2.0)

'Mallard' enters Waterloo on the 'Atlantic Coast Express'
(1948 Locomotive Exchanges)
1^st June 1948

The celebrated record-breaking LNER Gresley A4 class Pacific no.E22 'Mallard' (built March 1938, withdrawn April 1963 thence preserved) passes Waterloo Power Box as it arrives from Exeter, on a preliminary run without dynamometer car during the 1948 Locomotive Exchanges.

Ben Brooksbank (CC-by-SA/2.0)

LMS Rebuilt 'Scot' brings Atlantic Coast Express into Waterloo
(1948 Locomotive Exchanges)
8^th June 1948

On a run up from Exeter during the 1948 Locomotive Exchanges, no.46154 'The Hussar' (built July 1930, rebuilt March 1948, withdrawn December 1962) passes Waterloo Power Box.

It was one of the engines that excelled themselves on the Trials.

Ben Brooksbank (CC-by-SA/2.0)

Waterloo (Main): emergency track-laying at buffer-stops
19^th July 1948

It was a Monday, so unlikely to have been a routine maintenance operation. The view is towards the buffers at about platform 3 - 4, with at least two platforms out of use.

The locomotive was an ex-London & South Western 4-4-0. (I just happened to be there) .

Ben Brooksbank (CC-by-SA/2.0)

Waterloo Station: relaying train with SR 0-6-0DE
19^th July 1948

Towards buffers at platform 4 with relaying work in progress, employing one of the just three ex-SR 0-6-0DE 350hp shunters, no.1 (later 15201), built 1937.

Ben Brooksbank (CC-by-SA/2.0)

'King Arthur' leaving Waterloo for the Salisbury line
19^th March 1949

View towards the buffers. Maunsell 'King Arthur' no.30782 'Sir Brian' was built July 1925, withdrawn September 1962. Although it has been renumbered from 782, six-months on it is still in Southern livery (15 months after Nationalisation).

The first coach would be BTK S2861S of Bulleid 59 multidoor 3-Set no.973 (new 11^th March 1946, strengthened August 1963, disbanded c.December 1963)

Ben Brooksbank (CC-by-SA/2.0)

Ex-LSWR L11 working empty stock at Waterloo
24^th June 1950

From the end of the main-line platforms at Waterloo on a Summer Saturday, when all sorts were put to work on steam expresses and their stock. This is Drummond L11 class no.414 (built July 1906, withdrawn April 1951) and still in Southern livery.

Bulleid 5-Set no.848 was outshopped new in CLC livery 17^th April 1950, received BR(S) green 12^th September 1958 and was disbanded in 1966.

To the right behind the signal gantry can be seen the Shot Tower, prominent until demolished when the South Bank was redeveloped for the Festival of Britain a year later .

Ben Brooksbank (CC-by-SA/2.0)

Bournemouth express at Waterloo
24^th June 1950

Seen from the end of platform 13 (where the rear end of 4 COR unit no.3104 on a electric Portsmouth express is visible), the 10.54am Summer Saturday express to Bournemouth West is ready to leave with a Maunsell N15 Class no.30773 'Sir Lavaine' (built June 1925, withdrawn February 1962).

Ben Brooksbank (CC-by-SA/2.0)

Farnborough Air Display special at Waterloo
8^th July 1950

Rail travel from London to one of the first post-war Air Displays at Farnborough was provided to the ex-LSWR station at Farnborough. This produced some most unusual sights at Waterloo. Here, probably at platform 10, is an ex-LSWR Drummond '700' class no.30339 (built June 1897 as no.710, soon renumbered 339, and as BR no.30339 lasted until November 1962). The Special was at least made up of SR carriage stock, unlike some which had ex-Metropolitan stock.

Ben Brooksbank (CC-by-SA/2.0)

Festival of Britain Exhibition
17^th July 1951

On a site adjacent to Waterloo station is a view westward along Fairway from Station Gate: Dome of Discovery on left, 'Skylon' left-centre, Transport Pavilion on right; Whitehall Court in background.

Ben Brooksbank (CC-by-SA/2.0)

Pioneer Bulleid 'Merchant Navy' Pacific on Down express
11^th July 1953

View northward from platform 11, with no.35001 'Channel Packet'- the very first of Bulleid's Pacifics (built June 1941, rebuilt August 1959, withdrawn November 1964) on the 3.00pm departure to Exeter and Plymouth, Ilfracombe & Torrington.

Although the coaching set behind no.35001 cannot be ascertained, Bulleid 59 multidoor stock 3-Set 975 has arrived in platform 10.

Ben Brooksbank (CC-by-SA/2.0)

Waterloo (Main) Concourse
14^th July 1955

View South-West from the platform 1 end, in the evening rush - and in a heat-wave.

Note the smart dress - and the umbrellas compare with 1964 below

Ben Brooksbank (CC-by-SA/2.0)

'King Arthur' at Waterloo
11^th May 1959

A typical scene at Waterloo Station in the 1950's. At one of the main line platforms (nmber 12), N15 Class no.30453 'King Arthur' (after which the Class was known) was not the first of the Class, being a Maunsell-modified Urie variant built post-Grouping in February 1925 (withdrawn in July 1961). Here in its latter days, it is on the 2.54pm stopping train to Basingstoke the first coach being of Bulleid 3-Set set 771 (new 5^th December 1946); at platform 11 is a 2 BIL electric unit leading a service to Alton.

Ben Brooksbank (CC-by-SA/2.0)

Down express from Charing Cross entering Waterloo (East
11^th May 1959

From the footbridge linking Waterloo Main Station, towards Charing Cross River Bridge, the 3.08pm Charing Cross - Deal (via Tonbridge, Ashford, Folkestone and Dover) is headed by SR rebuilt Bulleid Light Pacific no.34027 'Taw Valley' (built April 1946 as no.21C127, rebuilt September 1957, withdrawn August 1964 and now preserved).

The leading coaches are Bulleid 4-Set (new 24^th March 1949, withdrawn 16^th May 1964).

Ben Brooksbank (CC-by-SA/2.0)

Waterloo (Main) concourse
16^th May 1964

View north-east towards platform 1 end.

Compare with 1955 view [above] - not so very different nine years later .

Ben Brooksbank (CC-by-SA/2.0)

Maunsell S15 class in the depths of Waterloo
5^th August 1964

From platform 13, the 11.54am semi-fast to Basingstoke is soon to leave platform 12 headed by relatively young S15 no.30840 (built June 1936, withdrawn September 1964 - very soon after this photograph).

British Rail introduced the 24-hour clock (nationally) for public and working timetables from 14^th June 1965.

Ben Brooksbank (CC-by-SA/2.0)

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PHOTOGRAPHIC COPYRIGHT BEN BROOKSBANK (CC-BY-SA/2.0)
(WITH GRATITUDE FOR USE)