Shunter Haulage Day

Shunter Haulage Day
Lover's Walk Depot Railtour

On Sunday May 1st 2011 one of the most "anorakiest" - and shortest - railtours that ever took place on the Southern conductor rail happened with the Preserved Locomotive
Enthusiast Group's and Southern Railway's Shunter Haulage Day charter from Brighton into the adjacent Lovers Walk Depot. This event was held in memory of Vic Copping, a former yard supervisor at Lovers Walk, who sadly died last year from cancer. All proceeds from the tour were donated to the Chestnut Tree House Hospice (for Children), a cause close to Vic's heart.

Unit 442412 (the last Wessex unit in service for South West Trains - used for their staff tour - and one of the first pair that returned to service for Gatwick Express) was top and tailed by Electro-Diesel 73202 and shunter 09026. The 09 was only attached whilst the tour was in the depot, actually being attached and detached whilst the tour was in Montpelier No.4 siding. So those on the tour never had an opportunity to photograph it attached.

For the record the tour traversed:
Platform 3 > north end of Carriage Road > 4 Montpelier Sidings - 09 attached
north end > 2 North Sidings > 2 Montpelier Sidings > 1 North Sidings > Shed
Road 9 > 2 North Sidings > Shed Road 11 > 2 North Sidings > 4 Montpelier
Sidings - 09 detached > Washer Road (detergent sprayed both ways) > West
Carriage Road > Platform 3.

The duration was about two hours, punctuality was good enough for it to be unnoticeable by anyone not glued to their watches, and great fun was had by all. The dedication
of Southern Staff to fund raising was ably demonstrated by the sheer amount
of walking up and down and the clipping of points they must have done, plus
operating an on-board catering service themselves. Our grateful thanks to PLEG and Southern.

	Prior to the tour the sparkling Lovers Walk Depot shunter 09026 was displayed in Montpelier No.4 siding where it was easily viewed from the London end of platforms 3/4. photograph by Colin Duff
	Electro-diesel locomotive 73202 hauling 442412 from Lovers Walk Depot into platform 3. photograph by Pat Seale
	The moment the empty stock move stopped enthusiasts gathered to await the doors being released so they could board the train. photograph by Colin Duff
	On one of its many moves through the depot, the tour has just passed the entrance to the Shed. photograph by Colin Duff
	With the 09 detached the tour is just passing through the washer - with detergent spray on - for the first pass. photograph by Colin Duff
	The tour left Lovers Walk Depot by the West Carriage Road, pictured here from the end of platforms 1/2. Railway Modellers, who are often criticised for laying track with tight reverse curves, will take heart from this track formation - although it is a very slow speed section. photograph by Colin Duff
	73202 and 442412 in platform 2 at the end of the tour. The stock did not hang around for long - it departed promptly back to the depot. photograph by Colin Duff

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