King Arthur Class 4-6-0 30451 on an up Salisbury train at New Malden on 23rd April 1962. The overbridge at New Malden was wide enough for road, but only had a footpath on it. Ideal for train watching, and I used to cycle across quite often from home near West Wickham in Kent.The bridge is still there today and unchanged.
A view from the other side of that bridge at New Malden, with King Arthur Class 30798 on the 14.54 Waterloo to Basingstoke local train on 23rd April 1962
King Arthur Class 4-6-0 30795 on an up Salisbury train passing New Malden in 1962.
King Arthur Class 4-6-0 30796 on a very short Waterloo to Basingstoke train
passing Wimbledon in 1962.
King Arthur Class 4-6-0 30796 on a heavier Waterloo to Basingstoke train passing Wimbledon in 1962.
King Arthur Class 4-6-0 30798 on an up Salisbury to Waterloo train approaches Wimbledon on
a very wet day in 1962.
Another favourite spot, albeit a much longer cycle ride from home, was the over bridge that today leads to the army base at Pirbight. Mid way between Pirbight Junction and the top of the climb to Milepost 31. Here, King Arthur Class 4-6-0 30770 is on an up special train between Milepost 31 and Pirbight Junction on 2nd September 1962
Not a good photo, but historic I think! Possibly the last time a Lord Nelson and a King Arthur class met each other whilst hauling trains on the old LSWR. 30770 hauls an ecs train down beyond Vauxhall, meeting a Lord Nelson on an up Ocean Liner Boat train. Photographed from a 4-Sub unit heading between Vauxhall and Clapham Junction. I am almost certain it was in the week 3rd to 9th September 1962, possibly the 9th after I had travelled up from Southampton behind 30770.
Thankfully a King Arthur has survived into preservation, and on 18th August 2010, 30777, Sir Lamiel, is seen on a London to Weymouth special train between Roundwood Summit and Micheldever.
Still in 2010, as 30777 leaves Southampton.