Diesel and Electric Motive Power on the Southern 1980s to Present

With the era of British Railways’ transition from steam to diesel and electric influencing the country-wide fleets of trains beyond the 1970’s, the Southern proved no exception to such, integrated within its flotillas of commuter electric trains. Southern Region motive power was territorial, thanks to the requirement for electric trains to remain within the live third rail network. Remaining pockets of non-electrified routes provided the last bastions of diesel-electric units and locomotive hauled trains, not only in Dorset, Sussex and Hampshire but also especially along the South West mainline to Exeter. Although with a limited range of Class 33, 47, 50 and 73 locomotives serving the passenger sector in the 1980’s, there remained interesting passenger workings to note such as that along Weymouth Quay or through the rural tranquillity of Devon’s countryside to Barnstaple. Railfreight ensured a wider variety of locomotives within in the Region. Standard colours of B.R. blue and grey livery may have been monotonous but the bright and clean Network SouthEast colours were welcomed, along with the much needed emphasis on running clean and punctual services as part of the Network SouthEast ethos. Brand new fleets of trains in the Southern area continue to offer the railway enthusiast and photographer the chance to study the impact of privatisation in the modern railway. Fortunately we have several preserved lines in the Southern area which perfectly capture the character of the traditional Southern branch line in the days of heritage diesels.

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