recollections of a magical childhood

5:15 pm

Brookwood was passed with its strangely extravagant London overspill Victorian cemetery and then off across the open country known as Bagshot Sands, consisting mostly of gorse and scrubland. The London-bound Alton branch would pass over the top of us here which marked the end of the third rail electrification in those days. This was the open stretch of the route governed by automatic air-operated mechanical signal gantries every couple of miles or so. It would have been a nice spot to photograph from for high-speed shots. Somewhere along here there was also another junction? 

From Basingstoke, I have since learned the line curved southwards having been travelling east/west up until then. It also began descending at 1/252 all the way to Eastleigh, about 25 miles, which is why we remember belting along and, according to most time logs, getting up to speeds of 75 to 90 mph.

6:02 pm

All I can remember after Eastleigh is St Deny’s which was followed by Northam Junction where there was a sharp right-hand curve alongside a high wall. I think we were in the restaurant car once when we rounded this (probably having a cup of tea?) as the steam/smoke from the engine closed in around the carriage windows and all was white outside. 

6:15 pm

Then there was that curious slow section almost underground for about 3 miles before the longish tunnel which ended at Southampton Central where we would often see the liners Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth (three funnels and two funnels respectively).  It must have been a 5 minute stop as, usually, this was when the fireman topped up the tender with water. 

6:59 pm

...... then we'd be standing up with suitcases in hand for the last mile through Boscombe (the station has long gone) which was always rather dark......

7:03 pm 

......and then past the goods yard (which we didn't know was once Bournemouth East Station) under Holdenhurst Road and finally into Bournemouth Central.

7:05 pm

And we used to walk up the path to get the bus to Parley Cross.

I remember it was quite a slog dragging our cases up the hill I recall

We walked uphill up a long straight footpath and then maybe into a short cul-de-sac which led onto the main road from the Lansdowne.

The roads have changed since then but I think we went up Park Road to catch the bus at the Lansdowne Road stop in the photo (today).

Yes, you've got the right location for our catching the bus to Parley Cross. It doesn't look a bit like it used to, does it?    We waited at a bus stop opposite (did it have a shelter?)

Yes, that's how I remember it but I don't think there was a shelter there.

7:11 pm

The wait for the bus (No.21, 22 or 16 if we were lucky) to Parley and enjoy seeing all the things that were only seen on holiday there - e.g. the Yellow buses and trolleybuses.  

7:21 pm                                          

Once aboard we would enjoy our journey to Parley Cross - across the junction at Cemetery Lodge where there were some Art-Deco style gates into the cemetery. The railway line passed under this junction and occasionally the smoke and steam from an engine would appear beside the road!

7:23 pm

Then along Wimborne Road through Winton (interesting historical stuff on Winton here) (where Nanna and Pop banked - Lloyds?)

and The Continental Cinema (which showed naughty films) 

7:29 pm

After Winton, we rode through Moordown, past the 2nd-Hand shop on the right (see Page 3) and onto the junction with Castle Lane where there used to be a large car dealership - Austin?

Sadly now Pizza-Hut

7:34 pm

Then onto the traffic lights at the junction of Wimborne Road and New Road, where there were a few shops (and where we once looked at what we thought was a pretty futuristic car at the time - a light blue Toyota Crown estate or was it a Corolla?) where we turned right onto the New Road and eventually across the iron bridge over the River Stour.

Oh, fishing!