Bournemouth Belle

[1] It initially ran non-stop from London Waterloo, leaving at 10:30, to Bournemouth Central, returning at 19:18.

On its reintroduction on 7 October 1947 the superior SR Merchant Navy class provided motive power.

The weight of the Belle and other express trains on the London–Bournemouth route meant a decision was made to continue with steam in the early 1960s until electrification was completed.

[2] In the mid-1960s, heavy trains like the Belle needed fast acceleration, at which the Bulleid Pacifics excelled, due to delays during third-rail electrification work, the Bournemouth Belle was the last great named steam train with a patronage of rock stars and aristocrats as well as ferry and ocean liner passengers from Southampton and tourists visiting Bournemouth.

[3] The Bournemouth Belle was steam-hauled almost daily until January 1967, and steam often relieved broken-down diesels until the last week.