Wallers Ash loops - shortening date

[Colin1501]

As a newcomer to this forum, I'm hoping someone can help with this query. I wasn't sure whether to post it here or in 'historical', but I think here probably has the edge.

I'm aware that the Wallers Ash loops, between Micheldever and Winchester, were shortened at their southern ends. I understand the reason was because of a weak bridge deck under the main lines. By shortening the loops, the main lines could be slewed outwards to use the sound decks formerly under the loops.

Can anyone tell me when this was done? The nearest I've got is 'sometime in the mid 1980s', but the precise date seems very hard to pin down. Grateful for any help.

 

[swt_passenger]

I’ve also seen 1984/5 stated for this in discussions years ago in the UKModernEMU Yahoo group.

Welcome to these forums by the way...

 

[Colin1501]

I’ve also seen 1984/5 stated for this in discussions years ago in the UKModernEMU Yahoo group.

Welcome to these forums by the way...

Thank you!

 

[Dr Hoo]

I went to work (for BR) in the area in the spring of 1983 and seem to recall that the work had ‘just been done’. Worth noting that a lot of effort had gone into extending Eastleigh signalbox to cover the Southampton area, build the Laverstock chord, fettling up the Chandlers Ford line and whatnot in preparation for the rebuilding of Southampton Tunnel. With many months of single line working in prospect there was no way that it could cope with trains presenting late because of speed restrictions elsewhere.
The Southern Region was quite good at this sort of ‘planning’.

 

[swt_passenger]

Interesting side points about other work at the same time, I think though that the Laverstock chord was a reinstatement, rather than a ‘build’ in the fullest sense. Does anyone know the period it was first in use, and when it first became disused?

 

[Eastwestjct]

L

Interesting side points about other work at the same time, I think though that the Laverstock chord was a reinstatement, rather than a ‘build’ in the fullest sense. Does anyone know the period it was first in use, and when it first became disused?

Laverstock Chord was a reinstatement reopened in 1981 after originally closing in 1868. The original chord was surplus originally after the building of the winchester , Newbury and Didcot railway and the Kimbridge Junction - Horsebridge & Andover line.