The line from London Waterloo to Salisbury is 84 miles long, and one of the last long distance services operated by diesel traction. Whilst the route is currently the preserve of Class 159s, in the early 90s it was a mix of locos, with Class 50s most common alongside Class 47s. At the London end of the route, the hub of Waterloo has many lines that head separate ways along the route, with junctions at Clapham, Wimbledon, Raynes Park, New Malden, Surbiton, Weybridge & Woking. Proposed Rolling Stock Class 50 in Network SouthEast livery The Class 50s were built in 1968 for the WCML north of Crewe, with them moving to the Western Region to replace hydraulics after electrification in 1974. When the 165/166s were introduced in 1989, the remaining fleet of around 20 Class 50s were moved over to the West of England line to replace the much less powerful Class 33s. The fleet was withdrawn just a few years later in early 1992. Class 455/8 in Network SouthEast livery The fleet of 74 Class 455/8s were split fairly evenly between operating out of London Victoria and London Waterloo. On the South Western lines, they operated local services to Epsom, Dorking, Guilford, Chessington South & Shepperton. Layers Blackpool Branches: Class 47s for Class 50 substitution on Waterloo services as well as InterCity AI services at Basingstoke. Class 86/2: Mk2s for InterCity AI services at Basingstoke. Tees Valley: Class 37/5 on freight AI at Basingstoke. Heavy Freight Pack: TEA tankers hauled by Class 37/5 on freight AI at Basingstoke.
