I remember the Watercress Line was used to train up crews on the new rolling stock for the main line when I first moved to Alton. Lack of electrification was coped with my inserting an old diesel electric loco in the middle of the train as a generator. I could hear that from my then home (1 mile away from the line). It was a bizarre sight seeing a train of brand new Siemens rolling stock with a smoky old diesel in the middle (it was smoky, too!).
Kevin
I wonder how they connected the gene-loco up to the traction-unit; through the ETH cable perhaps?
I love BIG diesels, my friend has a preserved
Class 40 and also (my favourite) a
Brush-Sulzer 47.......the latter; I`ve had the pleasure many times to drive. From a standing start (W.O.T) to a very scary 'flat out' 95 MPH (many years ago when such things were possible on
B.R).

I have since 'passed-out' on the 47: `have my driving permit c/w MGR, steam heat and ETH endorsements......Ahhhhh, Happy days!:y