Pines Express

The Pines Express was a named passenger train that ran daily between Manchester and Bournemouth.

Overview

The service first ran — then unnamed — on 1 October 1910 run jointly by the Midland Railway and LNWR, introduced in response to a LSWR/GWR service between Birkenhead and Bournemouth. It was first known as the Pines Express on 26 September 1927, named afer the pine trees in the Bournemouth area. It was formerly known as 'the diner' by staff.

In later years it also carried portions from Liverpool and Sheffield. During the busy summer period these portions would run the whole route as separate trains also names the "Pines Express".

The train became famous as being the top express to use the Somerset and Dorset line, a steeply-graded railway line through photogenic hilly countryside between Bath and Bournemouth, much loved and sorely missed by enthusiasts. On this line it often had to be double headed due to gradients on the line, producing spectacular photographs and film footage.

The last Pines Express to run over the S&DR was on 8 September 1962, hauled by 9F 92220 Evening Star. The train was then diverted over ex-GWR metals via Oxford, Reading, Basingstoke and Southampton. From 4 October 1965 it was extended to Poole, but the last train was run on 4 March 1967.