One of the first tests I was involved with was a service problem with the E6000 ED locos (now class 73) electro-diesels related to fractures of the mounting bolts on the alternators. The testing included several day's test running between Winchester and Basingstoke in the summer of 1971 both with direct electric traction and with the diesel engine. 

I remember being based at Eastleigh for a week and imagine that we would have taken Test Car 4 with us to house the instrumentation but the memory is dim!

I do remember that we stayed in a pub across the road from the Works' entrance and had breakfast in the bar each morning amongst the sticky carpets and smells of cigarettes and stale beer. At the time BR staff were allowed expenses on a scale depending upon the grade. Therefore if you went out with the boss you were allowed to claim his higher expenses so we often went up to Winchester on the train for our evening meal with the man in charge.

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