LSWR T6 4-4-0 No 686 with a parcels train in c1925.
Robert Waterman explains "This is Basingstoke on the down local line platform but facing the up direction. It is likely that the train will shunt backwards west of the station and then cross over to the up local line. I remember seeing this done with the ECS of Basingstoke terminating stoppers from Waterloo which arrived at this platform (the loco detached and went to the mpd) and the loco to form an up stopping service attached as depicted here, reversed to the west end crossover and then drew forward into up local line platform in the same way as shown here.
After electrification and colour light signalling this procedure was
made unnecesary as this platform was made reversible - in subsequent resignalling all platforms have been made reversible".

Photo: R.S. Clark / Rail Archive Stephenson