Hastings DEMU 1001 goes to Worcester - 'Worcester Leveller' Railtour, 03/10/09

A video of Hastings Diesels Limited's 'The Worcester Leveller' Railtour on Saturday 3rd October 2009, worked by class 201 'Hastings' DEMU 'Thumper' No. 1001.

The Railtour started at Hastings and picked up passengers at St Leonards Warrior Square, Battle (where I joined), Etchingham, Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge, Sevenoaks, Bromley South and Kensington Olymia. After departing from Olymipa, the 5-car 'Thumper' travelled via Willesden South West Sidings, Acton Mainline, Reading, Swindon and Cheltenham Spa to reach the City of Worcester.

After a break of around 3 and half hours, 1001 returned to Hastings, via a partially different route, taking us via the 1 in 37 Lickey Incline (thought to be the 1st time a 'Hastings' DEMU has assended the Lickey), Birmingham New Street, Tyseley, Leamington Spa, Banbury, Princes Risborough, South Ruislip, Greenford West and South Junctions, West Ealing and picked up the outward route at Kensington Olympia.

The DEMU was in a 5-car formation, formed of Motor Coach S60118 "Tunbridge Wells" (from class 202 unit 1013), trailer 60501 (from the original 1001), ex-4-BIG EMU Buffet 69337), trailer 60529 (from class 202 unit 1013) and Motor Coach S60116 "Mountfield" (from class 202 unit 1012).

The majority of the footage was filmed from onboard the train, with me not leaning out of the windows to get it. Only the camera was placed outside the window.

A few photos @ http://craigrailpics.fotopic.net/c1764187.html

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• Hastings
• DEMU
• 1001
• S60116
• Mountfield
• S60118
• Tunbridge
• Wells
• 1012
• 1013
• Thumper
• yt:crop=16:9

[kolonelklink1001]

A fantastic video capturing all the usual Thumper noises from '1001' and great info about the outing too especially the routes taken.

[21C123]

Thanks a lot!

[DarrensVlog]

Great Video, I was the guard on the outward trip as far as Worcester.

[21C123]

Thanks. Nice one. Was you also on the Caterham Corps on Saturday? Pretty sure I saw you around during the day.

[cjandreggie]

Thoroughly enjoyed the excursion.

She suffered a dragging brake on TSO 60529 departing Battle, hence the slow departure.

[21C123]

It was indeed very enjoyable. Yes, I heard about the brake problems.

[choirboyfromhell1]

Serious flat wheels there leaving Battle. Nice to see these restored however!

[Trainbuff2008]

Seems like thats not being maintained properly and wonder what bright spark decided to shove a Mk1 buffet car in the centre surely they could of converted an original carriage into a buffet.

[cjandreggie]

I was on the train and asked the crew moments after leaving Battle who confirmed a dragging brake. This had been experienced and noted at various places throughout the tour.

[MrGettingtooold]

In 1984 I helped 'hand sand' the rails in front of DEMUs that had been stopped by signals at Battle Box in the Down direction. They also struggled to get going out of the platform again. I understand from talking to a South Eastern Driver that rail conditions were definitely a bit 'iffy' until the RHTT began the following week.

[cjandreggie]

There was a dragging brake. You could even hear the flats (bigger than they were already!) on the TSO afterwards. Besides, neither my farther or I who have travelled on hastings units for 20 years have ever heard of a unit struggling to pull out of Battle to that degree (almost slipping to a stand) even with 'poor railhead conditions'.

[MrGettingtooold]

Was actually poor railhead conditions, coupled to restarting on the 1 in 100 gradient. Both Power Cars 'picked up' starting away, but taking it steady managed to get onto the downhill stretch beyond the roadbridge and then okay. Back Power Car slipped a bit leaving Sevenoaks.

[DarrensVlog]

Yes I was guard on both the Caterham Corps and The Eton Rifles but didn't cover Hastings to London Leg for the last two.

Will be out with the DEMU on all forth coming outings, so see you around.