DEMU Diary

Last updated on 20 January 2025

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2006 2007 2008 2009
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
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[PHOTO: old and modern trains side-by-side in station: 61kB]

Above: The old and the new. The preserved Hastings diesel unit 1001 is seen at Hastings on Sunday 3 July 2005, alongside a modern electric unit operated by Southern. On this occasion our DEMU was enagaged in some timing-runs, empty but with simulated station-stops, to prove that it could keep to revised timings being planned for the winter timetable. See also the relevant diary entry.

Introduction

This section was originally devised during the days when our train was used intensively on the Ashford & Hastings line, and was intended to provide an easily-accessed historical record of our train’s workings on the main line. As our train continues to go out on various test runs, railtours and workings for other operators, we hope that this diary remains a useful resource.

Scope

This diary attempts to record every occasion when one or more of our railway vehicles has moved on Network Rail metals (other than shunting operations within the St. Leonards depot area). Therefore, it includes workings on the Ashford & Hastings line, railtours and excursions (whether HDL’s or for another operator), rescue missions to Eastbourne, and so on. At present, use of motor coaches in a Network Rail Sandite or De-icing train are NOT included.

The set of entries on this page is believed to be complete.

Earlier entries

Entries prior to April 2004 (dating back one year) are on a separate page, and include only the Ashford–Hastings workings.

Entries from April to December 2004 can be viewed here.

Entries from 2005 can be viewed here.

Notation

There is a “status column” between each date and its diary entry, whose meanings are as follows:

A	Ashford & Hastings Line passenger-service working
R	Railtour or other special-scheduled passenger working (including private charters)
S	Special non-passenger working (e.g. test run, rescue mission), or operation of unusual passenger service

2006

1001’s workings over Network Rail metals since 1 January 2006 (See previous entries)
Wednesday 19 April 2006	S	Our train operated “The Soap Run” today. This is a local job, delivering the cleaning supplies to South Eastern’s carriage-washer, between the depot and Bopeep Junction; there is no access by road to the washer. There were some previous such trips, details for which were not recorded by this diary.
Wednesday 23 August 2006	S	Once more our train operated “The Soap Run”. It was formed of 60000-60116 (the latter used as a Driving Trailer, i.e. without power).

2007

Thursday 1 March 2007	S	1001 was sent on a further excursion towards Bopeep Junction on “The Soap Run”, formed 60000-60116; the latter was again operating as a Driving Trailer, but on this occasion was on test following modifications in preparation for CDL/OTMR. (See photo at foot of News page.)
Wednesday 6 June 2007	S	Motor coaches 60116 and 60118 made a trip to the carriage-washer to replenish its supplies today.
Friday 29 June 2007	S	1001 returned to the main line today, following Central Door Locking and On-Train Monitoring Recorders works. Motor coaches 60118-60116 operated `5Z22` via Ashford, Dover and Canterbury on a driver-training run. Illustrations and further details can be found in the relevant news article. These two vehicles of our train got ‘turned’ in the course of the outing.
Sunday 8 July 2007	S	Our two available Motor Coaches 60116-60118 operated `3Z99`, a special trip to Grove Park, Maidstone, Tonbridge, Hastings, Canterbury and Ashford whilst providing Operational Response cover for the Tour de France. An illustrated write-up contains full details.
Thursday 20 September 2007	S	Our two available motor-coaches were coupled to 73 107 which was on test. The test train, `5Z73`, was formed 60118+60116+73107. As well as providing this dual-mode test for the Electro-Diesel loco, it ‘turned’ our motor-coaches: 60116 Mountfield now faces Bexhill. A news article contains photos of this (and the subsequent) test runs.
Wednesday 26 September 2007	S	A further test run took place, causing our unit to be turned a second time. Photos and details are in this news article.
Thursday 18 October 2007	S	A final test run of 73 107 took place with our motor coaches 60116 and 60118. This turned them a third time, finally restoring them to their “usual” orientation. Photos and details are in this news article. At the depot, Mountfield now faces towards Bexhill, and Tunbridge Wells faces towards Rye.
Tuesday 4 December 2007	S	Motor coaches 60116-60118 undertook a driver-training run for FirstGBRf. Leaving St. Leonards at 1055, they ran via Rye, Ashford, Folkestone, Dover, Deal, Minster, Canterbury, Ashford, Tonbridge and Battle, returning to St. Leonards by 1527. Steve Hatcher took a photo at Paddock Wood. This run would again have taken “Hastings” stock through the twin single-bore tunnels at Shakespeare Cliff; an even number (2) of reversals means that the train was not turned round.

2008

Friday 6 June 2008	S	1001 (formed with vehicles 60118, 60501, 69337, 60116) operated the “Soap Run”, travelling down to the nearby carriage-washing plant to deliver supplies. It is likely that our train has operated further such runs in recent months which have not appeared in this diary.
Thursday 26 June 2008	S	1001 operated a test run as a five car formation (60118-60501-69337-60529-60116). It ran via Hastings (reverse), Tonbridge, Redhill, Clapham Jc, Catford Loop, Swanley, Maidstone East, Ashford, Rye, St. Leonards Depot. A news article has a photo of the run taking place.
Saturday 28 June 2008	R	1001 was hired by a TOC for an outing to Bournemouth; it was in the same 5-car formation as two days ago. A news article contains photos, and timings are available.
Thursday 18 December 2008	S	The five main-line-certified cars of our train (see previous entries) ran on a turning/test trip which departed at 1000 and ran via Hastings, Rye, Ashford International, Tonbridge, Battle and Hastings, arriving back at St. Leonards Depot at 1230. This turned the train round with motor coach Tunbridge Wells now facing Bexhill.
Sunday 21 December 2008	R	HDL ran its Christmas Onward Railtour to Folkestone, where it traversed the nearly-closed Folkestone Harbour branch. A news article contains photos, and timings for the trip are available. The train was not turned round in the course of the day’s activities.

2009

Wednesday 28 January 2009	S	1001 set out at 0920 today on the “Soap Run”, delivering supplies to West Marina carriage-washer; it returned to depot at 1045.
Thursday 19 March 2009	S	Our DEMU worked a pre-railtour test run to Tonbridge; see the illustrated news article.
Saturday 21 March 2009	R	1001 operated the HDL Wiltshire Warrior railtour today.
Friday 26 June 2009	S	Our 5-coach train undertook a test run today, in preparation for the upcoming HDL Midland Forester Railtour. Running as `1H01`, it left St. Leonards depot at 0955 and ran thus: Hastings (reverse) - Battle - Tonbridge (reverse) - Ashford - Dover - Minster - Canterbury West - Ashford (reverse) - Rye - St. Leonards. It arrived at 1445, facing the same direction as on departure, and with no problems encountered.
Saturday 4 July 2009	R	1001 operated the HDL Midland Forester railtour today.
Wednesday 22 July 2009	S	1001 ran to the West Marina carriage-washer today (the “Soap Run”) to deliver its supplies.
Friday 25 September 2009	S	1001 went out on a pre-railtour test-run today; it departed at 09:50 and its route was Hastings – Tonbridge – Ashford – Dover Priory – Minster curve – Canterbury West – Ashford – Rye – Hastings and return to depot. Andy Armitage shot some video of it passing Doleham which may be of interest.
Saturday 3 October 2009	R	1001 operated the HDL Worcester Leveller railtour today. The 5-car train arrived back at St. Leonards Depot facing the opposite way from when it departed.
Saturday 10 October 2009	R	1001 was used by First GBRf for The Caterham Corps, a charity outing from Hastings to London and the Kent & Surrey areas, in aid of Help for Heroes, with bookings being handled by UK Railtours. The train was “topped and tailed” by Class 73 electro-diesel locomotives. The train travelled up to London Victoria via Tonbridge, Lewisham and Denmark Hill; then back to Bromley North; then via Sidcup and Woolwich Arsenal to London Bridge; to Hayes and back; to Caterham and Tattenham Corner; via Selhurst, Clapaham Junction, Kensington Olympia and Mitre Bridge Junction to Richmond; via Mitre Bridge and Stewarts Lane Junction to Victoria; and to Hastings via Tonbridge.
Sunday 11 October 2009	R	Our train was used by First GBRf for The Eton Rifles, a charity outing from Hastings to London and the Kent & Surrey areas, in aid of Help for Heroes, with bookings being handled by UK Railtours. The train was “topped and tailed” by Class 73 electro-diesel locomotives. The train travelled up to London Waterloo via Tonbridge and Catford (see photo at Battle); to Epsom Downs via Tulse Hill and back via a reversal at Kensington Olympia; and to Windsor & Eton Riverside. Whilst at Windsor & Eton Riverside, the DEMU and locos were involved in a minor derailment at very low speed. Our train was returned to us under its own power the following day, having stabled at Tonbridge in the early hours of Monday morning; it had suffered negligible damage. HDL, First GBRf, and Network Rail all co-operated with a RAIB investigation into the derailment, which subsequently resulted in the publication of this report; the design, maintenance and operation of our train were found to have had no bearing on the incident.
Saturday 7 November 2009	S	1001 was taken today on one of its semi-regular “Soap Runs” to deliver supplies to the carriage-washer near Bo-Peep Junction.
Tuesday 10 November 2009	S	Our train was used for a driver-training run to Folkestone and Minster; a news article contains full details, photos and a video.
Saturday 14 November 2009	R	UK Railtours used our train for their Sheringham Crabber railtour today. It started from St. Leonards Depot but entered service at Sevenoaks at 0625; picking up at Bromley South, Kensington Olympia, Willesden Junction (High Level) and Finsbury Park, it ran via the Norwich triangle to Cromer and Sheringham; return was via the same route, arriving at Sevenoaks at 2108.
Saturday 5 December 2009	R	1001 operated the HDL Christmas Scholar railtour to Cambridge today.
Saturday 19 December 2009	R	1001 operated the Olympia Express special excursion to Kensington (Olympia) and Shepherd’s Bush today.

2010

Wednesday 17 March 2010	S	The CEP coach 70262 was re-certified yesterday in time for inclusion in a Test run to Tonbridge. Illustration and details are provided in a news article.
Saturday 20 March 2010	R	1001 operated the HDL Solent Sentinel railtour to Portsmouth today. This trip marked the return of CEP coach 70262 to revenue service.
Saturday 24 April 2010	R	1001 operated the HDL Severn Explorer railtour to Kidderminster and Bridgnorth today.
Thursday 3 June 2010	S	1001 was sent on the “Soap Run” today, to deliver supplies to the nearby carriage-washing plant at West Marina.
Wednesday 16 June 2010	S	Motor coaches Tunbridge Wells and Mountfield were driven to Hornsey depot, to use the wheel-lathe there. A news article tells the rest of the story.
Saturday 19 June 2010	R	1001 operated the HDL West Somerset Limited railtour to Minehead today.
Sunday 8 August 2010	R	1001 was privately chartered today for the Andy Piper Memorial Railtour today. All six cars of unit 1001 passed their Ultrasonic Axle Tests four days ago, on 4 August.
Thursday 9 September 2010	S	The 6 cars of 1001 departed St. Leonards depot as `5Z20` around 1400 on a test-run over the Romney Marsh to Ashford International. Some problems were experienced towards the far end with an MCB tripping, resulting in a delayed return journey. The fault was subsequently traced and rectified.
Wednesday 15 September 2010	S	A test run today to confirm the fix on the fault previously encountered instead provided different symptoms with brakes hanging-on, and the test run was curtailed after only going to Hastings station; back at the depot, dirt in an air-strainer on motor coach Mountfield was found and removed.
Thursday 16 September 2010	S	A successful test run was carried out this evening. The train set out at 2000 as `5Y21` and ran non-stop at full speed almost all the way from Hastings to Tonbridge, returning at 2114 after a 7-minute turnround, and was back in the depot by 2230. The train behaved itself perfectly this time, inspiring confidence for Saturday’s railtour.
Saturday 18 September 2010	R	1001 operated the HDL English Electric Echo railtour to Skegness today, in which the 6-car train performed faultlessly; it arrived back at the depot facing the opposite way round.
Saturday 30 October 2010	R	Our train was used by GB Railfreight for a charity railtour, The Wandering Willow railtour to London and the Brighton area. Our train was turned round in the course of the outing.
Saturday 6 November 2010	R	1001 worked the Hastings Blue Belle charter for, and to, the Bluebell Railway today. It ran through from the main line onto and beyond Imberhorne Viaduct.
Saturday 18 December 2010	R	Our train operated the Olympia Express special excursion to Kensington Olympia and Shepherd’s Bush today.

2011

Saturday 19 February 2011	R	Our train operated the HDL Winter Enigma railtour to Bedford and Bletchley today.
Saturday 26 March 2011	R	Our train operated the HDL Norfolk Navigator railtour to Ely and Dereham today.
Saturday 14 May 2011	R	Our train operated the HDL Metrolander railtour to Beaconsfield, Aylesbury and Quainton Road today.
Saturday 25 June 2011	R	Our train operated the HDL Dorset Diadem railtour to Bournemouth and Swanage today.
Sunday 7 August 2011	R	Our train was chartered for a charity outing to Bournemouth and Poole via Reading, the “Andy Piper & Grant Tryon Memorial Train”.
Saturday 10 September 2011	R	Our train operated the HDL Midland Pioneer railtour to Leicester, Loughborough and Butterley.
Saturday 3 December 2011	R	Our train operated the HDL Old Curiosity Mystery railtour to London Cannon Street, Rochester and Ashford.
Saturday 17 December 2011	R	Our train was chartered for the Olympia Express special excursion to Kensington Olympia and Shepherd’s Bush today. This charter was organized by a third party, with the publicity being hosted by HDL; that publicity remains available for historical interest here: leaflet, booking-form and final timings. Photographs of the outing may be found on an external website.

2012

Wednesday 28 March 2012	S	The 6 cars of our train went on a test run to Tonbridge, and ended up being diverted via Ashford and Rye for the return working; this caused it to get turned round. A news article has illustration and detail.
Saturday 31 March 2012	R	Our train operated the HDL Thames Tidal railtour to Fenchurch Street, Southend and Shoeburyness.
Saturday 12 May 2012	R	Our train operated the HDL Nene Machine railtour to Peterborough and the Nene Valley Railway.
Saturday 7 July 2012	R	Our train operated the HDL Channel Two railtour to Bath, Bristol and Weston-super-Mare.
Saturday 15 September 2012	R	Our train operated the HDL Western Forester railtour to Gloucester and the Dean Forest Railway.
Saturday 24 November 2012	R	Our train operated the HDL Canterbury Trail railtour visiting many of the main lines around Kent, plus the Dungeness branch; it was turned round in the course of the day.
Saturday 22 December 2012	R	Our train was chartered for the Olympia Express special excursion to Kensington Olympia; the charter was organized by a third party, with the publicity being hosted by HDL; that publicity remains available for historical interest here: leaflet, booking-form and final timings. Photographs of the outing may be found on an external website.

2013

Thursday 27 June 2013	S	Our train in its 6-coach formation went on a test run to Tonbridge West Yard, via Hastings, which was completed satisfactorily.
Wednesday 17 July 2013	S	Our train in its 6-coach formation went on a crew-training run to Tunbridge Wells and back in the afternoon, with everything running according to plan.
Saturday 20 July 2013	R	Our train operated the HDL Weymouth Envoy railtour today, traversing the entire length of the L&SWR main line.
Saturday 14 September 2013	S	Our train attended the Slade Green depot staff open day; an illustrated news article has been published.
Wednesday 18 December 2013	S	Our train went on a test & crew-training run to Tonbridge, via Rye in both directions; this allowed some higher-speed running on the Ashford to Tonbridge section, where signals permitted. A video-clip of 1001 at Ore was taken by Andy Armitage.
Saturday 21 December 2013	R	Our train was chartered for the Olympia Express special excursion to Kensington Olympia; the charter was organized by a third party, with the publicity being hosted by HDL; that publicity remains available for historical interest here: leaflet, booking-form and final timings. Photographs of the outing may be found on an external website.

2014

Monday 23 June 2014	S	At short notice 1001 went out on a test run to Tonbridge West Yard, out & back via Rye. The train ran fault-free, and the GSM-R radio got its first test too. Videos show our train passing Tonbridge station, and the back-cab view on the return leg.
Saturday 12 July 2014	R	Our train operated the HDL Hastings Diesels Crewe railtour, achieving some fast running down and back up the West Coast Main Line.
Various dates during August and early September 2014	S	Our train in its six-car formation was used by GB Railfreight for traincrew-training runs between St. Leonards Depot, Ashford and Tonbridge on various weekdays during late August and early September.
Wednesday 10 September 2014	S	Our train visited the carriage-washer at St. Leonards West Marina to have a wash and brush-up prior to its forthcoming railtour. The two DEMU motor-coaches of 930301 the Network Rail de-icing unit came along too, making a unique 8-car train.
Saturday 13 September 2014	R	Our train operated the HDL Essex Coast Express railtour, taking in visits to the Graham Road Curve and London Liverpool Street.
Friday 12 December 2014	S	Our six-car train was used by Southern for an Engineering Fleet staff Christmas outing with full catering & buffet service laid on by HDL staff; it ran to Eastbourne then back past the depot to Ashford, then to Brighton and back to Hastings.
Saturday 20 December 2014	R	Our train was again chartered for the Olympia Express special excursion to Kensington Olympia; the charter was organized by a third party, with the publicity being hosted by HDL; that publicity remains available for historical interest here: leaflet, booking-form.

2015

Saturday 18 April 2015	R	Our DEMU operated the HDL Green Dragon railtour to Cardiff via Guildford and Salisbury. At Newport on the return leg the train was turned at short notice on the Maindee triangle and driven from the other end, to work around a temporary fault with a horn-valve. The train thus arrived back at St. Leonards facing the other way round.
Friday 24 April 2015	R	Our six-car train was chartered by Network Rail for a staff “Retirement Special” for George Graham; it ran via Ashford, Folkestone and Dover to Ramsgate, Margate, Gillingham, Farningham Road, Kent House and London Victoria where it arrived 24 minutes early; Despite its reversal at Ashford, the ensuing circular route to Victoria kept the train the same way round. However, to rectify the unscheduled turning on the previous railtour, during its empty trip back to Hastings and the depot it ran via Blackfriars and was thus turned round: the Club Class end once again faced towards Bexhill. The actual timings have been saved.
Friday 5 June 2015	R	Our six-car train was chartered by Southern for a staff “Retirement Special” for Alan Lake; it ran empty to Brighton via Eastbourne, entrained invited passengers for a 1047 departure and a trip along the coast and across the marsh to Ashford International and back, returning to Brighton at 1451 before running empty away to depot. The actual timings have been saved.
Saturday 4 July 2015	R	Our DEMU operated the HDL Warwickshire Wanderer railtour to Stratford-upon-Avon via Neasden and Aynho Junction, returning via Oxford and Ascot.
Wednesday 29 & Thursday 30 July 2015	S	On Sunday a southeastern train derailed after hitting a herd of cows; following re-railing and repairs at the site between Wye and Chilham, the stricken train was moved to Canterbury West. On Wednesday evening, HDL’s motor coaches Mountfield & Tunbridge Wells were marshalled back-to-back and departed St. Leonards depot at 2000hrs as Rescue Train 1Z99; this ran via Ashford International, Folkestone, Deal, and Minster to Canterbury West, arriving at 2220hrs. The 8-car Class 375, whose front pair of (damaged) wheelsets were fitted with skates, was then coupled to our DEMU motor coaches using our Dellner coupling-adapter (featured in this HDL news article from 2005) and dragged very slowly to Ramsgate depot (see this video and another video on YouTube). Our DEMU motor coaches subsequently left Ramsgate at 0321hrs, returning to Hastings via a reversal at Minster station (to prevent the unit being turned round) and retracing its route; it arrived at St. Leonards depot at 0512hrs.
Monday 10 to Friday 14 August 2015	S	On Monday 10 August 2015, 1001’s motor coaches 60116 Mountfield & 60118 Tunbridge Wells were worked to Three Bridges for a week of shunting Class 700 trains within the new Thameslink depot there, in which the conductor-rail had not yet been engergised. Our motor coaches returned to St. Leonards on Friday 14 August. An illustrated news article has been published.
Saturday 29 August 2015	S	The six cars of 1001 were worked empty via Ashford and Wye to Ramsgate in the morning, to take part in an open day at Ramsgate depot. Our unit returned via Deal and Ashford in the early evening.
Saturday 19 September 2015	R	Our DEMU operated the HDL Leicestershire Bell railtour, which ran to Loughborough and onto the Great Central Railway (Nottingham) to Ruddington. It ran via Corby and Harringworth viaduct on the way out, and direct via the Midland Main Line on its return, and so returned to the depot having been turned round (the Mountfield end facing Bexhill). See the finalised timings; the trip ran to time and was virtually sold out. The actual timings have been saved.
Friday 25 September 2015	R	Our six-car train was chartered for a railway staff “Retirement Special” for John Atkinson, who is also a long-term HDL supporter. The trip ran from Hastings to East Grinstead and onto the Bluebell Railway, and returned after dark to Hastings.
Saturday 5 December 2015	R	Our train operated the HDL Salisbury Star 2 railtour, which ran to Salisbury via Redhill, Guildford and Havant; outward was via Southampton, return via Chandlers Ford. The actual timings have been saved.
Saturday 19 December 2015	R	Our train was again privately chartered for the Olympia Express special excursion to Kensington Olympia; this year all publicity and booking was handled directly by the promoter. The actual timings have been saved.

2016

Wednesday 20 January 2016	S	The 6 cars of our DEMU were sent to Tonbridge West Yard and back today, on a driver-training run for Rail Operations Group.
Friday 8 April 2016	R	The six cars of 1001 operated a “Retirement Special” around Kent, in honour of Graham Wallace; it followed an amusing itinerary to Ramsgate, Faversham, Dover, Minster and Sevenoaks with reversals at Ashford International, Faversham, Dover Prior and Sevenoaks. The actual timings have been saved. The train covered 237 miles and 62 chains on the outing, and (miraculously!) was not turned round.
Saturday 7 May 2016	R	Our train operated the HDL Hastings Blue Belle railtour to the Bluebell Railway and Uckfield via Redhill; full details are contained in the illustrated news article.
Saturday 23 July 2016	R	Our train operated the HDL Weybourne Wanderer railtour to Norwich, Cromer and the North Norfolk Railway; our outward journey was via Ipswich and our return via Cambridge — see the finalised timings. Although we were delayed by other trains at Cromer and subsequently, we regained all the lost time and returned our passengers to their pickup points on time. The actual timings have been saved.
Sunday 18 September 2016	R	Our train operated the HDL Ardingly Arrow railtour to London Victoria, Brighton and Haywards Heath, in connection with celebrations to mark the 175th anniversary of the coming of the railway to the latter. Finalised timings were published. Our train was scheduled to run 5 shuttle-trips down the partly-closed Ardingly branch; these were so popular that extra trips had to be laid on in order to meet demand. The actual timings have been saved.
Saturday 17 December 2016	R	Our train was again privately chartered for the Olympia Express special excursion to Kensington Olympia; all publicity and booking was handled directly by the promoter. The actual timings have been saved.
Saturday 31 December 2016	R	Our train operated the HDL Canterbury Bell railtour, for which final timings were published. It ran from Eastbourne to Hastings, Rye, Ashford, Canterbury East and Faversham. The actual timings have been saved.

2017

Saturday 13 May 2017	R	Our train operated the Fawley Forester railtour & charter, which ran via Redhill and Woking to Southampton and the Fawley branch down which three shuttle-trips were run. It was very well attended and helped to raise the profile of the hirer Three Rivers Rail’s desire to see the Fawley branch re-opened to passenger traffic. The actual timings have been saved.
Saturday 27 May 2017	R	Our train operated the HDL Oxford Rover railtour to Oxford, which ran outbound via the GWR route, returning via the new Chiltern route. The actual timings have been saved.
Saturday 1 July 2017	R	Our train operated the HDL Cleethorpes Clipper railtour to Lincoln and Cleethorpes, running via the East Coast Main Line for lengthy distances in both directions. It was well supported and covered over 500 miles. The actual timings have been saved.
Saturday 15 July 2017	S	Our train was worked empty to Slade Green, hauled by three Class 73 Electro-Diesel locomotives. This was in connection with the depot open day at Slade Green. The train returned to St. Leonards Depot via a brief layover at Tonbridge West Yard in the evening. The actual timings have been saved.
Saturday 29 July 2017	R	Our train operated the Strike Back Express joint railtour/charter to Bath and Keynsham via Redhill, running outbound via Didcot and back via Newbury. The train was turned round in the course of movements into and out of Bristol St. Philip’s Marsh Depot, and so returned to St. Leonards Depot with the Tunbridge Wells end facing Bexhill. The actual timings have been saved.
Saturday 30 September 2017	R	Our train operated the HDL Alpine Sunset railtour to the Mid-Hants Railway, running via Redhill and Guildford. On the way back, to add interest and allow sufficient time for Club Class service, we were routed via additional reversals at Ascot and Reading which kept the train the same way round. The actual timings have been saved.
Saturday 16 December 2017	R	Our train operated the annual Olympia Express private charter from Hastings to Kensington Olympia. The actual timings have been saved.

2018

Tuesday 20 March 2018	S	Our train went on a test run up to Tunbridge Wells station and back, to provide assurance both to ourselves and to our operator GBRf that everything was in good order prior to the charter on Saturday.
Saturday 24 March 2018	R	Our train operated a private charter The Sixty Marches which ran to Hereford via Redhill, Reading, Newbury, Bath and the Severn Tunnel in both directions. The actual timings have been saved, and tell their own story about how the Didcot route was closed for engineering works with the “Berks & Hants” being heavily used resulting in some queues and knock-on delays.
Saturday 21 April 2018	R	Our train operated the HDL West Norfolk Wanderer railtour to Cambridge, Ely and King’s Lynn, which incoporated a visit to the Middleton Towers branch on the return leg.
Saturday 16 June 2018	R	Our train operated the HDL South Devon Coaster railtour via Redhill and Reading to Exeter, Dawlish, Teignmouth and Paignton. This epic 533-mile railtour was completely sold out weeks in advance, and ran virtually to time throughout. The actual timings have been saved.
Saturday 4 August 2018	R	Our train operated the HDL Weymouth Warrior railtour via Redhill and Guildford to Southampton and Weymouth. This 420-mile railtour was well supported and ran well on a baking-hot day, with other traffic incurring minor lateness. The actual timings have been saved.
Friday 14 September 2018	R	Our six-car train operated a “Retirement Special” from Bexhill via Eastbourne, Lewes and the Brighton Main Line to London Blackfriars and back; the train was worked empty via Latchmere Junction to Acton Lane sidings to lay over during the three-hour gap between outbound and return journeys. The actual timings have been saved.
Monday 17 December 2018	S	Our six-car train went on a test run to Tonbridge and back, merely because it hasn’t ventured out of the depot for a few months and a systems check would be prudent before its outing next weekend. The actual timings have been saved.
Saturday 22 December 2018	R	Our train operated the annual Olympia Express private charter from Hastings to Kensington Olympia. The actual timings have been saved.

2019

Saturday 6 April 2019	R	Our train operated the HDL Dave Markwick Memorial Tour excursion to London Charing Cross, Isle of Grain, and Angerstein Wharf. In the course of covering all three Dartford lines, our train was turned round.
Saturday 11 May 2019	R	Our train operated the HDL East Anglian Explorer railtour to Norwich and Lowestoft.
Saturday 8 June 2019	S	Our six-car train was worked empty via Tonbridge and Canterbury West to Ramsgate, to be on show at the Ramsgate Depot Open Day. It was coupled to electro-diesel loco 73 202 which was also to be displayed. The actual timings have been saved.
Saturday 6 July 2019	R	Our train operated the HDL Dean Forest Foray railtour to Gloucester and the Dean Forest Railway; the actual timings have been saved.
Saturday 14 September 2019	R	Our train operated the HDL Ludgershall Legionnaire railtour to Salisbury and MoD Ludgershall.
Monday 16 December 2019	S	Our train went on a test run to Tonbridge West Yard today; the actual timings have been saved.
Saturday 21 December 2019	R	Our train operated the annual Olympia Express private charter from Hastings to Kensington Olympia, its tenth year of operation. The actual timings have been saved.

2020

Saturday 11 January 2020

Our train operated the HDL Faversham Hop railtour, from Eastbourne to Hastings, Rye, Ashford, Canterbury East and Faversham. The actual timings have been saved.

2021

Friday 28 May 2021	S	Our 6-car train was worked to Tonbridge West Yard and back for a test and crew-refresher run. The actual timings have been saved.
Saturday 17 July 2021	R	Our 6-car train operated the Wedding Belle, a private charter conveying a wedding party from New Eltham to London Cannon Street; it then operated the Medway Valley Meanderer, another private charter on its return working as far as Tonbridge, before proceeding empty back to depot. The train got ‘turned’ in the course of 6 reversals (including at Tonbridge both ways, but not at Eltham), so that motor coach 60116 Mountfield (sporting a new front-end livery) now faces east at St. Leonards depot, towards Ashford. The actual timings of these workings have been saved.
Saturday 7 August 2021	R	Our 6-car train operated the HDL Sussex & Kent Explorer railtour, from Eastbourne and Hastings to Tonbridge and back to Hastings (twice). The actual timings have been saved.
Saturday 11 September 2021	R	Our 6-car train operated the HDL Faversham Flyer railtour, from Hastings via Rye and Ashford International to Canterbury East and Faversham, and back. A delay near the end of the trip was caused by trespassers on the track. The actual timings have been saved.

2022

Saturday 8 January 2022	R	Our 6-car train operated the HDL Southern Mariner railtour, from Hastings to Chichester and Portsmouth & Southsea via Redhill. The actual timings have been saved.
Thursday 17 March 2022	S	Our 6-car train operated a test run to Brighton and back, for traincrew refresher training purposes. The actual timings have been saved.
Friday 18 March 2022	S	Our 6-car train operated a test run to Brighton and back, for traincrew refresher training purposes. The return route took in an extra reversal at Haywards Heath in order to turn the train round, so that motor coach 60116 Mountfield could be at the Bexhill end of St. Leonards Depot to be within reach of the crane, for a cylinder-head change to be carried out. The actual timings have been saved.
Saturday 2 April 2022	R	Our 6-car train operated the HDL Medstead Mountaineer railtour, from Hastings to Alton and the Mid-Hants Watercress Line. The actual timings as far as the Network Rail boundary have been saved.
Saturday 7 May 2022	R	Our 6-car train operated the HDL Worcester Sauce DEMU railtour, from Hastings to Worcester Shrub Hill via Oxford and the Cotswold Line. The actual timings have been saved.
Saturday 18 June 2022	R	Our 6-car train was operating the HDL Jolly Fisherman railtour, from Hastings to Skegness, when it suffered a spurious activation of the engine-room fire alarm in motor coach 60116 Mountfield. This involves the automatic fire-suppression system liberating the contents of two cylinders of CO₂ into the engine-room; whilst not harmful to the equipment, this does represent a fault condition, and the train cannot be run normally until both the fault has been put right and the cylinders replenished. Options such as locomotive haulage from Tonbridge were considered but rejected by Control. Thus our raitour was regrettably curtailed at this juncture, and the train returned to Hastings setting down its passengers at their pickup stations along the way. The actual timings (such as they are) have been saved.
Saturday 3 September 2022	R	Our 6-car train operated a public charter by UK Railtours from Tonbridge via London to Portsmouth, entitled The Vectis Venturer. The actual timings have been saved.

2023

Saturday 18 February 2023	R	Our 6-car train operated the HDL Medway Valley Venturer railtour, from Hastings to Faversham via Tonbridge and Maidstone West. The actual timings have been saved.
Saturday 25 March 2023	R	Our 6-car train operated the HDL Avon Ambassador railtour, from Hastings to Bath Spa and Bristol Temple Meads via Redhill and Guildford. The actual timings have been saved.
Saturday 15 April 2023	R	Our 6-car train operated a public charter by UK Railtours entitled The Baker’s Dozen, which visited London’s 13 main-line termini. The train set out at midnight the previous night and laid over at Tonbridge before entering service at 7 am; the empty stock working was routed via Rye both ways because of a 9-day blockade at Mountfield Tunnel. The train was reversed 20 times during the 168-mile public part of the outing, but returned to depot in the same orientation (60116 Mountfield facing towards Bexhill). The actual timings have been saved.
Tuesday 30 May 2023	S	Newly outshopped motor coach 60119 led sister motor coach 60118 Tunbridge Wells plus electro-diesel 73128 on a day-trip to Ashford, where the latter motor coach was to use the wheel-lathe. The actual timings have been saved, and Rob Lane tweeted a photo taken on the outward journey approaching Ashford.
Tuesday 27 June 2023	S	Our train went on a test run to Brighton and back. It is now re-formed [leading towards Eastbourne] 60116–60529–70262–69337–60528–60118+60119 [leading towards Hastings]. This was to verify the correct operation of all systems following the addition of motor coach 60119 and of trailer coach 60528. The actual timings have been saved.
Saturday 1 July 2023	R	Six cars of our train (without 60119) were used for The Chessy Ned charter by GB Railfreight, with locomotive 66794 Steve Hannan coupled to the 60116 end, and electro-diesel locomotive 73119 coupled to the 60118 end; the latter locomotive was named Paul Taylor in a ceremony at London Waterloo during the tour, to honour Paul’s memory and to raise money for Prostate Cancer UK. This charter marked the return to passenger service of trailer coach 60528. The actual timings of the day’s complicated itinerary have been saved; despite 17 reversals in total, and 3 visits to Waterloo, the train returned to St. Leonards Depot the same way round that it had started out.
Saturday 8 July 2023	R	Our 7-car train operated the HDL Jurassic Coast Explorer railtour, from Hastings to Weymouth via Reading and Bournemouth. The train was formed [leading to Redhill] 60116–60529–70262–69337–60528–60118+60119 [leading to Hastings] with ‘new’ motor coach 60119 providing motive power but with its saloon out of use as there is no gangway connection to the rest of the train. The actual timings have been saved.
Saturday 12 August 2023	R	Six cars of our train (without 60119) were used for Newhaven Nonsense, a charter by UK Railtours which began and concluded its in-service portions in London, and which paid a visit to the Brett Aggregates site at Newhaven which is accessed via the track through the disused Harbour station. The actual timings of the day’s itinerary have been saved. Traffic on the Brighton line was disrupted by trespassers in the Brighton area, and our return leg was diverted to run direct from Lewes to Keymer Junction instead of visiting Brighton. As we had particularly wanted our train to be turned round (as was scheduled, and in order to be able to use new motor coach 60119 on our next railtour), the empty working back to the depot was diverted from the planned Battle route to run via Ashford and Rye, so removing a second reversal and thus turning our train round. At St. Leonards Depot, motor coaches 60116 and 60119 now both face towards Ashford.
Sunday 3 September 2023	R	Our 7-car train operated the HDL Cambridge Clipper railtour, from Hastings to Ely via London and Cambridge. The train was formed [leading back Hastings] 60116+60119–60529–70262–69337–60528–60118 [leading to Ely] with ‘new’ motor coach 60119 in passenger service for the first time this millennium; motor coach 60116 Mountfield was coupled to the rear of the train providing motive power but not in passenger use as there is no gangway connection to the rest of the train. The actual timings have been saved. Our return journey had to be diverted to follow our outward route, because of a signal failure at Bishops Stortford. We were on time returning through London but lost 15 minutes with an extended crawl behind other trains on the way to Tonbridge.

2024

Saturday 6 January 2024	R	Our 7-car train operated the HDL Surrey Hills Surprise railtour, from Hastings to Guildford via Hayes (Kent). We were delayed at Redhill on the return leg after our train suffered a dragging brake on one vehicle; after engineering checks and isolations the railtour continued. The actual timings have been saved.
Thursday 14 March 2024	S	Our 6-car train (i.e. minus motor coach 60116 Mountfield) was taken on a test run to Brighton and back, following overhaul work on components of its braking system. The actual timings have been saved.
Saturday 6 April 2024	R	Our 7-car train operated the HDL Cogload Climber railtour from Hastings to Exeter via London. Our initial departure from the depot was delayed by three-quarters of an hour while some unexpected issues were resolved; thanks to slick work and easy timings for our 3-motor-coach train, even by Tunbridge Wells we were only 10 minutes down. Further good running aided by a drivers’ strike on GWR saw us reach Exeter over 20 minutes ahead of schedule. As booked, the circular nature of the trip and the extra reversals at Eastleigh and Waterloo saw our train get turned round, with 60116 + 60119 now leading into St. Leonards depot. The actual timings have been saved.
Saturday 20 April 2024	R	Our 7-car train was used for the Neasden Nonsense charter by UK Railtours which began at Tonbridge and also entrained at Bromley South and London Victoria; it visited Aylesbury Vale Parkway, some shunt moves at West Ruislip, all three sides of the Greenford triangle, and the Dudding Hill line as well as Hayes & Harlington bay road. The train was turned round in the course of the day’s running, with 60118 now leading into St. Leonards depot. The actual timings have been saved.
Saturday 8 June 2024	R	Our 7-car train operated the HDL Lincolnshire Poacher railtour from Hastings to Boston and Skegness. We ran via Harringay Park Junction and, after Peterborough we (finally!) traversed the Werrington Dive-Under; on the return we took the more usual route through Copenhagen Tunnel. The train ran trouble-free and reached Skegness on time; we encountered some delay on the return journey but were on time again by Camden Road. The actual timings have been saved.
Saturday 13 July 2024	R	Our 7-car train operated the HDL Derby Researcher railtour from Hastings to Leicester, Loughborough and Derby. We ran via Clapham Junction, Kew and the Dudding Hill Line in both directions. All went well; some minor late running on the Midland Main Line was caused by other traffic, and easy timings saw us run early on the Catford loop such that we returned to Hastings 13 minutes early. The actual timings have been saved.
Saturday 17 August 2024	R	Our 7-car train was chartered by UK Railtours for its Imberbus trip. This began at Tonbridge and also entrained at South Croydon, London Waterloo, Woking and Basingstoke; it ran direct via Andover and Salisbury to Warminster. After layover at Westbury, its return route from Warminster to Basingstoke was via Salisbury, Romsey and Southampton Central; the rest of the route was the inverse of the outward. The actual timings have been saved.
Saturday 14 September 2024	R	Our 7-car train operated the HDL Glevum DEMU railtour from Hastings to Gloucester and Cheltenham, running via Redhill, Guildford, Reading, Swindon, Kemble and Stroud. A signal failure delayed us approaching Wokingham on the outward journey, and other traffic delayed us at Gloucester on the return, but we were well ahead of time by Tonbridge and returned to Hastings some 10 minutes early. The actual timings have been saved.

2025

Wednesday 8 January 2025	S	Today our train went on not one but two special trips. With brand-newly re-certified motor coach 60000 Hastings, we now had 4 motor coaches, but 3 of them facing the same direction. So, the first trip was to turn Hastings round to face the opposite way to motor coach 60116 Mountfield so that they can operate back-to-back. This working ran to Brighton via Haywards Heath (reverse), and then direct back from Brighton. It arrived back at depot thus: [Bexhill end] 60000+60119–60529–70262–69337–60528–60118 [Ashford end]. The second trip was a test run to check systems with all 8 vehicles coupled (motor coach 60116 Mountfield added, viz [Bexhill end] 60119–60529–70262–69337–60528–60118+60000-60116 [Ashford end]). The running of motor coach Hastings and the test run itself were satisfactory. The actual timings have been saved.
Saturday 18 January 2025	R	Our 8-car train operated the HDL Mick Tester Memorial railtour from Hastings to Winchester and Eastleigh, running via Redhill, Guildford, and a reversal at Woking. Our train was formed [upon departure from Hastings] 60119–60529–70262–69337–60528–60118+60000-60116, with the pair of motor coaches coupled back-to-back not in passenger use but providing motive power; this was the first time in main-line preservation that we had run 4 motor coaches on a railtour. Congestion at Woking (where the main line was closed for engineering work) on the return caused us to run up to 20 minutes late. The actual timings have been saved.
Please consult the “Unit 1001’s status” news section for latest operations information, including items which may not yet have made it to this page!

[PHOTO: train stopped in bay platform, night: 73kB]

Motor coach Mountfield was bringing up the rear of our unit 1001 when it formed the 19:24 departure to Ashford International, on 4 February 2005. The location is Hastings platform 1, and part of the newly-opened station building can be seen to the right. Photo by Tim Moss.