HDL Wiltshire Warrior railtour

Above: Our DEMU passes Shalford Junction following its reversal at Guildford, on its way to Salisbury via Petersfield. Motor coach 60118 Tunbridge Wells is leading our five-coach train. Photograph: Simon Whittingham.

Above: The specially-prepared headboards were fitted to each end of the train for this tour; this one is carried by motor coach Tunbridge Wells at Guildford. Photo by Don Benn.

Above: 1001 winds its way over the pointwork into Hastings station just after half-past seven on a beautiful spring morning. Photo by Don Benn.

Above & below: Motor coach 60116 Mountfield brings up the rear at Hastings station, as the railtour waits to get under way. Photos by Don Benn.

Above: 1001 arriving off the Tonbridge branch at Redhill, and (below) reversing in platform 2 to proceed towards Reigate. Note the “1012” painted at the end of the solebar, a reference to the unit-number from which this vehicle (motor coach number 60118) originates. Photos by John Simmonds.

Above & below: 1001 passes Shalford station on the way into Guildford for its second reversal of the outward journey. The full yellow-painted end of motor coach 60116 Mountfield is apparent in the “approach” view. Photographs: Simon Whittingham.

Above: 1001 reversed at Guildford station, at which point the Tunbridge Wells motor coach became the leading end again. Photo by Don Benn.

Above: Our train recedes beneath the skew brick-arch bridge that carries the A3100 over the line, between Shalford Junction and Farncombe station. Simon Whittingham.

Above: This scenic view shows the DEMU heading through a cutting between Haslemere and Liphook; the wooded countryside, heavy earthworks, and the Track Parallelling Hut for the 3rd-rail electrification system, are all characteristic of railways in the area. Photo republished with permission from Nick.

Above & below: Our heritage train has proved popular with children of all ages (writer included!). Some of them are seen admiring it during the railtour’s pathing-stop at Eastleigh. Photos by Andy Armitage.

Above: 1001 after passing beneath the bridge carrying the B3084 over the line, between Romsey and Dunbridge. Photo by Andrew Cameron.

Above: Our train passes Dean station at speed, between Dunbridge and Salisbury. The Civil Engineering siding to its right is evidently disused. Photo by Nathan Williamson.

Above & below: The railtour reached its destination of Salisbury; the train was then worked empty to the bay platform 5 as seen below. It was moved subsequently to the local depot to replenish its lavatory-flush tanks. Photos by Don Benn.

A fine view of our 1957-vintage train resting in the bay platform (Above), and (below) in the depot alongside a Class 159 unit. Photos by Andy Armitage.

Above & below: 1001 passes through Romsey station on the ‘Up’ line with the return leg of the journey, running several minutes early at this point. It will shortly take the left-hand junction onto the single-track branch towards Eastleigh, whose station at Chandler’s Ford was closed to passengers between 1969 and 2003. Photos by Andrew Cameron.