UK: Hastings DEMU Unit 1001 working the The Fawley Forester Railtour

Описание: Three clips showing the The Fawley Forester Railtour chartered by
the Three Rivers Community Rail Partnership to run three shuttle trips between Southampton Central and Fawley, on the old
Waterside Line through Marchwood and Hythe using the Hastings DEMU Class 201 Unit 1001.
Clips recorded 13th May 2017

Passenger service on the Fawley branch was withdrawn in 1966, with freight trains serving Fawley oil refinery ceasing in 2016.
The trips were run to promote the potential re-opening of the line to passengers and to celebrate the Partnership’s 10th anniversary.

In addition to the trips on the Fawley branch, rather than send the train empty to Basingstoke to begin the charter the journey from Hastings was opened to passengers as a railtour in its own right.

Clip 1 - Leaving Southampton Central on the first trip of the day at 12:38

Clip 2 (1:00) - The second trip is seen passing School Road level crossing in Hythe on the Fawley Branch

Clip 3 (2:05) - Leaving Basingstoke station on the evening return to Hastings


The British Rail Class 201 (or 6S) six-car diesel-electric multiple units (DEMUs) were built in 1957-1958 at Eastleigh and underframes were built at Ashford.

The Southern Region Class 201-207 DEMUs are nicknamed 'Thumpers' due to the noise they made while in motion.

These units were built with a narrow body profile to accommodate the restricted tunnels on the London-Hastings line, for which they were built.

Power car (two per six-car set)
Introduced: 1957
Weight: 55 long tons (56 t; 62 short tons)
Engine: English Electric 4-cylinder type 4SRKT Mark II of 600 shaft horsepower (450 kW) at 850 rpm (Equivalent to 1,000 bhp or 750 kW per 6-car set)
Transmission: Electric, two English Electric type EE507 traction motors rated at 186 kW (249 hp) each.
Maximum tractive effort: 12,500 lbf (56 kN) per car; 25,000 lbf (110 kN) per unit
Driving wheel diameter: 40 in (1,016 mm) Driving Bogie; 42 in (1,067 mm) Trailer Bogie
Coupling code: 'Buck-Eye' Type allowing coupling to any BR(S) 20x,4xx Units
Train heating: Electric

Most units were withdrawn and scrapped following electrification of the route in 1986. However, one complete unit, no. 1001, was preserved by Hastings Diesels Ltd., which is based at St Leonards-on-Sea.

The two mainline certified motor coaches that are currently in use on the Hastings Diesel and are fitted with CDL and OTMR are 60116 Mountfield (certified in 2003) and 60118 Tunbridge Wells (certified in 1996). The unit operates several mainline railtours a year, starting from Hastings and going to various destinations; mainly across the South of England, but sometimes further afield.

Additionally, the unit has been used in some unusual non-passenger workings. In July 2015, a crash-damaged Southeastern Class 375 Electrostar EMU was dragged very slowly at 5 mph by HDL's 2 motor coaches from Canterbury West to Ramsgate Depot using a special Dellner coupling-adapter, having collided into a herd of cattle that had strayed onto the line between Wye and Chilham. In August 2015, the 2 motor coaches spent a week at Thameslink's new depot in Three Bridges shunting some of the new-built Class 700 Desiro City trains.

Hastings Diesels Limited owns thirteen non-mainline certified vehicles which are in various states of readiness.
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