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Provided drivers' traction and route knowledge was available the
Hastings DEMUs had a wide route availability. Here 6L unit number 1014 is seen
on excursion duty at Yeovil Junction with the SEG/RCTS Devonian DEMU Railtour
in 1983.
photograph by Colin Duff |
| 1014 is seen at one of the destinations of this railtour -
Meldon Quarry - with passengers disembarking without the benefit of any
platform. Would the HSE approve of this practice these days?
photograph by Colin Duff |
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When the time came to replace the DEMUs on the Hastings route some units
were retained for special duties. Here is unit 203001 (effectively
"preserved" by BR) reformed into a 4L consist, seen at London Bridge
on 28 August 1988.
photograph by Colin Duff |
| Whilst in BR service 203001 carried a hybrid livery - BR(S)
green with a BR carriage roundel but also with BR arrows.
photograph by Colin Duff |
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Much much later (in more than one sense), and still off its traditional
territory, a privately preserved Hastings DEMU unit 1001 is seen at Salisbury
in the early morning taking enthusiasts to view the total eclipse of the sun on
11th August 1999.
photograph by Jonathan Hall |
| The intention of the stop at Salisbury was to allow
travellers to gain some rest for a few hours. The Hastings DEMUs could never be
described as being particularly comfortable whilst on the move.
photograph by Jonathan Hall |
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Despite the train pausing to provide rest Jonathan Hall reported a
surprising amount of activity on the station during the early hours - not to
mention the activity within the adjacent Salisbury Traincare Depot, home of all
of the class 159s.
photograph by Jonathan Hall |
| The preserved unit was on hire to the Swanage Railway from
30 June 1990 until 1992. It is seen here in November 1990 at Swanage running as
a three car unit with a trailer second between two power cars.
photograph by Roger Stanford |
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All photographs are copyright
This page was last updated 25 September 2007
