Hastings Gauge DEMU at West Byfleet with fantastic Whistles & Tones on The Cogload Climber, 06/04/24

Hastings Diesels Ltd. "7L" ex-BR Southern Region DEMU 1001 (201001) passing West Byfleet on 06/04/24 with the return leg of "The Cogload Climber": -
1Z15 14:40 Exeter Central to Hastings, via Salisbury, Eastleigh and London Waterloo
This train is mostly made up from early 1950's vintage narrow bodied vehicles to fit the narrow Loading Gauge in the tunnels between Tonbridge and Hastings, and were in service until around 1986, when the track through the tunnels was singled, to allow standard stock to pass:-
The seven cars on this train are:-
DMBS 60116 "Mountfield"; DMBS 60119; TSO 60529; TSO 70262 (ex-4-CEP standard width EMU); TRSB 69337 (1970 ex-4-BIG standard width EMU); TSO 60528 and DMBS 60118 "Tonbridge Wells"

[@basictraincontent]

Great capture. Multiple tones from the generous driver :)🎉

[@dwstrains]

I think that some drivers have fun on railtours???

[@hastingsdiesels]

@@dwstrains Pretty sure this one did, yes! :)

[@dwstrains]

@@hastingsdiesels Many thanks for watching and for saving such a splendid train!! Sadly, apart from some short trips in the London area, I never managed to ride on Hastings Units, but living at Petersfield I did manage to use the "Tadpole" units to from Reading and the Hamphire Units on the Portsmouth to Salibury (and occaisionally beyond) line. And the "Thumper" sound always brings back pleasant memories of fishing trip with my Dad in the Test Valley!! - Cheers!!