Hastings Diesels' 1001 heads for the Bluebell - twice
On two successive Saturdays this autumn Hastings Diesels Limited's DEMU unit 1001 headed in the direction of the Bluebell Railway.
On the first railtour "The Wandering Willow" on 30th October 2010 it was to get so near, but so far - hopefully a foretaste of what might become possible in the distant future - because one of the destinations was a rare visit by a passenger train to the Ardingly Stone Terminal. The Bluebell Railway owns the trackbed of the remainder of the former Ardingly branch between Ardingly and Horsted Keynes.
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For this railtour 1001 was top and tailed by GB Railfreight locomotives 66712 and Electro Diesel 73141. Leaving Hastings the tour travelled to London Bridge for its first reversal. The headboard is seen here being fixed to the front of 73141. The tour then headed for Bognor via Sutton, Dorking, Horsham and the Mid Sussex line. Following reversal at Bognor 66712 led the railtour to Littlehampton.
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At Littlehampton the Electro Diesel suffered a flashover in its camshaft so to avoid it leading on the long leg to Ardingly an additional reversal at Ford was added to allow 66712 to lead. Here the tour is seen at Ardingly Stone Terminal, the nearest it could get to the Bluebell (away from the camera in this shot). This photograph was taken by a Steward who holds a PTS qualification. |
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A view from the EDL's cab looking towards Haywards Heath. |
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At Haywards Heath 73141 was detached and stabled in the siding adjacent to the tunnel. Thereafter 1001 provided power when leading. The railtour then took in rare (for these days) mileage with its next destination being Newhaven Marine. Thereafter it was back to London Bridge and then Hastings. |
