1001 On Tour

Since regaining main-line certification in 1996, unit 1001 has travelled to many parts of England and Wales; a full history of the train’s railtour-workings has now been prepared. This page provides a pictorial record of the train in a variety of locations – and on a variety of duties – some of them a long way from home.

These photos are © Copyright, and donated to this site on the understanding that they may not be re-used. Please get in touch if you have any enquiries, comments or suggestions.

This page was last modified on 16 October 2007

7-car train on a test run

This magnificent photograph shows 1001 cresting a local summit at Frant on the way to Tunbridge Wells during a test run. This was on 9 April 2004, the day before HDL's Salisbury Bunny railtour. Photo by [Neil Bays].

1001 in the snow

Our DEMU, in its 3-carriage formation, approaches Ham Street station with a train from Ashford to Hastings; the snowy weather was on Thursday 24 February 2005. Photo by Barrie Swann.

The South Devon railtour

The preserved Hastings DEMU thunders through Basingstoke on its way to Dawlish and Buckfastleigh, at 10:20 on 9 May 1998; motor coach 60118 Tunbridge Wells is leading. Photo by Richard Griffin.

Black & White photographs

These rare black & white views of 1001 "on tour" were processed and printed by their photographers. To save downloading time, these images are "thumbnails": each is a link to the full-size photograph.

The Crewe & Chester railtour
Photos courtesy of Rupert Griffin

The second public railtour that the restored unit worked was on 17th August 1996, to Crewe and Chester; it coincided with the Crewe Works open day. Above, the unit upon arrival at Crewe, and below, at Lichfield Trent Valley during a photo-stop on the return journey.

The North Norfolk railtour
Photos courtesy of Adrian Vaughan

Above: At the seaside town of Cromer, the Hastings unit is stabled at one platform as a sprinter service approaches the signal-box. Fully mechanical semaphore signalling was in operation at that time (19th June 1999), and the "bobby" is waiting to exchange single-line tokens with the driver.   Below: Between Cromer and Sheringham is the picturesque halt of West Runton; 1001 passes through on its way back to Cromer.

Above: At Sloley Lane Level Crossing near Worstead on the outward journey, crossing-keeper Judy throws back the lever to unbolt the gates as the unit recedes into the distance.