Last updated on 15 September 2018
Unit 1001 is based at St. Leonards depot.
On Friday 14 September 2018, our train was privately chartered for a railway staff retirement outing from Bexhill to Blackfriars.
On Saturday 4 August 2018, our train operated our Weymouth Warrior railtour to Southampton, Bournemouth, Poole, Wareham and Weymouth.
On Saturday 17 June 2018, our train operated our South Devon Coaster railtour to Exeter, Dawlish, Teignmouth and Paignton.
On 21 April 2018, our train operated the HDL West Norfolk Wanderer railtour to Cambridge, Ely and King’s Lynn; an illustrated news article describes the day’s outing.
On Saturday 24 March 2018, our train operated a private charter The Sixty Marches to Hereford via the Severn Tunnel.
On Saturday 16 December 2017, our train worked its annual private Olympia Express charter to Kensington Olympia.
On Saturday 30 September 2017, our train operated our Alpine Sunset railtour to the Mid-Hants Railway.
On Saturday 29 July 2017, our train operated the Strike Back Express charter/railtour to Bath and Keynsham.
On Saturday 1 July 2017, our train operated our Cleethorpes Clipper railtour which was well supported and covered just over 500 miles—including some spirited running on the East Coast Main Line.
On Saturday 27 May 2017, our train operated our Oxford Rover railtour which ran faultlessly and gave our passengers a look at the new Chiltern route back from Oxford.
On Saturday 13 May our train operated the Fawley Forester railtour & charter, which was very well attended and helped to raise the profile of the hirer Three Rivers Rail’s desire to see the Fawley branch re-opened to passenger traffic.
On Saturday 31 December 2016, our train operated our Canterbury Bell railtour, for which final timings were published.
On Sunday 18 September 2016, our train operated our Ardingly Arrow railtour, for which timings were published; the shuttle trips to Ardingly proved exceptionally popular and extras had to be laid on in order to meet demand.
On Saturday 23 July 2016 our train operated our Weybourne Wanderer railtour, for which timings were published; the tour was a complete sellout, and we returned our passengers back to their pickup points on time.
On Saturday 7 May 2016 our train operated our Hastings Blue Belle railtour to the Bluebell Railway; the weather was superb and a good time was had by all. An illustrated news article describes the day’s outing.
On Saturday 5 December 2015, our train operated our Salisbury Star 2 railtour.
On Friday 25 September 2015, our train was chartered for a private trip onto the Bluebell Railway to mark the retirement of a long-serving member of railway staff and HDL supporter, John Atkinson.
On Saturday 19 September 2015, our train operated our Leicestershire Bell railtour, for which finalised timings were issued; the tour ran to time and was virtually sold out.
The DEMU Diary contains details of all workings on the main line since March 2003. See also the HDL Railtour archive.
Our train has six vehicles re-certified for main-line use, including the CEP coach and Buffet car. See our Fleet list for full details.
Progress is being made on the restoration of 60019 our fourth motor coach.
The unit’s formation at the depot is:
[Ashford end]
60116 Mountfield - 60529 - 70262 - 69337 - 60501 - 60118
Tunbridge Wells [Bexhill end]
News articles which are fresh, still being updated, or still current and relevant, are linked below. Older news articles, all closed, have been placed in the News Archive.
West Norfolk Wanderer railtour, 21 April 2018 (published 23 April 2018)
Hastings Blue Belle railtour, 7 May 2016 (published 19 June 2016)
Restoration of motor coach 60019 (new photos added on 30 August 2015)
1001’s motor coaches visit Three Bridges depot, August 2015 (published 7 April 2018)
Warwickshire Wanderer railtour, 4 July 2015 (published 19 July 2015)
Green Dragon railtour, 18 April 2015 (cab-video links added 15 May 2015)
On-Train Monitoring Recorders (updated on 7 March 2015)
Comings & goings at St. Leonards depot (part 3) (3 photos added on 12 October 2014)
Restoration of trailer car 60528 (photo added on 18 March 2014)
1001 visits Slade Green depot (article opened on 17 September 2013)
Refreshing the interior (2 more photos added on 29 July 2013)
Central Door Locking (updated on 10 June 2012)
Older news articles, all closed, have been placed in the News Archive.