Staff charter to Bournemouth
Saturday 28 June 2008
This article was opened on Saturday 28 June 2008,
and closed on Monday 30 June 2008.
Above: Our DEMU, in its 5-carriage
formation, is seen passing Worting Junction near Basingstoke. This was
its first passenger-carrying outing for nearly 3 years. The inclined
track leading from Battledown flyover can be seen at left. Photo by
Christopher Wilson.
1001 operated its first passenger-carrying
outing for nearly 3 years, when it undertook a Private Charter for staff
of TOC GBRf on Saturday 28 June 2008. Our
train was being operated by WCRC.
Our train was formed thus: 60118-60501-69337-60529-60116. The 5-car formation
on this occasion, including the “BIG” Buffet Car 69337, reflected the total number of vehicles which
had been fitted with Central Door Locking.
This outing was not open to the general public, but was
well-patronised by the members of staff for whom it was laid on.
Timings for the outing are available
(in PDF format or as plain text); our train kept to them
closely throughout the day, and ended up back at Hastings 12 minutes
early.
Above & below: A striking view of
1001 cresting a local summit, and then passing through Frant station.
Photos by Tom Waghorn, who also took video footage and posted it on
YouTube: outbound and return journeys.
Above: Crossing the River Thames at
Staines on the outward journey.
Above & below: Motor coach 60116 Mountfield leads
our DEMU westwards towards Bournemouth; at this location shortly after
Hinton Admiral station, the line passes beneath the A35 on the
aesthetically-pleasing skew bridge seen here. Photos by Peter
Milford.
Above: Motor coach 60118 Tunbridge Wells
brings up the rear as the train passes from Hinton Admiral towards
Christchurch. Photo by Peter Milford.
Above: Our train as seen upon arrival
beneath the restored overall-roof at Bournemouth station. Photo by Andy
Armitage.
Above: Reversing via the Up platform at
Branksome, to enter Bournemouth Depot; Below: 1001 in
Bournemouth Depot’s covered roads, built on part of the line to the
Somerset & Dorset Railways’s disused terminus at Bournemouth
West. Photos by Andy Armitage.
Above & below: The return portion of
the trip passes Sway. Photos by Peter Milford.
Above & below: The outing returning
through Staines.
Above: Approaching Clapham Junction under
a midsummer’s-evening sky, at eight minutes to nine. Photo by John
Keohane.
Above & below: Motor Coach Mountfield bringing up the rear of the train at
Clapham Junction, platform 3. Photos by John Keohane.