HDL Worcester Leveller railtour
Saturday 3 October 2009
This article was closed on Friday 9 October 2009
![[PHOTO: Train and signals at station: 59kB]](20091003-WorcesterSH1-Price.jpg "1001 drawing into Worcester Shrub Hill.
This is a link to a larger version.")
Our preserved train passes beneath semaphore signals at Worcester Shrub Hill. Photo by Colin Price.
Hastings Diesels Limited’s 40th public railtour was from Hastings to Worcester. The trip was sold out, and ran to time except where delayed by other traffic between Cheltenham and Worcester.
Our outward itinerary was via Kensington Olympia, Reading and Swindon.
The return route took in the famous Lickey Incline, which is believed to be a ‘first’ for a Hastings DEMU. The journey continued via Birmingham New Street, Banbury, and up the Chiltern Main Line via High Wycombe. To reach Kensington Olympia, at South Ruislip we were routed onto the little-used New North Main Line to Greenford, then via Castle Bar Park, Ealing Broadway, Mitre Bridge Junction and the West London Line.
Historical data
The train was formed thus: 60118-60501-69337-60529-60116, with motor coach 60118 Tunbridge Wells leading from Hastings to Worcester and, because of the route’s circular nature, back again as well.
The publicity leaflet and final timings remain available.
Videos
Footage of this railtour is in abundance on YouTube, and the following are links to some starting-points:
- Battle – Worcester – Battle
- Cheltenham Spa, Worcester Shrub Hill
- A “thumping” departure from Worcester Shrub Hill
- Lickey Incline
- Lickey Incline
- Dorridge
- Gerrards Cross
- South Ruislip
- Kensington Olympia
Photos
![[PHOTO: Train approaching in cutting: 41kB]](20091003-Sevenoaks1-Price.jpg "1001 approaching Sevenoaks.
This is a link to a larger version.")
The preseved Hastings DEMU approaches Sevenoaks station (Above), and calls at platform 2 where its Central Door Locking indicator-lamps are seen illuminated (Below). Photos by Colin Price.
![[PHOTO: Train in station: 36kB]](20091003-Sevenoaks2-Price.jpg "1001 calling at Sevenoaks.
This is a link to a larger version.")
![[PHOTO: Train on track: 33kB]](20091003-Challow-Burchett.jpg "1001 passing Challow.
This is a link to a larger version.")
Above: Our train approaches the end of the Down Relief line at the site of Challow station, between Didcot and Swindon. Photo by Andrew Burchett.
![[PHOTO: Train in shallow cutting: 33kB]](20091003-NortonJn-Gosling.jpg "1001 between Norton Jn and Worcester.
This is a link to a larger version.")
Above: Motor coach 60118 Tunbridge Wells is leading our train into Worcester; it has just negotiated Norton Junction and passed beneath the M5. Photo by Phil Gosling.
![[PHOTO: Train in depot yard: 32kB]](20091003-WorcesterDepot-Armitage.jpg "1001 in the depot at Worcester.
This is a link to a larger version.")
Above: During the three-hour layover in Worcester, our train was worked to the nearby depot, where Andy Armitage took this photo.
![[PHOTO: Trains in station: 44kB]](20091003-WorcesterSH2-Price.jpg "1001 entraining passengers at Worcester Shrub Hill.
This is a link to a larger version.")
Above: The DEMU has just been worked from the depot into the platform at Worcester Shrub Hill to entrain its passengers for the return journey; the headcode, which should be displaying 28 (in reference to that trip’s reporting-number 1Z28) has mistakenly been set to 82—a function of setting them from inside where everything reads back-to-front!
![[PHOTO: Train cresting summit: 33kB]](20091003-Blackwell-Gosling.jpg "1001 cresting the Lickey Incline at Blackwell.
This is a link to a larger version.")
Above: Our train is seen (with correct headcode) cresting the famous Lickey Incline at Blackwell—another “first” for our Hastings Diesel Unit. Photo by Phil Gosling.