HDL Hastings Diesels Crewe railtour
Saturday 12 July 2014
This article was last modified on Saturday 19 July 2014
![[PHOTO: Train passing in countryside: 55kB]](20140712_Shallowford-Coast.jpg "1001 passing Shallowford, Staffs.
This is a link to a larger version.")
Above: Leon Coast took this fine view of our train passing Shallowford, Staffordshire, on its outward journey to Crewe. It is passing the garden of Izaak Walton’s cottage.
Hastings Diesels Limited’s 58th public railtour was from Hastings to Crewe, via the West Coast Main Line. As with our Weymouth trip a year ago it sold out in record time, with Club Class accommodation proving to be in especially high demand.
Our train, in the hands of enthusiastic and able drivers, proved equal to the demands of the West Coast Main Line; even though we had been given tighter timings than should have been the case on the way back, we only fell to 10 minutes late and gradually clawed that back thanks to an excellent run. With some recovery-time built in to our schedule, we were back on time by Watford and stayed within a minute or two all the way to Hastings.
Historical data
The train was formed thus: 60118-60501-69337-70262-60529-60116, with motor coach 60118 Tunbridge Wells leading upon departure from Hastings.
The publicity leaflet, timings and map of the railtour route remain available. The actual running-times as reported through TRUST have also been published.
Videos
Various photographers have taken video-footage depicting this railtour and have uploaded it to YouTube; the following are links to some starting-points but do not represent a definitive collection:
- Passing Orpington at speed
- Passing Harrow & Wealdstone
- Passing a foot-crossing in Northamptonshire countryside
- Passing Nuneaton at 65mph on the Down Slow
- Passing Stafford at high speed on the the return journey
- Passing Tamworth at high speed—we timed & calculated both of these to be 74mph
- Departing Battle in the twilight
Photos
![[PHOTO: Train under wires: 47kB]](20140712_Slindon-Gosling.jpg "1001 passing Slindon, Staffordshire.
This is a link to a larger version.")
Above: Phil Gosling captured our train running several minutes early as it passed Slindon, Staffordshire, on its way to Crewe.
![[PHOTO: train in sidings: 47kB]](20140712_CreweSouthSdg-Armitage.jpg "1001 in Crewe South Sidings.
This is a link to a larger version.")
Above: During its time at Crewe, 1001 was worked to the South Sidings for layover and to have its toilet-flush water-tanks replenished. Our hard-working on-board team cleaned the train and prepared it for its return working. Photo by Andy Armitage.
Further photos
BloodAndCustard carries a photographic report of the day’s events as seen by a member of the train’s staff; recommended reading!