HDL Sales

This page last modified on Tuesday 28 December 2021

Merchandise

Hastings Diesels has had its image and some wording placed on various household items as shown below; for some years these have been on sale during our railtours, though our stocks are currently somewhat depleted. We also stock some non-HDL items that have a railway theme.

All merchandise-prices include postage & packing, and VAT (please enquire for overseas destinations, and for more information on any item).

HDL-branded items

HDL fridge-magnet: £2, or two for £2.50

[PHOTO: fridge-magnet: 9kB]

Other railway-related items

Rail enthusiast tea-towel: £5.50

[PHOTO: tea-towel: 17kB]

LMS tea-towel: £5

[PHOTO: tea-towel: 14kB]

GWR tea-towel: £5.50

[PHOTO: tea-towel: 14kB]

DVDs

These titles, produced by Online Video, may be of interest to our members and supporters. They have been grouped according to whether or not they are specifically about DEMUs:

DEMU-specific:

Remember The Thumpers (77 mins) — This title has sold very well and even train drivers have asked for it. It tells the story of the development of the DEMUs right from the steam age, with lots of archive film including unit 1001 in green livery seen at Robertsbridge. The original narrow-bodied versions are featured sharing the single tracks through tunnels with the first of the 4-CEP electric trains soon to take over in 1984. A farewell tour is shown, which includes parts of London on LT metals. After withdrawal of the narrow-bodied sets they are used by LT for track-recording trains of sub-surface lines. Class 205s are seen in the last days of DEMUs at East Grinstead; they are shown operating the Swanage branch prior to closure in the 1970s. 1001 tours the Kent & East Sussex Railway in 1993. Then comes a comprehensive coverage of the last two lines using the units—the Uckfield, and the Ashford & Hastings on which unit 1001 continued to be used quite often right through to 2005. The video ends with coverage of HDL’s Medway Cracker railtour to London and Sittingbourne in December 2003.

The Green Goddess on tour (55 mins) — Portrays HDL’s Lydd Ranger railtour which took place in March 2005. Using four cameramen, the film shows the interesting slow ride down the long-closed branch which is kept open only for a weekly nuclear-flask train. The tour ran all over Kent, pausing for lunch at Canterbury West, and continuing to Dover and returning via Ashford and Tonbridge to home base. The train consisted of three power cars, two narrow saloons and two wide-bodied saloons. This title also includes some rare footage from 1966, showing a 2-car DEMU at Ashford, Appledore, Lydd Town, Greatstone-on-sea and New Romney.

Thumper Returns (44 mins) — Released on 4 January 2009, this title contains coverage of HDL’s Pre-Christmas 2008 Folkestone railtour as well as library footage, the fitting of Central Door Locking, and shots from test runs and the staff charter to Bournemouth earlier in 2008.

Not DEMU-specific:

Hastings Trolleybuses (86 mins) — Besides featuring these quiet, efficient vehicles, this title has a wealth of other transport interests: Clift Lifts, Steam trains, Mini-trams at Eastbourne, the Electric hospital line at Hellingly, and the steam loco at the gas works. And, best of all, the last day of service at Bexhill West (featuring DEMUs).

Steam in Kent (67 mins) — This title includes Steam Festivals at Maidstone, with shuttle trains to Tonbridge in 1999 (Class 4 tank) and 2000 (Bodmin West Country class 4-6-2). Bodmin on the Cathedrals Express main-line steam excursion at various locations including Canterbury, Dover and Tonbridge. Also featured is archive film from 1927 onwards depicting Maidstone West, Gravesend West and the Hawkhurst branch; scenes of industrial workings at Sittingbourne and Aylesford paper mills, and Betteshanger and Snowdown collieries. Re-live the great days of Steam in Kent!

London’s Lost Diesels (71 mins) — features LMS 10000, 37s, 20s, 31s, Warships, Hymeks and 52s, cab ride in the prototype Deltic, and views of the last scheduled Deltic trip from Kings Cross. And, for Southern fans, 33s and 73s with a study of the Dover TPO. (Supplies are limited)

London’s Lost Steam Trains (59 mins) — Starting with scenes from the 1930s: Paddington, King’s Cross, Liverpool Street, New Barnet open-day. Harrow in 1927 (pre Virgin Trains!!). See Claugtons, Super Ds, and Precursors, also from later years Southern Schools and Brighton Atlantics with the “Modern” Era represented by Bulleid pacifics and standard tanks. Something of interest for everyone. (Supplies are limited)

London’s Lost Stations (57 mins) — Highlights include: Steam trains at Farringdon and Moorgate; N2s at King’s Cross and Fenchurch Street; Electrics on SR Woodside to Sanderstead and Crystal Palace branches; London Underground Aldwych Branch including cab-rides and the last night.

London’s Lost Docks (55 mins) — An unusal subject depicting a lost age. Colour footage from the 1950s and 1960s; not just the passenger and cargo vessels of the time (Caledonia Star, Clan McIndoe, Orcades, etc.) but the tugs and dredgers that enabled the port to function. Also scenes from the PLA’s own railway, plus paddle-steamers and excursion traffic.

Remembering London’s Trams and Trolleybuses (60 mins) — The Last London Trams ended in 1952 and Trolleybuses in 1962; so, for the older generation a chance to remeber past glories, and for the younger ones a chance to see what you missed! With colour archive footage, come right up to date with shots of Trams in Croydon. (Supplies are limited)

London Trolleybuses Part 1 (101 mins) — London once possessed the largest trolleybus system in the world with over 1,750 vehicles operating on 256 route miles. The extensive network was dismantled in just 3 years, the last vehicles operating into Fulwell Depot on 9 May 1962. This video is an evocative selection of films capturing aspects of trolleybus operation in London between 1931 & 1960. Relive the unauguration of the system in 1931 followed by scenes of Diddlers in action. Enjoy the story of each of the group of routes closed during thr conversion programme between March 1959 and November 1960 including, where available, relevant pre-war and early post-war material. Nearly all film is in colour.

London Trams Part 2 — Features the final months in 1952, and the final stages of Operation Tramway, LT’s code name for the post-war abandonment programme. Plus enthusiast tours, change pits & some of the trams that survived.

Paddle-steamer Memories (90 mins) — Britain’s much-loved paddle-steamers on rivers, lochs and coastal waters of Britain, including the Thames, Clyde, Bristol Channel, Loch Lomond, Forth and Tay. Some film over 100 years old!

No Trolleys To Aquarium (90 mins) — Brighton’s Trams, Trolleybuses, Buses and Railways. See Brighton as it used to be! Last Trams, first Trolleybuses, The Brighton Belle in 1939; Volks Electric Railway.

Routemaster Farewell (100 mins) — Re-live the unique Routemaster experience during the last 2½ years of operation. Most routes are seen on film. Visit most key locations and watch passengers and crews. Take some on-board journeys. Attend the final days on routes 8, 9, 19, 38, 73 and 390 with hosts of visiting vehicles. Ride the first of the new heritage routes. Soak up the atmosphere of the final commemorations of the 159 bus route on 8/9 December 2005.

More London Lost Steam — In this video, we look at London’s railways during the final decades of steam and provide you with a feast of nostalgia. Featuring Paddington; a GWR railcar from Clapham Junction to Ealing Broadway; the harsh winter of 1947 between Clapham Junction and Waterloo; Bulleid Pacifics in both ‘air-smoothed’ and as later rebuilt; locomotives at Nine Elms motive power depot; Maunsell’s Schools 4-4-Os; Bulleid’s double deck electric unit; The North London Line with ex-LNWR Oerlikon sets; the Centenary celebrations of the London Tilbury & Southend Railway. Stratford; Romford; LNER express motive power in the form of an A4 pacific in unlined wartime black at Marylebone.

Southern Steam South East (67 mins) — Film from 1950s Ashford, Appledore, Lydd; ‘Schools’ Class and Q1 locos; Robertsbridge and K&ESR; 1960s Tunbridge Wells West; East Grinstead High Level to Three Bridges; Hawkhurst; Hailsham; Eastleigh Works.

London Lost Transport (60 mins) — This is a casual look at some of the buses, trams, trains, boats and London's aerodromes that have served the City well. It is also a study of Londoners as seen at work and play and during the Second World War. Featuring Edwardian horse buses at Trafalgar Square; Tower Bridge and its quaint signalling system in action as a ship approaches; the LCC holds a ceremony in 1903 to welcome their first electric tram route; the Franco-British exhibition of 1908 at White City; Trams in the East End and in Barnet; the LUT scrap old trams and introduce the famous “Feltham” advanced luxury tramcar; on the Underground, Standard stock is seen being built and variations are seen running in West London; trams running through Kingsway Subway; rare colour film of 1934 shows General buses, Green Line coaches and the many fine cars and taxis of the period; a tour of London Docks in 1935; the LPTB’s New Works plan of 1935; the Second World War; trams terminating at Victoria Station for the last time; the 1951 “Festival of Britain”; the famous Chiswick “Skid Patch”; 1956 aluminium-bodied tube stock at Acton Town; magnificent shots on a snowy day of Trolleybuses at Barnet Church in 1962.

Steam Around Folkestone (73 mins) — Featuring steam trains in the 1920s at Sandling Junction and briefly the Hythe Branch. Expresses of the period thunder by and the “Man of Kent” is made up at Central Station as the "Golden Arrow" passes by. The harbour branch is busy with three or four R1 tank engines dragging Pullman trains up the 1 in 30 incline. There are later scenes of the same activity after ex-GW panniers replaced engines. Southern Railway ships are seen arriving and departing from the pier with cars being winched aboard. Moving to more recent times, all the shipping has disappeared and the harbour branch sees many steam specials adding the incline to their journeys. We see preserved steam locomotives “Tangmere”, “Lord Nelson”, “Oliver Cromwell”, “Bodmin”, “Britannia”, and Black 5 No. 44932 as well as Class 73, 47 and 67 diesels on the “Blue Pullman” & “Golden Arrow” coach sets. Plus the preserved Hastings narrow-bodied “Thumper” DEMU.

Bexhill West Railway (20 mins) — A tour of the Bexhill West Branch station and its remains where a lot of original features remain. The route of the railway has returned to nature but bridges remain and the station site at Sidley has become a training centre for motor-cyclists. The railway ran to Crowhurst joining the London to Hastings main line; very little remains there except for the bay platforms heavily overgrown with bushes.

Cliff Lifts of Great Britain — A distinctly victorian delvelopment, Cliff Lifts first entertained seaside holidaymakers as far back as 1875. Features the ups and downs of Britain’s Cliff Lifts. Nearly all of them are seen, and archive footage is used to show older cars in service. Features Aberystwyth, Babbacombe, Bridgnorth, Bristol Clifton Rocks, Bournemouth, Broadstairs, Folkestone (which had four), Hastings (has two), Lynton to Lynmouth, Llwyngwern (1973), Margate (closed 1970), Saltburn, Scarborough (which had four), Shipley Glen Southend; plus some vertical lifts such as Brighton, Ramsgate, Margate and Whitby.

These titles are available on DVD. Related titles not shown may be available from our supplier, please enquire.

Hastings Diesels is selling these titles by arrangement with Online Video, the price including a contribution towards HDL’s restoration funds.

Each DVD is priced at £11.50 including postage & packing (please enquire for overseas destinations).

Ordering

On-line ordering is not available at present. To order merchandise or DVD titles, please write a letter to HDL’s Sales department, stating:

  1. Item(s) required
  2. Quantity
  3. Name, address, telephone/email

Please enclose payment by cheque, made payable to Hastings Diesels Limited, and then post your letter to:

HDL Sales
85 Crofton Park Road
LONDON
SE4 1AJ

If an email address is included in your order, we will send a confirmation/despatch message to it.