Hastings Diesels Limited No. 1001

Thanks to the efforts of Hastings Diesels Preservation Limited, we can still enjoy the sights, and, more importantly, the unique DEMU sound on the main line. D&E modellers interested in the privatisation era have the ideal excuse to add a main line certificated DEMU to their collection in the form of Hastings Diesels Limited’s No. 1001. The kind hospitality of Hastings Diesels Limited enabled this series of reference images to be taken at St Leonards in 2008 after No. (20)1001 was equipped with CTL and OTMR.

HASTINGS MAIN LINE ‘Thumper’diesel-electric multiple units(DEMUs) are unique in having a narrow body profile of eight-foot width over the body panels (nine-foot over the footsteps) to allow for the restricted loading gauge of the South Eastern Railway (SER) Tunbridge Wells to Hastings line.

The route was built and opened in stages between 1846 and 1852. Diverging from the Kent Coast line at Tonbridge (originally Tunbridge), the line traversed difficult terrain which required numerous tunnels and other major infrastructure works which put pressure on the already financially challenged SER which was compelled to invest heavily in the Ashford-Hastings line.

Although not originally built to a restricted loading gauge, the low-cost nature of the project, together with some poor construction practices, resulted in scantily lined tunnels which were found to be close to collapse shortly after parts of the line were opened. Records show that part of Mountfield Tunnel suffered a partial collapse in 1855 which prompted an urgent inspection of Wells, Strawberry Hill and Grove Hill tunnels, all of which were found to be in the same serious condition.

Soon after, there was a collapse in Wadhurst Tunnel and the one at Bopeep Junction was also found to be in poor condition. Additional lining was added to the tunnels to save cost over reboring them, preventing the use of standard gauge stock.