| Hastings Diesel - 2026 Posted by grahame at 18:00, 27th January 2026 |     |
https://www.hastingsdiesels.co.uk/railtours/
11 April 2026: To East Somerset Railway (date confirmed)
20 June 2026: To Paignton (provisional)
19 September 2026: To Stamford and the Old Dalby Test Track (provisional)
There's just something about those trains - perhaps being brought up with them passing through Petts Wood and occasional opportunities to ride. Happy memories of travelling from Southampton to Fawley on one - and would hope to do so again some time.
| Re: Hastings Diesel - 2026 Posted by broadgage at 08:55, 29th January 2026 | |
Proper trains, of the suburban type.
| Re: Hastings Diesel - 2026 Posted by John D at 10:36, 29th January 2026 | |
Proper trains, of the suburban type.
Weren't the Hastings DEMUs mainline, rather than suburban. Some even had buffet cars (although these were later removed during their life)
| Re: Hastings Diesel - 2026 Posted by grahame at 11:07, 29th January 2026 | |
Proper trains, of the suburban type.
Weren't the Hastings DEMUs mainline, rather than suburban. Some even had buffet cars (although these were later removed during their life)
Mainline for Southern - journey about 75 miles. Mainline from my viewpoint as a resident in the area ... local trains from Charing Cross and Waterloo called at all stations to Orpington, which was the first call of the semi-fasts. The Hastings trains did not call at Orpington - first stop after Waterloo was Sevenoaks. "Express".
| Re: Hastings Diesel - 2026 Posted by Mark A at 11:54, 29th January 2026 | |
**snip**
There's just something about those trains
**snip**
There's just something about those trains
**snip**
+ 1 to that. Self contained. 75mph running and looks very cheerful at a sustained 75 too.
Also, when awaiting a dusty-windowed Kent coast service at London Bridge, it was not uncommon that a... characterful noise... preceeded the bustling appearance of a Hastings diesel from the Charing Cross direction, prompting a ... 'What, whaaat's that thing? Has it been on a diet?'
Mark
| Re: Hastings Diesel - 2026 Posted by grahame at 12:03, 29th January 2026 | |
**snip**
There's just something about those trains
**snip**
There's just something about those trains
**snip**
+ 1 to that. Self contained. 75mph running and looks very cheerful at a sustained 75 too.
Also, when awaiting a dusty-windowed Kent coast service at London Bridge, it was not uncommon that a... characterful noise... preceeded the bustling appearance of a Hastings diesel from the Charing Cross direction, prompting a ... 'What, whaaat's that thing? Has it been on a diet?'
Mark
So ... characteristic ... waiting on platform 3 at Orpington for the local to Sevenoaks ... a Hastings Diesel glided in at line speed from London and as he went through the platform, the engines roared up from idle to top notch to put on power as the train hit the rise toward Knockholt summit. I can imagine the sound to this day.
| Re: Hastings Diesel - 2026 Posted by ChrisB at 12:20, 29th January 2026 | |
Hmmm. I wouldn't describe a Hastings Diesel as able to 'glide'.... [Image from here is not available to guests] [Image from here is not available to guests] [Image from here is not available to guests]
