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The only train photo from my youth

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Cletus

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This is the only photograph from my youth of a train I could find (lots of ferries though). I think it's 28th February 1993.

Looks to be nothing special about this train, but I wondering what livery the 2nd carriage back was?


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Ash Bridge

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Very interesting shot @Cletus, looks like reasearch department livery to me.

TBH, it looks rather like LAB 11 which now resides on the Dartmoor Railway although I can't be 100% certain on that.
 
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Cowley

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Is that the other power car from 1018 at the far end?
Looks like one of the sandite units.
I was thinking that but I can’t seem to find anything in that livery in that year?
 

hexagon789

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Interestingly the number on the power car is "1018", yet Preserved Thumpers gives 1018 as being scrapped in 1986-7. A renumbering at some point?
 

Darandio

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Is that the other power car from 1018 at the far end?

I was thinking that but I can’t seem to find anything in that livery in that year?

Good point, I don't even think that livery existed until at least a year after that.
 

Cletus

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Thanks for the replies.

The date I put was because the photo next to it (the outside of Dover Marine Station) had that date and so I assumed it was the same day.
 

Cowley

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Good point, I don't even think that livery existed until at least a year after that.
Was it a Railtrack livery? I can only find photos of that colour scheme with Railtrack written on the side after looking a bit more.
Very interesting shot @Cletus, looks like reasearch department livery to me.

TBH, it looks rather like LAB 11 which now resides on the Dartmoor Railway although I can't be 100% certain on that.
I’m quite surprised to see two Hastings Unit power cars (assuming the one at the far end is also a power car?) still running around in 1993. I thought they were pretty much all laid up by then (and any that were left probably renumbered into departmental numbers)?
 

hexagon789

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Thanks for the replies.

The date I put was because the photo next to it (the outside of Dover Marine Station) had that date and so I assumed it was the same day.

Is it possible it's a different date?

Was it a Railtrack livery? I can only find photos of that colour scheme with Railtrack written on the side after looking a bit more.

I’m quite surprised to see two Hastings Unit power cars still running around in 1993. I thought they were pretty much all laid up by then (and any left renumber into departmental numbers)?

I'm having a look on the Preserved Thumpers site, but can't seem to find that either
 

Ash Bridge

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Was it a Railtrack livery? I can only find photos of that colour scheme with Railtrack written on the side after looking a bit more.

I’m quite surprised to see two Hastings Unit power cars (assuming the one at the far end is also a power car?) still running around in 1993. I thought they were pretty much all laid up by then (and any that were left probably renumbered into departmental numbers)?

I'm sure that was another version of the Derby Research livery Mr C, Im now thinking that I may be wrong about the second vehicle being specifically LAB 11 as there are no grills visible near the end where the generator is fitted. Going to search a few books now to see what I can find about the Hastings power cars.
 

Cletus

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Doing a bit a research myself, on the photo it looks like the rear exit from the station was still open, but according to
https://www.kentrail.org.uk/dover_marine_5.htm
it had been blocked by 1988 in the link. Also as noted on the Kentrail website the trainshed struts had been painted red.

So the photo must be earlier?
 

hexagon789

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Doing a bit a research myself, on the photo it looks like the rear exit from the station was still open, but according to
https://www.kentrail.org.uk/dover_marine_5.htm
it had been blocked by 1988 in the link. Also as noted on the Kentrail website the trainshed struts had been painted red.

So the photo must be earlier?

If that is indeed a power car off unit 1018, then 1986/7 or earlier
 

High Dyke

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It looks like the 2nd vehicle could be Test Car 5. It's carrying the later R&DD livery (R&DD - Research & Development Division).
The R&DD had a major restructuring during the late 1980s and the former Electrical Equipment Section's vehicle Lab 6 'Prometheus' was disposed of. The vehicle was transferred to the Testing Section where it was re-designated as Test Car 5. Although it was a high speed sophisticated test vehicle capable of 125 mile/h it was virtually used as a brake runner by Serco until being scrapped in 2007.
http://www.traintesting.com/test_car_5.htm

The third vehicle is also of interest. It looks like the High Speed Track Recording Coach
Originally known as the High Speed Track Recording Coach this Mk 2f coach was especially converted for the BRB Director of Civil Engineering and was originally operated under the R&DD's control and numbered RDB999550.

Following major changes within the Research Division in the late 1980's it was transferred to the DM& EE and then to Railtest and renumbered ADB999550.
http://www.traintesting.com/HSTRC.htm

When traversing Southern metals it was fairly common to utilise a pair of 'Hastings' power cars for motive power.
 
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Cletus

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I notice that reading https://www.bloodandcustard.com/BR-6S-6L-6B-Hastings.html it says

Unit withdrawn 12‑May‑86 (last working 19.45 Charing Cross to Hastings) and stored at Ore. MBS vehicles 60028 & 60029 both used briefly for departmental work in Aug-86 with High Speed Track Recording coach returning to Hastings yard 14‑Aug‑86, moved to Selhurst 16‑Aug‑86 and deputised in Sandite unit no.1066 (though not renumbered). Both returned to Hastings yard for store by 22‑Sep‑86.

So that might narrow down when the photo was taken?

And I posted to begin with thinking it was just a run-of-the-mill EMU :lol:
 

Cowley

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Very interesting @Cletus. The railings on the platform look to be painted NSE red which also narrows the period down.
 

yorksrob

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I’m quite surprised to see two Hastings Unit power cars (assuming the one at the far end is also a power car?) still running around in 1993. I thought they were pretty much all laid up by then (and any that were left probably renumbered into departmental numbers)?

There was a four carriage one that worked on the Marshlink until about 1989 - It was painted into Southern green at the time (I used to enjoy trying to catch it). Afterwards it became a de-icer, but it was painted into NSE then.
 

Andy R. A.

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There was a four carriage one that worked on the Marshlink until about 1989 - It was painted into Southern green at the time (I used to enjoy trying to catch it). Afterwards it became a de-icer, but it was painted into NSE then.

It was unit 1011, which was renumbered to 203001. Pictures have faded a bit over time. Seen here at St. Leonards.
SR90011 203001.jpg

SR90012.jpg
 

43096

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The "Blood and Custard" site - which has some fabulous articles on it - has a detailed history of the Hastings units: https://www.bloodandcustard.com/BR-6S-6L-6B-Hastings.html

For unit 1018, the following is relevant:
Unit withdrawn 12‑May‑86 (last working 19.45 Charing Cross to Hastings) and stored at Ore. MBS vehicles 60028 & 60029 both used briefly for departmental work in Aug-86 with High Speed Track Recording coach returning to Hastings yard 14‑Aug‑86, moved to Selhurst 16‑Aug‑86 and deputised in Sandite unit no.1066 (though not renumbered). Both returned to Hastings yard for store by 22‑Sep‑86.

All four trailers moved from Ore to Temple Mills 2‑Dec‑86 and on to Mayer Newman, Snailwell for scrapping 18‑Dec‑86, coaches burnt as follows: 60542 & 60543 both 26‑Jan‑87, 60544 28‑Jan‑87 and 60714 29‑Jan-87. Both MBS vehicles to St Leonards for stripping 15‑Aug‑87. MBS 60028 to Chart Leacon for bogie recovery (date?) then moved to Tonbridge for store. Forward to Mayer Newman, Snailwell for scrapping 2‑Oct‑87, arriving 16‑Nov‑87 and burnt 23‑Dec‑87.

After stripping at St Leonards MBS 60029 moved to Chart Leacon for bogie recovery, later moving to Paddock Wood for store 24‑Aug‑88. It was scrapped at Mayer Newman, Snailwell, moving from Paddock Wood to Willesden yard 13‑Sep‑88 and forward to Snailwell 26‑Apr‑89. It was burnt 11‑May‑89.
 
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