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Hastings 6S, 6L & 6B DEMUs - Classes 201, 202 & 203

photograph by Mark Westcott A 12-car, two-set formation headed by by 6L unit 1011 approaches West St Leonards on a Charing Cross - Hastings service in November 1985. In less than six months, such scenes would be history

When in 1957/58 it became time to replace steam hauled stock on the non-electrified line from London to Hastings via Battle the Southern Region opted for diesel electric multiple units (DEMUs). Unlike most diesel multiple units (which have mechanical drives) the power cars on DEMUs are effectively mini diesel-electric locomotives with final drive by electric traction motors. Because the route between Tonbridge and Bo-Peep Junction had tunnels with clearance restrictions (the existing steam hauled stock was narrower than normal) the Hastings DEMUs were constructed 8 feet 2.5 inches wide with flat sides.   The Hastings units originally appeared in three formations: 6S (class 201) "short" 6 car units built on 57 feet underframes 6L (class 202) "long" 6 car units built on 63ft 6in underframes 6B (class 203) "buffet" 6 car units which had a buffet in their formation replacing one TSO.   In 1964/65 two 6B units were converted to 6L by exchanging their buffet cars for a TSO and in 1980 the all but one remaining 6B units were downgraded to 5L (class 203) by the removal of their buffet cars. Also in 1964 three 6S units were disbanded to provide six MBSOs and six TSOs which were then mated with six adapted 2 EPB driving trailers to form six "new" 3R units (class 206) for the Reading to Tonbridge services. In 1979 and 1980 two 6S units were reinstated following the disbanding of five of the 3R units and withdrawal of one 6B unit.   Today a privately preserved Hastings DEMU is available for excursions and for hire by TOCs for service trains.

 

Click on the thumbnails for a larger image. 1014 May 1982 Hastings DEMU unit 1014 on an up service climbing from the River Rother bridge between Etchingham and Stonegate in early May 1982. Photograph by Mark Westcott. 1014 Waterloo This photo was taken at Waterloo around 7:30pm on the evening of 11th September 1982 at the end of the 'Hastings Diesel Wanderer' railtour. This had taken DEMU unit N°1014 from Charing Cross to Portsmouth, Fawley and Ludgershall via Greenwich, the Windsor Lines and Woking, before returning via Wimbledon and then the Windsor Lines again. Photograph by Mark Westcott. 1018 May 1986 DEMU unit N°1012 photographed at a rather wet West St Leonards on 2nd May 1986. Photograph by Ian Fossey. 1018 May 1986 A few weeks prior to the commencement of electric services on the Hastings line in May 1986, DEMU unit N°1018 pulls into Etchingham with a train from Charing Cross, bearing the traditional '22' headcode. Photograph by Keith Harwood. 1013 St Leonards Warrior Sq DEMU unit N°1013, surrounded by diesel fumes, arrives at St Leonards Warrior Square on 1st March 1986. Photograph by John Lewis. 1013 St Leonards Warrior Sq DEMU unit N°1013, leaving St Leonards Warrior Square a short while later on 1st March 1986. Photograph by John Lewis. Class 203 203001 When the time came to replace the DEMUs on the Hastings route some units were retained for special duties. Here is unit N°203001 (effectively "preserved" by BR) reformed into a 4L consist, seen at London Bridge on 28 August 1988. Photograph by Colin Duff. Class 203 203001 Whilst in BR service 203001 carried a hybrid livery - BR(S) green with a BR carriage roundel but also with BR arrows. Photograph by Colin Duff. 1001 Swanage Rly The preserved unit N°1001 was on hire to the Swanage Railway from 30th June 1990 until 1992. It is seen here in November 1990 at Swanage running as a three car unit N°1012 with a trailer second between two power cars. Photograph by Roger Stanford. 1001 S Devon Rly On a trip to the West Country the preserved Hastings DEMU N°1001 is seen here at the South Devon Railway passing Napper's Crossing Halt in May 1998. Photograph by Mike Morant. 1001 Salisbury Much later, and still off its traditional territory, privately preserved Hastings DEMU unit N°1001 is seen at Salisbury in the early morning taking enthusiasts to view the total eclipse of the sun on 11th August 1999. Photograph by Jonathan Hall. 1001 Hastings Hastings DEMU unit N°1001 departs Hastings with the 3:24pm service to Ashford International on 15th November 2003. This unit was hired out to South Central Trains on that day and ran as a three car unit, operating with both power cars switched on. Photograph by Paul Ferbrache. 1001 London Bridge DEMU unit N°1001 waits at London Bridge on 6th December 2003, with The Christmas Cracker tour to Sittingbourne, while Networker 465024 leaves for Cannon Street. The next part of the journey is to Sittingbourne via the Bexleyheath line to Dartford and Sheerness-on-Sea. Photograph by Paul Ferbrache. 1001 Sheerness-on-Sea 1001 waits at Sheerness-on-Sea for the driver to change ends before making a short journey into Sittingbourne. Photograph by Paul Ferbrache. 1001 Interior Interior of power car from Hastings DEMU unit N°1001. Photograph by Paul Ferbrache. 1001 Interior Interior of Tunbridge Wells power car from Hastings DEMU unit N°1001. On special tours operated by The Hastings Diesels Ltd this car is used as club class. Photograph by Paul Ferbrache.

This page was last updated 24 October 2003