A sudden encounter with the lean green diesel machine

[tom73]

Just wondering how drivers, both suburban and long distance, feel when they're cruising along without a care in the world when they suddenly see this 60-year old green coloured train coming towards them looking like it's escaped from the old Southern Region.
Plenty of videos on it on YouTube but I'm sticking with an image due to possible copyright issues.

 

[DarloRich]

i dont understand what you mean? Drivers probably think; oh there is that old green thing followed by ( depending on views) it looks nice or it should be in a museum not blocking up modern trains

 

[Islineclear3_1]

Depends on which part of the network it is working. Could evoke memories of nostalgia (i.e. the senior drivers) or 'what the heck is that antiquated slam door train?' to the younger drivers who have probably never seen a Hastings unit before

 

[sd0733]

If most of our drivers passed it they wouldn't even notice. A train is a train to most staff.

 

[richa2002]

Is it really the case that most train drivers wouldn't at least think that is something out of the ordinary? They must really not take much interest in their job if so...!

 

[broadgage]

Agree that it would not be that noteworthy.
As above, some drivers would consider it to be a splendid nostalgic sight, and others might think "what is that old thing doing on the mainline"

All but very new drivers will have seen a fair few heritage trains in the form of charters and specials, and perhaps engineering trains.
Some youngsters might think that something that old must be a steamer ! and marvel at the clean exhaust.

 

[eastwestdivide]

"lean green diesel machine" - excellent. Never thought I'd hear a Hastings unit described like that!

 

[dctraindriver]

Is it really the case that most train drivers wouldn't at least think that is something out of the ordinary? They must really not take much interest in their job if so...!

On the contrary, drivers will be focused on doing their job while on the move. Try explaining to your manager if you’ve had an operational incident it’s because you were distracted because you were looking at an old green train....

 

[big all]

the trouble with hastings was no quiet end
thumpers very very reliable units can only remember about 2 occasions working on them over about 20 years man and boy where had delays due to breakdown but no outright failures

 

[Esker-pades]

When filming/waiting at stations for railtours I often have drivers poke their heads out and talk to me about said railtour.

 

[HaggisBotherer]

the trouble with hastings was no quiet end

The two compartments in the TF that were downgraded from first to second class in the 1980s were always a pleasant place to park one's rear end.

Had hundreds of happy journeys on Hastings units, bowling across the Marsh on the 2Hs and down to Uckfield on the 3Ds as well. But never 'thumpers'. That's what teenage spotters called them...!

 

[Ken H]

The two compartments in the TF that were downgraded from first to second class in the 1980s were always a pleasant place to park one's rear end.

Had hundreds of happy journeys on Hastings units, bowling across the Marsh on the 2Hs and down to Uckfield on the 3Ds as well. But never 'thumpers'. That's what teenage spotters called them...!

I did Stratford upon Avon - Leamington on a hastings unit. Was some sort of W mids rail event.

 

[big all]

The two compartments in the TF that were downgraded from first to second class in the 1980s were always a pleasant place to park one's rear end.

Had hundreds of happy journeys on Hastings units, bowling across the Marsh on the 2Hs and down to Uckfield on the 3Ds as well. But never 'thumpers'. That's what teenage spotters called them...!

to be fair your thoughts and experiances are just that as are mine
i think calling them thumpers was more from the reading drivers as they where less used to the 4srkt "thump"
as most where tadpoles at redhill as a driver you wouldnt say anything as its the normal stock
you may mention to the guard we had an oxted or hampshire where you and the gaurd would try and usher the passengers on quieter trains towards the center coach on an oxted or the front/rear composite on a hampshire to allow the easiest routine to check all tickets although the hampshire composite was in two halves but had a toilet where as the middle had no toilet

 

[BRX]

It's been out and about today, on a trip to Olympia and back. here are a couple of videos of it in south london earlier

Always very pleasing to see it pass.

 

[Cowley]

It's been out and about today, on a trip to Olympia and back. here are a couple of videos of it in south london earlier

Always very pleasing to see it pass.

I loved the night time one.

 

[BRX]

I loved the night time one.

Cheers. I'd like to invest in some better night-time filming technology though...

 

[LowLevel]

Steam grabs everyone's attention. As do the various Pullman posh ex trains. Units probably not so much!
I used to deal with quite a lot of charters when I was station staff so dispatching a modern train followed by a steam train was a standard Saturday morning in many cases