HI DORPATO SU SOUNCKUD SIUUUUUU

Farewell to the Groombridge branch (6th July 1985)
_________________________________________________________________________________________
During the 1980s, I spent a lot of my time riding around the British Rail network, mainly chasing Class 40s and then Class 50s, but also seeing and riding behind a number of other classes. I made a number of tape recordings at the time - many from the front window, some from the platform - using my trusty 'ghetto-blaster' or 'boom box' - and now these recordings can finally be heard :)


Remembering the Southern Region DEMUs or “Thumpers” 
Maintaining the English electric theme with these recordings, we remember the old DEMUs that used to operate on the Southern Region, affectionately known as “Thumpers”. For this first set of recordings, we travel down from London Victoria in a pair of Class 205 3H “Hampshire” units, and make our way to Eridge, where we take the local branch train, made up of a pair of Class 207 3D “Oxted” units. The recordings were made on the last day of operation for the Groombridge branch, which linked Eridge with Tunbridge Wells (now operating as the Spa Valley Railway). The recordings have survived in good shape, having been made using a quality Maxell XLII metal tape. Enjoy the sound of these humble English Electrics - for about 20mins you can immerse yourself in reliving the experience of hanging out of a carriage window behind these classic DEMUs 😎

Tracklist:
Track 1: 0m - 2m 25s Class 205 “Hampshire” units 1124 + 1125 departing London Victoria (at 13.24) towards Clapham Junction 

Track 2: 2m 30s - 6m 05s Class 205 “Hampshire” units 1124 + 1125 departing Clapham Junction 

Track 3 6m 10s -11m 55s Class 205 “Hampshire” units 1124 + 1125 departing Oxted and Hurst Green (+ some bashers’ banter 😍) 

Track 4 12m 10s - 17m 30s Class 207 “Oxted” units 1317 + 1311 arriving at Groombridge (where my bashing friends Tim & Llew joined the train ;) and on to Tunbridge Wells West

Track 5 17m 30s - 19m 30s Class 207 “Oxted” units 1311 + 1317 from Tunbridge Wells West to Groombridge

Track 6 19m 40s - 21m 20s Class 205 “Hampshire” unit 1118 departing Eridge back towards East Croydon (with musical accompaniment :)

More info on the Class 205 “Hampshire” DEMUs here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_Class_205

And more info on the Class 207 “Oxted” DEMUs here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_Class_207

Watch this space for Part 2 of remembering the Southern Region DEMUs Farewell to the “Hastings” unit DEMUs (9th-11th May 1986)

Happy days 😍

Farewell to the Groombridge branch (Saturday 6th July 1985)

Maintaining the English electric theme with these recordings, we remember the old narrow-bodied “Hastings" unit DEMUs that used to operate between London Charing Cross and Hastings on the Southern Region. 

I made my recordings on the last day of normal service, which was Friday 9th May 1986. The last two recordings were made on Sunday 11th May when the “Hastings DEMU Farewell” railtour passed down the Greenford line, and through Southall, which were locations on my home patch.

The recordings have survived in good shape, having been made using a quality TDK SA90 metal tape. For almost an hour you can immerse yourself in reliving the experience of riding in these classic DEMUs - hope you enjoy the sound of these hard-working English Electrics 😎

Track list:
1&2)     Start - 3m 30s	The day starts at Waterloo East where we are down on the platform awaiting a ride into Charing Cross to pick up the Hastings service. A pair of ‘slam-door’ 4-EPBs arrives and departs, followed by Hastings units 1004 + 1016.
3)	3m 30s - 11m 30s	We are now on board the 08.40 Charing Cross - Hastings service, sitting in the guard’s compartment in the front driving coach S60015 of unit 1011! I chose this secluded location so that I wouldn’t have to hang out of the window and get buffeted by the wind - I hadn’t anticipated the noise from what must have been some sort of (whining) load regulator - however, you can still hear the thrash from the engine in the compartment behind me :)
There’s a lot of screeching from the rails as we crawl through Waterloo East up to London Bridge, and then the driver eventually opens up!
4)	11m 35s - 14m 20s	At Tonbridge, I bailed out of the guard’s compo, and sat on the cushions - taking the opportunity to record out of the window as we left the station.
5)	14m 30s - 16m 10s	Leaving Tunbridge Wells now, again from the front window behind the engine.

6)	16m 15s - 20m 20s	For the second run, we are now on the return journey up from Hastings, on the 12.40 Hastings - Charing Cross service, again sitting in the guard’s compartment in the front driving coach  - this time S60014 of unit 1011. The recording starts leaving Hastings as far as leaving West St. Leonards.

7)	20m 20s - 21m 50s	Departing Crowhurst.
8)	21m 50s - 22m 50s	Departing Robertsbridge.
9)	22m 55s - 24m 20s	Departing Wadhurst.
10)	24m 20s - 31m 15s	Signal stopped & approaching London Bridge.
11)	31m 20s - 39m 25s	London Bridge via Waterloo East to Charing Cross and engine shutdown!

12)	39m 30s - 45m 50s	For the third run on the Hastings line, we are on the cushions again in the front driving coach S60015 of unit 1011, the recording taking us from departure at Charing Cross via Waterloo East to London Bridge.
13)	45m 55s - 47m 50s	I alighted at Sevenoaks and recorded the departing train from the platform - with birds!

14)	47m 55s - 49m 00s	For the fourth and final recording from the last day of operation on the Hastings line, I recorded unit 1012 on the 16.15 Charing Cross - Hastings as it passed through Waterloo East… and that was that!

15)	49m 05s - 50m 45s	We are now at the lineside just near South Greenford Halt as the “Hastings DEMU Farewell” railtour passes by -  a very unusual event on this small west London branch line! The units involved were 1002 + 1032.
16)	50m 55s - 52m 45s	My final recording captures the railtour again, this time passing through my home station of Southall as the tour headed out of London. Before the tour reaches me, you can hear Class 50 ‘Hoover’ 50007 ‘Sir Edward Elgar’ passing eastbound on the slow lines with an Oxford - Paddington service. The ‘Hastings’ units 1002 + 1032 cross over from the down slow to the down fast, so they are travelling at a somewhat sedate speed :)

More info on the Class 201 6S units here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_Class_201

The Class 202 6L units here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_Class_202

Happy days 😍

Farewell to the “Hastings” unit DEMUs (9th-11th May 1986)

Been into rock and indie music since the 1970s. Went to many gigs in the 1980s when a student. Fewer in recent years - highlights include The Smiths at Kingston Poly in 1983 (for 50p!), Iggy Pop + Suicide at Hammersmith in 2010, Iggy Pop again at the Royal Albert Hall in 2016. Long-time fan of John Peel (some original recordings on SoundCloud 😎) Also interested in railways and aviation with some unique recordings from the 70s & 80s also up on SoundCloud 😃

New tracks tagged #demu