1125 - The Hampshire Unit: A sit down chat with Richard Bentley

[@deanho5708]

Great video!

[@Clive-js8ej]

Richard knows his stuff! It's always informative and very interesting.

[@bishwatntl]

I used to go to school in Winchester on these Hampshire units. Many memories - especially the sound of the engine with that characteristic dip in the sound before starting from each station. I also remember when Eastleigh Works used to send new 1300-series units out for their first passenger runs on the Alton line, before being sent off to Oxted and beyond.

[@thetrainman2013]

These units have allaways been amongst my favourite they just look so right

[@martyn6792]

Great history lesson, love the sound of thumpers, had a trip in engine room in 70s

[@peterreed6180]

Great video! Love the unit as well, living on the line between Hastings and Ashford, they used to thrash across the marsh opposite my house and I also rememeber going to school on them very briefly before they were taken out of service (then painted in to Connex livery!)

[@johnmilner0859]

Enjoyed that video. Very interesting. Very important aspect of railway heritage.

[@nick-c]

I never travelled on thumpers regularly in service, but definitely have a lot of nostalgia for the slam door units - mostly the 4CIGs on the central section, watching carefully to see which end the declassified 1st class compartments were in the later days, and the groans when you realised it was a draughty VEP instead...

[@jakobrebeki]

Dear Sir, I used to be Guard on the thumpers back in the 90s at Clapham Jcn to Kenny O....

[@laurieharper1526]

I used to love the slab-sided Hastings units. When we travelled into Charing Cross when I was a kid, they would be standing on platform 5 or 6. They seemed very exotic compared to the electric commuter trains. Made a great sound when they started up.

[@loomisgruntfuttock]

2:37. Is that the junction to Treloar's Hospital?

[@nutsnproud6932]

I used to get cab rides on thumpers on the way to and from school.

[@TheSorub]

Hmm love ti see it in Br Blue the colour it was on the last day i will look on just giving

[@Thatonef9a]

Music name anyone? 0:02

[@markb846]

£11.25 per month is less than the price of a coffee per week, But Richard is correct there is a lot of social history with the less glamorous rolling stock As people do come up and say they went to work, or school on a VEP or something similar. Hopefully the money can be raised to fund the bodywork repairs.

[@srfurley]

Are there any problems with residual asbestos?

[@rich392117]

The units were stripped of asbestos by BR, so hopefully not. We will obviously be mindful that there is always an outside chance that there could be some residual remains and deal with it, if we find any.