Redhill to Guildford - Hastings DEMU cab ride - 30 September 2017

[@vincepeterbilt3450]

Excellent, I used to travel from Battle to Guildford to visit my grandparents when this route was served by `railcars' and it was always a lottery as to whether the front seats would be taken and how many blinds the driver would have up! On one occasion a friendly driver opened the door and let me stand just in the cab while he explained the working and what he was up to. Very happy memories re-lived!

[@beaso63]

Loved this, I was a Signalman at Betchworth, and then Reigate once upon a thousand years ago. Thank you

[@hastingsdiesels]

Glad to help rekindle some memories!

[@hassanelahmar6848]

Great job. I used to travel in this train from Dorking Deepden to Guilford. Very nice train, comfortable and fast. Love from Morocco 🇲🇦

[@stephenrice4554]

You're film took me through land I trod as a youth and on . Guildford , Sandhurst, Aldershot my family lurched from that area . Great video, many memories 👍🇬🇧

[@dodgydruid]

I spent nearly three years on the other arm of the "Ruler" or straight edge between Guildford and Tonbridge, the first bridge you see leaving Redhill for Tonbridge was a private road for the old Philanthropic and we used to exchange rude hand signs with the drivers of the 101's or the occasional tadpole's. Sometimes a train would be stopped at the signal there and we got to talk with the drivers, couple of 'em knew me dad from when he worked relief out of Tonbridge and one he gave us a packet of 20 Benson & Hedges which was like a lottery win for us naughty boys :P

[@marccheban194]

This is a SUPERB video in every respect. Thank you! Who could not love the English countryside after watching this????

[@OlafProt]

Commented on another post, but I grew up beside this line (just to the right after Deepdene after passing over the A24) and the Tadpoles were fabulous. It was a shame when they went. But the DMUs that took over (117s I think) were brilliant too because you could get a seat right behind the driver and see out the front, and all those familiar AWS bells so this view is SO great to see again. And I went to school in Guildford with grandparents at gomshall... wonderful!!!! Thank you, you take so much care with these they’re a pleasure to watch.

[@nutsnproud6932]

Thanks for the video. I really enjoy these. I often travelled to Dorking Deepdene from Redhill in a thumper as a child. I always sat in the carriage next to the engine.

[@deepgreenish]

Very fine. I live at Brockham and use the line frequently and it's interesting to see the cab view. I liked the whistle at Dorking (surprised there wasn't a caption on it)!

[@Cinemadamenic]

This is a superb video, and the captions are particularly interesting and well-written. Thank you for going to so much trouble with this. All your videos are a joy to watch.

[@hastingsdiesels]

Thank you, much appreciated.

[@Graham_Langley]

The line from Dorking to Guildford is local to me so it was nice to [see] things from a different perspective - many thanks. Good job the annoying rattle was left at the other end at Redhill.

[@TheGateway37]

Used to travel on this line from Guildford to Redhill on a rail rover as a 10-12 year old boy from 1963-1965 on the steam-hauled trains. Used to take an hour. Now living in the local area. Great footage from the front of the cab.

[@philipross2013]

I too used Deepdene station as a 12 yo going to school in Redhill , the fastest we went in those days between Redhill and Reigate was behind an old Drummond T9 no wonder they were nicknamed greyhounds.

[@philmissy1]

Well done kind sir "person" Just enough info tobe well informed and not over whelmed. Great footage to match. Viewed from Sydney Australia cheers mate thanks for the time to share.

[@polestar696]

Great channel. Love the cab views. Keep up the fantastic work.

[@parks9144]

10 years ago, I'd use this line to visit my now-wife (Croydon to Sandhurst). I've hiked the North Downs Way including Box Hill, from which you can see the line running outside Dorking. There's something warming about the sound of diesels rattling through the country.

[@aCivilServant]

Travelled this line many times from Reading to Gatwick to go on my summer holidays. Nice to see it from the drivers eye view.

[@richardwestwell4902]

For someone who no longer lives in England I just love these videos, not only from the interesting railway perspective, but to once again enjoy the English countryside. I am waiting to see the run to Alresford on the Mid Hants line where I was a volunteer in the early 1980's when the line only ran Alresford to Ropley.

[@robertcoleman4861]

Thanks richard,Another wonderful cab ride in the beautiful english country side,Cheers bob.

[@parks9144]

Having read about Jessie's Seat on Wiki and attempting & failing to spot it for many years, great to finally see it from the cab at 19:44

[@anmolmehta7116]

Very nice ride to Guildford. Look forward to the next segment to Aldershot.

[@codys4449]

Nice to hear the AWS self test in this one :)

[@hastingsdiesels]

I included that just for you :)

[@codys4449]

@@hastingsdiesels Haha thank you very much :)

[@drenahmeti22]

Some pretty steep inclines on this route through the Downs, this handles them perfectly!

[@lesliegprice6652]

Fantastic video ,great route, thank you ....Happy New year

[@georgeronn1263]

I believe I was on this same route back in 1998 or 1999. I had to come to a meeting that was held about 10 minute drive from Didcot station. They had me fly into Gatwick where I took the train from Gatwick to Reading, where I changed trains for the trip to Didcot. We had about 10 minute stop at Redhill for the driver to change ends. I tried chatting him up as he smoked a cigarette on the platform but he wasn’t interested. I do remember it being a diesel/hydraulic unit that seemed way under powered, downshifting a lot going upgrade. It did not seem like he went much more than 45 mph, though I’m sure he did. I did get to ride an HST from Reading to Didcot. Overall it was a good experience.

[@RichardFelstead1949]

Thanks for uploading.

[@andypreston1524]

Loving these films guys! Great turbo whistle on this one too !! Happy New Year to you all!

[@HenrysAdventures]

Another very interesting video!

[@AndreiTupolev]

I've never been that way, quite a scenic line, although you probably see more from the front of a train.

[@nickrobson9636]

Excellent

[@Twiddlers]

Nice video, you could also add Big Bullsdown crossing after Little Bullsdown crossing and Welcome Bridge at the top of the 1/96 gradient.

[@hastingsdiesels]

Great Bullsdown - maybe so, but it isn't listed in the Sectional Appendix so I didn't know of it. I suspect "Welcome Bridge" is an unofficial name given by footplate crews of old?

[@Twiddlers]

@@hastingsdiesels It is a local name given to the bridge as the steam drivers were pleased to get to it. Btw I am a train driver based at redhill.

[@Rog5446]

This has to be the most scenic stretch of line in the London area (can anyone advise otherwise?) Great ride, thank you.

[@mitchellgiffard1978]

Only travelled on this route a few times to deepdeene dorking found the trains run only once every hour quite a wait to go a couple of stops.

[@russouk]

wondered why wey river bridge was wet...looks like they had a downpour...

[@traindriverdan]

What do you do with regards to drivers for these excursions? Do you have your own or do you need to contract them in from other companies? Guessing they'll have to do some training on the old Hastings Diesel first?

[@hastingsdiesels]

It’s almost the other way round, really. We hand our train over to GBRf who acts as the Operating Company. Our train is driven by their drivers and operated in accordance with their rules, safety case and procedures. Naturally their drivers are trained on our unit.

[@alexisantonakis8897]

When did they build the passenger bridge at Gomshall? Used to live there back in the 80s. And do you have a link for the next part...guildford-alton please...used to travel from gomshall to farnham for school

[@GTRider69]

About two years ago.

[@hastingsdiesels]

The bridge opened on 25 November 2016. I haven’t produced the next segment yet but plan to do so weekly on Saturdays.

[@QwertyScream]

The route indicator at 27:32 was showing a 2.

[@hastingsdiesels]

I've looked closely at the original footage, and at similar footage from a more recent trip, and can confirm it showed an 8 for going into platform 8. I agree the sunlight makes it hard to read accurately. The perils of being a train driver!

[@AndreiTupolev]

Those beeps at 1:26; it's not fitted with ETCS is it?

[@hastingsdiesels]

No, we don't have ETCS nor do most of the routes we encounter. That's the GSM-R radio login sequence, arising from the fact this cab had just been opened up.

[@Graham_Langley]

Are there any other non-electrified lines in the south east?

[@hastingsdiesels]

A non-exhaustive list of non-electrified passenger lines within the generally former SR area: Ashford - Ore Hurst Green - Uckfield Reigate - Guildford Basingstoke - Salisbury and beyond Romsey - Salisbury and beyond Ash - Wokingham No doubt I've missed some; our train has run on all of these. :)

[@Graham_Langley]

@@@hastingsdiesels Ta for that list. When using one of the several level crossings on this line with a passenger or more on board from this area, if possible I'll slow and ask if they can spot anything unusual about the track. To date no one has.

[@markcf83]

The Windsor and Eton Central, Marlow and Henley branches plus West Ealing to Greenford. All of them are branch lines on the Great Western line out of Paddington.

[@uffeodgard2712]

Alpine Sunset railtour..? in the Alps..??

[@hastingsdiesels]

Yes - the Mid-Hants Railway, to where we are heading, is known as The Alps because of its severe gradients.

[@ralpha679]

Was that whistle sign missed at 11:48?

[@hastingsdiesels]

Yes, evidently! As you also saw, its conspicuity was greatly reduced by it being hidden in a bush. Also, spotting such things on video from your armchair is quite different to spotting them when you’re behind the windscreen & at the controls.

[@ralpha679]

@@hastingsdiesels Hehehe. Hopefully it's been cut back since.

[@MarkHenstridge]

Omg, what is that at 9:22

[@hastingsdiesels]

What do you see at that timestamp?

[@heliostransport515]

Well I’m a bit late

[@craigymarsh941]

Do newcastle to alton