Uckfield Line DEMUs

A selection of video clips taken between 1997 and 2001, in no particular order. All filmed by myself at locations between Edenbridge Town and Eridge, on the Uckfield line. Units featured include: 1101, 1109, 1112, 1118, 1125, 1133.

[@bingbong7316]

I hadn't realised that the 3D units gave way to 2H and 3H before the end. I'm one of those annoying people who cannot see why an Uckfield - Lewes connection can't be reinstated. Should never have been truncated in the first place! Harrumph.

[@4vepvik781]

Well done for capturing this Demu Thumper action for posterity.👏🏾👏🏾😊

[@Tullian100]

Thanks very much. Glad you enjoyed it. Do miss these great units!

[@anthonyireland6108]

Nice film I remember those old diesels I also remember as a young boy standing next to the East Grinsted service waiting on platform 6 at East Croydon station ,in the early 1960s , When the diesel engine fired up , it scared the life out of me

[@OlafProt]

I was the same when the Tadpole thumpers ran on the North Downs Line. Loved those noisy smelly greasy old things though.

[@edforcer1340]

Just found this wonderful collection of memories. I was a driver at Norwood MT and drove these units on the East Grinstead/ Uckfield branches until they "juiced" the Grinstead line. Thanks for sharing these images. Cheers!

[@Tullian100]

Thanks very much for your comment. I spent a lot of time down there, as you can tell, but it was worth it. Great trains with such character. I'm sure you really enjoyed driving them! The line will never be the same now they've gone, but luckily so many are preserved of course.

[@edforcer1340]

Signalman .CBP Indeed, with the Spa Valley opening they look and sound better than when we had them as workhorses, as does Eridge station. I've lost count of the amount of photographers on the Uckfield branch in the 1990s, getting last images for posterity. Fortunately I've not seen myself yet!

[@edforcer1340]

@Neil Foord Oxted to Uckfield was voted the worst Branchline in Europe in 1993. I left the railway in 1994 and haven't been back since, so it's sad to learn it's still not giving a good service.

[@4vepvik781]

Also nice to hear the EE507s traction motors at it at full power.

[@UKWMO]

Enjoyed watching that. Sounds like some sections were welded rail as opposed to fishplated. I guess it’s all welded rail now. Seem to think unit 1118 is preserved at the Lavender Line at Isfield, East Sussex.

[@Tullian100]

Thank you. Glad you mentioned about the track. I made an effort to film the units along the sections with jointed track, as it gave a lot more character! I think virtually all of the line is continuous welded rail now. 1118 & 1133 are now at Isfield, and look superb.

[@UKWMO]

Signalman .CBP: Believe the nearby heritage Spa Valley Railway also has an old Uckfield Line thumper too, is that right?

[@Tullian100]

UKWMO Yes, they have Oxted unit 1317, and very nicely preserved too.

[@jerryatric1106]

Very well filmed, captures the full sounds of these superb workhorses. well done.

[@Tullian100]

jerry atric Thanks very much. A bit of a grainy video transfer, but the sound is the important bit I guess!

[@OlafProt]

so good to hear those doors slamming 7:55!

[@vicsams4431]

I rode this line first with 45 104 "Royal Warwickshire Fusiliers" from PADDINGTON platform 0 (Royal Mail platform) to Uckfield, and beyond ! Then with 205 / 207s. Then with 171s. Bashing went steadily downhill....

[@EM-yk1dw]

Great film, lovely shots of a very pretty line. The tragic Cowden crash wouldnt have happened if the line had not been singled.

[@vicsams4431]

I agree double track is safer than single track lines. But you only tell half the story. The driver is thought to be an untrained, unauthorised railway buff as two bodies were found in the cab and the driver was not a member of staff. Furthermore, they disregarded cautionary yellow aspect(s) and passed a signal at danger without authority. So the AWS would have been cancelled twice (on three aspect signalling). This resulted in the head-on collision.

[@neilfoord9181]

This line was the Southern equivalent of my local line back in the late '70s and '80's. My local line at the time was the Chiltern line. The sense of abandonment on this line is just like the Marylebone lines before privatisation.

[@4vepvik781]

Nice to see more DEMU Thumpers thumping at speed!!. 🙂👍🏽👍🏽

[@Han-wh5ie]

Mooi landschap. Mooi geluid. Mooi gefilmd. Met de fiets. De zang van een merel.

[@Han-wh5ie]

Thank you !

[@jasonl4411.]

Excellent video

[@YellabellyRover]

Happy days. 😁