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Programme of Meetings Members are requested to inform the contact for
the visits, of their Forthcoming SIAS Members Events Winter events at West Blatchington Windmill, Hove BN3 7LF Non-members welcome £1.00 2023
Saturday 16th March, 2pm The line between Tunbridge Wells and St. Leonards was constructed during one of the ‘Railway Manias’ in the mid-19th Century. The newly constructed tunnels were in danger of collapsing due to insufficient courses of lining brickwork. The issuewas resolved by providing the additional required brick courses inside the existing structures resulting in a reduced clearance and trains having to be of lesser width than the rest of the then system. The 1955 ‘Modernisation Plan’ sought to eliminate steam traction from the UK’s railway system by electrification, and where not justified, by dieselisation. The then Southern Region opted for a Diesel-Electric multiple unit option for the route and introduced them in 1957. The trains soldiered on until the line was electrified and re-signalled in 1987 when the lines through the restricted tunnels were singled permitting standard width vehicles to be used. The Hastings Diesels Group was formed in 1986 aimed at preserving one or more of the unique vehicles. It is now Hastings Diesels Ltd. and owns 16 vehicles including 5 motor coaches of which 9 are currently operational.
Jim Gibbons was for 32 years in British Railways operations management
ultimately becoming Network South East’s Professional Head of Operations.
Please see the Mills Newsletter for details of Mills Group activities
Selected Meetings of Other Groups
Please Always Check details and that event is
going ahead Before Traveling Other Activities Weald and Downland
Open Air Museum These meetings are covered fully in the newsletter and other
publications
of the society, their appearance here is intended purely as a guide. |
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martin(at)pastfinder.uk - note
NOT .co with questions or comments about this web site.
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