Hard for me to watch with the shaking. Hastings Diesels was my introduction to cab view. I still go back and watch them again. COVID-19 wiped out our 2020. Thanks for posting.
Thought it was you, only glimpsed you from the Brake Van in Mountfield. The trip wasn't widely publisised as there were some doubts when we might have had someone available to do it.
I remember 1001 from when i was a boy of about 10 ! , i used to train spot at the Old and lovely Ore train station , glad to see the old gal is still running well ! , thanks for the brill vid .
Most of it stems back to when the line was originally built. The Contractors skimped on the tunnel construction by lining them with only one or two courses of brick. Only three years after opening a section of Mountfield Tunnel collapsed. This led to the inspection of all the tunnels, which were all found to be below specification. The only practical solution at the time was to add several courses of brick on the inside, making them narrower than standard size. At the time, to keep the formation double track, it led to the introduction of 'narrow' size coaches about one foot narrower than standard stock. This legacy lasted until electrification in 1986. At that time it was decided to single track the worst affected at Somerhill, Strawberry Hill, and Wadhurst. Mountfield tunnel had been singled in 1975 after a further collapse. At Tunbridge Wells the tunnels at each end of the station had 'slab' based track installed which enabled double track to be maintained. Although not directly involved in the tunnel problems on the line from Tonbridge, if you travel through Bo-peep tunnel on the coastal section you can see the tunnel walls come very close to the side of the train in places with a 30mph restriction imposed through it. This tunnel has had numerous problems with it down the years because of the geology of the ground and water seepage. There was a lengthy closure in the early 1950's to carry out repairs. Hastings services were diverted to Bexhill West while it was shut.The narrow tunnels led to a restriction on the Motive Power used, and as you say this led to the last 11 Cromptons being narrower than the rest.
