Atomic Systems

205025, the first thumper in Preservation, arrived at Alton today and moved onto the Mid Hants:

Nearly There...


Official Handover


At Alresford


More photos on my website.

Regards,

James Mayl
(http://www.ukrailpics.com)

nice to see its there, lets just hope they repaint it into a proper colour double quick.

Green please! Nice to see it's arrived safely, back in it's home territory of 2-Hampshire...

According to the guys on the MHR, green is the most likely colour, although an outside chance would also be all over blue...

Regards,

James Mayl
(http://www.ukrailpics.com)

Hi

Is there any chance of it going on the Mainline, or visting other railways using Network rail lines? It would be waste if it didn't, as it has all the latest safety stuff like TPWS and is certified for use on the Mainline.

(Also, do we know where the other thumpers are going yet?)

Chris

Green is dull, every bloody thing gets green.
Blue Grey would be nice.

(Also, do we know where the other thumpers are going yet?)

The HSUPS Thumper is likely to end up on the Swanage Railway or the Lavender Line when restoration is completed.

I think it looks nice in the livery it's already in.

Small question? Isn't it 3rd rail electrified? How's it gonna run off the mainline?

SlinkyWizard wrote:205025, the first thumper in Preservation, arrived at Alton today and moved onto the Mid Hants:


James Mayl
(http://www.ukrailpics.com)

Technically its the second one the first one is 1001 which is doing a small job for southern on the Ashord Hastings line til the 170's are passed out.

qzdcg8 wrote:Small question? Isn't it 3rd rail electrified? How's it gonna run off the mainline?

Its a Diesal Electric, meaning that half a coach houses the engine.

I argree with Buffy, Green is dull, Blue Grey or Network Southeast or even Jaffa cake.

Christopher125 wrote: (Also, do we know where the other thumpers are going yet?)

All are going to Preservation. Well two have had thier motors blown up and Selhurst wont fix them.

my vote goes to all over blue, everything on that railway is green... (except the odd coach)

Though that does suggest they have a lot of green paint!

The Porterbrook offer to sell off the Thumpers at nominal cost (£10 has been mentioned) may seem like a good deal, but it is not as easy as that. Firstly, Porterbrook is only allowed to sell stock to railways and not to specialist preservation groups. Secondly, these are old units that have been in service for a long time, and they have blue asbestos in them.

Heritage railways may be able to give them a quick lick of paint and get a couple of years use out of them, but I don't think they will be their number one priority when the time comes to overhaul them.

On the other hand, the units currently undergoing restoration by the likes of HSUPS and HDL were in better condition when they were withdrawn, and have been completely stripped down and rebuilt. Once this work has been completed, they will have a long future guaranteed. However, if every preserved railway already has a number of old cut-price Thumpers taking up valuable siding space, finding somewhere to run them might be a problem.

http://www.hsups.org.uk/

http://www.hastingsdiesels.co.uk/

I've heard many prices, £1 per loco / coach is the main one.

The BEP we have at the EKR I think was £50 per coach I think.