23/12/1994 the 2-HAP finale. 4309 at Tonbridge.
The last remaining pool of five 90mph 2-car 2-HAP units were used to strengthen rush hour services between Tunbridge Wells and London Charing Cross and only worked a few peak hour trains. This need was driven by the fact Tunbridge Wells Central station is sandwiched between tunnels either end and the longest train that can be reversed was 10-cars so the 2-HAP's were generally attached to 2x4-VEP's to make up a high density 10-car formation, plus their first class compartments provided a bit of extra capacity as the route has always been renown for its well healed clientele.
The five remaining units were slated for withdrawal on 15th January 1995 but this was hastily brought forward at short notice to 23rd December 1994 as by that date only 3 units were serviceable and one of them was stopped at Ashford on the morning of the last day leaving just 2 sets 4308 and 4309 to complete their diagrams on the last day.
4309 is seen here in Tonbridge Down Main Carriage Sidings waiting to run ECS into the station to work the final single 2-car train formed of a 2-HAP namely 2E50 the 17.25 Tonbridge to Tunbridge Wells which would then attach to the 17.14 Hastings to Charing Cross for the 19.10 Charing Cross to Hastings and Ashford. On this date being the final evening the 2-HAP didn't run through to Hastings as booked attached to a 4-VEP after the split at Tonbridge where the Hastings and Ashford portions part company and was instead detached leaving the Hastings train as single 4-VEP. It was then coupled to 4308 and failed 4311 to run special ECS to Ashford Yard for formal withdrawal and transfer to Ramsgate for component recovery.
23/12/1994 the 2-HAP finale. 4309 at Tonbridge.
The last remaining pool of five 90mph 2-car 2-HAP units were used to strengthen rush hour services between Tunbridge Wells and London Charing Cross and only worked a few peak hour trains. This need was driven by the fact Tunbridge Wells Central station is sandwiched between tunnels either end and the longest train that can be reversed was 10-cars so the 2-HAP's were generally attached to 2x4-VEP's to make up a high density 10-car formation, plus their first class compartments provided a bit of extra capacity as the route has always been renown for its well healed clientele.
The five remaining units were slated for withdrawal on 15th January 1995 but this was hastily brought forward at short notice to 23rd December 1994 as by that date only 3 units were serviceable and one of them was stopped at Ashford on the morning of the last day leaving just 2 sets 4308 and 4309 to complete their diagrams on the last day.
4309 is seen here in Tonbridge Down Main Carriage Sidings waiting to run ECS into the station to work the final single 2-car train formed of a 2-HAP namely 2E50 the 17.25 Tonbridge to Tunbridge Wells which would then attach to the 17.14 Hastings to Charing Cross for the 19.10 Charing Cross to Hastings and Ashford. On this date being the final evening the 2-HAP didn't run through to Hastings as booked attached to a 4-VEP after the split at Tonbridge where the Hastings and Ashford portions part company and was instead detached leaving the Hastings train as single 4-VEP. It was then coupled to 4308 and failed 4311 to run special ECS to Ashford Yard for formal withdrawal and transfer to Ramsgate for component recovery.