An unexpected end to Hastings Diesels tour

HASTINGS Diesels Ltd’s ‘Jolly Fisherman’ railtour was cut short at Tunbridge Wells due to a fire alarm activation in motor coach No. 60116 Mountfield.

The tour on Saturday, June 18, was on the outward journey from Hastings to Skegness when an engine-room fire alarm was triggered, resulting in the activation of the CO2 fire-suppression system within the engine compartment.

This fault meant that the tour was curtailed at Tunbridge Wells and the train returned to Hastings, setting down passengers at their pick-up stations along the way. While no equipment was damaged within Mountfield, HDL was working to establish what caused the fault.

HDL hopes to be able to repeat this tour as soon as possible, but a statement from the company said that this was likely to be next year.

The next scheduled tour is a southeast itinerary taking in Minster, in Kent, and Brighton on August 20.