As seems to be tradition at this point, the first tour of the year in the London area was operated by Hastings Diesels Limited from their home in Hastings.
The tour started in Hastings and headed into London to New Cross for the first reversal in order to head down to Hayes.
The tour stopped for a few minutes in Hither Green to allow a service train to pass infront and this was the first place that I photographed the tour.
After reversing at New Cross the tour passed Lewisham on the way to Hayes rather than using the slightly more direct route that avoids Lewisham.
While the tour was down at Hayes, I made my way up to London Blackfriars where the tour reversed for the third time on the journey to Guildford.
This was one of the places that I did not make it to on UKRailtours "The Baker's Dozen" tour last year to 13 London terminals with 1001.
Something I've never seen before is the departure board showing the Hastings Diesels name alongside the "Charter Train" destination and calling points.
Given this was not a passenger set down/pick up location, the departure board is a little bit redundant but it was nice to see the Hastings Diesel name at the bottom.
The tour waited in the platform for the planned departure time to head though London Bridge to East Croydon and Redhill before joining the Surrey Hills line to Guildford.
As a result of engineering works and a landslide on the line between Guildford and Portsmouth, South Western Railway services between Waterloo and Guildford were disrupted so I did not make it to Guildford for 1001's arrival at 14:02.
1001 was stabled in platform 6 and 7, the single line with two platform edges, allowing for a close up view of both sides of the unit.
This tour featured three motor coaches with the addition of 60116 "Mountfield" double heading with 60119 on one end, and 60118 "Tunbridge Wells" on the other. As a result of the double heading, 60116 "Mountfield" was not in passenger use and was there to provide more traction power.
As Guildford was the destination of the tour the unit remained in the platform until departure at 16:50 as 1Z63 Guildford to Hastings. I didn't stay until then as the sun was begining to set, it was darkness by 1001's departure time, and to avoid getting stuck in the disruption.
