R G NOW.
Member
Should've put his foot down then it would've been deadstock!
Just think if the driver had done that, We could of had dead passengers and a written off train as well.!!
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Remaining GWR HST Diagrams
- Thread starter cactustwirly
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Just think if the driver had done that, We could of had dead passengers and a written off train as well.!!
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R
RailUK Forums
A huge thanks to everyone who's posted the diagrams, wouldn't have been able to enjoy the western nearly as much as I have in recent months if it wasn't for you guys.
Just got home from a very pleasant last day enjoying what I've enjoyed since my first HST into Paddington back in 2007. 12 years and 448 HST moves in or out of Paddington later and it comes to a close and I'm very pleased I was able to get out on the final day, including being on the final Bristol-Paddington (and final one into Paddington) for the whole journey.
As some people are sharing photos here are some of mine from today (and I've got many, many more where they came from).
Just got home from a very pleasant last day enjoying what I've enjoyed since my first HST into Paddington back in 2007. 12 years and 448 HST moves in or out of Paddington later and it comes to a close and I'm very pleased I was able to get out on the final day, including being on the final Bristol-Paddington (and final one into Paddington) for the whole journey.
As some people are sharing photos here are some of mine from today (and I've got many, many more where they came from).
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R G NOW.
Member
I remember travelling on the first HST in 1976, when I was 12. Was wonderful, That really was (The age of the train) and brought British Rail a lot more passengers.
judethegreat
Member
- Joined
- 21 Mar 2011
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- 157
Am within earshot across fields of Reading station, and heard the rather solemn horn blast, then acceleration, of the last departure for Padd. Then saw the last ones go west.
I don't think there'd be as much sorrow - or searching for other uses for the 'resting' ones - if the replacements were as good (in every way..).
I don't think there'd be as much sorrow - or searching for other uses for the 'resting' ones - if the replacements were as good (in every way..).
irish_rail
Established Member
Easily the best train i have ever driven and ever will for that matter. A real credit to it's designers. Will really miss them... 
cactustwirly
Established Member
I grew up alongside the GWML, hearing the scream of the Valenta, and later MTUs from my Garden.
It's going to be so different without the HSTs.
I've had loads of great memories of the HSTs over the years, so I'm actually quite sad they're gone.
I'd like to thank @FGW_DID and everyone else that has contributed to this thread.
It's going to be so different without the HSTs.
I've had loads of great memories of the HSTs over the years, so I'm actually quite sad they're gone.
I'd like to thank @FGW_DID and everyone else that has contributed to this thread.
judethegreat
Member
- Joined
- 21 Mar 2011
- Messages
- 157
My first ride was Wakefield to Kings Cross.
At folks for Christmas. Always went by car but this time I stayed up longer and Grandma brought me back on one of the 'brand new trains'. Wasn't yet into trains but remember vividly it being a mk3. A loco with a nose (37 or 40) went through Wakey while we were waiting.. Was always sad it hadn't happened a year earlier so I could've had a Deltic..
First western run would've been Padd-Swindon in '85 for the GWR150th anniversary open event at the works. However we and another family got there to find out they'd just announced the closure of the works and the event was cancelled... Had the museum and a bit of the town instead..
At folks for Christmas. Always went by car but this time I stayed up longer and Grandma brought me back on one of the 'brand new trains'. Wasn't yet into trains but remember vividly it being a mk3. A loco with a nose (37 or 40) went through Wakey while we were waiting.. Was always sad it hadn't happened a year earlier so I could've had a Deltic..
First western run would've been Padd-Swindon in '85 for the GWR150th anniversary open event at the works. However we and another family got there to find out they'd just announced the closure of the works and the event was cancelled... Had the museum and a bit of the town instead..
F Great Eastern
Established Member
Last Arrival into Exeter Streaming now
F Great Eastern
Established Member
Some major horn blowing and tunes being played on the horn as it left Exeter, went out in style.
rdlover777
Member
welp, today is the end of an era for GWML and the rail network
I recall seeing my first HST around 1980 in Cornwall and was rather annoyed that they were ousting my favourite class 50’s from long distance workings to the Duchy.
Since then they have become a bit of a favourite in the last ten years or so.
I wasn’t around to see the farewell this weekend however after over 30 years working on the railway I saw the last full size one pass my workplace on Wednesday evening.
Although I will still see 2+4 sets on a regular basis it won’t be the same. I didn’t see the final days of the Deltic's or Westerns but the memories of the noise and smoke from a Paxman Valenta haven’t faded too much.
Credit to the designers and engineers who got the Inter City 125 from the drawing board to reality, who would have thought it would have lasted so long.
Since then they have become a bit of a favourite in the last ten years or so.
I wasn’t around to see the farewell this weekend however after over 30 years working on the railway I saw the last full size one pass my workplace on Wednesday evening.
Although I will still see 2+4 sets on a regular basis it won’t be the same. I didn’t see the final days of the Deltic's or Westerns but the memories of the noise and smoke from a Paxman Valenta haven’t faded too much.
Credit to the designers and engineers who got the Inter City 125 from the drawing board to reality, who would have thought it would have lasted so long.
Harbornite
Established Member
- Joined
- 7 May 2016
- Messages
- 3,634
That’s that then. It was good while it lasted!
Railperf
Established Member
- Joined
- 30 Oct 2017
- Messages
- 2,941
The short 2+4 sets are surprisingly good especially as they accelerate with the alacrity of a modern EMU..but it is a shame they seem to be limited to 100mph - especially as the Taunton - Bristol route is reasonably straight for much of its length. But before someone says it, I guess it was too expensive to upgrade for a few minutes time savings!
Who would have thought HSTs would end up probably the best and most successful Intercity train in the world?
Thanks to all that I saw out there today, and to everybody who's posted here over the past four or five months, it's been a blast keeping track of the final days of HST's and today was an even better send-off than I expected! Being in 1st class on the 18:30, bumping into Geoff Marshall and some other famous faces, doing some interesting movements at Bath and Bristol, all excellent!
Railperf
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- 30 Oct 2017
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- 2,941
Yup...on the Western region. Now the countdown to LNER 125 withdrawal followed by who ever is next to replace their fleet out of Cross Country and East Midlands Trains. We know Hull Trains plan to replace their 180s and probably leased-in HSTs by December.
nat67
Established Member
GWR are retaining HSTs for Taunton-Cardiff and Penzance-Exeter services.
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Mitchell Hurd
On Moderation
- Joined
- 28 Oct 2017
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- 1,646
Tonight I was on the 18:15 from Paddington to Didcot Parkway which left virtually on time and got to Didcot Parkway at 18:54!
Going down I somehow caught one on the slightly late 11:46 vice the 12:24 9-car IET!
Going down I somehow caught one on the slightly late 11:46 vice the 12:24 9-car IET!
That was me and my dog Finn being 'interviewed' in that video.
Finn was the last dog to ride a GWR full size HST in passenger service. We took the 1830 to Taunton. He received lots of attention and even got to meet Sir Kenneth Grange!
One last fantastic journey, on the 18.22 as far as Worcester. Thanks again to everyone who's been posting on this thread helping us catch the last HSTs. It was rather emotional to be actually living out what I'd dreamed up many months earlier in my 'Requiem to the Intercity 125':
...From Paddington to Hereford,
Into the setting sun,
The friendly train went rocking
On his final Cotswolds run,
From Oxford, Hanborough, Charlbury,
Kingham and the Marsh,
He hurtled straight past Honeybourne
To Evesham; Pershore passed,
And whistled into Worcester,
Where I bade my friend goodbye,
Meandering to Malvern,
Thence to terminate – and die.
Oh, what happy memories forged
When you were still alive!
Oh please come back, bear your proud plaque,
‘Beloved 1-2-5’!
The whole thing is attached for those interested. Farewell 125!
...From Paddington to Hereford,
Into the setting sun,
The friendly train went rocking
On his final Cotswolds run,
From Oxford, Hanborough, Charlbury,
Kingham and the Marsh,
He hurtled straight past Honeybourne
To Evesham; Pershore passed,
And whistled into Worcester,
Where I bade my friend goodbye,
Meandering to Malvern,
Thence to terminate – and die.
Oh, what happy memories forged
When you were still alive!
Oh please come back, bear your proud plaque,
‘Beloved 1-2-5’!
The whole thing is attached for those interested. Farewell 125!
May I ask, does anyone here have, or knows anyone who may have, a video of the last HST leaving Oxford on the service to Hereford last night? I was on that service, poking my head out of the window (as the train left - never had my head poking out of a moving train before!) and hearing the horn and seeing the people on the platform all standing there just because it was a HST was quite something. I'd love to see a video of that moment.
-Peter
-Peter
37254
Member
I have a video of the last leaving Reading with a whopping 25 tones! Rock around the clock and a 3 tone. What a Legend.
43096
On Moderation
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- 23 Nov 2015
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- 15,268
How long before they are short of an IEP at Plymouth one morning and Laira kick out a 2+4 set on a Paddington train?
Will HSS drivers continue to sign HSTs?
As an aside, is there any technical reason why they couldn't knock together a scratch 2+8 sliding door set?
I managed to get to Tiverton Parkway to see the last HST arrive and depart, only a couple of people filming etc on the platform, and the train was relatively quiet by then, was nice to see the last GWR London HST, took some video and photos on my IPhone, down here we still got the XC HST’s, Castle sets, the ECML for bit longer will have HST’s, MML still have them, Scot Rail just starting to get them, I think in some form or other, wether service or charter trains, the old venerable HST will be around for a good 10 years or more, by which time they will they will be in their 50’s, and could well see their 60’s, which is fitting tribute to the design and build quality of the good old HST, a truly World Class Train, which cant be said for any of our modern stuff.
F Great Eastern
Established Member
Seems ridicolous we are saying goodbye to a train with such a modern interior really. Hard to believe that many carriages will be sitting idle whilst all over Europe and UK many passenger coaches barely touched for decades soldier on.
In regular service yes, the full-length 2+8 sets are gone. The Farewell Railtour (Flying Banana) I assume will be a 2+8 set and will be passing through Gloucester on 1st June though I believe so one last chance to see one if you're in that area.
Do the 2+4 sets have ATP? Are they being maintained for 125mph capability? It's a nice thought but I can't see it happening somehow!
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