Channel Tunnel Rolling Stock as envisioned in the 1980s

[StephenHunter]

When the decision to build the Channel Tunnel happened, what should of rolling stock was BR thinking of running through it? Was it always planned to be a TGV-TMST for the 'Eurostar' service?

 

[Bald Rick]

When the decision to build the Channel Tunnel happened, what should of rolling stock was BR thinking of running through it? Was it always planned to be a TGV-TMST for the 'Eurostar' service?

More or less, yes. From memory the plan was for a long train, with a power car either end, that could operate on the LGVs in France. I seem to remember that 2 x Class 91s with rakes of MkIVs was at least suggested, but the Cl 91 axle load would, to quote Roger Ford, “make the SNCF track engineers wince”

 

[4SubAsociation]

Not sure if this is the right answer but may help.

The Euro Tunnel Exhibition that was at Folkestone had a layout (parts of which survive at the Elham Valley Railway Musuem).

From looking at old footage (links below) this is what i could see

British Rail Class 91's hauling the car/truck carraiges
Freight train based on the Class 89 "Badger"
Loco hauled German stock
Shunting loco was interesting as the one on the layout is broadly similar to what they ended up getiing (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurotunnel_Class_0001)

Attached is a photo of the display cabinet at Elham with some of the stock used on the layout.

 

[Sad Sprinter]

IanVists recently did a post about the 1970s proposals and seemed to suggest APTs would have run the route from White City to Paris.

This tweet: https://twitter.com/EurostarJustinp/status/1069513900100599808 showing a graphic of Waterloo as envisioned in 1988, clearly shows class 373s - next to class 50s for some reason!