Right, let's lay down the 4-1-1 on the subject of HSTs and my personal fanship of them:
First of all, I will say that I have sampled a lot of classes of locos, these being 31s, 37s, 47s, 57s, 87s, 90s and 91s. These being ones I've ridden with. HSTs of course I've ridden with so many times I've honestly lost count. Of course, I've seen the delights of things such as 52s, 56s, 60s, 66s (delight, 66, maybe not), etc. Out of all those, my favourite rests with 37s after HSTs. 60s being my favourite freight locos of course.
Now we've established I'm not a 100% HST nut (if there's rare loco haulage, I'll always try to do it), let's also lay down the fact that I would NOT do things such as kissing 43s, etc. That's just stupid. There's a line between being a die-hard HST fan and being a plonker. I'm on the fan side of it thankfully.
At this point, I'd also like to say that while I'll go anywhere on a HST, I'd also choose loco haulage if it meant not getting a bog unit. However, this choice was not taken up on Saturday when it should have been, but hey, too late. Stupid buggers causing the fatality, made me miss the 57s to Paignton.
It is well known that HSTs are fairly common. Heck, even I get a LITTLE tired of HSTs if I'm spending a long time at Reading. Once you've seen them all, and nearly all the carriage stock as well...Currently trying to ride in each carriage and behind each 43 on the HSTs. That's how much I ride HSTs, to the extent I can say I've ridden in around 55 different FGW HST carriages and ridden behind something like 57 FGW 43s!
It should be noted too that, like all stock withdrawals, it will get followed a lot before the end. 37s and 47s are the current ones diesel-wise to be chased, as are 31s to an extent. 86s and 87s, even some 90s, too. Of course, this will continue with the HSTs. 10 years from now, I'd wager most people here will start chasing HSTs as much as possible. As a HST fan, I'm already racking up mileage by the truckload for each 43. Bit difficult to do with the MML and GNER ones, but I'm slowly getting there. I'll have done thousands behind most of them before the die-hard fans of other locos start chasing the HSTs.
One thing about HSTs for me is that they always resemble a trip worth taking. A bog unit does not resemble that. Those instead resemble a trip you have to make, like it or not. HSTs stand proud in the platforms here, whereas you've got the bog units hiding at the back. If we had daily 37s or 47s out of Swansea to, say, Milford Haven, you can be sure I'd want to do those as well. The sound of a 37 at Swansea, mmm.
Which leads me onto my next point. The sounds. HSTs are famous for their sounds. The scream and throb of a HST passing through Didcot Parkway is hard to beat. Indeed, a nice, moderate bit of clag from a 43 from a standing start is always nice. You HAD to be there to sample the clag from 43003 late-ish last year on the 0328, THE best clag I've seen from a 43 ever. Seriously!
Next, to answer Simming's 5-question post:
1) As I don't like bands much at all, I'd go for the 1805 TBH. Go somewhere more fun. Take it to, say, Reading for a spot of number crunching then off to the pub (or go further and have a Strongbow on the way - alcohol and HSTs, THE combination to have at DP! That gives me an idea for 2006...)
2) The answer is obvious...Take the girl upstairs! Do a bit of different riding...
3) You mean a prossy? Would have to turn her down TBH.
4) Tough choice. If I were driving the other end, or going to work, it would HAVE to be the HST, it would be too tempting otherwise. That said, you'd probably have drunks on the bog unit too, what with the free beer. If not working or driving at the other end, it would PROBABLY be the bog unit in that case. If a long trip (60 minutes or more), it would be the HST.
5) Again, the choice is obvious. The bog unit would have to be taken on that occasion! Would have to ensure my camera was out...!
Bit of a tie there really. HST wins in some cases, others not so.
Anyway, let's make another point before I dash off for some sleep and some pleasant memories from the FoSW:
HSTs are great. So are locos. However, my die-hard fanship of HSTs would never take me to saying HSTs are sexy (Nick, btw, that linked pic was sexy. Not sure which one I'd go for, blonde probably
) or kissing the 43s, or anything. Photting them, yes. Videoing, yes. Calling a HST a beast (which I do a fair bit), maybe (this being when the clag and sound is beyond belief mainly). Calling a HST 'her' or 'she', no.
So my point basically is my HST fanship will never die as such. Once I've seen everything and done all the lines in the UK, though, I'll concentrate on the rest of life. I'll still keeping my 2005 book, notes, maps, etc, but these would be put into storage. I'd still stay on the forums, etc, just not as much, enough to keep up to date though. However, locos will never beat HSTs for me. I could never turn around and convert to a 37 fan, as much as I like them.
That's my piece from me for now. I'm off for some well-needed sleep before heading back to work.
hock: 
