The class 43/HST - the best train ever to run on British Railways. You can keep your italian built pendilino's, your voyagers and your faceless emu's....the 125 looks awesome, sounds frightening and goes like stink!. The HST got me interested in trains at the age of 3 in 1980 and I have loved them ever since. I will miss them when they are gone! They are iconic and deserve to be here for many more years! God love 'em!
Takes me back...first went on the 125 from Doncaster down to London in 1987, aged 6...I still recall the bright yellow carriage vestibules, the three diagonal lines of decoration on each side of the end of the carriage interior, and the high-pitched roar of the power car as it moves off.
Thanks for taking me back in time. I traveled on the four power cars that had the Mirrlees MB190 engines fitted. I spent many months traveling with them. I designed the engine control system so i was keeping an eye on them for any signs of problems.
It's the noise ... Reminds me of childhood trips to Bath, Bristol and Southampton. The noise of the engine was painful, but there was something exciting about it. And the smell of the exhaust fumes! Fond memories.
40 years these fine machines have been in service.40 YEARS! Just like the Class 91/InterCity 225 (over 25 years in service) they have aged extremely well.They still look modern, even when compared to Voyagers and Pendolinos, thanks to Kenneth Grange's redesign of the ugly (but still awesome!) prototype.The new lights on their noses and fancy liveries hide their vintage, the only giveaway of their age really are the "slam doors" of their coaches (which add to their charm)Sadly their singing voices are not as great since they had their Valentas replaced, but hey, at least they're still going strong!Considering they were only designed as a temporary stop gap for the APT just goes to show how GREAT British engineering was back in the day.Its sad that eventually they will be replaced, but hopefully the "InterCity-125/HST" will be remembered and cherished the way steam engines are.
Ah...childhood memories here, I can remember when I was a small boy, going to Darlington station and seeing HSTs in this livery SCREAMING out of the station.
Great video, Love the one pulling out of Sheffield at the end! Reminds me when I got smoked out by an HST at Newcastle station mid 80's standing on a footbridge! Top video, well done!
125 Group have secured a Valenta engine for preservation or are working to do so. Eventually though, no HSTs will be running on the main line with Valentas (perhaps the year 2010?). This doesn't mean the Valenta is dead; the engine will be stored until the HSTs are taken out of service for good, and some are saved for preservation. If you go on East Midlands Trains, they've still replaced the engines, but the new engines still carry quite a few characteristics from the Valentas.
Thanks for posting this great Video, 5 stars!!! Strangely I kind of liked the filthy black soot all over the roof and down the front of some of them, and I have no idea why???
Born, way back when, I have experienced the age of steam, diesel and electric - British Rail and everything since! However, I never had the privilege of travelling by HST 125 - coming to appreciate its merits later in life, I have been an avid collector of all things Hornby 00 HST 125. I notice in this video, power cars 43084 and 43067 were fully shod with buffers. Were they removed in privatisation, did one go to Network Rail or Grand Central perhaps? Maybe, some kind person out there can save me some time and effort and enlighten me - I would be immensely grateful. Thank you for the video and kindest regards. Bill
All buffer fitted power cars are still around. 013/014 are with Network rail, 067/068/080/084/123 are with Grand central and are now renumbered by adding 400 to the original number. So 43123 is now 43423.
New South Wales XPT still uses a Paxman Diesel engine in it's power cars - originally the Valenta later changed to VP185. The VP185 sounds good but the Valenta turbo scream has gone. Paxman is now a subsidiary of MAN AG of Germany.
what happened to these beautiful trains; dirty, smoky, evil and LOUD! damn. now replaced with sterile, boring and perfectly efficient things. remember when Paddington used to just reek of the fumes from these! thanks for posting, terrific clips.
Are Valentas being totally scrapped? That will be a sad day as I love this noise, sends shivers don the spine. The MTUs just give a horrible drone: The Greenie fin police again I suppose....
I always had to cover my ears whenever one was leaving York station (but only if I was on the same platform) - it was so loud that it could cause damage to a child's ears if kept up for long enough.
The last ever Valenta Powered HST is on its way to Loughborough now to be fitted with either an MTU or VP185 engine :-( gone are the days of the real HST's
It's quite surprising to see how fast the train goes into King's Cross in this video. Nowadays I don't think this would happen - there's TPWS protection and drivers are not allowed to approach buffer stops this fast!
I think that they should take two of the buffer fitted power cars, give them a rake of stock between them and paint the lot in Blue Pullman colours. Would make more sense than a pair of 47's.
Because all of the power cars are being nabbed back after TOCs have realised that their new fleets such as Voyagers are not enough to cope with growing demand!
The class 43/HST - the best train ever to run on British Railways. You can keep your italian built pendilino's, your voyagers and your faceless emu's....the 125 looks awesome, sounds frightening and goes like stink!. The HST got me interested in trains at the age of 3 in 1980 and I have loved them ever since. I will miss them when they are gone! They are iconic and deserve to be here for many more years! God love 'em!
Remember when they first came out in 1976i was 15 they looked so modern compare to the inter city Deltics
Love the ROAR of those HST's when they had 'proper' engine in them! Reminds me of being 12 again! Thanks.
DaveClass47 yes same. Huge chunk of me was ripped out when mtu went in. :(
Something very special about the 125 - thanks for sharing this video.
Takes me back...first went on the 125 from Doncaster down to London in 1987, aged 6...I still recall the bright yellow carriage vestibules, the three diagonal lines of decoration on each side of the end of the carriage interior, and the high-pitched roar of the power car as it moves off.
I remember that it was blue at the ends when they first came out
Thanks for taking me back in time. I traveled on the four power cars that had the Mirrlees MB190 engines fitted. I spent many months traveling with them. I designed the engine control system so i was keeping an eye on them for any signs of problems.
It's the noise ... Reminds me of childhood trips to Bath, Bristol and Southampton. The noise of the engine was painful, but there was something exciting about it. And the smell of the exhaust fumes! Fond memories.
I love the valenta scream. it felt amazing hearing it, unfortunately we can't have the brilliant sound anymore. The IC125 still is my favorite train.
40 years these fine machines have been in service.40 YEARS! Just like the Class 91/InterCity 225 (over 25 years in service) they have aged extremely well.They still look modern, even when compared to Voyagers and Pendolinos, thanks to Kenneth Grange's redesign of the ugly (but still awesome!) prototype.The new lights on their noses and fancy liveries hide their vintage, the only giveaway of their age really are the "slam doors" of their coaches (which add to their charm)Sadly their singing voices are not as great since they had their Valentas replaced, but hey, at least they're still going strong!Considering they were only designed as a temporary stop gap for the APT just goes to show how GREAT British engineering was back in the day.Its sad that eventually they will be replaced, but hopefully the "InterCity-125/HST" will be remembered and cherished the way steam engines are.
Ash 928 Dennis dart hst series were here for 9 years. I hate the original hst I mean paxman valenta
I came across your work today after uploading my own work taken around this period. Yours is far superior so thanks for sharing...5*
Cool vid.
That Valenta scream will remain with me forever.
Awesome! HST's how they are meant to be, thanks for sharing this footage for those of us that never got to see the HST's in their prime.
Ah...childhood memories here, I can remember when I was a small boy, going to Darlington station and seeing HSTs in this livery SCREAMING out of the station.
Great video, Love the one pulling out of Sheffield at the end! Reminds me when I got smoked out by an HST at Newcastle station mid 80's standing on a footbridge! Top video, well done!
Very beautifull passenger train. One of my favorites
One of my best high speed trains been on one with my mum dad to london york
i used to love these colours though when the went through station at full pelt they frightened me to death when i was a kid! lol
Scream for me baby!!! Brought tears to my eyes....
125 Group have secured a Valenta engine for preservation or are working to do so.
Eventually though, no HSTs will be running on the main line with Valentas (perhaps the year 2010?). This doesn't mean the Valenta is dead; the engine will be stored until the HSTs are taken out of service for good, and some are saved for preservation.
If you go on East Midlands Trains, they've still replaced the engines, but the new engines still carry quite a few characteristics from the Valentas.
I used to love the scream of that engine.
Thanks for posting this great Video, 5 stars!!!
Strangely I kind of liked the filthy black soot all over the roof and down the front of some of them, and I have no idea why???
Born, way back when, I have experienced the age of steam, diesel and electric - British Rail and everything since! However, I never had the privilege of travelling by HST 125 - coming to appreciate its merits later in life, I have been an avid collector of all things Hornby 00 HST 125. I notice in this video, power cars 43084 and 43067 were fully shod with buffers. Were they removed in privatisation, did one go to Network Rail or Grand Central perhaps? Maybe, some kind person out there can save me some time and effort and enlighten me - I would be immensely grateful. Thank you for the video and kindest regards. Bill
All buffer fitted power cars are still around. 013/014 are with Network rail, 067/068/080/084/123 are with Grand central and are now renumbered by adding 400 to the original number. So 43123 is now 43423.
Hi, Alex. Many thanks for your informative reply and putting me on the right tracks, so to speak. Kindest regards, Bill.
I'm loving the clag coming out of 43 067 at Sheffield. Great vid liked + faved :)
These were the days. Valenta through and through none of this MTU rubbish!!
That,s was how it is meant to be, not MTU
Like Concorde with out it noise not the same
God how I miss that lovely noise!
Interesting how many of these 43's have buffers....I can't remember the last time I saw one like that!
Some did some did not i refer them with out buffers they look more sleek
New South Wales XPT still uses a Paxman Diesel engine in it's power cars - originally the Valenta later changed to VP185. The VP185 sounds good but the Valenta turbo scream has gone. Paxman is now a subsidiary of MAN AG of Germany.
Beautiful machines.
what happened to these beautiful trains; dirty, smoky, evil and LOUD! damn. now replaced with sterile, boring and perfectly efficient things. remember when Paddington used to just reek of the fumes from these!
thanks for posting, terrific clips.
My god Peterborough hasnt actually changed in any way, shape or form since 1970's. thats crazy
You are of course right, there were W.C.M.L. diversions at the time I photographed at Blackburn.
does anyone know what happened to the ones with Mirlees engines
Are Valentas being totally scrapped? That will be a sad day as I love this noise, sends shivers don the spine. The MTUs just give a horrible drone: The Greenie fin police again I suppose....
I always had to cover my ears whenever one was leaving York station (but only if I was on the same platform) - it was so loud that it could cause damage to a child's ears if kept up for long enough.
there was an earey silence an 2.20 failed rear powercar i presume
I miss that sound soo much
pause at 7.00 exactly CLAG! and the buffer fitted HSTs are the best and all the buffer fitted ones are now owned by GC
That's good news but I'm sorry the MTU doesn't sound anything like the Valenta. They just drone and the turbo whistle has been virtually eradicated.
The last ever Valenta Powered HST is on its way to Loughborough now to be fitted with either an MTU or VP185 engine :-( gone are the days of the real HST's
It's quite surprising to see how fast the train goes into King's Cross in this video. Nowadays I don't think this would happen - there's TPWS protection and drivers are not allowed to approach buffer stops this fast!
There is a speed limit in the tunnel approaching Kings Cross of about 20 mph.
I think only East Midlands, Grand Central and Midland Mainline? have Valentas left.
I think buffers can be fitted to all units.
Some fantastic, ahem, music here.
Best train ever!
I think the valenta engines got retired because they were too loud or sounded too much like a jet, idk
I've got to say it, HST's just look WRONG with buffers!
I think that they should take two of the buffer fitted power cars, give them a rake of stock between them and paint the lot in Blue Pullman colours. Would make more sense than a pair of 47's.
Wow what a premonition, have you seen the blue HST Pullman?
had 43058 been in a slam of some kind or just had some paint stripper washed on it?
I thought the buffered PC's ran without there engines on, like DVT's.
Dennis dart updated hst series did not made in the 1990s They were made in 2009 or 10
back when HST was loud and proud
Because all of the power cars are being nabbed back after TOCs have realised that their new fleets such as Voyagers are not enough to cope with growing demand!
engine not of hst seems to have changed now
Yeah these hst was so loud the proper intercity
where would the blackburn hst be coming from and going to?
Actually the vp185 scream aswell just like the val
southeastern failways was to extend the HST lives so they could reach 40 years. Most economical option available :)
the sound is exactly the same as the french cc72000 diesel famous locomotive
@justtakeiteasy yes they are
Wow that hst is so dirty dude clean that up mate
They might of got new engines but at least there is a new lease of life in these beauties. They could of scrapped and gone for total change.
adam9k9 agreed. The MTU engines are quiet(er) but at least the train could keep going as long as it has :D
Why did most of the companies went for Mtu crap they should have went for vp185
wow a great idea if only
kind of like the truck from duel
First is at derby right?
Yes.
@HSTHoward fu*k thats good
Praise the lord! It's a steam train
This is the livery I remember. It's classic I far prefer it to the earlier design and Virgin and FGW liveries.
lrochfort this is the livery that reminds me of being a kid
Diesel pendolino looking train
Diesel engines uses lots of fuel when they need to ride in non stop ride its minimal usage
Galaxy 5 the fact you describe it as 'pendelino looking train' automatically invalidates everything else you have to say.