Farewell old friend! You will always be remembered as the first train to carry me from Newcastle to London, back in 79 when I was a boy of 7. Sporting the same original livery too. This set looks magnificent, as if it had just embarked on its very first journey. You didn't often see them looking so sparkling as this one, a fitting send off, with many a tear shed I'll bet.
Always remember my first HST ride Paddington-Didcot rtn to visit the preservation centre. The best of diesel to see the best of GW steam. Good to see clean burning engines too. What is the RAL colour code for the yellow on the power cars?
Terrible loss . Shame that no one bought the BR intercity brand and kept the livery’s. Good business opportunity lost . Not only have we lost great british iconic trains , we have now had the salt rubbed into our wounds by them being replaced by Japanese trains . Terrible state of affairs
We still have the Class 91 Electra's for now, which are almost as iconic imo, and British built, albeit outsourced to GEC. And Hitachi, although a Japanese owned company, have a manufacturing plant in Newton Aycliffe, so many of the trains on our tracks will continue to be British built. However, the old HST's and Electra's will be hard pushed to be beaten for character and comfort, besides their iconic status.
Sorry to all the class 43-enthusiasts but I must say that I can't wait to see them all either scrapped or preserved for some railway museums. Class 43 to me is a symbol of the single biggest mistake they ever made with British rail: Dieselization. Instead of electrification (at least from 60s onwards) British rail was "dieselized to death". The diesel powered HST was introduced in the early 80s when class 87s were already outperforming every diesel locomotive in Britain with ease (especially on inclines)!!! Class 43 was (and still is) a symbol of stupidity and backwardness and we should all be glad that with more and more lines finally being electrified the embarassing dieselization nightmare gradually comes to an end. 😠
This 'big mistake' and 'symbol of stupidity' as you call it is the most successful diesel train in the world. Since its introduction it reduced journey times by up to an hour in some cases, it introduced a new level of comfort for passengers and was an instant hit with the public and gave them new trust in British Rail. To this very day it retains the world speed record for a diesel train. It's been used as a point of development for other high speed trains around the world. It was originally only intended as a stop gap whilst the APT project was developed but ultimately failed. The HST has been very versatile and out performed most similar trains that have been introduced on the network. That really sounds like a mistake... It's more like one of the best decisions British Rail ever made.
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Farewell old friend! You will always be remembered as the first train to carry me from Newcastle to London, back in 79 when I was a boy of 7. Sporting the same original livery too.
This set looks magnificent, as if it had just embarked on its very first journey. You didn't often see them looking so sparkling as this one, a fitting send off, with many a tear shed I'll bet.
I was there as wellwhen it was there, HSTs have meant so much to me as they were my introduction to trains, such a gorgeous train after so many years
I started at Craigentinny 1986 worked for BR InterCity &ScotRail. Transferred to Waverley from 89&I worked the HSTs to Glasgow QSt,Aberdeen&Newcastle.
Always remember my first HST ride Paddington-Didcot rtn to visit the preservation centre. The best of diesel to see the best of GW steam. Good to see clean burning engines too.
What is the RAL colour code for the yellow on the power cars?
Great footage you got for your video Stuart. I got it at KX. Regards Mike.
Great video so sad to see the HST's to go .
It is not over for them yet... several sets have been refurbished for use in Scotland. Too good to scrap.
iam really hoping that EMR have this complete set after !
Lots more on the system for many years to come. Far from over.
Terrible loss . Shame that no one bought the BR intercity brand and kept the livery’s.
Good business opportunity lost .
Not only have we lost great british iconic trains , we have now had the salt rubbed into our wounds by them being replaced by Japanese trains . Terrible state of affairs
We still have the Class 91 Electra's for now, which are almost as iconic imo, and British built, albeit outsourced to GEC.
And Hitachi, although a Japanese owned company, have a manufacturing plant in Newton Aycliffe, so many of the trains on our tracks will continue to be British built. However, the old HST's and Electra's will be hard pushed to be beaten for character and comfort, besides their iconic status.
Sorry to all the class 43-enthusiasts but I must say that I can't wait to see them all either scrapped or preserved for some railway museums. Class 43 to me is a symbol of the single biggest mistake they ever made with British rail: Dieselization. Instead of electrification (at least from 60s onwards) British rail was "dieselized to death". The diesel powered HST was introduced in the early 80s when class 87s were already outperforming every diesel locomotive in Britain with ease (especially on inclines)!!! Class 43 was (and still is) a symbol of stupidity and backwardness and we should all be glad that with more and more lines finally being electrified the embarassing dieselization nightmare gradually comes to an end. 😠
This 'big mistake' and 'symbol of stupidity' as you call it is the most successful diesel train in the world. Since its introduction it reduced journey times by up to an hour in some cases, it introduced a new level of comfort for passengers and was an instant hit with the public and gave them new trust in British Rail. To this very day it retains the world speed record for a diesel train. It's been used as a point of development for other high speed trains around the world. It was originally only intended as a stop gap whilst the APT project was developed but ultimately failed. The HST has been very versatile and out performed most similar trains that have been introduced on the network. That really sounds like a mistake... It's more like one of the best decisions British Rail ever made.