Paxman Valenta HST in stereo

A Paxman Valenta-powered High Speed Train arrives and departs from Bath in 1993. This is just one of many hundreds of shots stored in Video 125's archive. Enjoy the iconic sound of an original HST in stereo. Copyright Video 125 Ltd.

[@Pete4000uk]

That sound is now up there with the best sounds in railway history

[@loveparade4824]

I suggest that the sound was recorded separately from video, to an external high-quality microphones.

[@bigduphusaj162]

@@loveparade4824 this is how these sounded mate

[@adammoss5284]

Stuff of engineering legend 👍🏻

[@still_guns]

This footage looks so crisp and clear, that it looks like it was shot yesterday

[@loveparade4824]

Probably shoot on a professional camera. Betacam, Umatic, SVHS or HI8. Great sound quality! Definitely the best quality of a Valenta sound on KZbin.

[@lewis72]

I've listened to this a few times through my hifi, which has a rather large set of TDL RTL3 speakers. You can feel the sound in your chest and on the floor, which is just what you experienced standing next to the things !

[@zogworth]

Joy of ripping straight from source rather than a VHS!

[@PaulReed]

Terms like "iconic" and "legendary" are thrown around lot but in this case it's earned both statuses. That roar power ramping up is fantastic.

[@geosword6]

Watching this with headphones on and it's like being in a timewarp. I want to go back.

[@pss1967]

Paxman Valenta powered HST. The first time I heard one stood next to a railway line near Sharnbrook, I looked skywards cos I thought it was a helicopter before it shot past me at speed at track level of course......... Once heard, never forgotten.

[@DeanPark]

I watched and listened to this video whilst model making using superglue....I was so absorbed in the sound I forgot what I was doing and glued my fingers to my brass etched model!! AWESOME sounds! Love that livery on the HST as well, its best livery by a mile!

[@peaps]

Simply phenomenal sounds. Taken much for granted at the time. How times change.

[@danielsnell9053]

And to think I used to be terrified by how loud these things were when I was little

[@STOP_red_light]

Same here, I remember them on the ECML screaming through Stevenage and Hitchin whilst I was waiting for a local train. There was all the violence of a non-stop train hammering through the station allied with that banshee scream.

[@NorthWestElectrics]

I’m still scared of how loud 37s are when they thrash lol

[@anthonyglee1710]

Me too, as a kid they were fascinating but really scary. My Dad told me they were powered by jet engines which was obviously stretching the truth.

[@coopertrooper87]

Ha ha ditto! Used to blow my 6 year old mind!…….. and ear drums! 😬😬😬

[@samanli-tw3id]

@@anthonyglee1710 the jet sound is actually the turbocharger otherwise your average diesel electric engine

[@lewis72]

I was at Reading Uni '91 - '95 and would regularly get a 125 from Paddington to Reading, having travelled down from Great Yarmouth. I used to wish that I could travel onto these places that were on the destination boards as they seemed so exciting (!) such as Temple Meads, Exeter St Davids, Cheltenham Spa, Newton Abbot and the like. *The deep thrum of 6 or so Valenta V12s was a very welcoming sound at Paddington. Now eerily quiet.

[@bionictrowel6135]

between 1985 to 1986 I worked at London road junction [ south Leicester station] I would clear the signals for 2 HST's an hour coming out of platform 3.For the entire year these wonderful engines sent a shiver down my spine, they SCREAMED WITH POWER!!!!!

[@jimboBFC1]

Awesome video. It brought back memories of when I was a kid in the 80's sat in Sheffield station admiring, listening and being mesmerised by the noise and beauty of the HST departures. Those were great memories as a kid

[@stephenpowell5912]

Love that classic Valenta Sound 🔊

[@Sh4un1r1k]

I used to love waiting for trains just hear the power of these iconic engines! That low throb could be felt through the station. Once I was waiting for the bus outside the station in mid 2000s and heard the scream, and some young adult said what is that? Once heard and seen cannot be forgotten.

[@20PhantoM07]

That was awesome it was like standing on the platform 10 years old again, thanks.

[@BarnacleBill77]

I used to love standing next to these when they left the stations....amazing units :)

[@monkehbitch]

That scream used to scare hell out of me as a kid, Then I wish I could have them back as an adult after they replaced all the valenta's.

[@MisterHampshire]

So evocative - and that's even with the station announcer on that 'Baaaath Spaaaaaa'. Wonderful days.

[@mattj8752]

I remember watching these come in and out of Leicester with my Grandpa when I was younger. The sounds bring back many happy memories!!

[@kandigames2113]

I lived in Bath from 75-77 in the top floor flat of a house that was very close to Bath Station, they were running test runs from Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads for much of those two years, always a thrill to hear that sound twice as it passed by the flat.

[@arthurmatthews9321]

nothing in the world is better than that sound

[@class87fan54]

Can't beat a Valenta-powered HST in Intercity Swallow livery. Used to see them at Saltley on the Cross-Countries. Those were the days.

[@mikehumble1120]

Love the anti-slide kicking in as the drivers goes "oh s*** I'm running out of platform!

[@markcf83]

The power cars can legitimately overrun the platforms, so long as the carriages don't.....

[@thetruth9116]

One of the greatest sounds in railway history. I often hear car lovers praise certain brands and models, like the Lexus LFA for the sound. It is the same with trains!

[@Paul-dr8tq]

My absolute favourite engine of all time. Was the BR liveried HST that had me train obsessed as a kid. Great days

[@cathysexton2726]

Screeched into Bath more like...! Obviously the driver was helping the passengers get out of their seats!

[@shedontanks]

Nice to hear a proper announcer too

[@nathanw9770]

Today the last GWR HST left London Paddington! They will be greatly missed here in London :(

[@marcelodt]

This is the most beautiful livery in HSTs. In the future I plan to incorporate a Hornby train of these on my railroad.

[@tsangpogorge]

This livery needs to come back.

[@thegrowl2210]

Disability Discrimination Act wouldn't allow it.

[@tsangpogorge]

Marshell George something to do with colour blindness?

[@thegrowl2210]

tsangpogorge The doors have to be clearly seen.

[@thegrowl2210]

Which is why VTWC used to have that striped black and white pattern on their doors.

[@tsangpogorge]

oh right, but regulations are getting less stringent in other areas, yellow cab front ends for example could become a thing of the past.

[@vorlonb3]

You just have to love a Valenta/Napier scream, nothing better!

[@Ampex196]

Thank you for the lovely footage. Camerwork and post production are first class.

[@captainlandslide9874]

Wow!! Amazing video, I must admit I am not traditionally a train enthusiast, but my god this video pretty much reduced me to tears! And I just happened upon it by chance. It’s the childhood memories from the 80’s of my dad taking me and my sister on these legendary machines so see our grandmother, who lived in Bath. Yes I certainly remember passing through Bath Spa (I’m sure it was the stop before Bath itself- correct me if I’m wrong!). I remember standing on the platform at paddington as a kid eagerly awaiting to board, and I always remember the amazing sound of the engines pounding away in the station, echoing in all directions! Thankyou for posting this, wonderful ☺️👍

[@lewis72]

I first experienced HSTs when when I was a child waiting to change trains at Doncaster for Hull when they'd blat through at 125mph. Occasionally, we'd catch a 125 from Peterborough to Doncaster.

[@FlightProgramAborted]

It is a funny thing isnt it, i used to watch and listen to them in Peterborough on the East Coast Mainline. As a kid you took them for granted, hearing them all the time. But oh so sadly missed, that sound if one starting up at Kings Cross, feeling that deep throb that felt like it came from the center of your chest and then settled down to a purr. The sound here of that powerful sound of a large v12 Valenta Diesel. So Sooooorley missed

[@justandy333]

What a glorious sound! And the amazing Intercity livery to boot! Perfection!

[@video125com]

HST TRACKS on DVD and Download has dozens of Paxman Valenta sequences video125.com

[@jimtrainz9788]

My childhood in a video 😍🥰

[@mattclass9176]

And to think in a few months time this sound will be restored once again thanks to the 125 Group!

[@ashleyjiscool]

In 43002 or 43102 I hope it is the latter

[@mattclass9176]

@@ashleyjiscool won’t be those 2, 43044 will be the lucky one

[@pudseybear7304]

Beautiful sound!

[@pudseybear7304]

Can’t believe I wrote this 4 years ago. I’ve come back again :)

[@gabrielsavarge1301]

Nice. Prior to InterCity becoming defunct in 1994. I remember Midland MainLine then East Midlands Trains.

[@TheClockwise770]

just love that Wees t country sttion announcer

[@MHG1023]

What a lovely sound. The only British engines that are comparable to our German class 218 ...

[@anthony342]

that sound , love it

[@Longs81]

dammit renationalise the railways

[@Longs81]

+Robert Top dirty old and late trains is exactly what we have right now lol under private ownership. Oh you can add horribly overcrowded and expensive to that as well.

[@Longs81]

+Robert Top we still have old BR stock now and funding for the infrastructure comes from the tax payer not the private companies. Privatisation was a complete joke.

[@thegrowl2210]

+Longs81 I know I'm late but, re nationalisation won't fix anything. Passenger numbers will stay the same, and investment will constantly fluctuate.

[@falcons1988]

What is actually needed is a halfway house similar to the grouping of 1922. LNER - LMS - GWR - SR

[@thegrowl2210]

falcons1988 NSE worked pretty well. Nationalisation could work alright then.

[@lucypawpaw]

Great sounds, and great video. Thanks for sharing.

[@gary63693]

Oooooo shivers. Gotta love it

[@lewis72]

I used to hear these things scream through Peterborough and Doncaster in the early '80s.

[@gallimead]

That was excellent!!!. I cranked up the volume, to hear the announcer, and after the train screamed, and passed through both channels, I caught myself looking over my shoulder...expecting to see a train. But no, just a disappointed scouser, staring at a cornfield in Ohio.

[@ChangesOneTim]

Great video. Aah, back to the days when drivers selected max power (notch 5) before the rear PC had left the platform!

[@dafyddthomas7299]

station rocked with Valenta noise at 1:32

[@shirzs]

music to the ears!

[@lucypawpaw]

Sounds great, like the station announcer too.

[@squeaksvids5886]

A sight and sound so sorely missed.

[@markholder6851]

I remember seeing the first run of this train through Bath.

[@bigduphusaj162]

Torpedo boat engine it made huge HP in the boats, loose as a goose could run as much boost through it as you could find turbo size. Never liked ticking over in stations it mullered the valvetrain with carbon when they were left ticking over and leaked coolant all over the place till they were at 70% to full throttle. In the boat and subs they were faultless they loved 100% throttle for days, they loved life most when you modified the turbos like the Scottish guys all did.. some of the ones running in Scotland on the difficult incline routes were running massive boost they knew all the tricks to get them closer to the performance of the torpedo boat versions.

[@video125com]

So popular has been the response to the sound of the Valenta that we have put together 84 minutes of pure Valenta HSTs to download or to purchase on DVD, all in stereo. www.video125.com/products/hst-tracks?_pos=1&_sid=35c224b38&_ss=r

[@HenrysAdventures]

Brilliant!

[@ronniebiggs4026]

Excellent 👌

[@owenchuarbx]

Hell yeah I love it!

[@freighttrainsahpassing9790]

very nice man !!!

[@tellog3406]

To think this line will soon be electrified... What is the world coming to!?

[@dwigley1977]

Think again 1) they ran out of money and 2) they won't let them put overhead lines through Bath because of heritage status.

[@martiniv8924]

Awesome 👏🏻 😎

[@cupcakefairy87]

Great footage. Doesn't look like it's from years ago

[@video125com]

We have uploaded this again to correct the caption that said that Kings Cross to Edinburgh was filmed on board an HST. Of course it was filmed from a 225 class 91 electric hauled train.

[@MrJoshiej]

Back in the day they had to use a microphone to make announcements I was only 1 in 1993 now at 23 years old how things have changed now where all the announcements are done on computer

[@MrAvant123]

The Valenta engine accounted for a generation of deaf rail travellers !

[@video125com]

Its in Bath of course.

[@TomCrippsTrains]

What's that weird sound in the background?

[@BMalaya]

Sounds of ecstasy!

[@minion986]

You can drive these in trainsimulator 2015 and they sound the exact same as they do in this vid. To bad they replaced most of the engines for something quiter..

[@alpzepta]

Back when all HST are all Paxman

[@yourlocalskoda4860]

damn those howling marston cooling fans really shake me cause of the EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

[@lokstollen124]

I've never quite understood why the 1st class section often is closest to the engine/power unit, while the 2nd class section is in the middle/end of train sets far away from the engine. Shouldn't the 1st class section be further away from the noisy train engine? Just wondering if there's any explanation to this.

[@evilnigga68]

both ends have engines with howling turbos? not sure where you're coming from

[@lewis72]

@@evilnigga68 He's wondering why the 1 class isn't in the middle of the train.

[@user-ig1xo3om2x]

It puts first class nearest to the station exits at the terminus stations.

[@RonnDon]

BEST THRASH EVER!

[@mikawelll]

Hello people. I'm French and i have a question about the HST : What the difference between a Valenta, MTU and VP185 HST ?

[@Avenues-re3px]

The engine they have, and thus the noise they make. The Valenta of course making the best noise.

[@mikawelll]

@@Avenues-re3px Oh thanks for the info !

[@peterdeutscher1442]

How funny that the name of station like "Bah Spa"... What kind of this place beauty could to be, huh?!! 🤔

[@noooo_safechat2589]

werent valentas in the prototype class 210 DEMU

[@DannyB497]

What is that high pitch screech? Turbo? Great vid

[@video125com]

The nostalgic sound of the original Paxman Valenta diesel engines used in the HST fleet.

[@jasperkingdom6568]

Pity it's only stereo and not Dolby Surround Sound 5.1 :)

[@zacpacmanworld]

how many km/h on top speed of this train??

[@Cloudrak]

The fastest a HST has gone is 148mph.

[@RWL2012]

Cloud's Bike HacksTM he asked for km/h, NOT mph.

[@RWL2012]

zakky el fayed 201 km/h service speed, 238 km/h record

[@Andrew-tr5zg]

Turbo scream!

[@timblewee]

I hope you don't mind but I have linked to this video from my sketchfab model, if this is not ok, please let me know and I will remove the link immediately. Thanks

[@enigmagamer112]

permission to say OH MY F'ING LORDS

[@thetrainshop]

How strange that the Class 43s had diesel engines in them, yet sound so much like a Gas Turbine.

[@AutoslaapExpress]

200 km/h.

[@MrSpeziguzi]

Has the HST already installed an MTU engine? It sounds like the 218 series in the Allgäu when driving off. Here for comparison: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jH7TpYtpatx8f9E

[@loveparade4824]

The announcer has a great accent, not comparable to today's artifical synthesized politically correct talk.

[@bjornlillpers498]

Steam locos got replaced by diesel ones. Diesel locos got replaced by HSTs. Then HSTs got boring engines. Then HSTs got replaced by plastic multiple units. It's a downward spiral for a railfan and I don't even want to know what comes next in 20 years or so

[@matthewmiscandlon4132]

Sounds like a Hoover

[@DavidAmmerlaan]

1:15

[@TomXR4i]

What's wrong with the sound? Sounds like it's under water!

[@RWL2012]

The title clearly says STEREO. Use a STEREO audio reproduction device and you will not hear that "under water" phase cancellation

[@1madaboutguitar]

FAKE

[@RWL2012]

REAL

[@voidjavelin23]

You probably ahave been missed the opertunity to hear it

[@neilrobinson9806]

The only thing to rival a deltic