Riding on a GWR 'Castle' HST set from Penzance to Plymouth!

Riding on a GWR 'Castle' HST set from Penzance to Plymouth! (27/01/24). Whilst down in the South West, I took the opportunity to have a longer ride on one of GWR's HST's along the Cornish Main Line.
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[@ejc7129]

Great video of an iconic train 😎👍🏽 the leading power car 43093 was originally an East Coast Mainline power car allocated to Edinburgh Craigentinny (EC) it was cascaded to Cross-Country in the mid 90’s, then when the Voyagers took over XC, 43093 ended up with GWR. 43198 was originally built for BR cross-country services as the final HST set built 253058 in 1982. By 1983 it was cascaded to boost sets on the midland mainline and east coast mainline, based at Leeds (Neville Hill). By the mid 90’s, it too was cascaded to Cross-Country until 2001/2002. It then spent a few years with the Midland Mainline as part of project RIO, before ending its days working for GWR. 😎👍🏽

[@seanland]

Hst train Sean happy 😊😊

[@Sim0nTrains]

The Cornish Main Line is a beautiful part of the Great Western Railway Network. Nice how you sorted that umbrella out as well, great vlog G!

[@GLovesTrains]

Thanks Cyber, it is a beautiful line!

[@mrbluesky2050]

Just been down there, doing that, GWR cornish ranger £16 all day ticket, did the castle sets up and down and all the five branch lines... Falmouth town centre has some good pubs too... Nice cafe on St Erth too.

[@GLovesTrains]

Brill price!

[@martinbingle5074]

Best trains we had. Seats were so comfortable compared to the class 800, rock solid board seats. Need a JML cushion with you on each journey.

[@MrGreatplum]

Great video, G. It’s a shame to see the mighty HSTs reduced to a local stopping service in the southwest but I bet it’s better than getting a class 150 on the route! (I’ve never heard it called the T’mar before - I think this what the Tamar should be called from now on :) )

[@WaylandJoe]

43198 also carries the name Driver Stan Martin 25th June 1950 - 6th November 2004, named after the driver who lost his life in the Ufton Nervet incident. At the time, I was working out of Reading P'way on the railway and saw the aftermath and this has always been quite poignant to me. Anyway G, another enjoyable video 🙂

[@GLovesTrains]

Just had a read about that incident - how awful!

[@davefrench3608]

Great Vlog G The HST GWRised looks really good.

[@bobbythedesertwalker594]

The scenery outside is my favorite! The hills and the towns against that soft gray sky is just absolutely gorgeous. Thank you for getting up so early to capture such a great vibe! 😎

[@iana6713]

Ooh, can't beat a Class 43 set - I'm a bit of a fan of those 70's marvels. Those seats do remind me of the ones on a 158 so you're not alone on that front!

[@jackreed4271]

Awesome video G! Absolutely love Cornwall and the West Country alone but I was able to get a ride on the Castle Sets last year while on holiday down in Cornwall and there’s in my opinion no beating the views you get and will be sad to see them go and glad you enjoyed the ride.

[@MichaelSebastianTodd]

brilliant vlog the GWR HST is an iconic train & i used to ride the HSTs on the GreatWesternmainline before the IETs came along & last year i got to ride 2 GWR HSTs while holidaying in South Wales last year & it was good to ride one again as i hadnt rode a HST for a few years & a little bit of topic i rode a ScotRail HST while i was holidaying in Scotland a few weeks ago which again felt good

[@GLovesTrains]

Amazing! I haven't riden a scotrail one yet

[@Andrewjg_89]

Nice to see GWR still using the “Castle” HSTs since most of them have been replaced by the Class 800 and Class 802 IETs.

[@stuartrawson5057]

Wonderful vlog G it's a shame these great trains are slowly disappearing from our railway i have enjoyed travelling all over on the hst's

[@GLovesTrains]

Thanks Stuart!

[@stevebeal73]

Another superb video G! A definite A* from me. (Although formally retired, I have been teaching at a college for young disabled adults, as a volunteer, for 16 years - mainly on film making. If the opportunity arises next September, I may well show one or more of your VLogs as an example of how to do it.)

[@GLovesTrains]

Thanks a lot Steve! Sounds great what you're doing 😀

[@stevenbooth9128]

The holder on the back of the seats used to hold a card with safety information. That was quite a few years ago though. Ticket pricing with a railcard in Devon and Cornwall is good.

[@gillianwright3739]

Love your videos wish I had been with my dad when he bumped into you in Rugeley the other day

[@GLovesTrains]

Thanks Gillian! It was lovely to meet your dad 😀

[@Midtable1881]

Gotta love a GWR HST set.

[@nigelkthomas9501]

In original condition yes; certainly not now!

[@MrTTar]

The Class 43 HST Intercity 125 is such an iconic and beautiful train, it's a real shame to see them retire. I last used one on the Cardiff-Nottingham CrossCountry route a few years back and hopefully I'll get to see them again soon.

[@grahvis]

I once saw one at Aberystwyth back in the 80s.

[@jacobporrett]

Thank you for sharing G. The Royal Albert bridge was built by Isambard Kingdom Brunel.

[@GLovesTrains]

Thanks!

[@grahamandrew907]

I used to despise the HSTs when they replaced the class 52 ,"westerns," in late 70s, but will be sad to see them go. Great blog.

[@christopherbraiden6713]

Thanks for the video G,beautiful line to be able too ride, done it a few times. Taken me back to when I was 17. Love the HST set in this livery, really miss them!!😎🚄🚄🚄🚄🇬🇧💚

[@GLovesTrains]

Nice one!! 😀

[@peternelson6142]

There is a once a day service from Cardiff-Penzance-Cardiff. Long journey about 5 hours. No catering on train

[@christophermatthews6972]

I have ridden the HSTs many times over the years. I remember the burning-bacon smell from the breaks in the early years. The original engines could out-scream any and all heavy-metal singers: if you were in the centre of Durham you could hear them blasting away from the station and crossing the viaduct.

[@evangaines2303]

Sad that the HST's are being retired, despite being one of British Rail's more successful diesel electrics. Well done G.

[@GLovesTrains]

Yeah I was told they were about to leave so I went down to film it but ye still in service 😆

[@mickd6942]

The most successful DMU design in British Railway History .

[@Thornaby37]

I'll miss the HSTs when they've gone, as they always have been one of my favourites But at least the ScotRail HSTs will be around for a bit longer

[@GLovesTrains]

Sweet ill have try have a ride on one!

[@ReecesTrains]

Great video, G! Definitely a nice line to ride on down there! Some of these HST's have been sent to ScotRail from my knowledge, but I'm surprised to see some of them are still around in the south of the UK.

[@GLovesTrains]

Yeah was told they were about to go but they're still about 😀

[@TransportNut89]

The weird holder thingy used to be where the emergency information used to be before they became "Castle sets"

[@GLovesTrains]

Cheers!

[@LuigiFanClub605]

G loves trains u inspire me to do lots of adventures by train

[@BearBluesBand]

I regularly use GWR all the way from Camborne to Paddington. Lovely scenery and great staff. But the seats are hard after a while. And the train don't stop Camborne Wednesdays. 😉 If you know, you know 😅

[@daveelliott5855]

Nice to see you in the sooth west G, used to work the stations between Penzance and Plymouth (all in the SW ) a 3 hour drive for 1-2 hours work (litter clearence) for another 3 hour drive back home to Somerset. Do miss the HST, and seeing them with a half rake doing regional work is sad for the old girls. Best trains we ever produced ❤

[@titanbengal]

gwr trains are the best, the family love travelling on these ones. Many thanks for sharing 👍

[@tonywinward]

I do really like the GWR Castle sets. Saw one for the first time in February 2023 and made 5 trips to the South last year to travel on them and get photos. Hoping to get down there one more time before they are gone for good

[@ReubenAshwell]

Brilliant video G, I did ride a castle HST in 2019. I hope to be able to get down to Cornwall to get a ride on one of these before they go.

[@JettTyler17]

Thanks for sharing G, I remember last year going to Plymouth for a gig and the cheapest way of getting there was a 12 hour commute from Bournemouth via Southampton, London & Exeter with a bus, a train & 2 coaches, it was an adventure!

[@michaelocyoung]

3:10 back in the day those housed emergency information cards and were just kept on when the sets were refurb'd and the more commonplace vestibule posters took over. If you go to the car which has the disabled toilet the seats used to have TV screens in the back of the chairs when First Great Western trialled an early form of in-journey entertainment, so they have a round plate fixed where the electronics used to be housed.

[@michaelocyoung]

Oh and the silver GWR plaque used to be a stylised First Group Flying F logo

[@GLovesTrains]

Thanks for the info!!

[@Flymochairman1]

The Class 43's and their Mk3 coaches still provide a smooth journey, They're still used on the Glasgow - Aberdeen Limited Stop Service too. Nice video G. All the best. Cheers!

[@DevonCornwallTrainVideos]

Welcome back to the Southwest. Hope you had a decent time down here. Great Video! 😊

[@GLovesTrains]

Thanks!!

[@timeplayzgames5571]

Great vid there is a place in ravenglass in cumbria were you can get onto a steamer its a great experience highly recommend it

[@juanman75]

Great video G! An iconic train with fabulous scenery, can't ask for much more!! 👍😊

[@GLovesTrains]

Thanks very much! 😀

[@ianbolton9309]

Lovely relaxing ride there G it's a shame the mighty HST is no longer!! Great views in that area fantastic blog 👌🙂

[@SamsVlogstrainsmore]

Great vlog G. I managed to ride a GWR castle Class HST back in 2022. Shame they’re being withdrawn from service.

[@GLovesTrains]

Ye still in service all these months on tho 😀

[@arnoldspottingvideos5269]

Great video G. It would be a shame that the castle sets will be leaving very soon 😢

[@D_Loves_Trains]

Great Vlog G! Lovely views of the beautiful scenery and great to see that some of the MK3s and HSTs are still in use, Long may they continue!!!

[@GLovesTrains]

Thanks Dylan!

[@ThomasWhiteford]

Gwr might be coming to an end with there's but up here in Scotland we still have the other ones Gwr sent up running with ScotRail between Aberdeen & Inverness to Edinburgh & Glasgow Daily

[@acfbrown1]

I've never been to Cornwall but I must go some time. I've only recently ridden a class 43 between Haymarket and Dundee.

[@GLovesTrains]

Nice! I've not ridden one of the ScotRail ones yet

[@elroyvanderley6460]

Love the green corduroy on the seats!

[@SGMiner21]

3:11 iirc those used to hold a safety information sheet thingy (like they do in planes) back in the FGW days, I suppose they just never removed them when they did the refurbs

[@GLovesTrains]

Thanks haha I did wonder 😂

[@KirbyONeilDJSpeed]

What a train, the HST, with bonus , great views and not forgetting G, who is up in the morning to show some Great Vlogs for Us, even though she dos not need a mirror to look good, Thanks for a great Vlog hope the rest of your day is a good one, take care

[@GLovesTrains]

Thanks, have a great day! 😀

[@markcollinson5665]

Hi G. Great video as always.

[@GLovesTrains]

Cheers!

[@therealmasonicbwe]

Golly G it's Friday and G posted! Golly Golly G!!!!

[@swearingkevo]

Looking Lovey G, great vid again

[@ludwigtails]

I heard that they originally suppose to be gone last year December but somehow they are still around. Gotta ride on them while you still can.

[@GLovesTrains]

Aye 👍

[@BecciBop1]

The Gwr hst I get most of the time from St Germans to Plymouth and change to get to Totnes. They are apparently going in December 2024 going upto Mexico like all of the other hst's.

[@MrJoshiej]

My favourite locomotive the Class 43 HST Intercity 125 😊

[@hrford]

This set runs also to Exeter. One of the coaches has 3 wheelchair spaces and it's like sitting in a moving living room. The service is almost always quiet.

[@Jonathan_55018]

another great video i must travel to plymouth to ride a h.s.t before they go i did have the privalage of a cab ride over the royal albert bridge many years ago in a class 50

[@davidaarthur]

Easy sliding doors on an HST - will wonders never cease!

[@maimadha]

Losing the InterCity125 is a disgrace and we now have to travel on the dreadfully uncomfortable 800s and 802s

[@Pulsarnix]

I love those castle sets (especially 43093). It's a shame that they're confined to the Plymouth to Penzance corridor now. Having just come back from Cornwall, I can say that they're sadly looking very tired, and I can see why the general public probably prefer the IETs. If you're in Cornwall again, you should consider getting a "Cornwall Ranger". It costs £10.60 with a 16-25 Railcard and you can use it all day on any train in Cornwall after 09:00 (although there's 3 trains out of Plymouth in the morning that it's also valid on, but you'd have to double check which ones on the national rail website).

[@GLovesTrains]

Yeah wasn't there for too long this time, did a devon day ranger which cost about the same 👍

[@msjacksshipsadventures8382]

HSTs i think i did that trip but did EXD to PGN sadly did not go to exmouth

[@luketrainspotteryt2007]

Yeah they did do paignton 😊I remember it well. We did one 43188 that time 😉

[@alunfarrimond1611]

Great Video... Miss the 125's

[@traceywoodward9762]

Love the journey in Cornwall Love hsts

[@theshowmanuk]

Nice vlog G.

[@GLovesTrains]

Thanks!

[@mickd6942]

Castle class !!! Right I’m off to name my Wheeli bin Tesla lol

[@Listenerandlearner870]

They are great trains for regional long distance.

[@Steggs]

A pivotal revolution for intercity travel soon coming to its end 😥 Not sure if I'll be able to grab one before their demise!

[@GLovesTrains]

Thats what I thought but here we are months on! 😂

[@michaelbruchas6663]

Don’t you hate that glass - reflecting the indoor - not outdoor view until it totally lightens up outside. A lot of our Chicago Metra bi-level cars WONT you see out at night and reflect the inside.

[@mrvwbug4423]

I assume the HSTs are gone now, I heard December was the end of that service. Obviously this video was shot some months ago when they were still running.

[@GLovesTrains]

They still are running 👍

[@sonsofanoraks]

All trains should have a knicker hook fitted by law!!

[@GLovesTrains]

Yes!!

[@grahvis]

To misquote Ratty “Believe me, my young friend, there is nothing-absolutely nothing-half so much worth doing as simply messing about in trains.”

[@QALibrary]

Plymouth Station looks and gives out the same vibes as Southampton Station

[@ChristopherPin]

I'm guessing it was too early for your plug seat, couldn't get it up in the morning 😅 Im still not sure what them back parts of the seats are for, I was going to guess at it was for an ipad/tablet incase you wanted to watch something but it looks the wrong way. Its rare I get early morning trains but it is nice to be an a early morning one before the sun goes up 🌅 😌

[@GLovesTrains]

Haha ye they're nice n quiet early 😂

[@Jakegriffin2006]

Great Video G! Do the HSTs still head Through Bristol and Weston Super Mere

[@GabrielsReviews]

They're not booked to go further than Exeter St David's currently.

[@Jakegriffin2006]

@@GabrielsReviews Real shame thanks for informing me same with EMR 156s theyve left quick all reliable but old unfortunatly

[@dukeofdevon5608]

Oh G you came to Plymouth and didn’t say hello 😭😭😭😭

[@BecciBop1]

There is another toilet but further down the train. It's like all the other toilets on the IET's and other trains.

[@QALibrary]

I am very surprised GWR has any class 43 left and they have not all been replaced by the 800s

[@Levisclip]

I’m very nervous in taking the train for my first time from Penzance to Plymouth any tips for someone that’s new to this travel

[@GLovesTrains]

Locate your platform, sit wherever you want on the train.. and enjoy the beautiful ride!

[@andywright3450]

Hi G great video thanks.... Are U coming back too Sheffield again please thanks Andy 💯

[@GLovesTrains]

Sheffield yes 😀

[@dackesjulag]

Shame that you never rode them all the way Padd-Pnz, that was a journey and a half 😊

[@michaelocyoung]

I did Padd-Truro once, back before the 2007 hi-density refurb, that was fun.

[@jamesmasztalerz5930]

I've heard that the HST's are being withdrawn from service, surely that's not true, do you know anything G?

[@GLovesTrains]

I was told this a while back hence why I went down to make this vid, still in service tho 😀

[@jackchapman5052]

The gwr Castle set hst when they are gone they are replaced by class 800 and 802

[@JayJourneys_1]

That's what I do everyday lol

[@franki7]

River tAmar not tomar lol

[@GLovesTrains]

I know

[@user-yk3mc1du5o]

Would it be for your laptop on back of chair from Raymond in killead northern Ireland

[@GLovesTrains]

Found out it was for info cards

[@TVG43S]

the 43 and 387 are the best GWR trains and the new sliding doors are awesome the 800s are awful

[@harryelliott4310]

GWR HST Class 43

[@leplessis8179]

I still prefer 'City of Truro'.

[@From_Keyboard_to_Journey]

what a great video G, i have requested to follow you on my travel blog page

[@JoshHodginsTrains]

How you

[@thebean6731]

Aye she lowkey bad tho, no cap

[@oliverstemp9132]

I thought these were all in Africa?

[@michaelocyoung]

Only 2 are in Nigeria, IIRC. Some are in Mexico, a few are in Scotland, a couple more working for Network Rail and then there are a couple of heritage sets running around, most notably with the Midland Pullman livery

[@mickd6942]

I would have loved to see a low cost carrier take on the HST’s and give the current train operators a run for their money instead of ending their days in Mexico .

[@michaelocyoung]

Would have been nigh on impossible to a) get around modern disability access requirements, b) find someone with the knowledge and access to parts for maintenance, c) get these old diesel engines refurbished for modern standards - hence why a TOC like GWR with a major transport group behind it (First) are getting rid of them

[@mickd6942]

@@michaelocyoung the HST’s were re engined and there’s many people with experience maintaining them as they were used extensively until just a few years ago and in a lesser scale until recently and it hasn’t stopped one set being repainted for charter trains + Mexico wouldn’t have bought them without some spares being available.

[@james8449100]

This is trip to work 1 star don't recommend

[@nigelkthomas9501]

These modified 125s are absolutely hideous! I had the misfortune to have to ride one last summer, but thankfully it wasn’t very far. There’s hardly any tables as most seating is airline style; can’t stand that!

[@michaelocyoung]

To be fair that is a hangover from the 2007 hi density FGW refurb days when the need to shift 80-100 pax per coach into London at peak time was the primary consideration over a couple of hundred folks toddling through Kernow