The History of HSTs in the East

[@hullhistorynerd]

These were the great locos of my generation. I'll never forget watching the London bound trains heading out of the station as a little kid, hands clamped over my ears but so excited as the old Paxman Valenta screamed!

[@gmayo777]

Had absolutely no idea about the regional Eurostar, possible we could get a short video about that? And about the Eurostar generally?

[@tomheadington4762]

Yes love to see this

[@Damien_N]

There’s definitely something special about a French TGV set running exclusively on the UK railway.

[@neiloflongbeck5705]

They were intended to run on the electrified lines North of London so there could be direct services from Edinburgh, for example, to Paris. Unfortunately the rise of the low cost airlines put pay to this plan. There were also going to be sleeper services. Which also fell to the low cost airlines as well as to 5he Belgians getting rid of their only locos powerful enough to supply an adequate electricity supply. Those coaches ended up in Canada.

[@fantasyfleet]

For those who don’t know about regional Eurostar it follows the same line as HS2, Government wants to spend money in the south so designates a project then ascertains benefits for the North, then spends all the money on Gucci Uber solutions south of Watford then ascertains that the project to the North are no longer economically viable but we can get all the same benefits it previously outlined through rail upgrades of existing infrastructure. Then 30 years later it starts again by spending money in the south. Remember the HS1-HS2 link? It was canceled for the same reason as regional Eurostar, namely the North London line has no capacity and no one really wants to go from Manchester to Paris anyway.

[@dsmx85]

Went on it once, on a trip from Leeds to London. It was alright, not really worth going out of you way to travel on and not really an improvement in terms of passenger experience then the MK4 carriages.

[@Ash-928]

The best train EVER! The Valenta turbo scream is legendary.

[@davidty2006]

And it just looks great in a good chunk of liveries.

[@hullhistorynerd]

Oh hell yes. I remember being freaked out but also in awe of that scream as they pulled out of Hull Paragon back in the early 80s

[@matpk]

@@hullhistorynerd Elizabeth Line run by MTR is an awful idea. All passengers statistics and sensitive data will head direct to Beijing database. kzbin.info/www/bejne/mKG0d3aZiK5jprc

[@hullhistorynerd]

@@matpk I think you're maybe responding to the wrong comment?

[@PreservationEnthusiast]

@@hullhistorynerd The HST need to be scrapped now though. Very polluting locomotives

[@MalcolmCrabbe]

You know what I like about these videos.. None of the begging to like, subscribe, share and join a patron scheme as in so many other channels. Here we get pure nostalgia and facts in a nice condensed format.

[@MyUnoriginalUsername]

Nice bit of information about British rail infrastructure too

[@pacificostudios]

When I rode the HST under BR from London to York and then on to Edinburgh back in 1984, I was extremely impressed. There were not only fast and comfortable, but air-conditioned. The East Coast services were the fastest in the world, excepting only the Shinkansen network and the TGV Sud-Est line to Lyon. Riding the West Coast back, on a Bank Holiday weekend, was a significant come-down.

[@Damien_N]

I’ve always liked the HST, i think it’s aesthetic, regardless of what livery it wears is always distinctive. I always wonder how a future version of the design would have looked, had developments continued like their French TGV equivalents.

[@russellfitzpatrick503]

Given the opportunity that the original re-engineering to MTU units provided it is very possible that considerable possibilities might have been provided for these beasts - even to have pushed the diesel speed record to over 160 mph ... and what travel times that could have given the rail network (if it was capable of taking it)

[@Damien_N]

@@russellfitzpatrick503 It's always interesting to look at the road not travelled. I assume that the track upgrades to support 160MPH over the network would probably end up incredibly expensive, looking more like the HS-1/HS-2 lines in terms of construction technique.

[@theweekthatis]

Maybe like the Intercity 225 and unbuilt Intercity 250.

[@zanelindsay1267]

An interesting and informative video about the long working lives of the HST. I rode HST's on the East Coast line in 1979 when they were quite new. At that time the Penmanshiel Tunnel was blocked, passengers detrained for a bus trip to the next station and a Deltic-hauled train completed the trip to Edinburgh.

[@Bicyclehub]

Loved that video. I remember the HST being introduced to the Newcastle-Edinburgh service in the seventies. The carriages were space-age compared to the previous era of Deltic rolling stock. Many happy journeys, although I recall that it wasn’t possible to open the door windows fully?

[@homeone4054]

The doors on the last East Coast HSTs I used were manually opened from the outside handles so the windows did open

[@MacklandsMotors]

The ageing yet glorious Class 43/HST/Intercity 125 rules the roost in Scotland now! Lovely trains despite their age, always pleasant journey

[@jamesrobert994]

Best view of the first Regional Eurostar was taken in Rossington near Doncaster I should know I recognise the woods nearby

[@samuelfellows6923]

When I was a child - my Grandmother used to own a hotel “Braywood House” in Huntington, on half-term holidays my Dad would take me, Mum & brothers to Nannas guest house where we would stay for a week, as the east coast main line cuts through the western part of Huntingdon - it could be seen & heard from the hotel over some back streets and the neighbours garden, a variety of trains - frequent stopping commuter trains (accelerating/stopping for Huntingdon station) the [famous] HST class 43 diesels screeching past (paxman valenta engine) and electric class 91, the overnight freight trains felt rumbling past. When the weather was fine I would go to the balcony and watch the trains passing on that part of the railway, and nanna would take us to the station to (again) watch the trains. Later when I was more older we went on holiday to York city by hst train - the 1st being a class 91 electric, we stayed for a week and when it was time to go home, we went to York station and a hst class 43 pulled in; Dad - “that’s our train” me - “it’s a diesel” in a childish manner when I recognised the appearance of the locomotive. I appreciate that my Dad had planned for us to have a holiday where we traveled by hst train to get to it, nominally we always used the car to go on holidays, and that Dad had timed it right as these trains have been withdrawn from the ECML, and at that time the valenta engines were being replaced; that I didn’t hear the “valenta scream” when on the train. Great to see that some have been preserved - that I, would be able to go on one and experience the past 🙂

[@ruaraidhmcdonald-walker9524]

Forgot how smoky they were!!! Anyone else just get reminded of those "This is the age of the train" dodgy Saville adverts?

[@kenstevens5065]

Than you for a well produced video. There were two problems I remember with HST, both involving the coaching stock not the power units. In the early days the bitter smell of brake pads entered the coaches during braking. This was cured early on I believe by shutting off the air conditioning inlets to the coaches during braking. The other, the fixed centre armrests, made access to window seats difficult particularly in table seat bays. This wasn't rectified, by simply fitting a folding centre armrest, until major carriage refurbishments in the 2000's. Other than these two niggles full marks to BR design and manufacture. I don't usually praise the Trade Unions but their insistence on a wider windscreen and side cab windows produced a front end design much more attractive than the prototype HST, an in service design that never seems to age. If only the HST's sister the APT had been given a little longer to mature and had honest press reports we may have had a world beater there and perhaps a 100% home grown rail industry today. Never mind, the Italians made good use of BR tilting technology so Derby Research and design lives on to this day.

[@stephenpegum9776]

I'd forgotten all about the "smelly" brakes until you mentioned it Ken ! I particularly experienced these a lot when travelling between S Wales & London to see my then girlfriend.

[@johnsowerby7182]

Loved travelling on HST'S. Spent many an hour heading down to London or back to East Yorkshire around the University holidays, hoping to catch a Hull HST service to avoid changing at Doncaster

[@macjim]

Deltics! A good subject for a video.

[@stephenpegum9776]

Hearing mention of the Deltic locomotive, I still remember vividly seeing one for the first time at King's Cross whilst on a railway society tour from school in S Wales in the 1960's. As I'd grown up in the Western region of BR, it was certainly a memorable occasion ! 😎

[@AokiNamiYou]

For HSTs in the East, there was once a HST in Lowestoft which holds the title of most easterly point. It was back in the late 1980-1990s for a railtour, I saw it in a dvd that I brought at the Lowestoft Station gift shop.

[@aston-s]

That GNER livery has been my favourite post privatisation TOC livery

[@Mr_Spliffy]

Beautiful train. My favorite

[@alex_ob1]

I find these look so great in both the BR colour schemes, and always a little dopey in almost all other liveries. It was very nice seeing them back in their original colours for their farewell trips. Thanks for the film.

[@jamesrobert994]

The Eurostar at 9:59 is passing the village of Rossington which is close to where I live actually. Brings back happy memories 😃

[@Olivers-trains]

I love myself a HST shame all companies retired there's near me now. East Midlands. LNER and Crosscountry, so now I am only left with the class 91 mk4 sets on the route up to Leeds around the Wakefield area

[@randonukperson6406]

I went on a EastMidlands HST in November think they might still have a few

[@bfapple]

@@randonukperson6406 EMR don’t have HSTs. It’s just CrossCountry, GWR and ScotRail.

[@ashbere2841]

@@bfapple and colas

[@bfapple]

@@ashbere2841 I was only considering regular passenger operators.

[@Olivers-trains]

@@randonukperson6406 they were all retired in May 2021. They now only have the Meridians/pioneers (class 222s) operating EMR express service as well as about 4 class 180 adelantes

[@Voyagerthe2nd]

I was very fortunate to board the HST between London and Edinburgh about 3 weeks before they retired from LNER. Cheers from Australia!

[@Picolinni]

You need to do a video of the HST in Australia, the XPT. I new one of the guys who worked on adapting the Class 43 (HST) to Australian conditions. The British Rail coaching stock was deemed unsuitable for Australian track so we have Budd designed coaches. I’ve gotten to ride it once and it is incredibly smooth, quiet, and it accelerates nicely.

[@angoose2515]

I’ve been on the XPT as well, unfortunately it doesn’t reach very high speeds, I think they are planned to be replaced now by some CAF bi mode trains now.

[@edtheshed23]

@@angoose2515 oh no, if the class 195 and class 331 are anything to go by, then the aussies are in for a nasty shock

[@Picolinni]

@@angoose2515 when I was on it, my phones gps indicated 160-170km/h which give the departure and arrive time between two stations seemed correct. Given how the track speed is calculated on consist weight, top speeds will vary.

[@angoose2515]

@@edtheshed23 it gets worse, the CAF ones that are being ordered don’t appear to have sleeper cabins or anything. So for long 14+ hour trips like Sydney to Brisbane, people will just have to sleep in their paper thin airplane styled seats.

[@Bbq7272]

No thanks he will pronounce everything wrongly

[@davidpeters6536]

So even before the APT failed we got the HSTs, 125, then the 225. I first saw them at Darlington Station. The Deltics were diesel-electric locos, and the HSTs were a "train with two power cars" feeding the electric motors. A hell of a roar when they revved up to leave the station! I had some good journeys to and from London on them.

[@lukegreen5341]

0:05 I've Used To Go On The British Rail Virgin Trains Inter City 125 High Speed Main Line Diesel Express Passenger Train From King's Cross In London To Lincoln In Lincolnshire In England In February 2018 5 Years Ago And It Was Super Awesome And It Was My Very First Ever Inter City 125 High Speed Train Ever. Thanks A Lot Mate. X

[@stephenwilshaw3052]

As always, great stuff. I know your style is narration over silent footage but, for this one, you could have given us just one Valenta Scream :)

[@brianmorrison9168]

A very interesting video with a lot o information provided. I think I'll have to watch it again and maybe take some notes to get the most out of it. Living near Newcastle, the ECML is obviously my local line. I have only just got interested in trains so have a lot of learning ahead of me .. I'm always impressed when I watch live YT streams showing trains when the folk can state instantly the type of train and even the class of the coaches. No doubt I'll get there eventually. Regards from Whitley Bay

[@Midtable1881]

The sight of these trains screams such sweet nostalgia for British rail.

[@Bungle-UK]

Nice video, but you didn’t mention that HST operations to Hull continued under all companies up to and including LNER, plus the use of HST sets for a brief period by Hull Trains on loan from GWR.

[@TheCatOfWarCSGO]

He mentioned HST operations continued for non electrified routes- so I'm not sure why you feel the need to point this out. Those routes include ECML services to Aberdeen, Inverness, Hull, Sunderland and Lincoln.

[@markdixey3180]

@@TheCatOfWarCSGO As well as Bradford, Harrrogate and Cleethorpes.

[@bowlerstuff9589]

@@markdixey3180 , LNER ran under the wires to Bradford Foster Square. HST's of course ran all ECML services including under the wires.

[@SvalPlays]

8:15 That dude has some huge brass balls moving the ladder like that

[@Sd1v8v]

Trains of my childhood as I live not too far from heaton depot, i would see them alot.

[@TheFokker03]

Thank you for this upload.I was hoping for this after the WR/GWR First video you did a while back.My favourite livery is that of sea containers GNER period.

[@bobmather8814]

Thanks for a concise history.

[@richardburgess8159]

I always thought the hsts were our best trains,nothing better than hearing a hst going though the station at full speed.

[@TheGalacticEmperorOfLabels]

As always, thank you. Another great one.

[@petermoll8309]

Great video, thank you. I liked the focus of the video and very informative.

[@Clivestravelandtrains]

Best train ever built I think, maybe I am biased having proudly worked for the BR Eastern Region CM&EE Department during the 1980's. The video mentions two buffet cars - well, there was an experiment to offer draught beer from the buffet cars, but it didn't go well due to the vibration/movement of the train. A pity really. You also mention the Selby Diversion. This was built in order to avoid the developing Selby coal mine, which would have brought serious subsidence to the former ECML route. The NCB paid for the Selby Diversion as this was a better alternative. It wasn't motivated simply to eliminate the swing bridge. There was at the time much serious consideration to the construction of a flyover at Newark to carry the Nottigham-Lincoln route over the ECML, but the figures never really stacked up. Finally, according to ScotRail's website, they are planning to extend all their HST's to 5 coaches, with a new maintenance depot which has been built at Cadder (near where I live!).

[@garyfitzgerald4340]

Fantastic account. Thanks for a great piece.

[@aaronwilkinson8963]

I was doing some work at Neville hill train depot in leeds last summer and there are several 125 diesels parked up. One of them had its front smashed in as I heard it went into the back of the new AZUMA train and derailed 3 cars. The AZUMAs are having problems as a plate that attached the coach to the bogy cracks

[@nicopavvi8494]

I hope some HSTs can be preserved both as static display and in working order. Maybe it could be used for some rail tours.

[@bfapple]

You have no need to worry. Tons of HSTs are being preserved, both static display and by charter companies.

[@davidty2006]

Im wondering more about the version with the buffers on them since for what i know theres even less of them.

[@MurraySteel3.14]

There is class 43 ‘Sir Kenneth Grange’ at the National Railway Museum in York, and I believe plenty of heritage groups are planning to preserve them in working order. CrossCountry are also still running class 43s at their designed speed of 125mph between Edinburgh and Plymouth, via Leeds. 😁

[@bfapple]

@@davidty2006 Network Rail has two, but why do the buffers make a difference?

[@Trainman10715]

@@davidty2006 all 8 of the buffered ones are still in service, 2 are with network rail as part of the flying banana and the rest are with that new stock movement company, railadventure

[@milksheihk]

Intercity 125 HSTs are still in service in NSW Australia & also run to Melbourne, they are called XPTs here & were put into service from 1981 to 1994, I think there are plans to replace them now.

[@milksheihk]

From my experience the western NSW to Sydney XPT is never run at more than about 100km/h, it takes close to 5 hours by XPT for a destination that can be reached by car in under 3 hours.

[@ethanh773]

It’s a shame there’s been no effort into increasing line speed. Wouldn’t be as big an issue if they actually cared about public transport rather than promise transport projects for political statements.

[@milksheihk]

XPTs were repowered with Paxman VP185s between 2000 & 2005.

[@DKS225]

@@ethanh773 The reason that NSW doesn't have that many high speed sections goes back to 1855 when The Government put restraints on capital costs forcing surveyors to follow gradients that the early steam locomotives of the period could accommodate. All they're doing for The XPT's is slow them down when they could have reached their maximum but on routes like The North Coast Line The XPT would be lucky to average 56mph (90kph).

[@milksheihk]

@@DKS225 It makes you wonder why they even chose a loco set that can run at 240km/h to run on a rail system that can't safely support even half that speed.

[@randonukperson6406]

Great video thanks

[@matthewcrime3769]

I am going to miss the class 43 HSTs on the east coast as they had a wonderful sound especially at night. So long to a great locomotive.

[@cooperised]

The Selby diversion was primarily constructed to avoid problems with land subsidence around the Selby coal fields, which led to permanent speed limits that damaged travel times.

[@thatguyfromcetialphaV]

Great stuff. Please do vids on the Deltic, Western, Class 37, 47 and Warship :)

[@skylineXpert]

As the british have this HST then we danish have the IC3. both mean a lot I remember a speed record between aarup and middelfart at 204.6 kmph(127 mph). It hasnt gone faster since 91'

[@minimaxi802]

The HSTs initially ran from London to Bristol from 1976, by 1978 they started on the East Coast line replacing diesel locomotives usually Deltics.

[@thedie-castaviator4081]

Fantastic video mate 😎

[@uselessoldman7964]

When the Railways were "privatised" the stock was bought by HSBC who then leased it back to the franchises (TOC - Train Operating Companies). It was a war who would pay the most for the best. So when the respective franchises came up for tender/auction further chaos was created since almost all the good stock had already been allocated to existing contracts. SO when new stock was introduced then the older stock was of great interest to others running less profitable routes. So you won a franchise you secured you rolling stock almost always the old battered stock used by the previous TOC and you had an agreed maintenance budget to repair and upgrade the stock you leased for the length of the franchise period. Same for the staff. If a franchise changed operator the staff were Tuped, basically just transferred the employer they worked for but did the same job in the same building behind the same desk. So you won a franchise you usually just inherited the mess left by the previous TOC all the Government Treasury and Network Rail cared about was how much they could screw a TOC for. The HSTs used large powerful HEAVY marine engines, they were basically knackered when GNER got them and were well passed the date they were due to be retired. GNER leased 3 Eurostars that were spare old stock they were in POOR CONDITION WHEN THEY ARRIVED SINCE THEY HAD BEEN ROTTING AWAY IDLE FOR 5 YEARS when upgrades (actually repairs to other existing stock cos no other stock was available in the whole of the UK is the truth) were made these were on long term lease not long enough sadly. Boy were they fast but most notably was their breaking and acceleration, a completely different experience than from the rest of the stock. SO yeah GNER paid to repair and maintain them from what originally was a pile of junk bringing them back to life and actually getting some use out of them !! They were magical...

[@macjim]

I can just see the ORR guys watching this, cringing at the way that guy ‘slid’ the ladders towards the wires...8:15😱

[@1951GL]

Excellent - the York staff called them "flying bananas" in 1977, although the name didn't stick. Maintenance was easier than the Deltics, although the turnaround times for the latter often involved rushed jobs. Worth emphasis, the Stonehaven accident was nothing to do with the train. The HSTs were and are safe.

[@russellfitzpatrick503]

True - both of the HST disasters were caused by outside influences

[@Trainman10715]

@@russellfitzpatrick503 both? there have been 4 major HST accidents, two high speed collisions with other trains cause by SPADs, and two derailments caused foreign object collisions. none of them were caused by flaws with the HST though, as you said

[@macjim]

The Inter7City HST 125 trains have shown that, for long journeys in Scotland, the Class 170 & 156\8 DMU’s we're really not suitable for these routes... The 125’s have brought better comfort and space, to those longer routes. Maybe when Scotrail is brought back into the hands of Transport Scotland’s control we might see them look towards the time when these 125’s are due to be replaced by buying a fleet of Mk4 coaches (the sooner the better before they all end up scrapped or owned by other companies ) and have them loco-hauled as Transport for Wales has done.

[@hoagy_ytfc]

Sorry, but the crashworthiness of the HSTs is terrible, as shown in a number of GWR crashes, and more recently Stonehaven. They were great for the 70s/80s, but aren't up to modern standards and must be replaced.

[@Tadesan]

9:12 That guy resting his head is me listening to these videos.

[@kevfrombutterley]

As someone who loves hay, chess and tea I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed this one

[@sandycheeks7865]

Excellent work - but sad to see no mention at the end of the Blue Pullman livery HST....

[@gazza1858]

Brilliant video

[@lukegreen5341]

1:47 This LNER Gresley A4 Pacific Steam Locomotive Sliver Link Is A Bit Like Mallard. Thanks Mate. X

[@MicahtheDrumCorpsPseudoboomer]

That's cuz it and Mallard are both LNER class A4 locomotives!

[@victoriacyunczyk]

I'd like to see a video on the HSTs in Scotland. Probably not too much there, but it would be interesting.

[@megamanmuppet]

Can you do one on the MML please.

[@Swissair171]

You should do a video on the Swiss Federal Railways Re 460, or failing that, the Intercity 225.

[@struck2soon]

Nice mini-doc, cheers!

[@carribob1992]

GNER livery looked well nice on these, probs of the best privitisation liveries. I used to see HSTs at Leeds most of the time (Although, my last trip on a HST was from Edinburgh to York a few years ago), now they only appear on the odd cross country run. LNER had a farewell tour in 2019 with a set repainted in BR Intercity 125 livery. Got video of it departing Leeds on the final day of it, never seen Leeds station packed with so many people in a while.

[@davidty2006]

I prefer the East Coast Grey and the Grand Central Black and orange for the buffers versions. Might be because those were a part of my childhood and i loved them liveries so much.

[@1951GL]

Agree on the GNER livery. The dark blue seemed to hint at Rolls/Bentley coachwork.

[@gregorylenton8200]

Another great video.......thanks

[@57305northernprincess]

Could you do a video about 89001 please?

[@rexremedy1733]

HST is excellently designed. One day I hope I will own at least a model train set of it. But they are exceedingly hard to get on the continent. Pretty pricey as well...

[@connectorxp]

Just now I’ve turned off the PC with Train Sim World 2 with the GWR scenario and it’s HST. I simply love this train. Any chance to cover the diesel hydraulics like the Class 52?

[@adamlee3772]

Another great video. Will you do one about the Midland Mainline?

[@Palestina.non.grata86]

I love these historic vignettes. Any chance you could do one on the Woodhead Line?

[@ridefast0]

Sorry to quibble but IMHO 'the East' line goes to Norwich (and never had HSTs due to 100mph maximum line speed) - ECML is something else! Love those HSTs.

[@N330AA]

That GNER liv was probably the only post-privatisation livery that wasn't a complete abomination.

[@rodhewson]

What about the first Post privatisation livery for the western region and the current GWR livery?

[@lapiswake6583]

9 buffered power cars? I'm sure there were 8, Grand Central getting 6 to become the 43/4s (then EMT, EMR, and now RailAdventure owned) and 2 (013/014) with Network Rail. GNER orange? I'm sure it's red. 801s are electric-only, aside from a single engine per set as a backup generator. And I'm afraid ScotRail would come under the Scottish region, who did get their own dedicated HST sets early on (although I'm not sure which routes they would've run on aside from ECML diagrams). Otherwise, great video. Next up, midland and/or cross country uses?

[@marvwatkins7029]

An interesting pronunciation of 'H'.

[@thebrummierailenthusiasts5329]

Woah that prototype hst powercars has beaten mallards record by nudging 143mph

[@lewiss626]

I work for GC and I would take back the HSTs without a thought. Much older but much more reliable then the 180s

[@chrisr19897]

As far I'm aware the Selby diversion was built to accommodate the electrification of the east coast mainline route to avoid the coal fields in the area due to the heavier weight of the later Class 91's

[@rodhewson]

No, the diversion was created to avoid potential subsidence issues from the then newly developing Shelby coal mines.

[@russellfitzpatrick503]

Despite the great advantages these sets brought to the UK rail network they still don't hold any real favour in the wider rail environment. On the transport for Wales (TfW) network their potential is clearly unwelcomed, and even on the Midland Mainline their presence is not always appreciated. They should get a lot more praise for what they brought to British railways in the period thay worked these lines

[@davidbond8139]

Why unwelcomed and why not always appreciated?

[@JBFlytography]

10:25 that’s my house in the background😂 Ps. There’s still no 5 car sets in revenue earning service for Scotrail… well unless you class the Santa Express yesterday 😂

[@MePeterNicholls]

Same short term thinking hamstrings everything: cost of electrification

[@jamesrobert4106]

Did anybody notice the lunatic on the ladder around 8m18s? 😮

[@TheVillan1980]

It felt right to watch this video at 1.25 speed...

[@The_Evil_Monkey_93]

Should do a video " 'HST's' Down under"

[@johnkeepin7527]

A good summary. However, the comment around 4:50 about worn out stock on the WR is not quite right. Many of the services replaced by HSTs were using relatively modern Mk2 e & f stock, hauled by classes 47 & 50. Not criticising HSTs though. I can vaguely remember my first journey on one in 1977; since then I’ve done over half a million miles on them. Note that the original sets on the WR were 2+7, but on the ER they were 2+8 cars. Around 5:50, you mentioned infrastructure changes, but the feature of that which is not well understood is what was done in other parts of the system to make proper use of it. E.g. quite a few novel changes to signalling were done on the WR, partly because of the way the braking system on the HSTs operated. They were manufactured so that they had the capability of running at 125 mph with roughly the same braking distance as loco hauled stock at 100 mph. That was nice to avoid too many alterations along the line, but certain junction signalling had to be modernised to avoid excessively slowing them down for certain routes, such as (Royal) Wooton Bassett junction, which was (and is) a 70 mph one, and other places. In tandem with that, there was a lot of civil and permanent way work done to increase the line speed for the HSTs when they were new. Around 8:50 you described the transition to Mk4 with class 91, but the need for the HST power car was most likely to do with the fact that the trailers did not have conventional Electric Train Heating (ETH) which the 91 would supply. They actually had a dedicated variable frequency 3 phase a.c. one, so they could only work with the power cars. You could plug them into conventional industrial 3 phase, like in your street - but don’t try using the output from the power cars!

[@madmaxmcinnes4102]

They didn't terminate at Edinburgh ....... they continued onto Aberdeen.

[@LMS5935]

I miss the HSTs

[@AviationCommercials]

These are the trains I think about, as an American, when I think about England.

[@Shark30006]

Are there any Eastern HSTs in preservation?

[@Ellie_Melloy]

8:12 I was asked to do a jobs at work but I was given the wrong type of ladder. I got £3000 in compensation when I felled and got splatted by a trains.

[@Andrewjg_89]

If only the HSTs were used on London Liverpool Street-Lowestoft, Sheringham and Cromer and formed as 5-Car or 6-Car. But now Class 755s are operating in Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire.

[@robertwilloughby8050]

So are you going to do HST's in the Midlands? From 1982 onwards they hauled the Midland Main Line, and a darned good job they did too! Edit: And a good April Fools joke could be HST's on the Great Central - Manchester to Cleethorpes in 1hr 45mins......

[@jorisvanhandenhove5865]

doesn't the Diesel TGV have the world speed record for diesel trains?

[@timosha21]

I'm a tram and I approve this video! :O

[@LLLLLLLLLucas]

Firstly...THE RACETRACK to which you refer is in Lincolnshire....not Yorkshire, also the WR of 148 MPH for diesel traction was set on Stoke bank between Grantham and Peterborough in roughly the same location as Flying Scotsman, Papyrus and Mallards records, hence the RACETRACK. Please check your facts. Also the records set in Yorkshire between York and Northallerton is within the Vale of York...not the Yorkshire levels.

[@tidmouthmilk12]

Always makes me happy seeing HSTs still running on the National Network. I was waiting for a Cross Country train home from Sheffield just over a year ago and was pleasantly surprised to see a HST set rolling into the platform. I only wish I'd had more appreciation for them in my youth, before they'd started being withdrawn :/

[@bfapple]

Virgin East Coast had nothing to do with IEP, other than being the recipient of the order. Virgin/Stagecoach certainly didn’t place any orders themselves.

[@johnhadley3090]

Does anyone know if HST,s are still running on mainline services if so where and when

[@stuew6]

what about Flying scotsman LNER A3 Locomotives

[@soundseeker63]

Can we have our HSTs back please! The Azumas are such poor replacements, a backward step particularly in terms of ride quality and comfort. Can't see them lasting 43 years in service either! I'm curious as to where this notion of needing to rebuild the roof of KX for electrification came from.... The stations is positively cavernous and has bags of space for overhead wires, as has been observed since the mid 1970s!

[@christopherhood9241]

funny how the HST's propelled the services forwards as did the deltic's did after steam yet first (class 91) & second generation (class 80x) electric traction failed to undertake any real improvements. In fact one could argue that ecml travel is now more uncomfortable and slower than it used to be.

[@johnkeepin7527]

Perhaps the 80x sets were designed by bureaucrats.

[@christopherhood9241]

@@johnkeepin7527 designed by people in offices, driving desks looking at spreadsheets whom if which don't use public transport ....

[@johnkeepin7527]

@Bazzacuda Re the signalling, it was a bit more complex than the funding. There was a trial installation in the Peterborough area (can’t remember exactly where), in which an additional aspect was used - ISTR a ‘flashing green’ one, to allow an adequate braking distance for 91s to run at 140 mph, but that didn’t get used in normal service. In effect, that idea didn’t make it - no surprise from a human factors point of view. In effect, anything more than 200 km/h has always been done with in cab displays, not lineside at all, anywhere globally.

[@freddieellis8449]

I miss GNER. I liked the livery and it all just felt right. That said I DEFINITELY prefer nationalised! Now for the rest of them! Time to skin the fat-cats!