HST Final arrival/departure at Paddington. Onboard in/out of Paddington

The trailer of our run from Cardiff to Swansea, then Paddington for the arrival of the last four sets. We then depart for the run to Temple Meads. Featuring 43002/198 ( 1st and last to be built) 43093/188 43172/162 43185/009 all at Paddington. For non-enthusists, the HST is being replaced by the Hitachi IET bi-modal trains, faster and longer, but will they last 40 yrs

[@davidcowie2462]

Thank you for capturing and sharing a day of railway history. They have been magnificent engines covering record-breaking distances. Thank you Sir Kenneth Grange!

[@bordersouls3127]

I’m not ashamed to admit it but I shed a tear during your video. Wonderful stuff. 😥🤟

[@LSM_Lover]

I'm from the US and still let one go.

[@GarethJonesPilipala]

An excellent historic video. And all credit to First Great Western for rostering different liveried HSTs.

[@kennethhume8628]

Gareth Jones , I completely agree with you . FGW really pulled out all the stops and the drivers joined in appropriately. Not forgetting Kenneth Grange coming to the event . Totally fantastic .

[@mikewilliams1633]

End of an Era & the end of the last great British Designed Train. Well done to GWR putting this on.

[@MarceloBenoit-trenes]

HST´s still run in other lines. But no more on London-Bristol-Cardiff.

[@madjames9365]

The age of the train is sadly over and even though I’m from the states these trains will always have a place in my heart and I’m sure I’m Not the only one

[@TheMichaelWilcock2016Railways]

They've given us good service for the past 40+ years. Maintenance costs have to be reduced, so new IETs are here and replacing them; but for another 40 years, I don't think so. Mike in Wales

[@ianrankin9480]

Good morning, excellent footage of the hst powercars i can remember them screaming away at Edinburgh waverley when i was young saying goodbye to my brother on his way back to the army in London way back in 1985,the feeling still gives me a shiver when you hear them the roar use to shake you're very core thankyou ian.

[@TheMichaelWilcock2016Railways]

Thanks for watching Ian. Now, being over 70, I'm locked in, so more clips to come, the latest being class 37s in the Valleys 20 yrs ago!

[@ianrankin9480]

@@TheMichaelWilcock2016Railways thankyou Mike for your reply im 44 now and come from a family very railway oriented, my great grandfather was head STATION master at the caledonian in Edinburgh, and my uncle Stewart was head of operations at stranraer railhead ,unfortunately i wasn't able to get in but have been into trains all my life and collected trains since i was about 6 yrs of age i have a very large 00 gauge layout thats built into my parents house but due to this covid virus I'm unable to gain access. What about yourself?

[@KevinOsborne1987]

Thanks for sharing this fantastic video. Very emotional day seeing them go.

[@TheMichaelWilcock2016Railways]

At least they still run elsewhere; it's just significant the Western Region was the first to use them 40 yrs ago.

[@tardismole]

A monumental piece of British history. Seeing four of them lined up and sounding their horns as they left for the last time brought a lump to my throat. And you captured the man himself. Very emotional.

[@TheMichaelWilcock2016Railways]

It went well with the capture ( for a man in his 75th year) I did my best. Thanks for your comment

[@tommccann4736]

Thank you for the memory. I was in Paddington on October 11, 1976, celebrating my 24th birthday by visiting several of the great London termini, and photographing these new trains during the first week of regular services. My "catches" included one of the prototype trainsets alongside the production model consists. Just a few tracks over was one of the trainsets the HSTs would be replacing, a rake of Mark I stock led by an aging, faded Class 52 "Western" diesel-hydraulic. And now the HSTs are leaving the stage themselves as new 800-series Hitachi sets supersede them. The march of history...

[@TheMichaelWilcock2016Railways]

Will there be the same turnout for the last IET....................I doubt. There's not as much variety of traction as I remember too, and I g0 back as far as 10000/10001 in the '50s

[@MrBnsftrain]

3:57 I always liked seeing mixed liveries of the mk3s on the same set! I'm surprised quite a few HSTs are still in the old FGW blue! 6:10 I hope so! Those Hitachis look amazing and are a good next-gen express train! 12:35 I'm glad at least 4-car HSTs are still in service (they could've easily been replaced by a 4-car DMU) A lot of British diesel locomotives had quite long working lives, like the class 37 ( first built in 1960, still in service) class 31(first built in 1957, last withdrawn in 2018) Class 47 (first built in 1962, many rebuilt and still in service), etc. But it's quite amazing that these PASSENGER locomotives ran for 40+ years in regular service on passenger trains. Most locomotives that survive that long are freight locomotives (Quite a few 1950s and 60s diesel locomotives in America still handle freight on short line railroads)

[@siddywiddyb]

BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Im choked up...Thank you Kenneth!

[@470danadidas]

Great video. I'm so going to miss the old HSTs. Last of the 'proper go-anywhere trains' and so full of character. We all grew up with them. I doubt the new IET Hitachi built trains will last as long. I think GWR should retain at least few units for continuation in service.

[@DavidWood2]

That simply isn't an option. To retain a usable train fleet you have to retain all the support and staff infrastructure - stock has to be stabled and serviced, staff knowledge has to be kept up to date and so on. This becomes logistically and financially impossible with small non-standard fleets, especially when not needed for routine operations. We are not talking here about a cherished bus being kept in the back corner of a large depot, which any driver with a bus licence can get in and drive so long as it is correctly tested, taxed, insured and on the operator's licence. The decision to move to IETs was made years ago and HST operations have been running down for some time. The time has come where the last full rake HSTs is not needed to run the service, which is why those HST operations ceased on the last day of the old timetable. The IETs have been bought, leasing arrangements set, the depots and staff are in place and new timetables will start to take advantage of the better IET acceleration. The leasing companies are expecting their off-lease HSTs back. GWR have lost both the Old Oak Common (London) and Landore (Swansea) HST depots - both closed last year. Old Oak Common is being (and quite likely has already been) demolished for HS2 works to commence. Landore is still there for now but the engineering staff have gone. You can't service everything at Laira (Plymouth), especially as Laira will be busy with the short rakes. A further problem is that the full rake HSTs are not PRM-TSI compliant and cannot be used after the end of this year without expensive modifications or a derogation. The most expensive item the full rake GWR HSTs lack is a passenger information system, though there are other non-compliances especially in first class. A permanent derogation will not be forthcoming to keep using non-compliant trains indefinitely in front line service; if they were going to be retained much after 1 January 2020 they would need expensive work to bring them up to standard. Network Rail might also insist they are fitted with retention tank toilets if they continued to operate and retention tanks, with the associated servicing requirement, would certainly be required for any toilets replaced for accessibility reasons. It is also doubtful that there would be unlimited allowance for HSTs to continue to run with public use droplight windows in the doors, as there have been fatalities from people leaning out of train windows in recent years, so it might be necessary to fit the trailers with powered doors to keep using them. None of this can be justified when the stock is no longer required to run the service. Over the next few years, ETCS will likely be commissioned between Paddington and Airport Junction in connection with the Elizabeth Line (TfL Rail / Elizabeth Line uses lineside signals and TPWS at the moment), and GW ATP equipment might well be decommissioned - eventually non-ETCS fitted stock might be banned from Paddington and the conventional signals removed entirely. Perhaps diesel stock will be banned from Paddington for environmental reasons other than occasional railtours. The Train Operating Companies are there to run a service, not engage in preservationist fantasies. At least theoretically GWR could run one of the Devon and Cornwall short rakes into London for a special, though this would depend on stock and staff availability, also likely it would require the operational staff to be conducted as it is unlikely the operational staff would sign the route all the way to Paddington. Time will tell if any such specials run. I doubt they will other than perhaps a very occasional railtour. From now on, bi-mode IETs are the GWR's "go anywhere" long distance stock.

[@stewartatkinson4179]

Fantastic footage.

[@EMuksteam]

Excellent video Mike. End of an era. Kind regards C&A

[@antman09ful1]

Great footage, Regards Mike.

[@jf840fourtheloveoftransport]

another great video mike

[@donsharpe5786]

Thanks from someone who would have liked to be there!

[@whatsonyourchannel]

Well done Mike

[@locomotive6727]

Very good Mike...Dave

[@Colin21454]

Great recording of a moment in railway history, well captured, and good to meet you in person at last

[@TheMichaelWilcock2016Railways]

Same applies to you; mutual respect..............all the best Mike ( and Nick )

[@SMILEVIDEOTRAINS]

amazing turn out mate. well captured.

[@TheMichaelWilcock2016Railways]

It was a very special day; just had to be there. East Coast is next?

[@grahameferguson7013]

Fortunate in January to travel on HSTs Paddington to Penzance and return. Kings Cross to Edinburgh, Inverness to Kings Cross... So lucky to do so without really trying. Grahame, Australia.

[@graemesingleton-hayden2326]

Soo sad 😔. An iconic train that should be kept on. I remember seeing 43001 back in 1973 when a child, train spotting with my dad, at Sonning cutting.. they were the new trains now... the old 🙁😢

[@DOCTORDROTT]

I think is sad, they gave fantastic service

[@bellers13]

Great video compilation of an historic day for the GWR, and loss of the iconic H.S.T. services in and out of London Paddington. As previous comments, a sad day for a truly wonderful machine that has graced our land for 40+ years and still looks in place of technology! Fantastic gathering at Paddington to see the last four workings, i hope that further development with train companies can keep some of these beauties alive and utilized on alternative routes such as what ScotRail have done, time will tell.........i will continue to photo the MML H.S.T.s workings as and when they pass!

[@class56trainsrock62]

You can still see these trains with cross country trains

[@gwrdriver1660]

Last HST's from Padd you say? Possibly not quite true! Now us HSS drivers at Bristol and Swansea have been up skilled to the 255 Castle class (2+4 HST), to cover them being extended to Swansea, (The West drivers don't sign to Swansea), we could in theory use them anywhere on the GW mainline, because we now still sign the traction and all GWR routes. The other thing is that apparently we are keeping 2, 2+8 sets as emergency cover, these could possibly be used on summer Padd to Newquay trains because of the surfboard problem. We used to have 2+9 sets to accommodate surfers and their surfboards. This is a big problem with 800's and there have been complaints. So watch this space Cheers Rich

[@mikemidulster]

Thankyou!

[@krismarshall9720]

Very emotional seeing them go ! Hopefully not the end yet still a bit life in them yet hopefully another operator mite take them on

[@7crtz]

Nice vid

[@graemehannam3950]

Great footage, wonder if any of these sets would be preserved for prosperity, end of an era, watching another iconic British rail set being withdrawn from service

[@m222rjr]

Graeme Hannam :. I rather doubt if any full sets will be preserved for prosperity. I reckon they're all got the Sword of Damascus hanging over them!

[@hojomoorey2910]

BIG Thanks Mike! Fabulous footage (again) - a real memento of the occasion! (Howard @hojomo runs @4RailTrail, with a bit of help from @SamTolby - we all follow you!)

[@TheMichaelWilcock2016Railways]

I'm now in my 76th year and videoing railways since 1986. It gets me " out and about" like my friend on " Smile videos". It just takes time editing some of the older clips which are not quite as clear and steady as the newer cameras. Thanks for your support

[@regulator67bj]

Nice image at 6.55

[@johnedwards4214]

I got on one today at Exeter still in service it was going too cardiff

[@TheMichaelWilcock2016Railways]

Yes, but these are not the full set; only short 4 carriages plus power cars

[@avgfree21]

when we saw the 2 HST's when you pulled into paddington were they different models? as the one on the left looked smaller

[@TheMichaelWilcock2016Railways]

It's an optical illusion caused by different paintwork. They're all the same dimensions

[@dawnbetts400]

sorry another question ,any idea what they are doing with the name plates ,as in the drivers plate and Sir KENNETH GRANGE

[@TheMichaelWilcock2016Railways]

No doubt to some museum or society

[@Mr-dm5et]

Don’t worry they’ll still have it in Scotland or something and on Cross Country. It is most memorable on GWR tbh

[@donsharpe5786]

I don't know if they will last 40 years but I am unlikely to see them if they are!

[@barriejowett2412]

Sad day on the Great Western Route.

[@ianforfun1]

I travelled on them very often between Kings Cross and Leeds and Newcastle and from Paddington to Exeter and Newton Abbot the concept behind the 125 is brilliant but underpowered and not enough coaches and crowded and when seats were available were cramped and many seats have an obstructed view due to the window and seat layout. I think two class 67s on a longer rake, 10 -12 coaches along with more powerful locos at either end would have had greater acceleration. I much prefer the Class 55s and MK 3 coaches on the ECML and likewise with the coaches with Class 50s or 52s in charge. I don't hold out much hope for the Hitachi 800 stuff either. Rant over!

[@dolvaran]

I know the 43s are not going out of service yet, but are there any plans to get a set into preservation?

[@TheMichaelWilcock2016Railways]

Who would do it; think of the expense, maintaining a full set and where could it be stored

[@rodbrown8007]

Reminiscent of the last broad gauge out of Paddington in 1892. Part of railway history.

[@highdownmartin]

Ah yes. The broad gauge. Remember it well!

[@Filmitis]

Were you there,did you get a video of it, lol :)

[@highdownmartin]

Filmitis only super8

[@II-yd6gx]

I’ve not been to the UK since 2017 and the HSTs were still being used from Paddington to Penzance. I can’t imagine that line has been electrified within 2 years so what are they using now?

[@TheMichaelWilcock2016Railways]

Class 800 Hitachi Intercity Express Programme Bi-Mode Units. GWR have ordered 7 x 9 car sets and 22 x 5 car sets ( which do run in pairs). They are bi-modal, meaning they can run on diesel from Bristol to Penzance and from Cardiff to Swansea

[@II-yd6gx]

Thanks for your reply Mike. The HSTs will be missed; great video by the way. 🚅 🚆

[@dave1001]

A real shame for the HST;s to go but that's life i supposse. I doubt these new 800's will be around in 40 yrs time

[@RichardsAdventures]

👌💚

[@Teddystream.]

It cost around 7 bn to replace these trains and it costs only 250 million to upgrade like Scott rail and with rail demand expected to rise by 43 percent in the next 5 years l can't see new stock. Being delivered in that time scale so the use of stock in storage is inevitable as new stock has no more funding and could not be delivered in time

[@rd3ster]

What was the OCCASION? What transpired on 18th May 2019?

[@TheMichaelWilcock2016Railways]

The very last HST ran on the Western Region, after over 40 years of service. Being replaced by Hitachi IETs on the start of the new timetable tomorrow 20/05/19

[@rd3ster]

@@TheMichaelWilcock2016Railways Thanks. It would help also to know what HST and IET signify. I'm guessing High Speed Train and Inter-city Electric Train?

[@DavidWood2]

@@rd3ster HST is High Speed Train, as you say. IET is Intercity Express Train, not Electric. The trains are the result of the Intercity Express Programme and GWR chose IET as their branding for their IEP trains. Virgin East Coast chose the Azuma branding for their IEP trains; LNER retained the Azuma branding after Virgin handed back the franchise. All GWR's IETs are bi-mode; the delays in Great Western electrification meant delivering some units as pure electric units (as originally ordered) had become unworkable. Only LNER will have units delivered in pure electric configuration. The pure electric variant of the IET actually has one diesel generator unit to provide auxiliaries and emergency traction if the overhead line has failed, this can also power the auxiliaries if the unit is being loco hauled. The option exists to remove the other generator units from some of GWR's bi-modes for the weight and maintenance savings once the progress of electrification has made the ability to run routinely on diesel power redundant.

[@ScaniaVabis580]

😩😭 end of an era... We don't want the 800's gwr!

[@Mr-dm5et]

That’s the train I went on

[@48firefox]

What will happen to all these redundant sets of HSTs? will they be sold off or scrapped?

[@TheMichaelWilcock2016Railways]

Some are being used now on Cardiff to Taunton with 5 carriages. Others moved to different regions in the UK. However much we love them they don't last forever; 40+ years is a good life for a loco

[@s125ish]

Dogsgrove Blu East Midlands

[@gareththomas6714]

can you explain please why you say last HST arrival-departure at High Street?

[@TheMichaelWilcock2016Railways]

From the new Network Rail Timetable starting tomorrow all HST are withdrawn from the Western Region

[@TheMichaelWilcock2016Railways]

Sorry, I thought you might have been aware that these services finalised on Saturday after over 40 years on GWR. Replaced by the IEP

[@gareththomas6714]

@@TheMichaelWilcock2016Railways thank you--so where are they being reassigned to? i bet we dont get them in Wales-well only if no one else wants them!!

[@TheMichaelWilcock2016Railways]

We here in Wales have the brand new IETs that's the whole reason for the HSTs going from Wales

[@gareththomas6714]

@@TheMichaelWilcock2016Railways i meant now that these are no longer used on the south wales to paddington route ,they should be used on other welsh services for example south wales to manchester to replace the thoroughly inadequate two or three carriage trains currently in service

[@BibTheBoulderTheOriginalOne]

Circle line to St. Pancras........

[@streetsoundz-uk]

😢 what a horrible loss of a train

[@TheMichaelWilcock2016Railways]

Quite agree, bur would you keep a 40+ year old car?

[@dylantalbot620]

when shorts from Cardiff will be finish

[@suffolkpompey]

Rewind 40 years to exactly the same place where we all cursing the HST for displacing the class 50's.

[@warwickroad4111]

mike peters Remember it well! Also, cursing the Class 50s when they displaced the Westerns before! Then went on to following the 50s big time. Spent many days at Bristol Temple Meads & St.Philips Marsh depot 'spotting' 253 001 and the early ones arrive for service in 1976. Revolutionary at the time, a design classic that has stood the test of time. Although I did not love the HSTs for reasons above, can't help feeling nostalgic now! The modern rail scene leaves me cold.

[@dawnbetts400]

i bet many a driver had tears in their eyes on this final l departure , i know i did .

[@TheMichaelWilcock2016Railways]

Also, many catering staff who won't be used on the IETs

[@stephenhoward5959]

If it were up to me and i was in charge the azumas would be going back and these beasts would be staying put until they were on their last legs.

[@tsu8003]

They are on their last legs, thats why they are going!

[@stephenhoward5959]

Tsu 800 no their being kept in service just in a different area

[@DavidWood2]

@@stephenhoward5959 Not all of the HSTs are being kept and those that are have needed expensive modifications to meet PRM-TSI standards. It is likely that the HST stock that was upgraded was selected to be the best that was available. Even so, I doubt the upgraded stock will last much more than another 10 years running in shorter rakes that place lower demands on the power cars (a full HST rake is 2 power cars + 8 trailers on GWR and 2+9 on LNER, whilst ScotRail's HSTs are 2+4 or 2+5 and the GWR short rakes are all 2+4). As rolling stock ages, the risks and the cost of keeping it in service climb whilst reliability falls away unless life extension works take place. As the 2010 review of the Intercity Express Programme noted, it was feasible to re-engineer the HST fleet to extend their life to 2025-2030 (as the subsequent re-engineering and reuse of part of the fleet has shown), but this would have been at the cost of the IET's increased capacity and flexibility to run shorter trains off-peak as well as their ability to use overhead line power where available. webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20121105082926/assets.dft.gov.uk/publications/review-of-the-intercity-express-programme-by-sir-andrew-foster/report.pdf is the archived copy of that report. I don't know what the design life of the HST was, but I doubt it was 45 years! Even allowing for the replacement of the original Valenta engines and all the maintenance and repair the stock has received over the years, there is a point where the battle to keep the trains serviceable and reliable becomes impossible without expensive heavy overhaul. There are valid concerns about the interior layout and fittings of the IETs, though these are down to design decisions (especially to prioritise the number of seats) rather than inherent flaws in the underlying vehicles. Complaints include the comfort of the seats, the layout of first class seating, GWR's decision not to offer buffet service (LNER's Azumas do have a buffet) and the lack of any van space. The IETs are a leap forward technologically, being able to run on electric power where it is available, have faster acceleration than the rather ponderous full rake HST, better crashworthiness, modern standards of accessibility, the elimination of drop light windows (which were misused, sometimes fatally), retention tank toilets and many other improvements. Replacement trains are not cheap, but there are good reasons why so much of the mark 3 era stock is now being retired. It is right that the best of this stock is refurbished and repurposed to get additional value out of the assets, but it cannot last forever. The HST has been an excellent train, but it is not the last word in design.

[@MANOFKENT149]

Hearing that woman's voice and her opinion of "Standing on a wet platform watching trains". If it wasn't inbred into your blood as a child then okay, you wouldn't have had the urge to follow your passion from the onset.

[@highdownmartin]

And not a Valenta in earshot. Shame. SSSCCREEEREAAMMMMM

[@EM-yk1dw]

The railway was a better place when these were introduced. Run as a public service, not a business for greedy shareholders. All replaced by Hitachi rubbish with no thought given to unfortunate people that have to endure them.

[@jf840fourtheloveoftransport]

i don't think the iet will last 40 years

[@dolvaran]

Speaking purely as a passenger, the new 800s are awful. The seats are the wrong angle and very hard. Far from the comfort levels one would expect on an Inter-City train.

[@nov3019892008]

I wont count on the class 800s being around in 2059. Newer vehicles arent typically built as well as older vehicles

[@LNER985]

Hitachi make great quality trains.

[@tsu8003]

Don't forget the new Hitachis are being built in Britain so if they don't last we know who to blame!

[@alasdairblack393]

Smelly polluting and noisy diesels need to go. Electrification has taken far too long and is indicative of a bad investment strategy. Railways are crucially important and an excellent means of transportation. Roads are not required to prove their profitability so why are railways seen differently.

[@TheMichaelWilcock2016Railways]

A good point, we must look forward, not back.............thanks for watching my production ( hobby )