CRAZY HOUR! Steam, 4 x HST Power Car Unit Drag & Light Engines Inc 69002..! Rugeley 18/01/23

Great mix here in a short period of time on the WCML..!
Starting with 45231 'Sherwood Forester' returning back to Crewe HS from Southall. A few freight services passing by at speed are followed by a 4 HST power car unit drag from Wembley to Crewe.. 777140 having arrived from Dollands Moor earlier in the day.
66113 passed light engine northbound followed by 69002 passing light engine after spending the Christmas/NY period at Longport and now returning back to Tonbridge.
Hope you enjoy all of this! Thanks for watching.
#locomotives #unitdrag #45231 #highspeedtrain #HST #powercars #class777 #newtrain #newtrainday #class69 #69002

[@Nate0493]

Strange seeing HST power cars being used as freight locos, better than being scrapped though! Nice catch of the 69 as well

[@bluechang08]

It's strange seeing the HST power cars without the iconic yellow front end and also being used for something other than passenger duty.

[@keitheglon]

Yeah, there's still life in those old dogs

[@thebeautyofnatureandtrails6392]

It’s pretty cool how they also don’t’ have the safety yellow and it was transporting one of the class 777s

[@K-o-R]

I'm told the HST power cars are rubbish for freight duty as they are only designed to pull 9 passenger coaches. Probably why there's 4 of them on a relatively small freight consist.

[@archonix]

@@K-o-R They're being used for train testing and rolling stock transfer, not general freight. They must have been testing the EMU in the middle of the consist.

[@gkeaoyrge]

This for me is trainspotting at its best. Tonnes of variety, plenty movements, great viewing position. Superb video!

[@davidwalbank3317]

had more variety in the days of steam, now it's just multiple units and diesels....

[@trainsplanes]

Thanks George - It was a cracking hour to film! Glad you enjoyed it. 👍

[@rozannlezzetbahcesi4459]

Günaydın güzel paylaşım olmus elinize sağlık ❤️

[@trainsplanes]

Thank you 🙏 👍

[@thebrummierailenthusiasts5329]

Happy days for me today I’ve caught the 777 units myself at stoke works junction and this is the first for me to see these Merseyrail units

[@trainsplanes]

Well done - Nice grab that 👍

[@elvispresley2599]

Just 2 words. Bloody brilliant

[@BJHolloway1]

The "Rail Adventure" train using HST Power cars is a train originating in Switzerland (Altenrhein) where the Stadler works making the Mesrsey Rail units is situated. The HST Power cars are German owned and have resided recenlty in Munich. So it seems like this train made it all the way from Switzerland via Gerany and France in this formation.

[@trainsplanes]

Hi Brian, hope you’re well. The class 777 unit was dragged from Dollands Moor to Wembley by a class 66 loco. The HST Powercars run from Tyseley to Wembley to collect the unit, then took it up to Kirkdale CS to deliver it to its new home. Hope this helps 👍

[@duainesimpson274]

Simply amazing! Had to watch this a few times! Seriously Lol

[@trainsplanes]

Glad you enjoyed it! 👍

[@keithwoodburn7895]

I counted over 120 containers, 120 wagons off the roads. Great vid, thanks.

[@alancharles3459]

You have captured the epitome of being a platform soul in the modern era! Beautifully framed, exposed and focussed, and best of all, NO wind noise!! When I saw the HST come into shot I wondered what the clerestory coaches were doing in the set! Love that discrete livery.Personally I prefer them without buffers but thats prolly just me!

[@benadamsondxb]

Fantastic to see 43480 again. Back when I was very young and it was 43080 wearing InterCity Executive livery, it was the lead power car in the first ever HST I travelled on and I even got to sit in the cab when we reached St Pancras. Happy memories!

[@trainsplanes]

Good times 👌👍

[@cuttingcut1321]

Well at least they didn't scrap them away, rather using them. Thanks for sharing this video.

[@mrbluesky2050]

just a pointer for all the comments about class 43 power cars hauling 'freight'. the vehicles in the consist are use as brake force, as the unit being moved is not braked as part of the formation, hence the need, for travelling at line speed, additional braking within the formation. I'm guessing that the power cars are semi=permanently coupled to act as one locomotive, and that the trailing set is at best idling, or off.

[@74HC138]

Trailing set is idling - you can tell by the heat haze coming off the exhaust.

[@stephenwalker6823]

I wonder if the temporary control cable (visible at 5:35) is connecting the front and rear of the train and whether there are no temporary brake pipes running with it through the unit being transferred? That would need the rear cars powered to provide air for the brakes. HSTs were equipped with electric brake control, so that in the normal formation, the delay of air moving throughout the length of the train could be reduced by electrically applying the brakes by the rear power car, as soon as the front one braked. They did have conventional brake pipes connected over the full length though.

[@train4905]

Awsome,well done

[@trainsplanes]

Thank you! Cheers! 👍

[@HKSEarnFreeWithFun]

nice view

[@usmale49]

What a great video. I enjoyed it so much, I just had to subscribe! Thank you for sharing!!

[@trainsplanes]

Thanks - Glad you enjoyed it 👍

[@usmale49]

@@trainsplanes You're welcome!

[@notdoppler83]

As a American, seeing this was a treat!

[@trainsplanes]

Thanks - Glad you liked it 👌👍

[@nigelbevan8449]

Absolutely flippin brilliant catch... Well done because it looked like you had a brilliant day.... As for the HST with freight.... Now that's something you don't see every day....

[@trainsplanes]

Thanks Nigel - One of those very enjoyable days that only come along a couple of times a year. A great mix of workings 👍

[@nigelbevan8449]

@@trainsplanes Thank you so much for your kind reply....

[@kevomints1]

Great 👍

[@trainsplanes]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@RailwayVideos.]

Super catches 👍

[@trainsplanes]

Thank you very much!

[@JohnDavies-cn3ro]

The opening shots, with 'Sherwood Forester' take me back 60 + years. Two generations of my forebears were all railwaymen on the Trent Valley line from Rugeley to Shugborough; my late father was signalman at Colwich Junction, and I grew up beside the line. I'd see Black 5's, Jubilees, Taper Scots, Black 8's and Duchesses every day. Thank you for showing this - bring on the Super D's!

[@justinobrien3593]

nice puff puff steaming away at speed 🥰

[@AndrewG1989]

Very nice shots. 🤩

[@RailJapanStory]

Excellent video😃⤴️⤴️Very cool steam locomotive, fantastic trains and wonderful station😉👍️✨Thank you for sharing :)

[@trainsplanes]

Thank you too! 👌👍

[@ScottishNSRailFan]

What an amazing sight of the two pairs of 43s.

[@Astonvilla_Trainspotter]

Nice to still see the shots of the 390 in the background

[@Hightowntrain_spotter.]

The steam loco was amazing

[@davidgarratt5518]

Brings back memories of my train spotting days of the mid 70s and early 80s at Rugeley. I miss those days terribly but I have the memories

[@MOUNTAINGOAT66]

Nice video thanks for sharing

[@trainsplanes]

Glad you liked it 👍

[@TheMichaelWilcock2016Railways]

Excellent newsworthy clips, well done. Mike in Wales

[@trainsplanes]

Thanks Mike 🙏👍

[@mikemoreno4469]

Beautiful to see.

[@JP_TaVeryMuch]

This happy collection of trains old and new, odds and sods proves that all things come to those who wait. You must have been jumping up and down with joy, or to keep warm. Thank you for your efforts.

[@trainsplanes]

Yes definitely happy to capture these - Not your average afternoon so grateful to have seen them all 🙏👍

[@Vortigan07]

Great footage, brilliantly shot!! So much packed into 7.5 minutes! How strange and interesting to see the 43's like that.

[@gordontaylor3489]

Came across this by accident. I agree with this being trainspotting at its best. Well done. Only other thing I can say is 'Wowww!!!'

[@trainsplanes]

Thanks Gordon - Glad you liked it 👍

[@belgianrail1]

Incredible video with incredible catches!

[@trainsplanes]

Thank you very much! 👍

[@rich_rich90]

First time I've seen the Rail Adventure 43s moving stuff!

[@trainsplanes]

Should be a more moves in the next few weeks 👍

[@melodymonger]

What a fantastic spot to video from. Thanks, I enjoyed that 🙂

[@trainsplanes]

Thanks Mark - Glad you enjoyed it 👍

[@BrianSeaman]

Very enjoyable, glad you were out in that freezing cold platform, and not me, Thanks for sharing!

[@trainsplanes]

Thanks Brian - Freezing cold it certainly was but well worth it 👍

[@robertbate5790]

What a video, brilliant 👍👍👍👍👍

[@trainsplanes]

Many thanks 🙏 👍

[@colingarwood9971]

GREAT video. One of the best catches i've seen in quite a while with the RailAdventure 43''s.

[@jayswarrow1196]

That Rail Adventure livery does bring some of the 70's futuristic look back.

[@HornbySaturday]

Crazy hell!

[@stefancornell]

now that is a first a hst pulling freight and new deliveries !!!

[@matty99]

Those MTU HST’s must be much more fuel efficient than normal motive power used for stock moves, can’t see how it would be otherwise cost effective to run 4 engines. Lovely to see them out and about and still being used.

[@andrewbrown6786]

Given that HST’s use the same power bed as Class 56’s - it does seem a tad overkill Nice for the camera though 👍

[@chris8405]

@@andrewbrown6786 HSTs, 56s (and 69s) have never used the same type of engine.

[@jonathanj8303]

Even money says the trailing pair aren't running (and probably couldn't be controlled from the front with the wagons in between anyway) but are there to make some planned reversal easier.

[@matty99]

@@jonathanj8303 agreed, back pair won’t be running, the same as with other non HST stock moves. However, this presents another potential issue in my mind as historically, HST power cars left idling used to catch fire due to unburnt fuel accumulating in the exhaust system. This was the reason the HST DVT’s were switched from ets supply only, to actively powering the Class 91 Mk3 test trains. Maybe the MTU engines have solved this Valenta party trick, I guess RailAdventure will find out.

[@jonathanj8303]

@@matty99 I just assumed that the trailing set would be dead in tow rather than idling, and only get started up (and the others shut down) when wanted. I'd forgotten about the exhaust party trick (deltics do it to, some spectacular silencer barbeques there), and while I don't know, I'd guess the MTU engines are way better - be very hard to get one through modern emissions etc if it was passing unburnt fuel through in any quantity.

[@philcass995]

Great!

[@ChineseTrainGuy]

Great catches mate!

[@EastMidlandsProductions]

Fabulous

[@WalesRail]

Awesome catch

[@trainsplanes]

Thank you very much! 👍

[@kevinaindow6035]

Some lovely footage here. loved the HST Power cars.

[@trainsplanes]

Cheers Kevin 👍

[@OxleyCentral]

wow - what a catch of variety that was!!

[@trainsplanes]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it - Definitely fun to film them all ! 👍

[@mandrillfoden]

Awesome stuff

[@trainsplanes]

Cheers James 👍

[@m3hnl]

awesome footage amazing

[@trainsplanes]

Thank you kindly 👍

[@travismeekstravism4112]

For remember of HST❤

[@paulkowalski7378]

Cracking video thanks Right time,right place More please

[@trainsplanes]

Thanks Paul - Plenty more to follow 👍

[@michaelsandford1015]

Well done jalande jaguar ❤❤❤❤

[@TrainLoverHimu]

Great video, well filmed.👍🎥👍👍👍😊

[@jonny68s52]

Brilliant

[@mercilessmage7300]

Your video was so varied and interesting that I had to subscribe to the channel.

[@trainsplanes]

Thanks very much - Glad you enjoyed it 👍🙏

[@frankrogowski5608]

Crackin' good shots here. mate! The HSTs with the Merseyrail unit within, most unusual!

[@trainsplanes]

Cheers Frank.. Great to see the HST’s repurposed. 👍

[@AndreiTupolev]

Well, most interesting. All the Freightliner workings seemed well loaded

[@MatthewRailways50033]

Nice class 43s 👍👍👍👍😎😃

[@herbypumpkin1256]

Lucky Man. What a turn-up.

[@trainsplanes]

Absolutely - Great to catch them 👍

[@HenrysAdventures]

Fantastic video! Who says there's not variety these days! I saw the Black 5 at Kings Langley.

[@philclarke3203]

And me at Stafford!

[@pinza55007]

Very interesting. Thank you for posting. That's a like from me.

[@trainsplanes]

Glad you enjoyed it 👍

[@philclarke3203]

Great video and variety. I wa at Stafford, only went for the Black 5 and some freight, but it got better and better!

[@trainsplanes]

Great afternoon of workings that was - Look forward to seeing your video mate and how it all looked at Stafford 👍

[@dct1]

Fantastic camera work 👏 sounds like bad wheel flats on the HST barrier wagons.

[@LondonEmergency999]

Didn't manage to get the HSTs today but did get a DCRf Class 56, 2 ROG 37s dragging a 730 and 69002 so can't complain. Nice video!

[@trainsplanes]

Well done - Nice mix that 👌👍

[@I_like_planesandtrains860]

Wow your a better trainspotter then me 😁

[@user-oq9xk9ux9n]

Красавчики - прям 😅😅😅😅😅

[@calebmumby5803]

Thought I've never seen the day seeing 4x hst power cars working a unit drag brilliant also great catch of 69002 too

[@trainsplanes]

Definitely a rare occurrence! 👍

[@pearlyhumbucker9065]

@@trainsplanes I dont think so. This is the standard business of RailAdventure - draggin around some EMUs, DEMUS and other not for the system suitable rolling stock. So they towed Finnish broad-gauge locomotives on their own bogies, which they put on little standard gauge bogies, from the factory in Germany to the ferry port, bound for Finland..... This company is very special and interesting..... ;)

[@AJ-yw5zy]

Some great captures, well done 👍🏻 HST’s have taken over from tractors now on stock movements. When you look back at the intermodal traffic, those sheds have really opened it up.

[@matsw8283]

Ah, so basicly you have High Speed Tractors running the rails now :)

[@taffboyslim]

Don't normally comment, but this is a great bit of video. Nice variety of traction, filmed excellently.

[@arthurgrowler5749]

Certainly a great hour there pal 👍

[@trainsplanes]

Thanks mate - Pretty mad mix of workings 👌👍

[@arthurgrowler5749]

@@trainsplanes absolutely !!! Nice open space to film there too

[@philclarke3203]

@@arthurgrowler5749 definitely, not been ,but must try it!

[@Pontiacse93]

best way to start the video with a amazing steam train at speed

[@trainsplanes]

Can’t beat it 👌👍

[@Tanllan]

Quite by chance I saw the Rail Adventure outfit as it went through Leighton Buzzard. Seemed a bit OTT in terms of traction.

[@northeastscotlandrailwayvi7427]

nice

[@trainsplanes]

Thanks 👍

[@TheSpotify95]

Interesting to see the HST power cars in use - I guess they are now using HST's for freight? Makes sense given that the majority of Mk3 coaches were scrapped, and it saves the HST power cars themselves from being scrapped. Maybe could make way for some of the really old locos (that are well past their time) to finally be scrapped themselves.

[@markwilson8002]

Well i have to agree that was pretty Crazy , the 125 set was quite bizarre... Loved the 69 blasting through..

[@trainsplanes]

Thanks Mark - Always good to catch a Class 69 on the WCML 👍

[@tangerinedream7211]

What a great day out, loved the HST fright train, thanks for the upload.

[@trainsplanes]

Thanks - A great afternoon that was 👌👍

[@chriso8485]

The grey hst front ends look completely unique

[@justinobrien3593]

that's a strange movement loads of hst's pulling dmu's and some freight trucks! seems weird seeing them pulling freight trains! and a nice flying glass 69 high-grid flying past at speed! Good video 🤩😍🥰

[@stephenwalker6823]

I'm pretty sure that it's not a freight train, it is a stock transfer. The HST power cars are providing the haulage; the power cars and the wagons are providing the braking; the box wagons are providing both braking and coupling adaptation; while the 4-car unit in the middle is unpowered and unbraked (incompatible systems) with a control cable running from the front part of the train to the rear, via the 4-car unit. You can actually see the control cable snaking around the cab (with protection for the paintwork) and into the first door, via a wooden replacement for the window, at 5:35. The same will be at the back, on the other side.

[@LemonSpacebirb]

I almost had a stroke seeing class 42’s hauling freight

[@nigelericogden3200]

Definitely the weirdest train formation I’ve ever seen !!

[@rikufryderyk]

Omg! AMAZING SHOTS OF TRAINS! I love it!

[@trainsplanes]

Thank you very much! 👍

[@hymek7017]

Was a bit shocked when I saw the HSTs roll through platform 12, Birmingham New Street yesterday (23/1/2023) at 11.00. Passed them again a bit later on parked up at King's Norton. They do seem to be busy.

[@trainsplanes]

Good to keep them active! 👍

[@mahmoodQureshikohatiPakistan]

Best beautiful ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@trainsplanes]

Thank you so much 😀

[@adrianhendy]

Memories of back in the 80's. So strange to see thatscene without cooling towers though

[@trainsplanes]

Yes - I remember that view also 👍

[@chrismarshall3972]

69002 was thinking...."is this the way to Tonbridge"

[@trainsplanes]

Wanting to get there in a hurry also!

[@pietjebell]

Awesome Railfan video 👍👍👍👍👍🚂

[@user-cj7dv8ot5k]

列車が左側進行なのも然ることながら、複々線を高速通過する列車の光景は日本と似ていて親しみを感じます。それにしても、英国の貨物列車は超速いですね！冒頭のSL列車は何かの試運転ですか？これも凄い速い！ 煙も迫力満点だ✨👍

[@trainsplanes]

I’ve been on Japanese railways a few times - You have the number 1 service in the world without doubt..! Amazing railway network and staff 💯👍

[@user-cj7dv8ot5k]

@@trainsplanes Thank You！ I want to travel in England by trains. Our railway learned from your country 150years ago. British railways have a long history.

[@satc.310shi8]

雰囲気がサントリーカーブみたいですね。 HSTはこんな使い方も出来るとは…。 隣の支線？も気になります。

[@Penfold101]

And the 2023 prize for the weirdest ever consist goes to...

[@kevanhubbard9673]

Well I never I always thought 💭 that we'd see a class 91 on freight before the class 43 but the 43's beaten it!

[@trainsplanes]

Agreed there Kevan - They looked good for it also 👍

[@rarerufus8864]

What an eclectic mix. Great location. Excellent camera work. So that's what they do with old HST motor coaches ... bizarre.

[@trainsplanes]

Many thanks! 👍

[@robbiewales3007]

It will be interesting to see if the Australian Xpt's will do similar things ie. Used to transfer rollingstock including some freight rollingstock

[@jimdieseldawg3435]

Cargowaggon barrier vehicles? Now there’s a complex origin story 😆 What was the multiple unit in the middle of that consist? Great to see Large Logo back on the main line, props to GBRf for their nods to heritage 😎

[@fluffybadger9832]

That's one of new Merseyrail Class 777 EMU units built by Stadler.

[@iandocwra1169]

Very interesting mix and well caught. The 4xHST ensemble sums up for me what is wrong with today's railway - 4 x 2,250hp (albeit much of it idling) to tow a four car lightweight electric unit at low speed. Why on earth not just have a single power car at each end if reversals are needed - I'm sure there's still plenty of brake force? All that weight being carted about is fuel-inefficient in the extreme and similar routine waste is going on all over the country on what is supposed to be the environmental choice for transport. Sigh.

[@professorjamesmoriarty5191]

That setup is far more efficient than you might think. The train is traveling at low speed as there is a speed restriction on the points crossing from the slow to fast lines, I would think it would also be signal checked for this reason. The wagons are there to act as coupling adapters and brake force, the loco's alone are not enough and would also put a speed restriction on them which gets in the way of other traffic. Top and tailed freight trains are not allowed in this country, a single class 43 would be working very hard to move that train and would again get in the way of other traffic. A pair up front as in this setup is not going to be working hard at all, so good on fuel and reduces maintenance costs. The only wasteful thing I can see is having one of the rear powercars running, though there are alot of reasons why it may be.

[@iandocwra1169]

@@professorjamesmoriarty5191 Partly agree, but T&T freights (most often engineering trains) do run in the UK, and this train itself is being operated as T&T if the pairs of power cars are taken as being a loco at each end. The speed limitation I was thinking of will be on the towed unit (60/75mph?), not on the speed at this particular location. The simple fact is that four locos' worth of weight is being carted around when one would easily suffice. 2,250hp (in any form) would very easily sufficient to power that train - the barrier vehices are light and it's only a lightweight four car unit in the middle. Using HST power cars in two pairs is simply inefficient when compared to a single loco.

[@professorjamesmoriarty5191]

@@iandocwra1169 Top and tailed trains in the UK are not what you think, as the rear loco is not allowed to power the train. The class 43 and a few others can because they run in a fixed set designed for it. Any freight or engineering train with a loco at the rear will just be idling. A single power car may have 2250hp but is geared for speed, not pulling power. A hst running on one power car is dog slow, and there are quite a few places they are not allowed to run like that because they cannot cope with the gradient. Remember mk3 coaches are not very heavy either.

[@iandocwra1169]

@@professorjamesmoriarty5191 Yes, all that is well known, but T&T freights are still worked today - check Lickey workings, as just one example. I'm not going to get into a long ramble about it, there can be no denying the fact that lugging four power units around (whether powering or not) to operate a very lightweight train is extremely inefficient and just indicative of the state the railway has got itself into.

[@ormondsworld3947]

Great video! It’s a shame though that 4L90 and 4M63 weren’t 90 hauled!

[@trainsplanes]

Been a quiet week for the 90’s so far..

[@DeanJuvenal]

Equivalent to 45 lorries pulled by one engine.

[@davidpring9108]

Just goes to show what the HST powercars can haul. Seems quite capable. I wonder if any other sets will see the same use. Be interesting if they put a cab at the gangway end

[@trainsplanes]

Hope so - They bring great variety. There are plenty waiting for work over at Ely.

[@davidpring9108]

@@trainsplanes Hmm indeed! Would be interesting to see if they buffer them up.. They might have to... But the double cab wiuld be a good mod

[@atlanticcoastexpress]

PS: I have subscribed to you! Rob.

[@trainsplanes]

Thanks Rob - Much appreciated 👍

[@blue2sco]

Bit unusual to see Class 43's like that.