@@MrJimheeren the HST(class 43) was fastest diesel in the world at125mph in 70,s ,it did actually top over 140 mph on east coast main line on test on special test line section
I've been interested in the HST since childhood spotting days 40 years ago. I've read numerous books on the subject and how unions opposed having only one person in the cab and hence the central driving up position which lead to the offset driving position and need for a wider windscreen, but being less than a decade after steam had finished put this into context.
Please keep this in running condition, the kids of today need to see the HST alive on the tracks now and again, i for one would donate to make that happen.
Still one of the best (and best looking) things BR ever did. And arguably a far more comfortable and refined travelling experience than today's intercity trains. The ECML is just not the same without them and it will be a sad, sad day when the final units are withdrawn. The walkthrough was brilliant, and I wish the NRM would make more loco cabs and technical info viawable to visitors.
Great video. Around about 1977, Bristol Temple Meads, platform 3. I remember an excited driver allowing a lot of transpotters not only into the cab, but walk through the engine room to the guards' compartment with the engine running. Later having joined BR, I was on duty when this same loco did the fastest run from Paddington the Temple Meads where it was named Top of the Pops. Howard Jones played on platform 3! And I once had a cab ride where the train only got to 124mph. Driver did try for 125, but we would have not been able to stop in Reading... Very heavy braking through Tilehurst was the result. In the days when the brakes used to stink.
I remember as a kid train spotting on Swindon station watching in disbelief as one of these came in from Bristol with huge flames and tons of smoke coming out of its exhausts, was quite scary to see as a 13 year old. Guess it was a blown turbo or something but it definitely left an impression.
Remember as a youngster about 13 going from Leeds to Newcastle to my sisters house,one of these pulled in to the platform,I was so excited and the way the train was kitted out thrilled me automatic doors between carriages,a light up sign saying toilets were engaged or vacant,loveley smooth ride,all those years ago and only just seen inside the cab....brilliant.
Another great video, a real walkabout tour of the 125 locomotive. When l took a very enjoyable trip to the U.K. in 1986, l took a trip on a 125 from Edinburgh to London, which did that long a distance in only 5 hrs. The frequency during the day was every hr . As a Canadian coming from a country having not as good a passenger rail service , l was impressed. I remember l wasn't aware of how fast we were going until l got out of my seat & walked down the aisle, wow, then l noticed!
My fave steam loco's are the mallard and the flying scotsman, i remember coming to this museum as a kid and i still have my 2 little national railway museum coins that you can buy from the little machine. Thats when i was around 12 and im 19 in april, my grandad drove and was the fireman on steam locos and he got me to like them lol, he still loves them and still plays train games, i play train sim world 2 and my fave freight train is the class 66 diesel locomotive.
Interesting video - shame Terry Miller wasn't mentioned The HST power cars and Mk III coaches were designed by a team based in the Railway Technical Centre in Derby under the leadership of TCB Miller, British Rail's Chief Engineer (Traction & Rolling Stock); Kenneth Grange designed the distinctive nose shape, but the actual design drawings for it were produced in Trent House in the Railway Technical Centre, and although the power cars were made at Crewe, the fibre glass moulding for the nose was produced in the Derby C&W Works in Litchurch Lane (now Alstom)
Britain's Railways has a lot to thank " Sir Kenneth Grange " for ... !!! IT has and always will be, a vision of Beauty and will always be my favourite Train/Loco EVER ... !!!
I remember the first time I travelled on a 125 It was like a giant leap forward for train design(in the U.K.) my ‘gauge’ of how sophisticated it was.. the almost ‘still/calm’ water in the toilet bowl… a revelation back in those days!!
Got on the first one running into Wales commercially , entirely by accident never dreamt I would find myself thinking bring back the comfort of the 125 mk3s when I sat on the IPE 800'which have seats like rock , first or second class , someone needs shooting , progress my ar&e .
congratulations to this fantastic museum.....it must be the envy of the rest of the world (i'm writing from germany) and i had to smile when the curator still called it the national railway museum...i cannot for my life understand why anybody in their right mind would drop the "national" from the name...??!! it is your national heritage of the railways the british people have invented (like so many things)...so be proud of that fact too... and don't forget...you can't change the things that happened in the past...nobody can, whatever "framing" or "spin" you put on it.... and yes the 125 inter city was and is an inspirational piece of engineering....superb!
The Grand Central HST units ran with buffers. They looked fine in that livery, but wouldn't have worked with any other. More of these vids please! All of the NRM engines and rolling stock, please!!
Really interesting program, hope it becomes a regular thing. One comment, though, try to avoid always referring to drivers as 'he', there are plenty of drivers on the network who would be excluded if only 'he' was allowed to drive. Otherwise, fantastic details and great views inside such a revolutionary machine!
Well it sure looks better than a certain "Blue Pullman" :) (Psst - nice to see 31018 behind the class 43. As D5500 I had a relative who drove her a number of times in the late 1950s from Stratford TMD to Liverpool Street then to Yarmouth South Town and back. A true Toffee Apple...)
Do you start it up and keep it in running condition? We have these in Australia called the XPT my dad was a driver, as a kid I spent many a trip on these, even in the front cab, you mentiomed about being on the catwalk while it's running, as a young boy I walked down along the cat walk beside the engine many times while it was running (it scared me but I loved it)
Thank you for these excellent videos. I've been enjoying them. Is this the powercar that set the world diesel speed record, and does it have a plaque? I think 125 still holds the official record.
I'm one of object handlers tickets please, miniature railway, bus or train Steward at London transport museum, that looks superb. I've worked with TfL , mainly with London underground now got involved working at LTM Covent garden over 3 years ago
Be nice ti back date the light clusters. Never know why they haven't taken the APT into the collection. Was very sad when I went on a pilgrimage to see it years ago 😮💨
Is there a difference between DSD and DVD or are they just different names for the same thing? Also what is the little red/orange tag for inside the cab? Great video :)
DSD and DVD are slightly different. DSD is activated after a delay when the driver takes their foot off the pedal. So, as he said a "dead man's switch". DVD is activated when the controls have not been moved for a period of 60 seconds. The driver has to lift their foot and reapply it, or the brakes will come on. As the name implies, it is a vigilance device. Is the driver still paying attention? Both the DSD and DVD can be linked to the Radio system on modern trains and call an emergency to the signaller if not cancelled by the driver. So, if a driver falls unconscious at the controls, the DSD should activate, if for some reason there is still weight on the pedal for 60 seconds, the DVD will activate. This then applies the brakes and tells the signaller that a driver is not in control of that unit, allowing them to stop other units, put signals to danger and lower crossing barriers etc if need be untilcthe train has stopped. It may even lead them to re-routing a train and prevent it blocking a busy line whilst help is on its way.
Classic piece emergency design after the initial design was canned, I believe ? An established technique now, but it must have been novel and scary in 1975.
Excellent. ‘Curator with a camera’ would be a great idea for a weekly UA-cam video release. Similar to the Tank museum....Workshop views...Stories on items in the national collection...(a way to raise more money) 💡💡💡
Here in America, the Lake Superior Railroad Museum in Duluth, Minnesota has a weekly show that they upload on UA-cam that is exactly like this short, albeit focusing on the many American locomotives within their collection.
Beautiful well used Museum piece, looks just like she's finished a run. And the scary thing is a train just like this in Australia called the XPT is what we class as 'High Speed' trains. Your Museum piece is out best and fastest train. Says much about the trouble with rail transport in Australia.
i still remember a tv ad for the XPT saying "take the fast train". Yeah right its like 16 hours from sydney to brisbane. Its probably half that to just get on the pacific highway and drive it these days. Modern day tilting diesel trains might make a difference on our 1800's tracks, or full electrification, maybe. The east coast run is never going high speed. Only chance of anything ever down under would be a sydney to melbourne run to compete with the air traffic
@@danielreynolds6498 Whats eves sader is 80 years ago we could build incredible High Speed Trains. Look at 3801, that would give the XPT a run for its money. Yet today the government can't do anything to make things right in the rail sector.
I remember the very loud scream of the Valenta engines. On one occasion we were travelling from Newcastle to Kings Cross and unusually went via Sunderland and by the time we reached Doncaster, we were informed we were running 40 minutes late. The remainder of the journey was straight through and it was very fast and thinking and felt we were doing much more than 125mph, it seemed exceptionally fast through Lincolnshire and the level rail crossing X. We arrived at Kings Cross several Munites early. and when we alighted we saw a few crew by the driver's door in a celebratory mood. It was I believe early 1980s, could this be possible?
Was the service changed to non-stop at Doncaster because of the diversion? Depending on how many stops were scheduled, it may not be that remarkable. Cutting out Retford, Newark, Grantham, Peterborough and perhaps even Stevenage, one could quite easily imaging the time being made up? Doncaster -> King's Cross = 155 miles. Non-stop, averaging 100mph would give you a journey time of around an hour and a half. Perhaps a reasonable assumption. In order to beat that down to 50 minutes, the average speed would need to be over 180mph. I did a milepost timing down Stoke Bank some time in the early 80's when I realised that the driver appeared to be in a hurry. I calculated 138mph, but that was downhill and wasn't maintained.
Yes, it can be possible but only if the train's running schedule was very slack. Some services have a few minutes recovery time added to the schedule to allow for any delays but some services are scheduled to very tight timings and if you are late then you won't get that lost time back.
I used to work in a pub in York in the late 70's and two very experienced ECML drivers used to call in. They were Deltic drivers and probably steam before that, they loved the new 125's. They commented on the fantastic ease of driving them, the speed in which they could pull away, and ( I always remember this fondly) 'they sound like a dog barking when you go under a bridge'. Great locos & two great characters.
It's such an icon of 70s design, the automotive equivalent would have to be something like a Lamborghini Countash! I will never forget the scream of the massive turbo on the valenta with the low throbbing of the massive engine in the background. The fact it was in service for so long is a testament to how good it was.
This loco is asking for it’s cab to be open to the public like other locos are such as Mallard for example. It would pull in so many people to the museum even with opening up the cab for public access to see. Hope you can make this happen when COVID allows.
@@MemeReviewer set a age limit. No kids under the age of 10. Or kids under X age must be accompanied with a adult. Or get some job's back and have some block sit in chain and yell OYE NO TOUCHING CONTROLS
I traveled on a 125 at the end of 2019 up to Edinburgh and came back on the new Azuma. The 125 felt solid, safe and it was quiet. The Azuma felt cheap, rattled a lot with all its PVC and had no character.
@@TheWeatherOutlookTWO I get what you’re saying - I had never been on a 125 or Azuma class before in my life so none of my opinions are driven by nostalgia etc which can be very powerful. I was actually really looking forward to the Azuma and felt gutted I had to travel on a really old train going up. Turned out to be the exact opposite, I loved the 125!
I think what surprised me the most about these when I first got on one was the smooth pull away and the ride quality of the MKIII carriages. I'd be sat there having just boarded, transferring numbers from pad to 'Locoshed' and I'd be like 'Oh wow, we're moving'.
I never thought one of these would end up in the NRM when they appeared in 1977. But then again the Sex Pistols got old since then too... They still look pretty modern even today and this was the best livery they ever carried.
I loved the sound they made with the old Valenta power units, they were truly iconic. Still a fantastic train after the new power units were fitted, but nothing beat the sound of a Valenta powered HST pulling out of Paddington station.
Like all high powered Diesel Engines, the Valenta had its problems and Exhaust Manifold cracking was an issue with steam coming out of the roof ports as cooling fluid leaked into the Exhaust. Still an iconic design and doesn’t look dated all these years later.
What a wonderful design and engine she was and is! In the mid-80s I travelled many times to and from Hull University on trains drawn by these iconic engines. The Inter-City 125 Service was so efficient and fast, I loved it!
I grew up right by Box Tunnel, used to sit on the high walls at Corsham end and wait for the 125s to come through. The driver would usually open the taps on clearing the tunnel- there is nothing to match the sound of a 125 giving it the beans!
I like the look of the buffered ones too, there's just something about them. I think the buffers make them look more muscular, as well as them being unique.
This just makes her retirement waaay to real. Really sad to see them go. They were iconic and one of my favourite lococs along with deltics and pacers.
Brave man to say "Pacer", but I totally agree with you. (And Deltic and HST too.) Survived for about four times their intended life. Probably saved more threatened lines than anything eise ever, still in service as driver training units and if it wasn't for bad press, probably would be still in normal service. Yes I know they would have needed to be made accessible, but that was addressed in one unit, but sadly not carried on. And unlike a brand new 195 I was on recently, I have NEVER been on a Pacer that has broken down Pacers were Awesome!
@@dancedecker Like the HST, the Pacers saved British Rail but doubt Pacers will receive the credit they deserve due to how much some people (and the media) hate them.
@@Garylpool1 Sadly, I totally agree. And mostly undeserved for what they contributed etc Yes they bounced, sometimes quite spectacularly, but only on jointed track. On welded rail they were smooth as silk Still one's in the NRM, so the right people know their worth. In time I think others will too. We will see.
Hello from Canada! Fantastic video, thank you. I was in England in 2015 and was on a set pulled by Sir Kenneth from Birmingham to Paddington. I didn't realize how special an engine it was at the time, but took some pictures anyway. Happy to see it in a museum now. Will visit again when travel restrictions are lifted!
Amazing video! Thank you Anthony and Lee the camera man! Exceptionally informative. I always wanted to see inside the cab of one of these. Dad had me hooked on trains from an early age and as a railwayman knew how much fun they can be! Please don't stop doing these videos.....Love 'em
10:09 the Valentas weren't "all replaced with MTU engines in the late 90s/early 2000s". They were replaced with the MTUs between 2003 or 2005 and 2010, except for the East Midlands power cars which didn't even get MTUs, instead getting Paxman VP185s. I think I did read that there had been engine replacement *trials* in the 90s, including (I believe) Mirrlees Blackstone engines who I think made the engines in the Class 60 freight locomotives.
When the HSTs were introduced the resident cartoonist of Railnews (BR's in house magazine) depicted an HST driver pointing at an oncoming HST and saying to his co-driver, "I knew it would happen with these accelerated schedules, that's us coming back."
The trains in my part of the world have two safety devices. A pedal for the foot but also the throttle/regulator can be twisted. The idea is that you’ll twist the regulator handle so you can stretch or rest your feet. I’m surprised this isn’t more of a thing elsewhere, because it seems so simple.
I was born in 1970. When I first saw one of these at Nottingham station, I fell in love. I always wanted a 125 Hornby train set in the yellow and blue BR Livery. Sadly, being a girl I wasn't bought one even though I asked every birthday and Christmas. I used to love watching the layout in the window of Beatties in Nottingham and I'd always look to see if they had a set for sale. Sadly by the time I was old enough to buy my own, neither Beatties or Toys R us stocked it. I'm now 50 and my own children are grown up but I have never got over not getting one of these. I also tried to get one in Midland Mainline livery but appeared to have missed those too. 😢
I live in N E Lincs, and like you , I too fell in love with this train. I was nine years old when I first saw three of them at Edinburgh station. That was 1980. I was lucky, and got the Hornby set that Xmas, which I still have to this day, still in its box.
Years ahead of its time ......Concorde on rails absolutely beautiful. Quality content and quality narration on truly iconic locomotive/Train ,well done guys for sharing 👍😎
You say the wedge shaped front was unlike anything before it. That's not entirely true, some german trains in the 1930s had similar wedge shaped fronts and also compare it to Mallard across the hall. Gresley took inspiration from those german express diesels.
I remember my first experience of the 125 in person, and I didn't even see it. They had just entered service on the ECML, I would have been about 12, I was with my mum in the booking hall of Stevenage station, and a 125 set went through at speed, it was an amazing sound, but what made it memorable was the middle aged guy across the room who ducked.
And I regularly work the set with the oldest power car still in passenger service. 43003 still regularly plying the routes from Glasgow and Edinburgh up to Aberdeen and Inverness.
As an American rail enthusiast, it’s interesting to hear what other countries call what we commonly call a “knuckle” coupler (another name is the “Janney” coupler).
I well remember the Valenta scream. It made the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end, and then the rear power car screamed past - I was surprised this wasn’t picked up on during the video that one pulled and the other pushed. All that aside, does anyone remember that unique smell of hot brakes?
Spent many hours in the engine room of HST’s on the ECML as a tech rider fixing them on the run from 1977 to 2007 Even entered the rad fan compartment again whilst running to open an over ride screw.
The point you make about steam having only been gone for 8 years brings home how revolutionary these were.
And how long in the tooth steam was...
They were literally built to replace the failed APT. It’s just a fast diesel. The Japanese had the Zero series 7 years earlier
@@MrJimheeren the HST(class 43) was fastest diesel in the world at125mph in 70,s ,it did actually top over 140 mph on east coast main line on test on special test line section
I've been interested in the HST since childhood spotting days 40 years ago. I've read numerous books on the subject and how unions opposed having only one person in the cab and hence the central driving up position which lead to the offset driving position and need for a wider windscreen, but being less than a decade after steam had finished put this into context.
30 years ago the thought of having a Diesel or Electric powered unit in the national rail museum would have been considered sacrilege
Please keep this in running condition, the kids of today need to see the HST alive on the tracks now and again, i for one would donate to make that happen.
Google 125group
There are still HSTs operating in Scotland and on parts of the GWR.
@@neiloflongbeck5705 also East Midlands trains run some still
I love the hst. Still wish they ran lol
They still run as our interstate rail option in Australia
Still one of the best (and best looking) things BR ever did. And arguably a far more comfortable and refined travelling experience than today's intercity trains.
The ECML is just not the same without them and it will be a sad, sad day when the final units are withdrawn. The walkthrough was brilliant, and I wish the NRM would make more loco cabs and technical info viawable to visitors.
I really do hope Curator with a Camera becomes a series showcasing other locos and coaches because this was great.
especially as we can't travel at the moment anyway....can't wait to get to york again....
So do I . This was brilliant and seems like a flash in the pan 😌
Great video.
Around about 1977, Bristol Temple Meads, platform 3. I remember an excited driver allowing a lot of transpotters not only into the cab, but walk through the engine room to the guards' compartment with the engine running. Later having joined BR, I was on duty when this same loco did the fastest run from Paddington the Temple Meads where it was named Top of the Pops. Howard Jones played on platform 3! And I once had a cab ride where the train only got to 124mph. Driver did try for 125, but we would have not been able to stop in Reading... Very heavy braking through Tilehurst was the result. In the days when the brakes used to stink.
I remember as a kid train spotting on Swindon station watching in disbelief as one of these came in from Bristol with huge flames and tons of smoke coming out of its exhausts, was quite scary to see as a 13 year old. Guess it was a blown turbo or something but it definitely left an impression.
Remember as a youngster about 13 going from Leeds to Newcastle to my sisters house,one of these pulled in to the platform,I was so excited and the way the train was kitted out thrilled me automatic doors between carriages,a light up sign saying toilets were engaged or vacant,loveley smooth ride,all those years ago and only just seen inside the cab....brilliant.
Me & my 4 year old boy still look out for these going through Chesterfield. Still an amazing train. The blue & white Pullman is stunning.
Another great video, a real walkabout tour of the 125 locomotive. When l took a very enjoyable trip to the U.K. in 1986, l took a trip on a 125 from Edinburgh to London, which did that long a distance in only 5 hrs. The frequency during the day was every hr . As a Canadian coming from a country having not as good a passenger rail service , l was impressed. I remember l wasn't aware of how fast we were going until l got out of my seat & walked down the aisle, wow, then l noticed!
Brilliant video! Would love to see more like it on your other locos.
I was born in early 1970s and these trains still seem modern to me . . .
My fave steam loco's are the mallard and the flying scotsman, i remember coming to this museum as a kid and i still have my 2 little national railway museum coins that you can buy from the little machine. Thats when i was around 12 and im 19 in april, my grandad drove and was the fireman on steam locos and he got me to like them lol, he still loves them and still plays train games, i play train sim world 2 and my fave freight train is the class 66 diesel locomotive.
The 125 was a constant of my uni days going between London and Liverpool ('81-'84) rarely without much delay or disruption.
Excellent presentation!
I’m a big Jago / Geoff Marshall fan and I found this easy to watch and understand.
Thank you 😊
I love the HST. Such fond memories of my daily commute from Reading back in 05/06.
Look at all them beautiful trains
Interesting video - shame Terry Miller wasn't mentioned
The HST power cars and Mk III coaches were designed by a team based in the Railway Technical Centre in Derby under the leadership of TCB Miller, British Rail's Chief Engineer (Traction & Rolling Stock); Kenneth Grange designed the distinctive nose shape, but the actual design drawings for it were produced in Trent House in the Railway Technical Centre, and although the power cars were made at Crewe, the fibre glass moulding for the nose was produced in the Derby C&W Works in Litchurch Lane (now Alstom)
a wonderful museum and an amazing locomotive
Britain's Railways has a lot to thank " Sir Kenneth Grange " for ... !!!
IT has and always will be, a vision of Beauty and will always be my favourite Train/Loco EVER ... !!!
I remember the first time I travelled on a 125
It was like a giant leap forward for train design(in the U.K.) my ‘gauge’ of how sophisticated it was.. the almost ‘still/calm’ water in the toilet bowl… a revelation back in those days!!
I remember these being crazy loud when you walked past the engine after arriving at the station ( as a kid in the 70,s)
I hope you do some more of these
Second that.
I have a photo of this train taken at Bridgend taken in 2018. It's nice for it to go back to its original colours
Got on the first one running into Wales commercially , entirely by accident never dreamt I would find myself thinking bring back the comfort of the 125 mk3s when I sat on the IPE 800'which have seats like rock , first or second class , someone needs shooting , progress my ar&e .
The XPT of the NSW Railways used the 125 as its inspiration.
Great video. ☺️
National rail museum is my favourite museum
Great video and fascinating but would have preferred some better lighting over the engine room.
Do some more please 👍👍
"as originally built" not quite. NRM, PLEASE restore the original headlamps! I know I am not alone, here!
I still see these going past the house. Interesting to see inside them.
Great video! I always wanted a look inside the 125
congratulations to this fantastic museum.....it must be the envy of the rest of the world (i'm writing from germany) and i had to smile when the curator still called it the national railway museum...i cannot for my life understand why anybody in their right mind would drop the "national" from the name...??!! it is your national heritage of the railways the british people have invented (like so many things)...so be proud of that fact too...
and don't forget...you can't change the things that happened in the past...nobody can, whatever "framing" or "spin" you put on it....
and yes the 125 inter city was and is an inspirational piece of engineering....superb!
Amazing please do more of these episodes
The Grand Central HST units ran with buffers. They looked fine in that livery, but wouldn't have worked with any other.
More of these vids please! All of the NRM engines and rolling stock, please!!
Grand Central's buffers HST were kinda my childhood so im biased towards em.
@@davidty2006 Loved them too! Was over the moon when Hornby released their version with buffers.
I think the buffered power cars were used as "DVTs" on the 225s before the actual Mark 4 DVTs were built.
Really interesting program, hope it becomes a regular thing. One comment, though, try to avoid always referring to drivers as 'he', there are plenty of drivers on the network who would be excluded if only 'he' was allowed to drive. Otherwise, fantastic details and great views inside such a revolutionary machine!
Very informative and well presented video - more please!
Fascinating piece!
Lovely!
Well it sure looks better than a certain "Blue Pullman" :)
(Psst - nice to see 31018 behind the class 43. As D5500 I had a relative who drove her a number of times in the late 1950s from Stratford TMD to Liverpool Street then to Yarmouth South Town and back. A true Toffee Apple...)
Fun fact: this train was used in Thomas and friends the book series, they were named Pip and Emma, one is at the back and the other front
pwhoor! what a train set!
Please more of these about the other locos in the collection!
Will it be fitted with the original “screaming” engine? And are there any plans to restore the head lamp area?
well said on both!
I think the 125 Group are going to do that seeing as it would be useless for the NRM locos seeing as they wouldn't get to run.
Paxman Valanta
@@Slothdeman Valenta
Zzzzinnnggggg!
Hope you do more of these "curator with a camera" videos.
Do you start it up and keep it in running condition?
We have these in Australia called the XPT my dad was a driver, as a kid I spent many a trip on these, even in the front cab, you mentiomed about being on the catwalk while it's running, as a young boy I walked down along the cat walk beside the engine many times while it was running (it scared me but I loved it)
yeah but not for sir kenneth aka 43001
You didn't mention the four power cars that had the Mirrlees MB190 engines fitted in the late 80's
Thank you for these excellent videos. I've been enjoying them. Is this the powercar that set the world diesel speed record, and does it have a plaque? I think 125 still holds the official record.
It's a shame the replacements do not have such ample storage for bikes, the current GWR trains discourage train travel by cycle tourists.
I'm one of object handlers tickets please, miniature railway, bus or train Steward at London transport museum, that looks superb. I've worked with TfL , mainly with London underground now got involved working at LTM Covent garden over 3 years ago
Far better than those Azumas that GNER use on the route to King's Cross.
To me the HST 125's were the Thunderbirds of BR. They literally saved the company which was going through total turmoil.
Deltic next! :)
I REMEMBER BEING HERE
There are modified versions of this train running in Australia called the 'XPT'
Be nice ti back date the light clusters. Never know why they haven't taken the APT into the collection. Was very sad when I went on a pilgrimage to see it years ago 😮💨
Ives seen that in person when I was in york
Is there a difference between DSD and DVD or are they just different names for the same thing? Also what is the little red/orange tag for inside the cab? Great video :)
DSD and DVD are slightly different.
DSD is activated after a delay when the driver takes their foot off the pedal.
So, as he said a "dead man's switch".
DVD is activated when the controls have not been moved for a period of 60 seconds.
The driver has to lift their foot and reapply it, or the brakes will come on.
As the name implies, it is a vigilance device.
Is the driver still paying attention?
Both the DSD and DVD can be linked to the Radio system on modern trains and call an emergency to the signaller if not cancelled by the driver.
So, if a driver falls unconscious at the controls, the DSD should activate, if for some reason there is still weight on the pedal for 60 seconds, the DVD will activate.
This then applies the brakes and tells the signaller that a driver is not in control of that unit, allowing them to stop other units, put signals to danger and lower crossing barriers etc if need be untilcthe train has stopped.
It may even lead them to re-routing a train and prevent it blocking a busy line whilst help is on its way.
I much preferred being in the 33,47,56,real feal driving
does the museum have a 225 too? loved this vid
The 225 is much less loved by the public. Shame really.
@@owensmith7530 true
@@owensmith7530 we all love the Intercity125 and 225
With the 800s off the network have they asked for it back?
My MAIN memory of the 125 is that Paxman Valenta screaming. Such a shame that it didnt have that paxman installed.
Classic piece emergency design after the initial design was canned, I believe ? An established technique now, but it must have been novel and scary in 1975.
What happened to the headlights? They look different...
their retrofitted into LEDs
Who has this in Transport Fever 2?
I really hope 'Curator with a camera' becomes a thing and you do detailed walk arounds of the other locomotives in the collection. fantastic video.
Please do Western Fusilier.
Never a day goes by I don't reflect on how lucky I am to drive these iconic trains....
Excellent. ‘Curator with a camera’ would be a great idea for a weekly UA-cam video release. Similar to the Tank museum....Workshop views...Stories on items in the national collection...(a way to raise more money) 💡💡💡
It makes me think of Behind the Wings and Curator on the lose from matthew Bruchette.
Here in America, the Lake Superior Railroad Museum in Duluth, Minnesota has a weekly show that they upload on UA-cam that is exactly like this short, albeit focusing on the many American locomotives within their collection.
Beautiful well used Museum piece, looks just like she's finished a run. And the scary thing is a train just like this in Australia called the XPT is what we class as 'High Speed' trains. Your Museum piece is out best and fastest train. Says much about the trouble with rail transport in Australia.
Yes the XPT is based on the Class 43. And as the man says there a still a few in service here too.
YOU ARE EVERYWHERE DUDE
i still remember a tv ad for the XPT saying "take the fast train". Yeah right its like 16 hours from sydney to brisbane. Its probably half that to just get on the pacific highway and drive it these days. Modern day tilting diesel trains might make a difference on our 1800's tracks, or full electrification, maybe. The east coast run is never going high speed. Only chance of anything ever down under would be a sydney to melbourne run to compete with the air traffic
It’s a shame for NSW XPTs such a awesome train on average tracks
@@danielreynolds6498 Whats eves sader is 80 years ago we could build incredible High Speed Trains. Look at 3801, that would give the XPT a run for its money. Yet today the government can't do anything to make things right in the rail sector.
I remember the very loud scream of the Valenta engines. On one occasion we were travelling from Newcastle to Kings Cross and unusually went via Sunderland and by the time we reached Doncaster, we were informed we were running 40 minutes late. The remainder of the journey was straight through and it was very fast and thinking and felt we were doing much more than 125mph, it seemed exceptionally fast through Lincolnshire and the level rail crossing X. We arrived at Kings Cross several Munites early. and when we alighted we saw a few crew by the driver's door in a celebratory mood. It was I believe early 1980s, could this be possible?
Was the service changed to non-stop at Doncaster because of the diversion?
Depending on how many stops were scheduled, it may not be that remarkable.
Cutting out Retford, Newark, Grantham, Peterborough and perhaps even Stevenage, one could quite easily imaging the time being made up?
Doncaster -> King's Cross = 155 miles.
Non-stop, averaging 100mph would give you a journey time of around an hour and a half. Perhaps a reasonable assumption.
In order to beat that down to 50 minutes, the average speed would need to be over 180mph.
I did a milepost timing down Stoke Bank some time in the early 80's when I realised that the driver appeared to be in a hurry.
I calculated 138mph, but that was downhill and wasn't maintained.
Yes, it can be possible but only if the train's running schedule was very slack. Some services have a few minutes recovery time added to the schedule to allow for any delays but some services are scheduled to very tight timings and if you are late then you won't get that lost time back.
I used to work in a pub in York in the late 70's and two very experienced ECML drivers used to call in. They were Deltic drivers and probably steam before that, they loved the new 125's. They commented on the fantastic ease of driving them, the speed in which they could pull away, and ( I always remember this fondly) 'they sound like a dog barking when you go under a bridge'. Great locos & two great characters.
InterCity 125 is built in Australian under licence as the XPT for N.S.W. rail and is also still running in service
Thanks for the detailed explanation :) loved it !
It's such an icon of 70s design, the automotive equivalent would have to be something like a Lamborghini Countash! I will never forget the scream of the massive turbo on the valenta with the low throbbing of the massive engine in the background. The fact it was in service for so long is a testament to how good it was.
I worked on that power car when I worked at Old Oak Common HST Depot.
i remember building it at Crewe!!
@@gordonjohnson8432 you mean in 1975 ? :O
@Dave Jones great !!
This loco is asking for it’s cab to be open to the public like other locos are such as Mallard for example. It would pull in so many people to the museum even with opening up the cab for public access to see. Hope you can make this happen when COVID allows.
I completely agree it’s cabs history and view is just wasted if it’s not open to the public so it would be nice after COVID restrictions allow
Great idea James
It should, but people ruin a lot of things, it will be a matter of time before the 6 year old children start throwing litter into the cabin.
@@MemeReviewer set a age limit. No kids under the age of 10. Or kids under X age must be accompanied with a adult. Or get some job's back and have some block sit in chain and yell OYE NO TOUCHING CONTROLS
@@joeyknight8272 Sounds like a good idea.
I traveled on a 125 at the end of 2019 up to Edinburgh and came back on the new Azuma. The 125 felt solid, safe and it was quiet. The Azuma felt cheap, rattled a lot with all its PVC and had no character.
The flip side of that coin is I can vaguely remember similar things being said about the 125s when they replaced Deltics on the ECML
@@TheWeatherOutlookTWO I get what you’re saying - I had never been on a 125 or Azuma class before in my life so none of my opinions are driven by nostalgia etc which can be very powerful. I was actually really looking forward to the Azuma and felt gutted I had to travel on a really old train going up. Turned out to be the exact opposite, I loved the 125!
That’s about the same as with the new Siemens Eurostar trains compared to the French original. That was just solid. And proper soundproofing.
Cool story bro, everyone really cares alot
@@bobbyrayofthefamilysmith24 😂 take it easy, ‘bro’
I think what surprised me the most about these when I first got on one was the smooth pull away and the ride quality of the MKIII carriages.
I'd be sat there having just boarded, transferring numbers from pad to 'Locoshed' and I'd be like 'Oh wow, we're moving'.
I never thought one of these would end up in the NRM when they appeared in 1977. But then again the Sex Pistols got old since then too...
They still look pretty modern even today and this was the best livery they ever carried.
I loved the sound they made with the old Valenta power units, they were truly iconic. Still a fantastic train after the new power units were fitted, but nothing beat the sound of a Valenta powered HST pulling out of Paddington station.
Like all high powered Diesel Engines, the Valenta had its problems and Exhaust Manifold cracking was an issue with steam coming out of the roof ports as cooling fluid leaked into the Exhaust. Still an iconic design and doesn’t look dated all these years later.
I remember the GNER HSTs from my childhood. I loved their first class interiors.
Yes, the Valentas. What a wonderful scream moving off from a station. If you can’t have a deltic, have a valenta.
What a wonderful design and engine she was and is! In the mid-80s I travelled many times to and from Hull University on trains drawn by these iconic engines. The Inter-City 125 Service was so efficient and fast, I loved it!
I grew up right by Box Tunnel, used to sit on the high walls at Corsham end and wait for the 125s to come through. The driver would usually open the taps on clearing the tunnel- there is nothing to match the sound of a 125 giving it the beans!
“The look that is unencumbered by messy buffers and couplings”
Buffered Class 43s: *am I not beautiful too?*
I like the look of the buffered ones too, there's just something about them. I think the buffers make them look more muscular, as well as them being unique.
This just makes her retirement waaay to real. Really sad to see them go. They were iconic and one of my favourite lococs along with deltics and pacers.
At least there are still companies that use them. Check out the new Scotrail livery for the HST, looks really nice.
The InterCity XPT in NSW is very similar and worse. We have a cut price top speed of not even 100mph
Brave man to say "Pacer", but I totally agree with you. (And Deltic and HST too.)
Survived for about four times their intended life. Probably saved more threatened lines than anything eise ever, still in service as driver training units and if it wasn't for bad press, probably would be still in normal service.
Yes I know they would have needed to be made accessible, but that was addressed in one unit, but sadly not carried on.
And unlike a brand new 195 I was on recently, I have NEVER been on a Pacer that has broken down
Pacers were Awesome!
@@dancedecker Like the HST, the Pacers saved British Rail but doubt Pacers will receive the credit they deserve due to how much some people (and the media) hate them.
@@Garylpool1 Sadly, I totally agree. And mostly undeserved for what they contributed etc
Yes they bounced, sometimes quite spectacularly, but only on jointed track. On welded rail they were smooth as silk
Still one's in the NRM, so the right people know their worth.
In time I think others will too. We will see.
Hello from Canada! Fantastic video, thank you. I was in England in 2015 and was on a set pulled by Sir Kenneth from Birmingham to Paddington. I didn't realize how special an engine it was at the time, but took some pictures anyway. Happy to see it in a museum now. Will visit again when travel restrictions are lifted!
was that a charter? no Birmingham to Paddington National Rail service.
Amazing video! Thank you Anthony and Lee the camera man! Exceptionally informative. I always wanted to see inside the cab of one of these. Dad had me hooked on trains from an early age and as a railwayman knew how much fun they can be! Please don't stop doing these videos.....Love 'em
10:09 the Valentas weren't "all replaced with MTU engines in the late 90s/early 2000s". They were replaced with the MTUs between 2003 or 2005 and 2010, except for the East Midlands power cars which didn't even get MTUs, instead getting Paxman VP185s. I think I did read that there had been engine replacement *trials* in the 90s, including (I believe) Mirrlees Blackstone engines who I think made the engines in the Class 60 freight locomotives.
When the HSTs were introduced the resident cartoonist of Railnews (BR's in house magazine) depicted an HST driver pointing at an oncoming HST and saying to his co-driver, "I knew it would happen with these accelerated schedules, that's us coming back."
The trains in my part of the world have two safety devices. A pedal for the foot but also the throttle/regulator can be twisted. The idea is that you’ll twist the regulator handle so you can stretch or rest your feet. I’m surprised this isn’t more of a thing elsewhere, because it seems so simple.
I was born in 1970. When I first saw one of these at Nottingham station, I fell in love. I always wanted a 125 Hornby train set in the yellow and blue BR Livery. Sadly, being a girl I wasn't bought one even though I asked every birthday and Christmas. I used to love watching the layout in the window of Beatties in Nottingham and I'd always look to see if they had a set for sale. Sadly by the time I was old enough to buy my own, neither Beatties or Toys R us stocked it. I'm now 50 and my own children are grown up but I have never got over not getting one of these. I also tried to get one in Midland Mainline livery but appeared to have missed those too. 😢
I live in N E Lincs, and like you , I too fell in love with this train. I was nine years old when I first saw three of them at Edinburgh station. That was 1980. I was lucky, and got the Hornby set that Xmas, which I still have to this day, still in its box.
Years ahead of its time ......Concorde on rails absolutely beautiful. Quality content and quality narration on truly iconic locomotive/Train ,well done guys for sharing 👍😎
Wasn’t really ahead of its time. It was a culmination of proven existing technologies to produce something new.
You say the wedge shaped front was unlike anything before it. That's not entirely true, some german trains in the 1930s had similar wedge shaped fronts and also compare it to Mallard across the hall. Gresley took inspiration from those german express diesels.
I remember my first experience of the 125 in person, and I didn't even see it. They had just entered service on the ECML, I would have been about 12, I was with my mum in the booking hall of Stevenage station, and a 125 set went through at speed, it was an amazing sound, but what made it memorable was the middle aged guy across the room who ducked.
And I regularly work the set with the oldest power car still in passenger service. 43003 still regularly plying the routes from Glasgow and Edinburgh up to Aberdeen and Inverness.
My Dad was shift Manager at Canton Depot until 2000.on the 125's Ike Wedlake
5:40 What is the tag "Warning, radioactive" about ? I wouldn't be surprised if it was Radium needles, but I can't exactly make out what's written.
As an American rail enthusiast, it’s interesting to hear what other countries call what we commonly call a “knuckle” coupler (another name is the “Janney” coupler).
I well remember the Valenta scream. It made the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end, and then the rear power car screamed past - I was surprised this wasn’t picked up on during the video that one pulled and the other pushed. All that aside, does anyone remember that unique smell of hot brakes?
Still powering up and down the Highland Main Line:
ua-cam.com/video/_9n5EC3391E/v-deo.htmlsi=bI2U53a29fKgR99Y
Spent many hours in the engine room of HST’s on the ECML as a tech rider fixing them on the run from 1977 to 2007 Even entered the rad fan compartment again whilst running to open an over ride screw.
Loved this! Reminds me of how much I miss that hallowed place, too!