Thanks for this it brought back memories of my childhood trainspotting down Bristol Temple Meads Cheltenham Birmingham NS, they were my favorite train, and can still remember the first time I saw one. They were defening when you stood next to the power car. Even new somebody that wroked on them at BREL in Derby, he made me a model of a steam train made out of HST parts.
When I was 18, I applied for an apprenticeship at Paxman Diesels, Colchester. I was interviewed and shown around the factory. I saw the V12 Valenta engines, used in the 125's, being made. I also saw them being tested in a sound-proof room: just the engine, bolted on a test bed with a fuel line fed to it and the exhaust ducted away. I didn't realise the engine was running until the engineer opened the door, having first placed ear defenders on himself. The cacophony! A truely memorable event.
Call me an old romantic. But to hear the sound of the turbo on an HST125 as it pulls out of the station always counjours up happy memories of childhood holidays, and later in life going away to join ships in my days as a merchant seaman. Now all you hear in Leeds station for example is the crappy effort of a Voyager or something. It doesn't make you imagine adventure the like the 125 did. The 125 says I'm powerful and I'll take you somewhere far away - enjoy kido!!!!
Nice one. Good to see the old liveries again. When the HSTs first came out I hated them because they displaced the Deltics on the ECML, in the same way I hated the Deltics when they first came out because they displaced the steam Pacifics on that route. I'll miss the HSTs when they've gone, though. Definitely one of BR's success stories of the 1970s. Have you seen my archive HSTs at Newcastle in 1989/90?
Yes they do have AC. When they were introduced in 1976 the AC was often too cold (plus the disc brake pad dust go into the system) but now it's much better. The problem is, the air operated doors at the vestibules often don't close along with door windows which are left open, this can often render the AC system useless!
I have to say I've never been on an HST that didn't have the temperature perfect. Plenty of modern units are too hot or too cold but I've never found that with HSTs for some reason.
Interesting that the first 2 seen in the clip 43066 and 43013 still have their valenta engines as of 11/3/08 according to wikipedia and the last 2 43059 and 43073 have 12VP185 engines, BTW I'm going to York soon on the old Grand Central to savour the Valenta power, though I prob will still book a future trip to Devon/Cornwall for the view at Dawlish/Teignmouth
Was the Paxman prime mover a V-12, four stroke, twin-turbo'd unit of about 7" x 8.5" bore and stroke, running at around 1500 RPM? Seems somewhat in between a Cat 3500 series and a GE FDL.
how come the first intercity train on th opposite platform was so different? was that ot a 125? if not, what was it? looks like a cross between a 125 and a class 89 avocet.
It's a real shame that since privatisation, our railways have lost identity. It has been a disjointed load of rubbish and no one knows who to blame if it goes wrong! British Rail was never that good but at least the inter-city 125 was born from it and it was built in England! railways today in the UK?... plastic electronic rubbish which breaks down far too often due to penny pinching shareholders!!
The hilarious thing about this video is that the lady and the child running along the platform part way through the video are family... I recognised them instantly, despite the video being grainy, and I know because I was there on the day.
Thanks for this it brought back memories of my childhood trainspotting down Bristol Temple Meads Cheltenham Birmingham NS, they were my favorite train, and can still remember the first time I saw one. They were defening when you stood next to the power car. Even new somebody that wroked on them at BREL in Derby, he made me a model of a steam train made out of HST parts.
When I was 18, I applied for an apprenticeship at Paxman Diesels, Colchester. I was interviewed and shown around the factory. I saw the V12 Valenta engines, used in the 125's, being made. I also saw them being tested in a sound-proof room: just the engine, bolted on a test bed with a fuel line fed to it and the exhaust ducted away. I didn't realise the engine was running until the engineer opened the door, having first placed ear defenders on himself. The cacophony! A truely memorable event.
Thinking of a trip down to Devon next year and I've always wanted to go on 1 of these.
British engineering at its best!
They are very powerful and very fast!
And an absolute joy to drive at 130 mph!!!
Bloody Well Said......!!!!
I couldn't have put it more succinctly my self!
Woah, fantastic! Lovely to see these, and especially that last power car in the older Intercity livery, thanks for posting :)
they looked at the best in those colours bring intercity back the way it should be!
I love the roar the Valenta engines make!
Amazingly I was there that day... we were on our way to holiday.
Never knew that oh-so unmistakable ding-ding-ding from the announcements had been around this long.
Call me an old romantic. But to hear the sound of the turbo on an HST125 as it pulls out of the station always counjours up happy memories of childhood holidays, and later in life going away to join ships in my days as a merchant seaman. Now all you hear in Leeds station for example is the crappy effort of a Voyager or something. It doesn't make you imagine adventure the like the 125 did. The 125 says I'm powerful and I'll take you somewhere far away - enjoy kido!!!!
I think 43059 was the last Class 43 powercar in Intercity Executive livery and it was repainted in Spring 1993. Great Footage. 5*
heh he, the dogs! :o) Yeh I'd have to agree with you there, they do look splendid!
The Bufferd HST on the left is 43013. Thats running with Network Rails New Measurement train.
Nice one. Good to see the old liveries again. When the HSTs first came out I hated them because they displaced the Deltics on the ECML, in the same way I hated the Deltics when they first came out because they displaced the steam Pacifics on that route. I'll miss the HSTs when they've gone, though. Definitely one of BR's success stories of the 1970s. Have you seen my archive HSTs at Newcastle in 1989/90?
Spot on mate word for word thats what its all about (apart from ive never been a 'ms' or regularly vist leeds lol)
Yes they do have AC. When they were introduced in 1976 the AC was often too cold (plus the disc brake pad dust go into the system) but now it's much better. The problem is, the air operated doors at the vestibules often don't close along with door windows which are left open, this can often render the AC system useless!
All 6 of Grand Central's HST power cars: 43065, 43067, 43068, 43080, 43084, 43123 are still fitted with buffers.
Some class 43's were fitted with buffers when they were used as DVT's for testing the then new class 91 electrics before Mk4 DVT's became available.
I haven't either - guess it's something to add to the list of things to see!
I have to say I've never been on an HST that didn't have the temperature perfect. Plenty of modern units are too hot or too cold but I've never found that with HSTs for some reason.
Interesting that the first 2 seen in the clip 43066 and 43013 still have their valenta engines as of 11/3/08 according to wikipedia and the last 2 43059 and 43073 have 12VP185 engines, BTW I'm going to York soon on the old Grand Central to savour the Valenta power, though I prob will still book a future trip to Devon/Cornwall for the view at Dawlish/Teignmouth
probably was. just looked extremely different. I have to admit that i've never actually seen one with buffers.
nice equipment
would like to see it running in our tracks
i like the virgin trains HST livery
Am i the only one who misses the Flying Bananas, First Generation DMU's and BR? It would appear not. Cool.
Was the Paxman prime mover a V-12, four stroke, twin-turbo'd unit of about 7" x 8.5" bore and stroke, running at around 1500 RPM? Seems somewhat in between a Cat 3500 series and a GE FDL.
i still think the intercity swallow livery is the best HST livery
@sarah19766 Engine: 2,250 bhp (1,678 kW) each power car
how come the first intercity train on th opposite platform was so different? was that ot a 125? if not, what was it?
looks like a cross between a 125 and a class 89 avocet.
I have a hornby model of that traiN
loooked like an nse 50
2x2,250bhp!
ah,before the days of chavs lotering with intent,the days when the chav was yet to be spawned.
Just an HST with buffers wasn't it?
tyhr Intercity livery better then the FGW EMT or any of the privatised train companies
It's a real shame that since privatisation, our railways have lost identity. It has been a disjointed load of rubbish and no one knows who to blame if it goes wrong! British Rail was never that good but at least the inter-city 125 was born from it and it was built in England! railways today in the UK?... plastic electronic rubbish which breaks down far too often due to penny pinching shareholders!!
2:11 to 2:29 I don't those 150s are HST wannabes given the speed they're trying to do!
NO!!! 5000bhp........LOL!
The hilarious thing about this video is that the lady and the child running along the platform part way through the video are family... I recognised them instantly, despite the video being grainy, and I know because I was there on the day.