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Title: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: grahame on March 18, 2019, 19:41:58 Travelling less just at the moment, and with 80x trains being the main line norm in the Swindon area, I'm wondering if today might have been my last ride on a full length, slam door, HST .... The Bristolian, taken from Swindon to Reading
(http://www.wellho.net/pix/final125_001.jpg) I do have a trip to Taunton on Wednesday which might be an HST, and a trip to Shepton Mallet on Friday which certainly won't be ... Anyone else feeling "that was my last proper HST" yet? Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: Kernow Otter on March 18, 2019, 23:04:19 Thinking of it more in terms of 'last pint in the buffet car' these days. Hoping for an HST to Tuckers Maltings Beer Festival on Friday 12 April......
Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: Adelante_CCT on March 19, 2019, 12:57:22 Quote Anyone else feeling "that was my last proper HST" yet? 21:32 from Paddington, Saturday 2nd March. Could be my last Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: Phantom on March 19, 2019, 13:12:21 The 0628 From Exeter (0726 from Weston) to Paddington is still an HST.
Any indication when this will change? Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: Lee on March 19, 2019, 13:21:14 Very soon now they've read that post ;D
Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: SandTEngineer on March 19, 2019, 13:45:31 Details of the rundown can be found here (Health Warning: Only good as todays news):
https://www.125group.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/HST-Diags-GWR.pdf Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: paul7575 on March 19, 2019, 18:03:44 The 0628 From Exeter (0726 from Weston) to Paddington is still an HST. That’s odd,because the evidence in other forums, and on realtimetrains, suggests that 1A08 0628 Exeter to Paddington is already an IET. After arriving at PAD it goes to North Pole depot...Any indication when this will change? Paul Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: SandTEngineer on March 19, 2019, 18:31:58 Confirmed in the list I linked to its not an HST anymore. Saw 5A08 go to North Pole depot this morning on RTT.
Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: paul7575 on March 19, 2019, 18:43:45 Confirmed in the list I linked to its not an HST anymore. Saw 5A08 go to North Pole depot this morning on RTT. Yes, and presumably as that 125 group list doesn’t include the 0628 from Exeter at all, then if it’s been an HST recently it’s been a temporary change? The 5A08 to North Pole that you mentioned is dated from 10 Dec 2018.Paul Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: RichardB on March 19, 2019, 21:01:49 0741 Pnz - Pad and 1703 Pad - Pnz both HSTs today. Different sets (up train had a mini-buffet, down train a full one.)
Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: didcotdean on March 19, 2019, 21:25:28 The 0628 From Exeter (0726 from Weston) to Paddington is still an HST. That’s odd,because the evidence in other forums, and on realtimetrains, suggests that 1A08 0628 Exeter to Paddington is already an IET. After arriving at PAD it goes to North Pole depot...Any indication when this will change? It has usually been an IET from late last year, but the last one I took was an HST, which may well be my last ride on a full length HST. It is the service which on one occasion had to be terminated from the IET having too little fuel after stabling overnight. Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: jamestheredengine on March 20, 2019, 07:58:15 Probably already had mine on the 1648 back from Cardiff (1445 ex Pad) last Wednesday (13 March):
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7915/46702596584_8b2943ccf9_c.jpg) Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: Lee on March 20, 2019, 09:31:15 Rail Magazine article (https://www.railmagazine.com/news/fleet/great-western-railway-calls-time-on-long-distance-hsts) on this.
Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: TaplowGreen on March 20, 2019, 10:44:23 Funnily enough I'm on an HST right now (0931 RDG-PLY) supposes to be an IET but swapped....great fun trying to find Coach E reservations! (but all did!) ....suspect this will be my last HST experience.
Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: grahame on March 20, 2019, 17:48:01 OK ... I started this thread a couple of days ago thinking I had had my final GWR HST ride ... guess what turns up today:
(http://www.wellho.net/pix/final125_002.jpg) Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: JayMac on March 20, 2019, 17:50:57 (http://www.wellho.net/pix/final125_002.jpg) 1. Taunton? ;D Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: rogerpatenall on March 21, 2019, 11:32:40 That's a nice looking train. They don't build them like they used to.
(Mind you, I always chuckle when I see the BTF Blue Pullman film - "all the internal finishes in the latest plastics. . . ") Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: jamestheredengine on March 21, 2019, 17:04:15 OK ... I started this thread a couple of days ago thinking I had had my final GWR HST ride ... guess what turns up today: I too am pleased to be wrong, to have found the buffet car on leaving Cardiff, and to be able to relax with my beer on my Thursday evening journey home. Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: TonyK on March 21, 2019, 17:35:42 I think I had my last go today - only from Exeter St Dave to Tivvy Parkway.
Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: jamestheredengine on March 22, 2019, 18:25:36 I keep thinking that it must be my last HST ride, but we got one on the 1648 back from Cardiff again tonight. Unfortunately, the 1548 was cancelled; so I got the classic shot of why HSTs are the best trains on the network:
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7885/32501523307_76395a49d4_c.jpg) Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: JayMac on March 22, 2019, 18:40:35 Now, I'll admit that's one small thing I will miss. The Friday evening buffet counter crowd. Usually an amenable lot to strike up conversation with, provided they're not on the way to/from rugby, football, races...
Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: SandTEngineer on March 22, 2019, 21:18:22 Announced today:
Quote FGW have announced an HST farewell tour on June 1st. Tickets seemingly only available at this stage from visiting the Long Rock Open Day and buying there. Running Bristol - Paddington - Oxford - Hereford - Abergavenny - Carmarthen - Paddington via Gloucester then finishing with a fast run to Plymouth. No further details yet on price or estimate times. Details on the Long Rock event page on Facebook. Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: JayMac on March 22, 2019, 21:27:22 Any links S&T? Struggling to find a 'Long Rock event page' on FB.
Edit: Found it. https://m.facebook.com/events/2286768211608751?view=permalink&id=2309197576032481 Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: SandTEngineer on March 22, 2019, 21:32:03 Any links S&T? Struggling to find a 'Long Rock event page' on FB. Edit: Found it. https://m.facebook.com/events/2286768211608751?view=permalink&id=2309197576032481 Sorry BNM but I don't do FB. Any chance you could copy and paste it here? Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: JayMac on March 22, 2019, 22:23:08 Of course S&T. Your wish, my command. The post on the Long Rock Open Day Facebook Page says the following:
Quote HST Farewell railtour. To mark the end of service of the HST on intercity routes into Paddington, there will be a special charity railtour on 1 June 2019. The farewell train will go from Bristol - Paddington - Oxford - Hereford - Abergavenny - Carmarthen - Paddington via Gloucester, then finishing with a non-stop trip to Plymouth. Tickets for this special farewell tour of the HST on the Western will be going on sale at Long Rock Open Day. Be there to make sure you get your seat on this very special, once in a lifetime trip. And for those who want tickets to the Long Rock Open Day (still availability as I type): https://billetto.co.uk/e/gwr-longrock-tmd-open-day-2019-tickets-331021 Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: Western Pathfinder on March 22, 2019, 23:35:47 Also this may be of interest
https://www.railadvent.co.uk/2019/03/great-western-railway-announce-class-43-locomotive-farewell-charity-railtour.html. Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: Phantom on March 23, 2019, 09:09:00 1A11 the 0930 from temple meads to paddington this morning is an HST
Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: RichardB on March 23, 2019, 10:40:49 Had a long day in London yesterday - both the Golden Hind (06 53 Plymouth) and the 2103 Pad - Ply were HSTs. Treated myself to a really nice breakfast in the diner on the Hind.
Friday a particularly good day to do this as it is the quietest day of the week for the Hind. Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: bobm on March 23, 2019, 11:24:37 Backs up a point made at a GWR meeting this week (where you were missed Richard). Monday and Friday numbers are down on recent years with many former commuters working from home at the start and/or end of the week.
Thursday nights have very high traffic levels with Sundays throughout the year also heavily loaded. Those latter trains are a problem as engineering work often limits the number of trains which can run. Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: TaplowGreen on March 23, 2019, 11:29:39 Backs up a point made at a GWR meeting this week (where you were missed Richard). Monday and Friday numbers are down on recent years with many former commuters working from home at the start and/or end of the week. Thursday nights have very high traffic levels with Sundays throughout the year also heavily loaded. Those latter trains are a problem as engineering work often limits the number of trains which can run. Sunday afternoon services from the South West towards London have been hugely overcrowded for years and are now becoming ridiculous......even worse on "BBQ Sundays" when there are multiple cancellations....best avoided if you value any semblance of comfort/civilised conditions, especially as we approach Easter/summertime. Hopefully the additional capacity offered by IETs will help, but only if there are drivers to drive them & they're not shortformed. Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: Richard Fairhurst on March 23, 2019, 12:52:32 Backs up a point made at a GWR meeting this week (where you were missed Richard). Monday and Friday numbers are down on recent years with many former commuters working from home at the start and/or end of the week. Another strong argument in favour of offering part-time season tickets (proper ones, not SWR's unsatisfactory Carnet). Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: Adelante_CCT on March 24, 2019, 21:00:15 An update on the special tour
Quote Ticket information for the Charity RailTour The tour is divided up into several legs: Bristol Temple Meads to London Paddington, calling at Bath Spa, Chippenham, Swindon, Didcot Parkway, Reading and London Paddington. London Paddington round trip via Carmarthen, calling at Reading, Didcot Parkway, Oxford, Moreton-In-Marsh, Worcester Shrub Hill, Hereford, Newport South Wales, Port Talbot Parkway, CARMARTHEN, Swansea, Cardiff Central, Gloucester, Swindon, Didcot Parkway, Reading and London Paddington. Then the final leg will be from London Paddington to Plymouth non-stop. Tickets will be available for the individual legs and a special whole day ticket. All of which will be non refundable. There will be no part fares available for any of the legs stated. As long as you have purchased a Long Rock Open Day ticket, you will be emailed a link on the 13 April in order to purchase tickets for the Railtour. Ticket sales will be limited to two per transaction. Tickets will be sold on a first come first served basis and any unsold tickets will go on general sale at 15:00 on 13 April. Ticket prices will be released shortly. Remember. All profits from the Long Rock Open Day will go to the Penlee Lifeboat station. All profits from the Charity Railtour will go to Action for Children. Details of the power cars to be used will be released nearer the time and will be subject to operational requirements. Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: IndustryInsider on March 24, 2019, 22:05:14 Blimey, that's a tour and a half!
So much for GWR wanting to let HSTs disappear without any fanfare or publicity. Time for a new crystal ball, Broadgage? ;) Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: broadgage on March 24, 2019, 23:08:44 Blimey, that's a tour and a half! So much for GWR wanting to let HSTs disappear without any fanfare or publicity. Time for a new crystal ball, Broadgage? ;) Time to give it a good polish I feel, not replacement. Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: Sixty3Closure on March 27, 2019, 18:28:01 Got a trip to Scotland in May that I'm expecting to be a HST. Not quite on the GWR network but possibly my last HST trip.
Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: bobm on March 30, 2019, 12:04:50 If you have £270 to spare you can buy a set of HST window carriage labels...
https://www.gwrsouvenirs.co.uk/index.php/shop/gwr-carriage-window-labels-mixed-box.html (https://www.gwrsouvenirs.co.uk/index.php/shop/gwr-carriage-window-labels-mixed-box.html) Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: grahame on March 30, 2019, 12:15:20 If you have £270 to spare you can buy a set of HST window carriage labels... https://www.gwrsouvenirs.co.uk/index.php/shop/gwr-carriage-window-labels-mixed-box.html (https://www.gwrsouvenirs.co.uk/index.php/shop/gwr-carriage-window-labels-mixed-box.html) £1.13 per label ... 7140 labels in total for sale to generate £8100. Don't you love a statistician! Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: bobm on March 30, 2019, 12:18:58 They had 30 boxes available, now have 26, so have sold 4.
Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: broadgage on March 30, 2019, 12:28:48 Bizarre IMHO, I can see the desire for souvenirs and memorabilia, but simple printed notices ?
Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: TaplowGreen on March 30, 2019, 12:35:13 If you have £270 to spare you can buy a set of HST window carriage labels... https://www.gwrsouvenirs.co.uk/index.php/shop/gwr-carriage-window-labels-mixed-box.html (https://www.gwrsouvenirs.co.uk/index.php/shop/gwr-carriage-window-labels-mixed-box.html) Good Lord.......are there really people with that much more money than sense? What on earth would you do with them? 😂 Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: broadgage on March 30, 2019, 12:39:02 Three Pullman meals could be purchased for that money, perhaps four if going easy on the drink.
Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: Western Pathfinder on March 30, 2019, 12:48:24 Only the one bottle of Port then !😁
Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: grahame on March 30, 2019, 12:49:17 Three Pullman meals could be purchased for that money, perhaps four if going easy on the drink. But after the meals are long, long gone you'll still have those labels to admire. Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: martyjon on March 30, 2019, 13:52:26 Guess someone slightly over-ordered, perhaps entered an extra 'zero' to the quantity unintentionally.
Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: TaplowGreen on March 30, 2019, 16:36:05 Guess someone slightly over-ordered, perhaps entered an extra 'zero' to the quantity unintentionally. …….that public sector procurement genius never really goes away! :D Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: bobm on March 30, 2019, 16:41:44 Description says "Each box contains 238 different labels used on the GWR services for the period from January to May 2019." Now does that mean 1 of each of 238 variants used across a week?
Given each train uses at least eight if not more individual labels having 30 boxes left over doesn't seem to over generous. Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: TaplowGreen on March 30, 2019, 16:50:20 Three Pullman meals could be purchased for that money, perhaps four if going easy on the drink. But after the meals are long, long gone you'll still have those labels to admire. ……..or indeed, should toilet paper be included in the list of post Brexit shortages, a ready made (albeit a little rough) replacement! ;D Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: eightonedee on March 30, 2019, 17:37:57 Quote Guess someone slightly over-ordered, perhaps entered an extra 'zero' to the quantity unintentionally. Perhaps they had no confidence that the dot matrix destination signs on the side of the IETs would work, so ordered some just in case. I wonder when they will feel confident enough to sell boxes of seat reservation tickets as HST souvenirs? Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: smokey on March 31, 2019, 19:40:25 On the 12th November 2011 London Midland ran a "Farewell Class 150".
150 001 and 150 106 ran around the West Midlands including a run along the SVR to Bridgnorth. Next day I arrived at Worcester SH for a Train to Birmingham and found myself riding on 150 001 (my first ride on the 3 car 150/0s). Not sure if the 150s are still used in the Midlands but some 150s were used for years after the Farewell tour, but with Stock shortages I won't write off Full length HSTs on GWR for a while Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: tomL on April 01, 2019, 00:07:11 Yesterday (Sunday, 31/01/2019) 1A10 (early morning up Weston-Super-Mare/Bristol service) was formed of a 9 car IET which makes me think my last scheduled/planned HST trip has come and gone. :-\
Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: Richard Fairhurst on April 02, 2019, 08:58:57 I was sorry to just miss the last (?) Cotswold HST on Sunday. We were in Worcester, dropping the boat off at Lowesmoor Basin for blacking. Walking out of the basin we checked Live Departures to see when the next train home from Shrub Hill would be... only to hear a rumble and a hoot, turn round, and see the HST inching along the embankment. Five minutes earlier and we'd have made it...
Nice touch of GWR to put the retro Intercity Swallow power car on it. Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: Gordon the Blue Engine on April 02, 2019, 10:15:21 I didn’t post at the time, but I had planned my last HST bash for last Thursday. Plan was 0933 Reading – Totnes arr 1151, then back on the 1228 to Reading with a Pullman lunch.
With the events at Stoke Cannon this was not to be. Perhaps surprisingly, there was no information at Reading on the likely disruption to the 0933 prior to departure. But as soon as we were on board the Train Manager gave out clear information as she received it, and spent the whole journey to Taunton (where we terminated) walking through the train helping people. At Taunton there were many passengers waiting onward journeys. As I was on a jolly I decided to vacate the area quickly and caught the first train north, which was the 1104 to Cardiff. Half an hour on a crowded 150 was quite enough so I hopped off at WSM and had fish and chips on the prom - very nice, but not quite the same as a Pullman lunch. Returned to Reading on an 80x. The TM on the 0933 from Reading, the gateline and platform staff at Taunton, and the Conductor on the 1104 from Taunton were all excellent, giving out information, helping stressed out passengers and remaining calm. Well done and thank you to them. Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: Robin Summerhill on April 03, 2019, 14:58:14 Anyone wanting a "fix" of HSTs would have enjoyed being at Bristol TM at 1215 today. I arrived on the 1030 PAD to WSM to find three of them around the place:
A full 8 set waiting to work the 1300 to Paddington on platform 15 Presumably a 4-car set (I didn't think to check) on platform 3 working a Taunton to Cardiff Another one lurking on one of platforms 5 to 8 that I didn't manage to identify the service - may have been ECS by then Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: JayMac on April 05, 2019, 19:39:36 Provisional timings for the GWR HST Charity Railtour on Saturday 1st June 2019 are now in RealTime Trains.
The train starts the day at St Phillips Marsh then on to Bristol Temple Meads at oh-my-god o'clock. From there it's off to Paddington via Bath, Chippenham, Swindon, Didcot and Reading. After a half hour turn round the special then heads for Carmarthen via Reading, Didcot, Oxford, Charlbury, Moreton-in-Marsh, Worcester, Hereford, Newport, Cardiff, Port Talbot and Llanelli. After about 20 minutes in Carmarthan the HST then returns to Paddington via Swansea, Cardiff, Gloucester (via Chepstow), Swindon (via Kemble), Didcot and Reading. Finally, after another 30 minute turnround at Paddington, the special runs nonstop to Plymouth via the Berks & Hants. ECS off St Phillips Marsh: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/V43775/2019/06/01/advanced Bristol TM to Paddington: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/V43771/2019/06/01/advanced Paddington to Carmarthen via Cotswold Line: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/V43772/2019/06/01/advanced Carmarthen to Paddington via Gloucester: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/V43773/2019/06/01/advanced Paddington to Plymouth non-stop: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/V43774/2019/06/01/advanced ECS Plymouth to Laira: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/V43770/2019/06/01/advanced Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: Celestial on April 05, 2019, 21:47:22 Have the prices been released for this yet? I'm guessing it's not going to be cheap.
Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: JayMac on April 05, 2019, 22:48:30 Have the prices been released for this yet? I'm guessing it's not going to be cheap. No detail on prices yet. It remains the case that attendees of the Long Rock Open Day on April 13th will be offered the first chance to buy tickets. Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: Robin Summerhill on April 05, 2019, 23:19:04 No detail on prices yet. It remains the case that attendees of the Long Rock Open Day on April 13th will be offered the first chance to buy tickets. Assuming that means the trip is aimed at people from Plymouth (where the special terminates), how are they going to get to Bristol by daft-o-clock in the morning to join the train in the first place? Similarly, anyone from Bristol who gets up at "sparrow yawn" to join the train, ends up in Plymouth at 2203 that night, with no chance of getting home before the next day. Perhaps I'm being dense, but this doesn't seen to be particularly well thought out to me. Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: JayMac on April 05, 2019, 23:53:44 I fully expect the special to be ticketed such that you can chose specific legs. It just isn't practical to do the whole day unless you are a real diehard/masochistic HST fan.
Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: martyjon on April 06, 2019, 06:44:25 I fully expect the special to be ticketed such that you can chose specific legs. It just isn't practical to do the whole day unless you are a real diehard/masochistic HST fan. I'm privvy to one whose travel plans once he's got his ticket are :- Friday, travel to Bristol and early night in Holiday Inn Express, Temple Gate, Bristol. Saturday, the trip followed by Saturday night in the Copthorne Hotel, Drakes Way, Plymouth. Sunday, return home to Penarth. His very first train ride at the age of three was on an HST day trip from Bristol to York with his mum, dad and grandfather. It was a Fielding and Watts Railtour of which the Watts side of the name remains in the railtour business to this day in the guise of Pathfinder Tours. Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: TaplowGreen on April 06, 2019, 09:11:22 I fully expect the special to be ticketed such that you can chose specific legs. It just isn't practical to do the whole day unless you are a real diehard/masochistic HST fan. I'm privvy to one whose travel plans once he's got his ticket are :- Friday, travel to Bristol and early night in Holiday Inn Express, Temple Gate, Bristol. Saturday, the trip followed by Saturday night in the Copthorne Hotel, Drakes Way, Plymouth. Sunday, return home to Penarth. His very first train ride at the age of three was on an HST day trip from Bristol to York with his mum, dad and grandfather. It was a Fielding and Watts Railtour of which the Watts side of the name remains in the railtour business to this day in the guise of Pathfinder Tours. I hope the Copthorne has improved since the last time I stayed there, although it is very handy for North Road Station! :) Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: SandTEngineer on April 06, 2019, 09:29:04 ....I think you might find the waiting room at North Road much more comfortable.... ;D
Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: TaplowGreen on April 06, 2019, 09:36:08 ....I think you might find the waiting room at North Road much more comfortable.... ;D in my experience it was less about the comfort, more about the unfortunate aromas...……..I found myself looking under the bed, opening cupboards/doors warily, CSI style, half expecting to find a dead body...….the explanation was that my room was "over the kitchens"...….I cancelled my dinner reservation and headed for Cap'n Jaspers. Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: SandTEngineer on April 08, 2019, 20:39:14 A poster on the WNXX Forum has published provisional details of the last HST runs on Saturday 18 May 2019:
Quote Saturday 18th May, final day diagrams 0657 PLY PAD 1045 PAD SWA 1429 SWA PAD 1830 PAD TAU 2132 TAU EXD 0729 EXD PAD 1121 PAD GMV 1435 GMV PAD 1815 PAD CNM 0645 BRI SWA 0929 SWA PAD 1330 PAD BRI 1600 BRI PAD 1822 PAD HFD 0650 PNZ PAD 1300 PAD BRI 1530 BRI PAD 1803 PAD PLY Plan is for 1803/1815/1822/1830 departures to be side by side in Paddington Plats1-4. Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: TaplowGreen on April 11, 2019, 10:20:29 .....managed to fit in another one....on 0931 Reading-Plymouth!
Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: grahame on April 11, 2019, 19:15:41 I fully expect the special to be ticketed such that you can chose specific legs. It just isn't practical to do the whole day unless you are a real diehard/masochistic HST fan. From Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/events/2286768211608751/permalink/2321236948161877/) Quote The Flying Banana, Saturday 1st June 2019. Stage One - Bristol Temple Meads to London Paddington via Bath Spa, Chippenham, Swindon, Didcot Parkway, Reading and London Paddington. Second Stage - London Paddington to London Paddington via Carmarthen. Calling at Reading, Didcot Parkway, Oxford, Moreton-In-Marsh, Worcester Shrub Hill, Hereford, Newport South Wales, Port Talbot Parkway, CARMARTHEN, Swansea, Cardiff Central, Gloucester, Swindon, Didcot Parkway, Reading and London Paddington. Then the third and final leg will be from London Paddington to Plymouth non-stop. Tickets will also be valid for use on other GWR services on the date in question to allow attendees to travel to and from the charter in the appropriate class. All the sales will be non-refundable and profits will be donated to Action for Children. GWR, as part of First Group, is working with Action for Children to support the mental health of the UK's most disadvantaged children. STD Class - Whole trip all inclusive: Adult - £148 Child - £74 1st Class? Whole trip all inclusive, with weekend 1st class offering and goodie bag: Adult - £253 Child - £126.50 Only those named on the ticket will be able to travel, please ensure you carry valid photographic identification for the duration of your journey GWR cannot take any responsibility for any loss or damage. It's a charity event, Railcards can't be used and the tickets are non-refundable. Proposed timings and ticket sales for this charter will be released for all calling points on Saturday 13th April 2019 at 0800. Finally, please read the following carefully: From 0800 until 1500 on Saturday 13th April 2019 only those with a Long Rock Open Day ticket will be able to purchase tickets. A link to the purchase site will be distributed to the email address that has been provided at point of purchase for the open day. The link will only be valid for the recipient of the original email. Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: JayMac on April 12, 2019, 18:00:30 An update on the tickets for the charity railtour on 1st June.
GWR have said that they will be valid on any GWR scheduled services to Bristol Temple Meads on Friday, 31st May, and valid from Plymouth on Sunday 2nd June. Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: SandTEngineer on April 12, 2019, 18:15:27 Post Deleted (Duplicated information posted elsewhere by BNM) :P
Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: JayMac on April 12, 2019, 18:27:50 Times for the special(s) now in RTT. Already posted here: http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=21229.msg262172#msg262172 One-all. :P :D ;D Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: SandTEngineer on April 12, 2019, 18:32:12 Times for the special(s) now in RTT. Already posted here: http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=21229.msg262172#msg262172 One-all. :P :D ;D OK, OK. I'll give you that one. I've deleted my post above your last one. ::) Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: rogerw on April 14, 2019, 16:20:46 Tickets now on sale. Standards only for each of the three legs, standard and first for the whole tour.
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-flying-banana-tickets-59925300186?fbclid=IwAR2ZKF9-w8hHEJUByiJMJJb8fkn5kP2mu_Rnnfaxqzc6shJX_5lwKSDVvKc (https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-flying-banana-tickets-59925300186?fbclid=IwAR2ZKF9-w8hHEJUByiJMJJb8fkn5kP2mu_Rnnfaxqzc6shJX_5lwKSDVvKc) Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: bobm on April 14, 2019, 16:52:10 Just noticed they have released a few tickets for single legs of the journey
Bristol to Paddington £85 Paddington to Paddington (via Carmarthen) £125 Paddington to Plymouth £100 Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: Celestial on April 14, 2019, 18:59:46 I would have gone for first class but sadly they all went yesterday. 17 hours in standard class seems too much of an ordeal, especially if not in a window seat and not knowing the person next to you.
Shame GWR didn't add an extra first class coach, as I'm sure they would have sold it easily. (Yes I know that would have made timings a bit more difficult but I'm sure it could be done.) Or maybe switched a standard to first given there are still quite a few seats available. I expect out of the limited first seats some have been set aside for the dignitaries. (I'm not saying that is wrong but it will have reduced the number available for ordinary folk.) Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: grahame on April 17, 2019, 12:49:35 Subject to confirmation
Quote GWR have just announced that if you want to travel on the Last HST from Paddington you will require a seat reservation .... Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: bobm on April 17, 2019, 13:06:08 ...and those reservations have opened today.
Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: JayMac on April 17, 2019, 15:12:21 Just bought my ticket and reserved my seat.
Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: bobm on April 17, 2019, 15:14:31 Just bought my ticket and reserved my seat. Secondman’s seat, leading power car. ;D Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: JayMac on April 17, 2019, 15:17:08 I wish!
I did sit in the secondman's seat of a Class 57 used by GWR the other day. It wasn't going very fast though. (http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt68/bignosemac/Long%20Rock%20Open%20Day%2013%20April%202019/IMG_20190413_104806_zpslbrlshgl.jpg) Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: Robin Summerhill on April 17, 2019, 16:43:27 Subject to confirmation Quote GWR have just announced that if you want to travel on the Last HST from Paddington you will require a seat reservation .... I can't find this information on the GWR website. Has anybody got a link to it? Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: Rob on the hill on April 17, 2019, 17:08:23 Subject to confirmation Quote GWR have just announced that if you want to travel on the Last HST from Paddington you will require a seat reservation .... I can't find this information on the GWR website. Has anybody got a link to it? https://www.gwr.com/about-us/media-centre/news/2019/april/the-time-and-date-of-the-last-high-speed-train-to-run?fbclid=IwAR13a_o6V1orAzjcoSPJo3i4pA5hx55gO4MA2kZa1jnI9xHQdWQPvrrB6io Quote The time and date of the last High Speed Train to run Wednesday 17th April 2019 Bumper turnout expected for last High Speed Train Service from Paddington With large crowds expected to watch the last, regular High Speed Train depart London Paddington, GWR has announced that seats on board the memorable service will be reservation only. After over 40 years’ in operation on the Great Western network, the High Speed Train is being replaced with bullet-style Intercity Express Trains, and the very last regularly timetable service will be the 18:30 from Paddington to Taunton on Saturday 18 May. The train is being extended to Exeter St Davids, and with demand to travel on board expected to be very high, the service will be entirely reservation only, and passengers will have to hold a valid seat reservation to be able to board. Click here to book your ticket. An additional 18:32 Intercity Express Train is also being provided for those who do not wish to be on the last regularly timetabled High Speed Train. 1832 Intercity Express Train GWR Managing Director, Mark Hopwood said: “The High Speed Train has served the Western region for nearly 43 years, making a major impact on Intercity travel not only here in the west but across the country. This last train marks a major milestone in the transformation of the Great Western Railway, with the completion of our Intercity Express Train rollout, prior to timetable changes tomorrow (May 19th), and again in December which will see us deliver more seats, and more frequent and quicker journeys as we benefit from the modernisation of our network.” Those opting to travel to Paddington to record the event will be able to do so and special designated areas are being set aside for enthusiasts to be able to photograph and film safely. In addition to the 18:30 service, the 18:03 departure to Plymouth, the 18:15 departure to Cheltenham Spa and the 18:22 departure to Hereford are also due to be formed of High Speed Trains, subject to operational requirements, providing a unique, farewell line-up at Paddington. The HST will make a return to Paddington for a special charity charter tour on 1 June which will be raising money for First Group’s chosen charity, Action for Children. Tickets for this special charter are available here. Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: PhilWakely on April 17, 2019, 19:05:24 Just bought my ticket and reserved my seat. Secondman’s seat, leading power car. ;D You mean, like this ;D ;) (https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1PWDgwSTEa6FMBAQVLTikwY8s9KnlLfD1) and the view at the time.......... (https://drive.google.com/uc?id=12CV24WG4qpCroadSFOaF-1G-G_jtUYQE) Thankfully, the arm and leg that were given to charity have since grown back :D Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: Bob_Blakey on April 17, 2019, 19:42:08 Quote GWR have just announced that if you want to travel on the Last HST from Paddington you will require a seat reservation .... Compulsory seat reservations on a service that GWR know is going to be very busy? Who would have thought it! ;D Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: Robin Summerhill on April 17, 2019, 19:54:53 That press release seems to imply that compulsory seat reservation only applies from Paddington and not from intermediate stops, or perhaps no-one thought of clarifying it. What do the members here think?
Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: Phantom on April 18, 2019, 09:44:08 That press release seems to imply that compulsory seat reservation only applies from Paddington and not from intermediate stops, or perhaps no-one thought of clarifying it. What do the members here think? How would something like this be controlled? Would be easy to get through the barriers at Paddington with a normal train ticket, surely there are not people checking at every door onto the train? Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: Celestial on April 18, 2019, 10:18:34 That press release seems to imply that compulsory seat reservation only applies from Paddington and not from intermediate stops, or perhaps no-one thought of clarifying it. What do the members here think? How would something like this be controlled? Would be easy to get through the barriers at Paddington with a normal train ticket, surely there are not people checking at every door onto the train? I bet they will be for that train. I would have thought there will be enough staff on board doing the trip that they could act as "door monitors". Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: Robin Summerhill on April 18, 2019, 14:28:51 That press release seems to imply that compulsory seat reservation only applies from Paddington and not from intermediate stops, or perhaps no-one thought of clarifying it. What do the members here think? How would something like this be controlled? Would be easy to get through the barriers at Paddington with a normal train ticket, surely there are not people checking at every door onto the train? I bet they will be for that train. I would have thought there will be enough staff on board doing the trip that they could act as "door monitors". Clearly the idea at Padington is that those without a reservation will be directed to the 1832 relief that is also running. The relief is booked to overtake the service train at Reading, and actually run in the path of the 1830 from that point onwards. So from Reading and beyond, any "ordinary" passenger that turns up for the train will get on the relief, blissfully unaware that the train they are actually on is the relief and not the service train (and I very much doubt that the average passenger would give a hoot anyway, let alone two... :) ) For anybody interested, I show below the intermediate timings currently showing on RTT as far as Chippenham:
Oddited for teepees again... Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: grahame on April 18, 2019, 19:06:02 Not a ride ... but surprised to see an HST calling at Swindon at 20:05 last night ... next stop Bristol Parkway, then Bristol Temple Meads.
(http://www.wellho.net/pix/lastseen.jpg) Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: Kernow Otter on April 18, 2019, 22:49:36 Thinking of it more in terms of 'last pint in the buffet car' these days. Hoping for an HST to Tuckers Maltings Beer Festival on Friday 12 April...... Managed it last week. HST buffet car PLY to NTA, with a Tribute, followed by a beer festival. What's not to like ! A great final ride. Happy days. Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: martyjon on April 19, 2019, 07:20:24 When HST's were introduced on XC services were they 8 or 7 carriages. If 7 then I had a ride on two types of full length XC HST'S to NTA for the beer festival last Friday. BRI to NTA on a XC slam door 7 carriage HST returning NTA to BRI on the 1, so far, 7 carriage sliding door XC HST.
I didn't know XC had a converted HST set, might be news to other forum members too. One adverse comment on the sliding door set, the scrolling display in the centre of the carriage is, I assume, fed by cabling contained in a plastic conduit pipe from the carriage floor to the display unit which is attached to a partition inserted between two back to back central seats. I would have thought this cabling could have been routed via the overhead luggage racks with the wiring for the overhead seat lighting and the electronic seat reservation. I did note that the seat reservation panels on the luggage racks were illuminated but not whether they were actually displaying 'seat reserved' because in our case blank 'seat reserved' tickets were inserted in the reserved seats. On the whole though the refurbishment has certainly given a new lease of life for the 40 odd year old stock Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: Rob on the hill on April 19, 2019, 09:38:51 Not a ride ... but surprised to see an HST calling at Swindon at 20:05 last night ... next stop Bristol Parkway, then Bristol Temple Meads. (http://www.wellho.net/pix/lastseen.jpg) That would have been 1U28 1912 from Paddington non-stop to Swindon. This diagram is normally worked by an IET, but a HST was substituted to cover for the day. Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: REVUpminster on April 28, 2019, 09:58:20 Saturday 27 April the 16.03 Paddington- Plymouth was a full length HST. Buffet was advertised on the indicator board. Train had two café workers (hosts?); one provided the at seat service in 1st class, but they had no hot food or sandwiches. I suppose it was a last minute change although it arrived in passenger service full of rubbish that the cleaners had to clear before it left.
At Newton Abbot in the morning the 05.24 Bristol- Penzance was a short HST (I been on it when it was a two coach 150) but I don't think this one was with sliding doors. Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: Jason on April 29, 2019, 09:59:55 1A70 Frome to Paddington this morning was advertised as an 8 car and a HST duly showed up. Lovely, airy, spacious.
Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: Rob on the hill on April 29, 2019, 13:59:37 1A70 Frome to Paddington this morning was advertised as an 8 car and a HST duly showed up. Lovely, airy, spacious. Looks like that was HST just for today! According to a Facebook post the HST diagram for the rest of the week starts with 1A71 0451 Plymouth to Paddington. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1129346853914586&set=pcb.539040223287239&type=3&theater&ifg=1 Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: Timmer on April 29, 2019, 17:17:56 Down to just three diagrams, all on the WoE line.
Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: TaplowGreen on May 01, 2019, 09:38:21 One more for me! On the 0931 Reading-Plymouth! All reservations were configured for an IET however which caused some entertainment!
Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: Timmer on May 01, 2019, 09:48:51 One more for me! On the 0931 Reading-Plymouth! Enjoy!Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: Rob on the hill on May 01, 2019, 11:19:46 One more for me! On the 0931 Reading-Plymouth! All reservations were configured for an IET however which caused some entertainment! This is 1C74 which is being worked by 43027 and 43191. 43027 has been debranded and is due to go off-lease, and apparently is on this diagram to get it to Laira. So you are on the last timetabled working of 43027! Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: TaplowGreen on May 01, 2019, 11:59:58 One more for me! On the 0931 Reading-Plymouth! All reservations were configured for an IET however which caused some entertainment! That may explain the number of spotters en route. This is 1C74 which is being worked by 43027 and 43191. 43027 has been debranded and is due to go off-lease, and apparently is on this diagram to get it to Laira. So you are on the last timetabled working of 43027! Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: REVUpminster on May 01, 2019, 22:31:33 Picked up a HST at Newton Abbot today. Was the 0647 Penzance- Paddington. I wrote the number down and left it behind but the front engine was named Harry Patch. Bacon Rolls (they don't do bacon croissants) all round.
Saw a 345 Crossrail at Reading arriving at 11.56 on a test run?? Had no passengers. Return was a 2x5 coach IET 19.03 ex Paddington-Plymouth. Trolly arrived, double manned, 1hr 43m into journey on approach to Taunton. It arrived from the non-kitchen end. No ticket check on this train. Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: Rob on the hill on May 02, 2019, 15:08:06 Picked up a HST at Newton Abbot today. Was the 0647 Penzance- Paddington. I wrote the number down and left it behind but the front engine was named Harry Patch. "Harry Patch - The last survivor of the trenches" is 43172, one of GWR's "celebrity" power cars. It is due to go into storage once off-lease, and hopefully it will be preserved. Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: WSW Frome on May 02, 2019, 16:51:32 Had my last two "scheduled" HST rides over the past two days on a trip from Frome to St Ives. Outward on 1C74 from Castle Cary and return on 1A87. For my onward journey from PLY I chose to wait a short while for the Cornish Riviera, since the immediate connection was a two car 150 (CDF-PNZ!) and rammed. Very sensible and I got my first taste of an IET (2x5). Reasonable impression in standard class and got used to the seats. Catering trolley appeared with two hosts but no hot water due to boiler probs.(Is it so hi-tech?) I was assured there was a trolley in both halves. Also some interesting travelling companions, eg a Syrian refugee with medical issue on his leg en-route to Camborne for a holiday! and two real locals with a magnificent dog.
The return journey also very smooth with a 3 car 158 from St Erth. The incoming HST was quite late into PLY and the catering crew appeared a little flustered. I did get my fine Pullman lunch main course at Tiverton. Regarding previous post, I did not notice any set swap at PLY but had little time to see. I did not note the power car numbers but a poor photo taken when the train was leaving Westbury "appears" to show 43 00X up front. This was an un-named green livery power car. So two excellent trips as a final memory of West Country HSTs. I was able to secure a ticket for the Charity Special (mid-section) so will also get to enjoy the Cotswolds and South Wales in June. I had expected all tickets to be sold at Long Rock - but many remained around two weeks ago. Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: rogerpatenall on May 03, 2019, 11:54:09 As someone who, for historical reasons, is always interested in the service provision at Castle Cary, I am intrigued that, in the new timetable, on Saturdays, the 1003 Paddington - Penzance "Cornish Riviera' makes its sole passenger stop between Reading and Exeter at Castle Cary. I am not sure why, as there does not appear to be any logical connection made there, apart from perhaps a 25 minute connection out of a down Weymouth train.
As youngsters we often made the Saturday morning trip to Taunton for the cricket - but that doesn't work without a T**nt*n stop. Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: Richard Fairhurst on May 04, 2019, 11:47:25 I just saw an HST heading out of Oxford towards the Cotswold Line - an unexpected working?
Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: martyjon on May 04, 2019, 11:55:56 I just saw an HST heading out of Oxford towards the Cotswold Line - an unexpected working? Might have been going off lease for storage at Long Marston. Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: didcotdean on May 04, 2019, 12:05:39 A shuffle of the diagrams apparently, with the root cause being the engineering line closure between Newbury and Bedwyn.
Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: Rob on the hill on May 04, 2019, 12:14:20 I just saw an HST heading out of Oxford towards the Cotswold Line - an unexpected working? Might have been going off lease for storage at Long Marston. 1W02 1022 Paddington to Hereford, then working 1P65 1513 Hereford to Paddington 1C95 1848 Paddington to Plymouth via Melksham Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: Rob on the hill on May 04, 2019, 12:40:53 Other HST workings for today:
1Z83 1000 Penzance to Paddington via Bristol TM 1C22 1630 Paddington to Paignton via Bristol TM 2E57 2044 Paignton to Exeter SD 1Z76 0657 Plymouth to Paddington via Bristol TM 1C12 1130 Paddington to Bristol TM 1A20 1400 Bristol TM to Paddington 1C89 1648 Paddington to Penzance via Swindon and Westbury Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: Rob on the hill on May 04, 2019, 20:45:07 2+8 GWR HST workings for 5th May (subject to change):
1Z78 0835 Plymouth to Paddington via Bristol TM (Taunton to Reading non-stop) 1C84 1251 Paddington to Penzance via Bristol TM (Swindon to Taunton non-stop) 1A83 0947 Penzance to Paddington via Westbury, (passing Melksham, Chippenham and Swindon) 1G52 1630 Paddington to Cheltenham Spa 1L94 1946 Cheltenham Spa to Paddington 1C35 Paddington to Bristol TM Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: bobm on May 06, 2019, 10:35:34 1Z76 0657 Plymouth to Paddington via Bristol TM 1C12 1130 Paddington to Bristol TM 1A20 1400 Bristol TM to Paddington 1C89 1648 Paddington to Penzance via Swindon and Westbury I was out an about on Saturday taking advantage of the closure of the B&H line which meant a few more HSTs through Swindon and managed to capture the train working three of the four diagrams above (http://www.mbob.co.uk/rforum/lhsthi1.jpg) 43172 Harry Patch bringing up the rear of 1Z76 near Highworth Junction east of Swindon (http://www.mbob.co.uk/rforum/lhsthi2.jpg) 43185 Great Western heads up 1A20 having just left Swindon ** As already posted by grahame (http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=21527.msg264342#msg264342)the set also took a trip through Melksham - for completeness here are a couple I took standing alongside him (http://www.mbob.co.uk/rforum/lhstmkm1.jpg) (http://www.mbob.co.uk/rforum/lhstmkm.jpg) ** I didn't spend all day standing at Highworth Junction - in between I went to look at some heritage motive power of an earlier era! (http://www.mbob.co.uk/rforum/sc5619.jpg) Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: rogerw on May 12, 2019, 14:18:25 Much to my surprise their was an HST on the 1133 Paddington to Carmarthan today. When I saw it at Paddington I was hoping that it was booked for the 1130 Paignton - hopes dashed.
Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: Rob on the hill on May 12, 2019, 16:22:03 Much to my surprise their was an HST on the 1133 Paddington to Carmarthan today. When I saw it at Paddington I was hoping that it was booked for the 1130 Paignton - hopes dashed. It's then due to work: 1L90 1655 Carmarthen to Paddington 1C33 2206 Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: Jason on May 13, 2019, 07:40:12 Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: TonyK on May 17, 2019, 18:45:22 I'm not normally a train spotter as such, but I couldn't help but notice a HST at Exeter St Davids as I was driving past earlier. Later, as I collected Mrs TK (the brains of the outfit, and formerly Mrs FT,N!) from Tivvy parkway, I noticed a camera set up on the up platform. Were these events related, I wondered?
Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: bobm on May 17, 2019, 18:47:35 What time was that?
Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: Robin Summerhill on May 18, 2019, 12:45:09 Quote from: bignosemac Finn and I shall be travelling on the final timetabled service, the 1830 from London Paddington to Taunton. He could well be the last dog to ride a full fat HST to the west! If any other forum members are out and about at Paddington, or on the final train, do say hi. My "last day festivities" started by going to Badminton this morning to take some shots of the 0929 SWA PAD I shall be going down to Bristol early this afternoon then up to Paddington on either the 1530 or 1600 departure, and then coming back on the 1830. So who do I look out for at Paddington? Someone with a big nose and a dog?! ;D I will be the scrawny-looking pensioner with more hair than is probablly good for him at his age ;D Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: bradshaw on May 18, 2019, 13:19:19 From the Railway Performance Society via Twitter
Quote Last Intercity 125 High Speed train update: 1B25 running on one powercar between Swindon and Bristol Parkway - now 15 min late - max speed 102mph. Uncertainty as to whether the train will complete its planned diagram including the Last 18.30 Taunton. Cannot see the 1830 being swapped for an IET, more likely, if needed, one of the other sets might be swapped. Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: JayMac on May 18, 2019, 14:38:38 So who do I look out for at Paddington? Someone with a big nose and a dog?! That's pretty much it. I'm sporting my grey flat cap today too. Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: JayMac on May 18, 2019, 14:41:51 From the Railway Performance Society via Twitter Quote Last Intercity 125 High Speed train update: 1B25 running on one powercar between Swindon and Bristol Parkway - now 15 min late - max speed 102mph. Uncertainty as to whether the train will complete its planned diagram including the Last 18.30 Taunton. Cannot see the 1830 being swapped for an IET, more likely, if needed, one of the other sets might be swapped. That set is now back up to two power cars. Kenny G (43002) has been resurrected. Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: TonyK on May 18, 2019, 15:15:47 Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: JayMac on May 18, 2019, 18:43:50 Always a great believer in don't ask, don't get, I approached Dan Panes to see if I could go onto the platform where Sir Kenneth Grange (human version) was doing a photo-call next to Sir Kenneth Grange (Class 43 version). Dan provided me with a press pass and I'm now reporting as a member of this forum on the final service. Dan Panes knows who I am on the forum. My notoriety precedes me. He reminded me of my discription of him on this forum as 'Mark Hopwood's human shield'. He's taken it in good grace though. I suspect if he hadn't he wouldn't have given me the pass.
My thanks also to GWR's Paul Gentleman who has provided me with a seat for invited guests in Coach J next to the buffet. I'm hoping, a little later, to get a few words with Mark Hopwood and Sir Kenneth Grange to relay back here. I'll probably do a quick video interview. EDIT: There's been some concern raised that it could be seen that I had blagged a guest pass and overstated my connection with the forum. It started with a simple request to Dan Panes if I could photograph Sir Kenneth Grange next to 43002. I then mentioned that I was a member of the Great Western Passengers Forum. More than once I informed Dan & Co that I was neither a moderator nor administrator, just a long time and high post count contributor. I had already paid for my own ticket for the final service. A reserved seat in Standard Class near the VIPs was offered to me by GWR. Once I had the pass I put it to the use intended by getting an interview with Mark Hopwood and a chat with Sir Kenneth Grange. I also advertised this forum to other invited guests. The road to hell is paved with good intentions. My apologies if anything I did last evening has caused upset or concern. I've removed a picture of me wearing the guest/press pass. That may have been construed as boastful. Spur of the moment. Again, apologies. Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: Birdie100 on May 18, 2019, 19:50:54 All credit to GWR for a truly wonderful afternoon. Never thought a trip up and return from Slough to Paddington could be such fun! Managed a final bottle of Doom Bar from the buffet car on the way in, and had such fun explaining to bemused ‘regular’ passengers on the 18.22 return why there were so many cameras to see them off! A true delight to see Sir Kenneth Grange hurtle through slough having disembarked (and slammed for the final time) the door on the 90s BR liveried power car. A fantastic way to send them off after 43 years!
PS the perk of doing all this on a standard Annual Season ticket was worth its weight in gold! Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: Timmer on May 18, 2019, 20:04:33 Watched the live GWR broadcast on Facebook which I believe you can now watch on their page if you missed it. Look out for someone early in the broadcast wearing a blue shirt, flat cap with a delightful little dog by the name of Finn who was briefly interviewed.
Worth going to the end of the video as the presenter and cameraman were in the rear cab filming the last scheduled departure from Paddington. I must confess I shed a tear or two as the train pulled out. Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: JayMac on May 18, 2019, 20:37:42 I managed to get a few words with Mark Hopwood before he bailed at Didcot Parkway. I'll post that video early next week when my broadband is switched on in my new flat. Saving my mobile data for the rest of the weekend and to upload pics later.
I did chat with Sir Kenneth Grange too - about dogs! He'd probably had enough of being asked questions about his iconic design, so a chat about canines was probably a relief for him. He's 93 you know! (Sir Ken, not Finn) Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: Richard Fairhurst on May 18, 2019, 23:35:30 I took a very quick jaunt from Charlbury to Kingham: https://twitter.com/richardf/status/1129819175873077248
The HST was running perfectly to time, which was a relief given that I had a two-minute connection for my return train! New stickers (in Rail Alphabet) all over the vestibule droplights exhorting people not to dangle their heads out the windows. The CIS at Charlbury was showing "#FarewellHST", which I thought was a nice touch. Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: RichardB on May 19, 2019, 00:41:10 A friend and I did the last Up train from Plymouth (08 51), went to Topsham, Exeter, Teignmouth and Newton Abbot before getting the last down one from there back to Plymouth. Surprised it wasn't a bit more of an occasion in the far South West but really pleased we did both trains. Looking forward to the charter in a fortnight's time.
Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: RichardB on May 19, 2019, 00:42:57 #farewellHST on the screens at Newton Abbot too. I agree, a nice touch.
Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: bobm on May 19, 2019, 09:09:37 Just to report my last trip on an HST. St Austell to Truro on Friday night. The 17:03 from London Paddington - the last HST service to work to Penzance
(http://www.mbob.co.uk/rforum/hsttru.jpg) Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: Sixty3Closure on May 25, 2019, 18:25:45 Trying to post a picture....
Edit: Succeeded. I thought the train seemed kind of familiar.... Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: SandTEngineer on May 25, 2019, 18:29:57 Theres a video posted here and I'm sure I spotted FINN for 1 second! https://mobile.twitter.com/gwrhelp/status/1131972769577668609
Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: JayMac on May 25, 2019, 19:37:45 Theres a video posted here and I'm sure I spotted FINN for 1 second! https://mobile.twitter.com/gwrhelp/status/1131972769577668609 Yes, two brief shots of Finn. One of us in the background as bloke walks down platform with teapot. Another of Finn onboard. Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: grahame on May 26, 2019, 21:33:04 Just noticed they have released a few tickets for single legs of the journey Bristol to Paddington £85 Paddington to Paddington (via Carmarthen) £125 Paddington to Plymouth £100 Around 30 tickets still for sale, I understand. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-flying-banana-tickets-59925300186?aff=ebdshpsearchautocomplete Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: JayMac on May 29, 2019, 19:06:49 I'm all booked on the charity railtour. I'm doing Swindon - Paddington - Carmarthen (via Oxford, Worcester) - Swindon (via Swansea, Cardiff, Gloucester).
Are there any other forum members booked on the railtour? Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: grahame on May 29, 2019, 19:58:05 I'm all booked on the charity railtour. I'm doing Swindon - Paddington - Carmarthen (via Oxford, Worcester) - Swindon (via Swansea, Cardiff, Gloucester). Are there any other forum members booked on the railtour? Semi-sadly have something else (rail) going on too. Please report back for us (tell people you're doing so ;D ). Even if no-one answers here, I suspect you'll bump into other members. And enjoy! Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: Robin Summerhill on May 29, 2019, 20:32:20 I'm all booked on the charity railtour. I'm doing Swindon - Paddington - Carmarthen (via Oxford, Worcester) - Swindon (via Swansea, Cardiff, Gloucester). Are there any other forum members booked on the railtour? I won't be on the train but I will be one of the photographers seeing it off from Swindon. Don't forget to wave for the camera! ;D Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: JayMac on May 30, 2019, 15:29:02 Top marks to GWR for allowing 'Flying Banana' ticket holders to travel to and from the charter from across the GWR network on scheduled GWR services on Friday, Saturday, Sunday at no additional cost.
I've now been able to amend my plans. Instead of driving to my intended start point of Swindon (where I'm staying with a fellow forum member) I will now be taking the train from Castle Cary on Friday afternoon, returning on Sunday morning. Three days parking at Castle Cary (which is a few miles from home in Templecombe) is far cheaper than the petrol needed to drive to and from Swindon. Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: bradshaw on May 30, 2019, 17:10:54 What of Finn?
Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: WSW Frome on May 30, 2019, 17:22:53 I am also planning to be on the trip. Reading to Carmarthen and probably back all the way to Paddington. Look for the bald old-fart with glasses, in a window seat (north side as I recall) in Coach D.
Paul. Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: Celestial on May 30, 2019, 17:59:36 I did toy with the idea of booking, but the thought of 11 hours (the Carmarthen round trip) in a cramped airline seat sitting next to someone I didn't know put me off, and then I'd probably have to get the early service from Bristol too. Especially when I can still get a fix of standard class HST travel every day from STJ.
Hope everyone enjoys the day out though. Maybe someone should take a surfboard for the ride too. Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: bobm on May 30, 2019, 18:20:02 I’ll be on board babysitting Finn while his owner is sent to the buffet at regular intervals. ;D
Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: bradshaw on May 30, 2019, 18:27:26 Good to see, keep us informed by photos
Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: grahame on June 04, 2019, 19:06:05 Currently on this:
(http://www.wellho.net/pix/last_20190604.jpg) Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: bradshaw on June 07, 2019, 07:44:09 Interesting piece from the ever informative CRS about the June 1st special.
Note the comment about two power cars being sent to Taunton and what might have been. http://www.cornwallrailwaysociety.org.uk/latest-input--news--old-pictures-etc Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: Robin Summerhill on June 09, 2019, 18:55:04 I've just had twp more "final" rised on HSTs two days running:
Saturday 8th June - East Midlands 0934 St Pancras to Nottingham Sunday 9th June - XC variant on a Plymouth to Glasgow. I wonder how many more "final" rides I get before my all line rail rover expires on 21st June? :) Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: JayMac on June 16, 2019, 19:38:09 Well, it turns out my final ride on a full length HST was not the 'Flying Bananana' charity railtour.
Due to the Stephenson Railway Museum in Wallsend being so crap* I had time to kill in the afternoon. Up to York with TPE and my schoolfriend driving. Then back down to Newcastle with LNER, bagging the Sunday afternoon Aberdeen service, so a HST. (http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt68/bignosemac/rps20190616_192113_zpstnsmsjzn.jpg) Pictured here on arrival at Newcastle. Set was in reverse formation from Kings Cross so it came into Newcastle over Robert Stephenson's High Level Bridge, instead of the more usual route over the King Edward VII Bridge. Back out of Newcastle Central the way it came in, for the remainder of its journey to Scotland. *It may be free to enter but it really is rather poor. Absolutely nothing about the life and works of George and Robert. Just a small handful of disperate locos, some with no connection to the North East, save for 'Billy'. Even that is only the third oldest locomotive in the world. 🙄 Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: Robin Summerhill on July 27, 2019, 12:38:42 I have now posted a comparison shot on Flickr
The "Flying Banana" laving Paddington for the last time, and the inaugural HST run passing Badminton in 1976 https://www.flickr.com/photos/93122458@N08/48374446201/ Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: stuving on July 27, 2019, 13:09:34 I have now posted a comparison shot on Flickr The "Flying Banana" laving Paddington for the last time, and the inaugural HST run passing Badminton in 1976 https://www.flickr.com/photos/93122458@N08/48374446201/ Of course nothing's that final, at least as far as flying bananas are concerned. Yesterday I saw the other one - the NMT - come through Reading at speed, heading for Paddington (139N arriving 1610). Mind you, seats on it have always been very hard to book ... Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: TonyK on July 28, 2019, 22:58:29 Of course nothing's that final, at least as far as flying bananas are concerned. Yesterday I saw the other one - the NMT - come through Reading at speed, heading for Paddington (139N arriving 1610). Mind you, seats on it have always been very hard to book ... The catering doesn't match broadgage's exacting standards, either. Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: MVR S&T on July 28, 2019, 23:30:08 imagine its bring your own, microwave, fridge and kettle provided, pop out to Asda if in Bournemouth for an hour, for example.
Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: Bmblbzzz on February 06, 2020, 13:18:11 Yesterday, I was sitting on the 11:45 to Weymouth at Platform 7 of Temple Meads, gazing in the direction of Platform 5 and waiting for the train to depart, when a locomotive with a big white name, 'The Welshman', came past, followed by another with a red plate saying, I think, 'Dunder Castle'. It was only when they'd both gone past it struck me there were HSTs. And then I realized, they were just power cars with no train between them.
Interesting and :) but also ??? Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: broadgage on February 06, 2020, 14:20:38 Of course nothing's that final, at least as far as flying bananas are concerned. Yesterday I saw the other one - the NMT - come through Reading at speed, heading for Paddington (139N arriving 1610). Mind you, seats on it have always been very hard to book ... The catering doesn't match broadgage's exacting standards, either. I did once get a seat on the NMT, due to a friend in the railway industry, a most interesting trip. The catering was not up to Pullman standards, but still impressive. I recall fresh salmon, new potatoes, and salad, followed by cheesecake with clotted cream. No wine, but it IS a workplace. Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: Witham Bobby on February 06, 2020, 14:57:18 I did once get a seat on the NMT, due to a friend in the railway industry, a most interesting trip. The catering was not up to Pullman standards, but still impressive. I recall fresh salmon, new potatoes, and salad, followed by cheesecake with clotted cream. No wine, but it IS a workplace. Memories of the Divisional Manager's Saloon, out on inspections (aka working out what infrastructure could come out, only to be replaced, or badly needed, 40 years later) with the curled-up sandwiches and no shortage of alcohol. Different times. Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: phile on February 06, 2020, 16:06:08 Yesterday, I was sitting on the 11:45 to Weymouth at Platform 7 of Temple Meads, gazing in the direction of Platform 5 and waiting for the train to depart, when a locomotive with a big white name, 'The Welshman', came past, followed by another with a red plate saying, I think, 'Dunder Castle'. It was only when they'd both gone past it struck me there were HSTs. And then I realized, they were just power cars with no train between them. Interesting and :) but also ??? They were going to Wabtec Doncaster to fetch a newly modified short GT1 Set back. Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: TaplowGreen on February 06, 2020, 17:16:23 Of course nothing's that final, at least as far as flying bananas are concerned. Yesterday I saw the other one - the NMT - come through Reading at speed, heading for Paddington (139N arriving 1610). Mind you, seats on it have always been very hard to book ... The catering doesn't match broadgage's exacting standards, either. I did once get a seat on the NMT, due to a friend in the railway industry, a most interesting trip. The catering was not up to Pullman standards, but still impressive. I recall fresh salmon, new potatoes, and salad, followed by cheesecake with clotted cream. No wine, but it IS a workplace. Blimey, didn't they provide you with fillet steak, a cheeseboard and a bottle of Blue Nun? Don't they know who you are? I'm surprised you didn't insist that they let you out at the next station! ;) Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: Bmblbzzz on February 06, 2020, 18:12:23 Yesterday, I was sitting on the 11:45 to Weymouth at Platform 7 of Temple Meads, gazing in the direction of Platform 5 and waiting for the train to depart, when a locomotive with a big white name, 'The Welshman', came past, followed by another with a red plate saying, I think, 'Dunder Castle'. It was only when they'd both gone past it struck me there were HSTs. And then I realized, they were just power cars with no train between them. Interesting and :) but also ??? They were going to Wabtec Doncaster to fetch a newly modified short GT1 Set back. Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: Phantom on February 07, 2020, 09:21:24 Yesterday, I was sitting on the 11:45 to Weymouth at Platform 7 of Temple Meads, gazing in the direction of Platform 5 and waiting for the train to depart, when a locomotive with a big white name, 'The Welshman', came past, followed by another with a red plate saying, I think, 'Dunder Castle'. It was only when they'd both gone past it struck me there were HSTs. And then I realized, they were just power cars with no train between them. Interesting and :) but also ??? They were going to Wabtec Doncaster to fetch a newly modified short GT1 Set back. Interesting to read, I would assume this record has been broken since? Title: Re: My final ride on a full length HST? Post by: TonyK on February 17, 2020, 23:29:33 No wine, but it IS a workplace. Didn't always stop me in mine, although mine didn't move at high speed. This page is printed from the "Coffee Shop" forum at http://gwr.passenger.chat which is provided by a customer of Great Western Railway. Views expressed are those of the individual posters concerned. Visit www.gwr.com for the official Great Western Railway website. Please contact the administrators of this site if you feel that content provided contravenes our posting rules ( see http://railcustomer.info/1761 ). The forum is hosted by Well House Consultants - http://www.wellho.net |