HST Unusual visits

[iantherev]

I’m pretty sure one has been to Aberystwyth.

 

[BowesRanger]

May be imagining things but pretty sure some were diverted via Shrewsbury on weekends for engineering works during the early 1990s.

 

[Killingworth]

EMT set Whitby to Pickering.

At least 3 times it seems; http://www.125group.org.uk/tag/east-midlands-trains/

 

[Helvellyn]

Some of the more unusual regular service destinations have been mentioned already but others that saw regular HST service in the 1980s were Cleethorpes (InterCity "Cleethorpes Executive" to/from King's Cross), Glasgow Queen Street (InterCity through service from King's Cross) and Liverpool Lime Street (InterCity CrossCountry service from the South West).

 

[61653 HTAFC]

I’m pretty sure one has been to Aberystwyth.

Used to be regular on summer extras from Euston, in addition to the year round 37-hauled (from Wolverhampton) service.

 

[StoneRoad]

Get them on diversions over the Tyne Valley line ...


TiG - diverted HST par StoneRoad2013, on ipernity

 

[43055]

Cross country via Worcester

East midlands trains to Skegness via Lincoln and numerous charters including mid Norfolk railway and Norwich, Keighley and Worth valley railway, Swanage railway via north London and south west trains land and last year to Pickering and Whitby.

 

[Sir Felix Pole]

Oke Rail, the activist group lobbying for regular weekday services to Okehampton, chartered a Christmas shopping HST special Okehampton to Paddington last year and a HST Okehampton to Stratford on Avon special (via Westbury, Swindon and Oxford) earlier this year, both complete with Pullman dining.

 

[timj]

Have they ever run between Scarborough and Hull on the Wolds Coast Line?

 

[Master29]

Australia, anyone?

Are you saying this because you know they have a version of the HST or another reason?

 

[MotCO]

I'm not associated with the railways, but reading the blogs on here I thought that each route had to be signed individually for both traction and route. How can a driver take a train through a rare routeing - would he have had to practise that route previously?

 

[Helvellyn]

I'm not associated with the railways, but reading the blogs on here I thought that each route had to be signed individually for both traction and route. How can a driver take a train through a rare routeing - would he have had to practise that route previously?

The Driver might sign the traction but be conducted over the route by a local driver if they don't have the route knowledge. The train also needs to be cleared for the route.

 

[bnm]

St Andrews Road, Avonmouth and Royal Portbury Docks.

 

[Mag_seven]

Only recently GWR HSTs were diverted into London Waterloo to/from the West Country. Add to that diversions over the Chiltern Main line as well. Also the HST from South Wales that ran via Acton Bank / Kensington Olympia into Waterloo to connect with Eurostars in the late 90's.

 

[xotGD]

Have any XC ones ever been through Nuneaton?

Years ago I was on one that went Derby to Birmingham via Leicester and the Nuneaton flyover.

 

[alexl92]

Oxenhope (KWVR) has to be one of my favourites. Ive also heard that one once found its way to St Ives...

 

[clagmonster]

Have they ever run between Scarborough and Hull on the Wolds Coast Line?

I believe there was a Hull - Edinburgh which ran via Scarborough. Possibly even ran through to Glasgow, effectively an extension of the old Scarborough - Glasgow but also service Brid and Filey.

 

[Greetlander]

Australia, anyone?

I’ve looked but can’t see any tale of a HST making it out here on a demonstration. The XPT has been the workhorse of the regional and interstate services here for years but due for replacement. There are huge differences between the HST and XPT, the Aussie version having a shorter power car and totally different design of carriages. The major shame is that Australian track quality is so poor it rarely now gets above 80mph

 

[Greetlander]

Did one ever go over the Woodhead?

I asked that myself a while back. The answer came back apparently not, as no photographic evidence exists.

 

[Greetlander]

I can’t find it on youtube but I recall one seeing a film of a railtour to one of the quarry lines in the middle of nowhere. I’d like to say Rylstone.

Also GC did once use a HST on the KX to Bradford service, thus Pontefract, Wakefield Kirkgate, Brighouse and Halifax would count as unusual.

 

[dk1]

I signalled one through Brundall in 1989. Was Red Nose Day & it was suitably adorned. Went down via Acle & back from Yarmouth via Reedham with a photo stop at Berney Arms. Another went to Cromer around the same time.

 

[Intercity 225]

I can remember reading a story once about one in passenger service being routed into a colliery merry-go-round by accident.

Can anyone confirm whether that’s true or just an urban myth?

 

[randyrippley]

one got to Workington via Barrow in 1992 http://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/90s/920425hr.htm

one parked in an interesting position at Weymouth http://stevestrainpics.weebly.com/uploads/6/9/0/5/6905506/1238474_orig.jpg?684

 

[jimm]

Cotswold Line Promotion group have organised HST specials to Bournemouth (for Swanage Rly) and to Portsmouth.

The CLPG charter in 2013 ran through to Corfe Castle on the Swanage Railway. It was originally planned to get all the way to Swanage, but there were concerns about clearances at some platforms south of Corfe Castle. Two CLPG charters have been to Minehead on the WSR and in 2012, they took an FGW HST to Yorkand Scarborough.

http://www.clpg.org.uk/page/special-trains/

Used to be regular on summer extras from Euston, in addition to the year round 37-hauled (from Wolverhampton) service.

Regular? Could you back up this statement please? The only thing that was regular on the Euston summer Saturday extras up to 1991 was pairs of Class 37s.

The only HSTs I have ever heard of on the Cambrian were specials, including this one to Pwllheli in 1990.

http://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/90s/900421hr.htm

The first ever HST west of Shrewsbury ran to Aberystwyth in 1983

http://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/80s/830619ab.htm

There have been a few runs on the Central Wales Line, clips from 1994 and 1999 shown here

Couple of previous threads in a similar vein:

https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/hsts-in-weird-or-strange-places.25366/

https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/hst-where-havent-they-been.38752/

 

[route:oxford]

I can remember reading a story once about one in passenger service being routed into a colliery merry-go-round by accident.

Can anyone confirm whether that’s true or just an urban myth?

Not sure about a colliery merry-go-round, but didn't one end up heading towards Leven due to a signalling error?

I remember how exited my relatives were about the "London Train" coming to Methil. Must be a few years back though - I haven't spoken to those relatives in over 30 years.

 

[bussnapperwm]

IIRC when there was a block through Bromsgrove (can't remember what it was, despite it being a few years ago), one made it on the XC diverts through Stourbridge Junction once.

 

[Darandio]

Wensleydale Railway? Pretty sure one visited Redmire at some point.

 

[dk1]

NENTA hired in an HST from GWT for one season after the long term use of from Anglia (& IC Anglia/Gatwick) finished but was abrubtly stopped following the Southall collision as the TOC could then not release a set. Those tour programs must have visited a few odd routes that year.

 

[43096]

I’ve looked but can’t see any tale of a HST making it out here on a demonstration. The XPT has been the workhorse of the regional and interstate services here for years but due for replacement. There are huge differences between the HST and XPT, the Aussie version having a shorter power car and totally different design of carriages. The major shame is that Australian track quality is so poor it rarely now gets above 80mph

The carriages may be different externally, but they have some internal parts straight from the Mark 3 parts bin: saloon end arrangement and ceiling lighting to name two.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Re: HSTs to Aberystwyth, rather than regulars I should perhaps have said they ran there multiple times during one summer (late 1980s I believe) as during a family caravan holiday at Borth with a view of the railway, my brother and I were both thrilled to be able to see (and hear) 37s, HSTs and 150s (then a novelty to us!) close-up from the breakfast table!

I'm pretty sure the HSTs aren't a false memory, but I'll ask my brother if he remembers them when I next see him.