HSTs in the future

[Zamracene749]

I'm sure most people agree that the IC125 is a classic british train.

With this in mind it is almost a certainty that some will enter preservation in the future, maybe even maintained to main line standards.

However, the question is this- is somebody, somewhere stockpiling a few paxman engines and spares before they are all scrapped?
Whilst a preserved MTU engined example would be representative of the final years, part of the heart and soul of the hst experience is the unique sound of those paxman engines and turbos at power. To me a preserved hst with an MTU fitted would be kind of like an A4 repowered by a diesel engine and fitted with a smoke generator!

Any thoughts?

 

[Andrew]

www.125group.org.uk

And they've set up Valenta Diesels which is specifically for the preservation of Valenta PCs.

 

[Techniquest]

Didn't know of Valenta Diesels...

Yet more proof I need 125 Group membership badly...

 

[Ascot]

Imagin Severn Valley Railway will be HSTs and DMUs when the Steamers get clapped out cos of ware n that.

No more liftin those bloody buck eyes.

 

[richa2002]

I'm sure the steamers will be around for a while to come!

 

[Guinness]

Steamers bring in the Families. That's where most of the revenue for Preserved Lines come from. Although there's nothing wrong with running days for HSTs or specific types of Trains, e.g. Diesel Galas, English Electric Weekend etc.

 

[theblackwatch]

Chaz is absolutely right. Enthusiasts make up only a small number of visitors to a preserved railway - around 10% has been quoted. Most railways need steam to survive. But diesels can work well if things are done properly. Unfortunately, some railways don't, and staff attitude doesn't help either. "We're only running diesels today, I don't know why they bother" or similar was a comment I heard one member of staff saying to a visitor at one line a few years ago. Would be much better if he'd said "We've got a load of historic diesel engines from the 1960s running today, these have also been retired from the big railway, and one or two of them are actually older than some steam locos."

 

[Craig]

But diesels can work well if things are done properly. Unfortunately, some railways don't, and staff attitude doesn't help either.

The ELR seem to have the balance about right IMO. At the Sulzer day the other weekend there seemed to be a fair amount of "normal" passengers out and about along with the enthusiasts.