HST's-Past, Present or Future?

[thefab444]

Yeah right, that's why the HSTs have a huge following around the country...:roll:

A large chunk of that "huge following" have only started liking HSTs in the past two years since this Valenta froth, and only care about the engine inside and whether the driver gives them a "hellfire tone". :roll:

 

[Geezertronic]

A large chunk of that "huge following" have only started liking HSTs in the past two years since this Valenta froth, and only care about the engine inside and whether the driver gives them a "hellfire tone". :roll:

I've personally liked them since I was a kid holidaying down in Dawlish Warren, they always remind me of the happier days in my childhood. Not that I would bash another Class to big up the HST mind

 

[43034 The Black Horse]

A large chunk of that "huge following" have only started liking HSTs in the past two years since this Valenta froth, and only care about the engine inside and whether the driver gives them a "hellfire tone". :roll:

Yes they have. But another large chunk of us has liked them for more than two years, know how they work and what makes them tick. Yes I prefer the 12RP200L more to das MTU, I prefer the lovely single big turbo to the MTUs 4 smaller one, I much prefer the Marston Cooler Groups to the Brush and Voith ones. You could say that about most classes though Celia, especially the Class 37 which every young kid seems to like these days as well.

 

[87015]

A large chunk of that "huge following" have only started liking HSTs in the past two years since this Valenta froth, and only care about the engine inside and whether the driver gives them a "hellfire tone". :roll:

Given that they have also largely only appeared on the scene in the last two years I'm eager to hear what far superior power you think they should be getting into. Can't think of many service trains that have had power particularly worth doing last year.

 

[dave_wm]

I've liked HSTs since I can remember, and I try to plan any trips from Birmingham - South West/North East around XC's timetable.

However, I think it does depend on which refurbishment you get - whilst not strictly HSTs, I thought the Virgin West Coast one was best (especially in 1st), Virgin XC, Midland Mainline, FGW (older one) and GNER (both) were OK, and FGW new one is pretty dire.

That said, HSTs do have their downside - they don't seem to be as reliable (at least, I've had two HSTs break down with me on board and another run 90 mins late due to a breakdown), although that might just be my luck.

It was quite nice to see though, when I was travelling back from a holiday in Cornwall (on a Mallard hire-in), I told one of the less railway-knowledgeable people travelling with us that we were on an InterCity125 and he was very shocked, and couldn't believe they could seem to good - he thought it was a new train.

The same happened when I travelled on the VWC hire-in set, people everywhere were exclaiming how much nicer it felt - mind you, they weren't so happy when we ended up about 15 minutes late at Birmingham...

 

[43034 The Black Horse]

That said, HSTs do have their downside - they don't seem to be as reliable (at least, I've had two HSTs break down with me on board and another run 90 mins late due to a breakdown), although that might just be my luck.

To be fair, HST MPC (Miles Per Casualty) from Modern Railway's Jan 09 is:
EMT-11,875mpc
FGW-10,818mpc
NXEC-10,250mpc
XC-9,623mpc

XC Cl 220-13,486
XC Cl 221-11,923
VT Cl 221-7,766


Before everyone jumps up and say "Voyagers must be better", remember The HST sets are 2+8 (2+9 for NXEC) and Voyagers are 5 car Max.

Just a note, Lovely engine and coaches, WSMR, is 20304

 

[devon_metro]

And those figures are during the refurb stages where failures were more common.

 

[Daimler]

To be fair, HST MPC (Miles Per Casualty) from Modern Railway's Jan 08 is:
EMT-11,875mpc
FGW-10,818mpc
NXEC-10,250mpc
XC-9,623mpc

XC Cl 220-13,486
XC Cl 221-11,923
VT Cl 221-7,766

Interesting that despite their engines in every coach which one would assume allows improved reliability, the Voyagers struggle to beat the HSTs for mpc.

 

[Techniquest]

A large chunk of that "huge following" have only started liking HSTs in the past two years since this Valenta froth, and only care about the engine inside and whether the driver gives them a "hellfire tone". :roll:

The same sort of enthusiast looked down upon from those of us with more experience of the fleet when they were virtually all 'proper'.

That said, whether they've loved HSTs for 2 years or 20 years, then at least they have some good taste in traction to me.

Like Scott, I prefer the Valentas, Marston coolers and NA256 turbos. I know enough about how they work to get by and prefer not to know so much as to be classed as a rivet counter, though.

Yes lots of the HST following jumped on when the MTU programme was in full swing. I was lucky to get into them before that and have many happy memories of cranking in the days when it was 95% Valenta-ised on the GW. But like I say, at the end of the day then at least they made the effort to enjoy the class before nearly all of it got 'bent'.

However I do really frown upon the foolish individuals you see far too often on things like YouTube that seem hell bent on scaring the driver and getting horn blasts on their videos. I would much rather watch a video of a HST with a driver hell bent on 'thrashing it' and seeing a fantastic performance than one where a HST is going by and blasting its horns all the time. What's the point?

Anyway, the point was that the HSTs have a huge following and that the post I originally replied to could well be considered as one with its only intent being to wind people up. The HST fleet is still one of the major classes in operation and has years ahead of it yet. Very much part of the past, but also the present and indeed the future. The Voyager fleet, however, I do not see lasting so long and much like the 66s and 67s they will be depised by future generations.

 

[GNERman]

to be fair, hst mpc (miles per casualty) from modern railway's jan 09 is:
Emt-11,875mpc
fgw-10,818mpc
nxec-10,250mpc
xc-9,623mpc

xc cl 220-13,486
xc cl 221-11,923
vt cl 221-7,766


before everyone jumps up and say "voyagers must be better", remember the hst sets are 2+8 (2+9 for nxec) and voyagers are 5 car max.

Just a note, lovely engine and coaches, wsmr, is 20304

gc...?