Longest HST Formation

[mralexn]

I know now FGW have 7X2 and 8X2 and East coast have 9X2 but has there ever been a time when a HST set was longer that 9X2? back in BR days for example,
Or is 9 the maximum allowed number of carriages for a HST.

So yeah, What is the longest HST formation that you have seen?

 

[First class]

I think +9 is the most these days.

 

[sonic2009]

The Newquay trains are booked +9 aren't they?

 

[gordonthemoron]

BR only had 7+2 (XC & GWR) and 8+2 (MML & EC)

 

[Royston Vasey]

Rescues? Not sure about (2+8)+(2+8) but (2+6)+(2+6) was done by GC a few years ago. On Youtube.

 

[mralexn]

The Newquay trains are booked +9 aren't they?

The XC Newquay HST's are 8 or 7 by 2,

However when they hire in a EC set, they are 9X2

 

[fgwrich]

The XC Newquay HST's are 8 or 7 by 2,

However when they hire in a EC set, they are 9X2

But a few number of First Great Westerns HSTs are reformed in the summer as 2+9 sets, specifically for extra lugguage (The 9th coach is formed from spliting another HST set, with the extra coach locked oou and for lugguage only)

 

[Royston Vasey]

But a few number of First Great Westerns HSTs are reformed in the summer as 2+9 sets, specifically for extra lugguage (The 9th coach is formed from spliting another HST set, with the extra coach locked oou and for lugguage only)

You also often see additional coaches OOU next to power car (usually London end) for positioning between FGW depots, making 2+9.

 

[shedman]

Ive marshalled an extra buffet car (locked out of use) between the power car and TGS a few years ago on a GNER set making it a 10+2. Im pretty sure it stayed in traffic all day and ended up at Craigentinny at the end of the day where it was required.

 

[Helvellyn]

BR only had 7+2 (XC & GWR) and 8+2 (MML & EC)

For the Winter timetable of 1987/88 the Tees-Tyne Pullman set was 9 coaches (as per the 1988 Platform 5 full book). Formation was: -

TF-TRFK-TF-TF-TRFB-TS-TS-TS-TGS

It quickly reverted back to 8 coaches, as per the Yorkshire Pullman set, with only two TS vehicles.

The only other irregular 9 coach formation in BR days would be if the InterCity Executive Lounge, 40513, was added to a formation. This was converted from a TRUK, with the fixed First Class seats replaced by loose longe style chairs so that the vehicle could be hired out for corporate use.

 

[LE Greys]

Can't remember the date, but at one point the WR power cars started having engine failures and went out of traffic for a while. Since the trailers were incompatible with 50 ETS, some of them ended up on the ECML, so most of the ER/NER/ScR sets were made up to 2+9 for one summer.