Looking to travel on an HST one last time

[Tetragon213]

Hi all. I'm trying to plan a journey (from the West Midlands) to travel on an HST one final time before the old girls are retired. I'm torn between making a trip up to Glasgow for an Aberdeen/Inverness service, or going south to Penzance and catching GWR's Castles. Do the Castles or Inter7's run anywhere at 125mph, still? Also, does anyone have any recommendations as to which route is the most "scenic"?

Incidentally, does anyone know what became of 43198? I keep a look out for that one on RTT regularly, and it seems to never be running. I'd at least like to get a few pics of that one at some stage.

 

[Iskra]

I’d recommend a Scotrail HST due to the cheap onboard first class upgrade available onboard. The Scotrail HST first class coaches are some of the most comfortable on the network. All of the routes you mentioned are scenic, but I’d say the Aberdeen route is the most consistently scenic of the ones you mentioned, and you could also do Glasgow-Aberdeen-Inverness-Glasgow/Edinburgh entirely via HST with clever planning and a bit of luck.

 

[hexagon789]

Do the Castles or Inter7's run anywhere at 125mph, still? Also, does anyone have any recommendations as to which route is the most "scenic"?

Plenty of 100mph running with them in Scotland; 75mph in the West Country (though a little bit of 80, 90 and 100 on the sole trips out to/from Exeter each way.

XC were the last running them at 100mph, bar the charter sets such as LSL's Blue Pullmans which do run at 125mph where permitted.

 

[43096]

Incidentally, does anyone know what became of 43198? I keep a look out for that one on RTT regularly, and it seems to never be running. I'd at least like to get a few pics of that one at some stage.

It last worked 11 September.

 

[Tetragon213]

I’d recommend a Scotrail HST due to the cheap onboard first class upgrade available onboard. The Scotrail HST first class coaches are some of the most comfortable on the network. All of the routes you mentioned are scenic, but I’d say the Aberdeen route is the most consistently scenic of the ones you mentioned, and you could also do Glasgow-Aberdeen-Inverness-Glasgow/Edinburgh entirely via HST with clever planning and a bit of luck.

Thank you for the advice, I'll see if I can book an Aberdeen service in the near future!

Plenty of 100mph running with them in Scotland; 75mph in the West Country (though a little bit of 80, 90 and 100 on the sole trips out to/from Exeter each way.

XC were the last running them at 100mph, bar the charter sets such as LSL's Blue Pullmans which do run at 125mph where permitted.

Ah, ok. Didn't know they were all limited to 100mph these days. Is that just due to the line speed, or are they trying to extend the remaining life of the engines by running them less intensely?

Also, does anyone know what happened with 43198 Driver Brian Cooper/Driver Stan Martin? Scrapped, or just stored?

 

[hexagon789]

Didn't know they were all limited to 100mph these days. Is that just due to the line speed, or are they trying to extend the remaining life of the engines by running them less intensely?

Just due to maximum linespeed.

The only lines in Scotland which permit over 100mph are the East Coast and West Coast Main Lines; all internal lines are 100 max.

Similarly, in the West Country, there is nothing higher than 80 after you pass Newton Abbot heading south.

 

[SteelWeelApeal]

I’d definitely say the Inverness route is more scenic than Aberdeen (although the latter does have more HSTs, and generally higher speeds). Inverness route goes through the mountains, Aberdeen skirts around them. Easy solution I suppose is to go one way and come back the other

 

[156444]

Thank you for the advice, I'll see if I can book an Aberdeen service in the near future!

Ah, ok. Didn't know they were all limited to 100mph these days. Is that just due to the line speed, or are they trying to extend the remaining life of the engines by running them less intensely?

Also, does anyone know what happened with 43198 Driver Brian Cooper/Driver Stan Martin? Scrapped, or just stored?

43198 has not been scrapped. It's still in an operational GWR pool, I would guess it's at Laira if not in use.

 

[hexagon789]

43198 has not been scrapped. It's still in an operational GWR pool, I would guess it's at Laira if not in use.

Don't know its precise status, but it last worked on the 13th September.

 

[irish_rail]

43198 is currently undergoing maintenance at Laira and will no doubt return when work is complete.

 

[Tetragon213]

I’d definitely say the Inverness route is more scenic than Aberdeen (although the latter does have more HSTs, and generally higher speeds). Inverness route goes through the mountains, Aberdeen skirts around them. Easy solution I suppose is to go one way and come back the other

I'll definitely look into booking it that way! I assume you have to book a bunch of singles for this journey, though?

43198 is currently undergoing maintenance at Laira and will no doubt return when work is complete.

Well, that's a relief. I was worried they'd scrapped the poor thing before I got a chance to get a photo!

 

[irish_rail]

Just to add to the discussion, I'd argue that Plymouth to Par is equally as attractive in terms of varied scenery as anything the Scottish HSTs cover (ie not the West Highlands). The bridge at Saltash and the Tamar crossing, the views across the Hamoaze back toward Plymouth port , the views of Bodmin Moor, the forested Glynn Valley (which always reminds me of Scotland) , the Cornish mainline certainly is worth doing, especially whilst doable in a HST! May 2025 still being talked about as the end date so perhaps a little more urgency to do the Cornish option over Scotland??

 

[43096]

Thank you for the advice, I'll see if I can book an Aberdeen service in the near future!

Ah, ok. Didn't know they were all limited to 100mph these days. Is that just due to the line speed, or are they trying to extend the remaining life of the engines by running them less intensely?

Your other option for the full experience is on a charter service. There is one mainline registered preserved HST that works a few times each year at up to 125mph. Next run is tomorrow…

 

[Tetragon213]

Your other option for the full experience is on a charter service. There is one mainline registered preserved HST that works a few times each year at up to 125mph. Next run is tomorrow…

As much as I love trains, I'm not exactly made of money!

 

[43096]

As much as I love trains, I'm not exactly made of money!

£30 for Derby to Bury (one way) tomorrow. Some pay on the day available.

 

[hexagon789]

As much as I love trains, I'm not exactly made of money!

The run tomorrow is £30

Cheaper than some walk-up tickets for the remaining 'normal' HST workings.

 

[Tetragon213]

Bloody hell! I was expecting at least another "0" to have been tacked on to the end of that ticket!

Any idea where you'd book the tickets from? I can't seem to find this particular tour online

 

[hexagon789]

Bloody hell! I was expecting at least another "0" to have been tacked on to the end of that ticket!

Any idea where you'd book the tickets from? I can't seem to find this particular tour online

You can't book online now, pre-booking has sold out.

Only pay on the day is still available - I believe one full trailer vehicle is set aside for this; perhaps @43096 can confirm?

 

[43096]

You can't book online now, pre-booking has sold out.

Only pay on the day is still available - I believe one full trailer vehicle is set aside for this; perhaps @43096 can confirm?

Correct. There should be around 50 places available for pay on the day from Derby.

 

[bleeder4]

Just to answer your question, this is the website of the tour organiser - https://www.125group.org.uk/

Although tomorrow's run is sold out, it's worth bookmarking the page and subscribing to their updates so you can be kept informed of future tours.

This and the two Midland Pullman sets are the only charter HSTs in service, although the Midland Pullman is a lot more expensive.

 

[hexagon789]

Although tomorrow's run is sold out, it's worth bookmarking the page and subscribing to their updates so you can be kept informed of future tours.

It's only sold out online, on the day tickets can be purchased as long as there are still tickets.

 

[aleandrail]

Bloody hell! I was expecting at least another "0" to have been tacked on to the end of that ticket!

Any idea where you'd book the tickets from? I can't seem to find this particular tour online

You have to make your way to coach E and a steward will take your payment. The set should be on platform 5.