HST Memorabilia Book

END OF THE LINE Farewell to our iconic HSTs

END OF THE LINE Farewell to our iconic HSTs

END OF THE LINE Farewell to our iconic HSTs

CELEBRATING OUR HIGH-SPEED TRAINS High-Speed Trains have become an iconic part of British railway history.

Although initially introduced as a stop-gap in time for the launch of the Advanced Passenger Train (APT), they’ve since been running on our railways for the past 49 years.

As they reach the end of their life on the Midland Main Line after 39 years’ service, we wanted to take the opportunity to celebrate their legacy.

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“How it all started.” The prototype HST, built in 1972.

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Photo: Paul Corrie

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43057 Middleton in June 1983.

Photo: Paul Corrie

END OF THE LINE Farewell to our iconic HSTs

DID YOU KNOW? THE BRITISH RAIL CLASS 43

(HST) POWER CARS WERE BUILT BETWEEN

1975 AND 1982, AND HAVE BEEN IN SERVICE

IN THE UK SINCE 1976

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END OF THE LINE Farewell to our iconic HSTs

From concept to reality

1968 A new Chief Engineer for Traction & Rolling Stock was appointed to the M&EE team, Terry Miller.

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END OF THE LINE Farewell to our iconic HSTs

Early 1960s British Rail formed BR Research, housed in the Railway Technical Centre in Derby.

1970 The High Speed Diesel Train (HSDT) prototype funding was authorised and the hard work began.

1966 BR Research formed the Advanced Project Group and started to drive the direction of future Rolling Stock Development. The Mechanical & Electrical Engineering Department (M&EE) began working with knowledge gained from BR Research work.

1972 The prototype train was delivered, a remarkable achievement by the M&EE team in such a short time scale.

1974 The design of the train was completed, including the removal of the buffers on the front, allowing the nose of the train to be redesigned by Kenneth Grange into the iconic shape we know and love.

1974 The first production trains were ordered: 27 sets for the Western region.

1976 The first HSTs are introduced on the Western region in August and a revised 125mph timetable commenced in October.

1981 The Northeast and South West gained 18 sets, entering service between November 1981 and May 1982.

1978 32 sets were introduced to the East Coast.

1982 Timetable alterations on the Western region allowed five sets to be released for use elsewhere. This coincided with the creation of the Intercity Business unit and they were allocated them to the Midland Main Line in October.

1979 The 14 sets planned to run between London and the West of England were built, entering service between October 1979 and May 1980.

1983 Further analysis of the Eastern and CrossCountry workings meant a further five sets for the Midland Main Line entering service in May.

1987 Changes in 1987 resulted in CrossCountry regaining two sets from the Eastern region, but this was short lived with the Midland and Western region gaining a set each in 1988.

Information provided by Nigel Yule

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END OF THE LINE Farewell to our iconic HSTs

A marketing campaign for Midland CrossCountry promoting the on-board buffet, taken around 1994 / 1995.

Photo: Sarah Cox

I have very clear memories of the journeys I did on the HSTs whilst working as an on-board host. A favourite shift of mine would be: Friday: Derby to York, York to Plymouth (Friday night in Plymouth)

Saturday: Plymouth to Newquay (the train I would pick up was the 23:30 on a Friday night from Leeds) then Newquay to Edinburgh (Saturday night in Edinburgh) Sunday: Edinburgh to London St Pancras, London St Pancras to Nottingham then back empty stock to Derby.

I would have the same HST set for all of Saturday and Sunday. It was the best job ever, I loved it! We also used to lease HST sets to CrossCountry on summer Saturdays.

We had to arrange to have two brake vans put in the formation so that they could accommodate all the surf boards that passengers took to Newquay.

Sarah Cox, Safety Performance Analyst

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43053 in Intercity livery in April 1994.

Photo: Paul Corrie

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43082 on 11 September 1997.

Photo: Paul Corrie

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END OF THE LINE Farewell to our iconic HSTs

DID YOU KNOW?

THE WORLD RECORD

FOR THE FASTEST DIESEL-POWERED TRAIN,

WITH A TOP SPEED OF

148 MPH (238 KM/H), WAS SET BY A HST ON

1 NOVEMBER 1987

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43073 and 43055 middleway in June 1998.

Photo: Paul Corrie

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END OF THE LINE Farewell to our iconic HSTs

END OF THE LINE Farewell to our iconic HSTs

This was one of the many trips we used to do daily, Nottingham to London and I would have changed out of my whites (Chef’s uniform) and then act as Customer Host for the remainder of the day.

These were the “good ol’ days”, when we used to work in teams of four-five every day, carrying out silver service and constant tea and coffee runs in First Class. Back then you used to be able to smoke on-board, so there was always a toss up between who would take the standard class trolley through the carriage to have a quick smoking break.

Taken back in 2001-2002 at Nottingham station during Meet & Greet. Adam Barnard (front left) as Train Manager (now in Marketing & Revenue), Carl Makins, Customer Host (now at St John Ambulance) and Andy Twigg (now Duty Fleet Manager) standing against the door.

Andy Twigg, Duty Fleet Manager at EMCC

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Photo: Andrew Twigg

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GNER power car 43115 fires up after engine repairs in 2002.

Photo: Simon Greaves

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43166 at Neville Hill in March 2003.

Photo: Paul Corrie

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END OF THE LINE Farewell to our iconic HSTs

DID YOU KNOW?

THE HEAVIEST TRAIN

IN OUR FLEET

IS THE 2+6 HST.

AT 350 TONS, IT IS ALMOST AS HEAVY AS

THREE BLUE WHALES!

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43045 at Neville Hill, Leeds, West End slip.

Photo: Simon Greaves

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Celebrating the end of Project Rio, 43159 passes Kibworth on Friday 10 September 2004.

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Photo: Andy Bell

A picture of a Midland Main Line HST power car, minus its driving cab, in the mid-2000s.

Photo: Peter Leach

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Midland Main Line liveried HSTs 43072 - 43085 power past the 63 mile post at Irchester on their way to London St Pancras.

Photo: Richard Gennis

I started driving the HSTs after coming to the Midland Main Line from Toton. They are the last of the great icons; I don’t think that the service they have provided for all these years will be matched and the world speed record proves that!

I have really enjoyed driving them over the years.

Andy Ryder, Mainline Driver at Derby

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Driver Manager Karl Brailsford, Driver Instructor Chris Wells and Darren Ward, now Operations Director, WMT after arriving at Scarborough. This tour signified a farewell to the much-loved Paxman Valenta engine, as all except 43064, 43081 and 43083 had been converted to VP185s by this point. The tour raised a total of £7,800 for Railway Children.

Our first charity railtour the ‘Valenta Venturer’ passing Falsgrave box (Scarborough). A scene no longer available, as the area has been resignalled. The stunning signal gantry in the background is the same one that now resides at the North Yorkshire Railway that our ‘Pickering Paxman’ was photographed under.

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Photo: Ian McDonald

Photo: Darren Ward

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43083 at Radwell Flood on 4 November 2008 Photo: Ian McDonald

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On a cold winter’s day, 43047/43052 work the 11:28 Nottingham - London St Pancras. Seen to the South of Wellingborough.

Photo: Richard Gennis

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43064 at Nottingham Station in 2009.

Photo: Simon Greaves

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A busy platform scene at Market Harborough with the ‘Red Dot Day’ specials 43047/43045. The 10:45 departure is first stop London St Pancras.

Photo: Richard Gennis

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END OF THE LINE Farewell to our iconic HSTs

END OF THE LINE Farewell to our iconic HSTs

Paul Corrie, who has worked on the HSTs at Neville Hill for 45 years, checks over the engine room on 43075 before starting the power unit and turns 43082 on the turn-table at Neville Hill.

The noise makers! Taken at Neville Hill Open Day in 2009, the shiny VP185 power unit (left) that replaced the original Paxman Valenta unit (right).

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Photos: Darren Ward

Photos: Richard Gennis

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END OF THE LINE Farewell to our iconic HSTs

The first charity footplate ride I did was with a BA 777 pilot who had always dreamed of being an HST train driver. He had applied to BR to be a driver after leaving school, but failed the eyesight test so went back to university and now flies huge planes to the likes of Cape Town! A friend of his was put in contact with me via 125 Group looking for options for a 40th birthday gift. I was raising money for Railway Children at the time and said I'd give up a Saturday for a £300 donation, which they agreed to. (Even my wife agreed it was a good charity donation, despite the footplate ride being the day of our wedding anniversary!)

I told Ian McDonald and he came out to take a photo of us at Irchester. When I sent him Ian's picture he donated a further £100 and arranged another trip out for him and a friend for the same donation. He was an absolutely cracking guy, he even brought thank you notes and presents for the drivers. It was from this point I realised the fundraising potential of footplate rides and it took off from there with charity auction.

Darren Ward, now Operations Director, WMT

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43047 at Irchester on the first charity footplate ride in 2009.

Photo: Darren Ward / Ian McDonald

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END OF THE LINE Farewell to our iconic HSTs

Tim Shoveller acts as M.C. at Neville Hill Open Day as ‘Railway Children’ charity Chairman, David Maidment names power car 43082.

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Photos: Richard Gennis / Nigel Yule

EMT HST 43059 with 43066 on the rear wait to depart Skegness for Nottingham.

Photo: Richard Gennis

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END OF THE LINE Farewell to our iconic HSTs

A recovery at Cricklewood in February 2011. Following a failure at London St Pancras with a flaming axle box, a team of EMT wheel fitting experts were deployed to London to fit a wheelskate for the HST to make a slow departure to Cricklewood. The difficult recovery was a great success, completed in good time with minimal cost implications thanks to teams from Neville Hill, Etches Park, London St Pancras and Control, who worked together as one team to pull out all of the stops.

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Photos: Nigel Yule

50019 drags the EMT HST special on the Mid-Norfolk Railway.

Photo: Richard Gennis

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END OF THE LINE Farewell to our iconic HSTs

Drivers Paul Williams and Andy Sweating-ham and the Mid-Norfolk Marauder as it waits at London St Pancras for departure to Dereham as well as Mark Coney and Ray Cooke on-board.

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The ‘Mid-Norfolk Marauder’ was the first visit of an HST to the Mid-Norfolk Railway, and the first drag of an HST by a Class 50 since 1992. The tour itself raised £25,000 for Railway Children, The MNR had a lot of volunteers from EMT’s Norwich depot, which helped in the planning of the event. All train crew who volunteered for this tour donated their day’s salary to charity.

Photo: Ian McDonald

Photos: Richard Gennis

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END OF THE LINE Farewell to our iconic HSTs

This is me waving at Ian McDonald’s camera whilst out getting some driving hours. I have to pinch myself sometimes. I have no idea as to how I turned my geeky hobby into my ultimate dream job. So lucky!

Darren Ward, now Operations Director, WMT

EMT HSTs at Ely are rare! A change of driver waiting to take over the controls at Ely and 43082 ready to depart.

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Photos: Richard Gennis

Photo: Ian McDonald

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END OF THE LINE Farewell to our iconic HSTs

I have so many fond memories of HSTs but the most memorable is 43082. She has been one of the power cars on most of our charity railtours over the years, raising thousands of pounds for some really great causes.

Paul Williams, Mainline Driver Instructor at Derby

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Photo: Richard Gennis

Mark Coney backs 50019 onto the HST set at Dereham and a team photo before departing Dereham after a very successful ‘Drag & Rescue Day’.

Photos: Paul Williams / Richard Gennis

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END OF THE LINE Farewell to our iconic HSTs

Breakfast is served in First Class on ‘The Worth Valley Wanderer’ and the kitchen staff on-board from London St Pancras to Keighley.

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Photos: Richard Gennis

Photo: Richard Gennis

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The Worth Valley Wanderer 43082 crossing Mytholmes Viaduct on the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway.

Photo: Ian McDonald

END OF THE LINE Farewell to our iconic HSTs

‘The Sheffield Star 125 Years’ name plate is revealed and 43066/43073 head south at Irchester with the 05:29 Sheffield to London St Pancras passing 222005 with a northbound stopping service having just crossed the River Nene at Wellingborough.

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Photos: Nigel Yule / Richard Gennis

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END OF THE LINE Farewell to our iconic HSTs

This picture was taken at Leicester during my last HST journey as an EMT Driver back in June 2013. Potentially the last time I’ll have driven this fantastic part of railway engineering history.

Marcos Sarsonelli, Driver at Leicester

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Photo: Marcos Sarsonelli

43082 at Kings Cross in 2014.

Photo: Simon Greaves

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END OF THE LINE Farewell to our iconic HSTs

END OF THE LINE Farewell to our iconic HSTs

Charitable fundraising Charity footplate rides on EMT’s HSTs raised £18,750 over the 11 years of the franchise, for the Samaritans, Railway Children, Railway Benefit Fund and Friends of Glorious. The highest value footplate ride on an HST raised £3,500 for charity.

RAISED

£7,800 FOR RAILWAY CHILDREN

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RAISED

£25,000 FOR RAILWAY CHILDREN

RAISED

RAISED JUST OVER

RAISED

RAISED

SPLIT BETWEEN SAMARITANS and SHEFFIELD CANCER HOSPITAL CHARITY

FOR SAMARITANS As well as collecting Samaritans volunteers along the way to thank them for all of their work to support suicide prevention.

FOR RAILWAY CHILDREN

FOR 125 GROUP’S RUDDINGTON SHED APPEAL

£32,000 £6,000 £30,000 £21,000 53

“This was the first time the NRMs HST power car prototype was used on a shortened EMT set on the Great Central Railway - Nottingham (GCR-N). The trip was used as a VIP special for EMT guests, but we also provided a number of seats for 125 Group to sell to members for fundraising. Sir Kenneth Grange - the designer of the iconic HST cab was a special guest and seemed to thoroughly enjoy proceedings!”

Darren Ward, now Operations Director, WMT

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Photo: Richard Gennis

EMT team at Ruddington with prototype HST 41001 ‘The Screaming Valenta’.

Photo: Richard Gennis

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The Swanage Samaritan picked up charitable volunteers from the Samaritans at station stops between Sheffield and Swanage as a way of thanking them for all their collaborative efforts for the rail industry, to help prevent rail suicide and protect vulnerable people. It was the first ever HST to visit the seaside town, raising over £6,000 for charity.

END OF THE LINE Farewell to our iconic HSTs

The ‘Samaritans’ team on-board ‘The Swanage Samaritan’ railtour and a team photo just before the return leg of the journey.

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Photo: Darren Ward

Photos: Richard Gennis

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The Pickering Paxman charity railtour was to celebrate the ten-year partnership between Railway Children and EMT. The special train service ran on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway in 2017 raising £30,000 for the Railway Children.

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Photo: Ian Horner

“Cheque handover with ticket sales. David Maidment and the Railway Children team that had been on the train.

The final cheque that got banked was for £30,000, with another formal handover at London St Pancras with Jake and I.” Darren Ward, now Operations Director, WMT Photo: Darren Ward

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END OF THE LINE Farewell to our iconic HSTs

The Screaming Valentas railtour saw us once again take a shortened set to the GCR-N to have one last play with NRM prototype power car 41001. On this occasion, however, we sold tickets through Branch Line Society (BLS) and with everything counted up, we managed to raise over £21,000 for 125 Group’s ‘new shed’ appeal to house the ex EMT power cars they have taken into preservation. 125 Group and BLS were great partners to have through these years.

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Photos: Richard Gennis

END OF THE LINE Farewell to our iconic HSTs

Derby Driver Instructor Paul Williams at the helm of NRM prototype power car 41001 at Rushcliffe Halt, with EMT trailers and 43423 coming up the rear. Paul is the only driver to have volunteered and participated in every one of the EMT charity charter tours.

Photo: Darren Ward

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43073 and 43055 head north past the Weetabix factory at Burton Latimer with (1D57) 17:34 St Pancras to Nottingham.

Photo: Richard Gennis

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One of EMT’s female drivers checks HST 43083 at Barrow Hill depot.

The depot was used when the Derby station remodelling was taking place.

Photo: Richard Gennis

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An unusual sight of four HST power cars, 43055, 43073, 43044, 43480, all facing the same direction at Neville Hill depot, Leeds.

Photo: Richard Gennis

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43049 running outside the Back Fitting Shop after completing an X exam.

Photo: Simon Greaves

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END OF THE LINE Farewell to our iconic HSTs

END OF THE LINE Farewell to our iconic HSTs

One of my fondest memories of our HSTs is being part of the team who organised the end of EMT staff charter in August 2019. From wrapping the train in a collage of photos spanning 11 years of the franchise, to organising the entertainment and volunteering my support on-board on the day. It really was a fantastic experience, full of lots of happy faces and one that I’ll remember for the rest of my career.

Lynsey Buxton, Head of Employee Communications & Engagement The outside livery of our end of EMT staff charter in August 2019 and some of the team on-board the charter which celebrated 11 years of EMT.

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Photos: Mike Spencer

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END OF THE LINE Farewell to our iconic HSTs

END OF THE LINE Farewell to our iconic HSTs

I’m not the most poetic of people, but even still, the most accomplished of writers couldn’t express the love that staff, passengers and the public have for these trains.

Feats of fantastically British engineering and icons of the UK rail network. I feel so privileged that in my time as a host I got to work on them before they go. Ironically, it was an HST that was my first and last train I worked as a customer host.

Even though they will be disappearing off Main Line duties, I can’t wait to get behind one again when they start their new lives in preservation.

Jacob Lane, Duty Depot Delivery Manager at Kettering Three EMR HSTs lined up at Neville Hill and 43045 and 43089 in the TMS roads.

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Photos: Paul Corrie / Simon Greaves

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END OF THE LINE Farewell to our iconic HSTs

My time as a Customer Host on our EMT HSTs. Jacob Lane, Duty Depot Delivery Manager at Kettering

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Photo: Jacob Lane

“I have many fond memories and photos of me, my son and my daughter over the years with EMT / EMR HSTs. They’re a real iconic part of railway history.”

Paul Barnett, Duty Customer Info Manager Photo: Paul Barnett

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END OF THE LINE Farewell to our iconic HSTs

END OF THE LINE Farewell to our iconic HSTs

As Head of Fleet from 2017-2020 I was responsible for Neville Hill and the HSTs. The skill and drive for quality from the team at Neville Hill never ceased to amaze me, when you consider the knowledge required to deliver a 40-year-old+ fleet into service.

I was always immensely proud of the team, and am really pleased to have been a very small part of the story of the fleet and depot.

Gareth Race, Head of Fleet Programmes

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Photos: Paul Corrie / AV IT Media

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To celebrate the end of HSTs on the Midland Main Line, we painted record-breaking 43102 back into its record-breaking Intercity Swallow livery.

Photo: Richard Gennis

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END OF THE LINE Farewell to our iconic HSTs

Photos: AV IT Media

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END OF THE LINE Farewell to our iconic HSTs

43102 at Nottingham station in its Intercity Swallow livery in 2021 and 43102 in its Intercity livery beside 158864.

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Photo: Zeke Allsopp / Zoe Haywood

43102 seen approaching Wellingborough North Junction.

Photo: Richard Gennis

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The final frontier. 43274 is painted in EMR brand colours to celebrate the end of the HST era on the Midland Main Line.

Photo: Richard Gennis

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Photo: AV IT Media

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Thank you

For colleagues right across EMR, our HSTs are so much more than just trains – they’re part of the railway family.

A huge thank you to our people and industry partners who have played a significant role in keeping these trains on the move over the last 39 years and for sharing so many happy memories.

Goodbye, old girl.

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