Last HSTs from Paddington 18/5

All the dining services on the IETs run as they always have on the services here https://www.gwr.com/plan-journey/journey-information/on-board/pullman-dining (if the GWR site is working for you, seems a bit dodgy at the moment).

 

Thank you. I hadn't realised there was anything besides the Penzance service.

Now, what about "We take you back to the days of luxurious train travel; with plush seats ..."? Do the dining cars have better seats than the other IET coaches?

Edit: sorry for extending the thread drift. Dining services and quality of seats would be better discussed in General Railway Chat.

Further edit: That web page is well out of date, as it includes this:
"There are currently no available spaces for wheelchair users, or accessible toilets, on our Pullman services.

"Our new Intercity Express Train Pullman coaches, which will start to enter service in 2018, will provide access to wheelchair users and have accessible toilets."

 

For anyone who's missing their HST fix you could do worse than look north. Scotrail have some new toys, somewhat older than the Class 170 sets they replace !
Redundant in the south the Scotrail 2 +4 sets look to be largely in charge of the Glasgow Aberdeen services now if the last few days are anything to go by.
Something of history repeating itself there perhaps ?

 

Try this year as well! The first two weekends in January provided plenty of 125's for me to snap at Ely West Junction. Wouldn't mind a short set filling in for my regular 170's on the Brum runs...

 

As a young spotter, I was mightily miffed when these came along and usurped my beloved Deltics.

Now, when they are gone from the ECML I shall miss them.

 

As a very, very young spotter I was mightily miffed when the Deltics came along and usurped my beloved A4s.
Dave.

 

A4s, Deltics, and HSTs were each the best technology for the job in their respective days. Alas the same can't be said of the IETs.

 

I personally rate the HST's over most things. Arguably the best diesel trains in the world, and will go down in history for sure.

Sent from my HTC U Play using Tapatalk

 

My two oldest & I have the tickets & Reservations for the last departure from Paddington in the 18th

 

Here are the provisional diagrams for the day, source RailUK Forums :
Saturday 18th May, final day diagrams

 

You can still get your HST fix on the Midland Main Line as well.....but for how long??

 

We kind of peaked with the HST, didn't we?

 

A bit like Concorde!

 

2022 according to the recent East Midlands Franchise announcement

 

Every Sunday, about 13:00 ex Leeds.
We usually see a Cross Country HST early Sunday afternoon.
Does any body know if there are any Valenta powered examples left ?
How about this lads..........A Valenta HST power car and Alycidon double headed.
.
.Yes I know I'm being silly, I know it'll never happen...............but I'd book Premier dining on the railtour if it did.

 

The prototype power car at Ruddington on the GCR(N) still has its Valenta engine fitted. Don't think there are any other ones left currently.

Dave B

 

Ironically, that sort of journey, under the wires for part of the distance, is exactly what the IETs were supposedly intended for, but presumably as they have turned out they haven't enough diesel power for the Highland Line. It would have been better to fit the HSTs with pantographs and transformers.

Edit: Come to that, and more germane to this thread, how well do IETs do on the South Devon banks?

 

1A96 16:57 Plymouth-Paddington at Reading on the 17th April with 43071 and 43171.

 

Turns out a friend of mine has (inadvertently) found himself on the last service from Paddington to Swansea

There are window stickers proclaiming the last day of HST operation in the windows.