High Speed Train
High Speed Train
The High Speed Train prototype was built a Crewe works in 1972 and number 41001 and 41002. put on either end of a rake a Mark 3 carriages, however shortly after introduction it was decided to reclassify the set as a diesel electric multiple unit and classified 252. the power cars were renumbered 43000 and 43001, this was reversed again when the production cars were produced a re numbered back again. Once production began the two prototypes were used in development of the APT and remained around the network well into the 1990's. They were allocated 975xxx numbers. All the carriages bar one were allocated into the HST sets that were produced. In 1993 they were withdrawn and 41002 was withdrawn in 1990 and scrapped. 41001 was donated to the National Railway Museum in York. It has now been fully restored and is in operational use with the 125 group until the loan agreement ended in November 2019. There are plenty of references out there that will give you a full technical breakdown of development of the 252.
The HST went into general production in 1975 until 1982, with the first set going into service in 1976. Number like a multiple unit in the 253 and 254 series. This was changed later on when the classification was dropped.
The class is officially the fastest diesel locomotive in the world achieving an maximum speed of 148mph by 43102 & 43159. The HST has now probably served on every major rail route around the country and is loved by all. Considered mundane for a vast period of its life by most train enthusiasts, now very much in the twilight of its career and i am certain to soon disappear from the network forever, to me that will be a very sad day. Although still running around on many routes and reduced in some cases to four carriage length trains. Some will
continue in service for many years to come with use in the Post and parcel service, some are already in storage, a full listing of every member of the class is here,
I am hoping that they will carry on for years to come, the pulsating throbs of the Paxman Valenta engines a distinctive sound from my teen years.
The newly refurbished 253001, photograph by Geof Sheppard
Liveries
There have been many
guises the HST has been it. In the beginning they all looked the same, The original Blue above then into the two different Intercity liveries. Then moving into the franchise years of multi colours and even into the famous or infamous flying banana. So below is a selection of the
plethora of dull, bright and
outrageous colour schemes around.
All the photos below are from Google. Thank you to the original owners.
Over the years there have also been a lot of designs of Class 43 liveries. So below we shall have a look at some of the designs and drawings that have been been done over the years. Some of the drawings below can be seen in the liveries above
