Great Western Coffee Shop

21 years ago yesterday (26 June 1993), 159 003 ran non stop from Waterloo to Salisbury in 59 mins and 1 second.  This was all part of the launch of the Cl 159s on to the route (we called them South Western Turbos at the time).

I was lucky enough to be on this - what a run!  I remember we went through Fleet in about 22 mins!

The Railway Performance Society publish a spreadsheet of fast runs http://www.railperf.org.uk/fast/Special.pdf .  Their current President, John Heaton recorded the 1993 run.  He regularly writes the performance column in Railway Magazine (and was BR Area Manager at Exeter in the 1980s).

I do enjoy the full throttle runs of the 159s into Waterloo. Their sister class on FGW, the 158s, get so little opportunity for long distances at top speed. Often times even if they are on a fast stretch, say between Uphill and Highbridge or Yate and Damn & Cursely they are either limited to 75mph timings made for 150/153s or are often paired with another DMU that is limited to 75mph.

Wouldn't they get to 90mph between Bath-Cardiff?

There are a few places where 158s can and do get up to 90mph. But some diagrams are timed for 75mph units.

Severn Tunnel to Cardiff
Swindon to Gloucester via Kemble
Bristol Parkway to Gloucester
Bristol TM to Taunton

Warminster to Salisbury?
Chippenham to Swindon?

Westbury - Frome - Castle Cary definitely. But most 158 workings that route are diagrammed as 75mph workings because of the possible use of Class 150s :(

(Pendants, Yes I know Frome Branch has a much slower speed ;) I am referring to the tracks shared with HST services between Fairwood Junction / Click Road Jn and Blatchbridge Jn / Castle Cary :) )

What's the speed limit on the English approach to the tunnel?

(http://www.mbob.co.uk/rforum/sevtun.jpg)

Warminster to Salisbury line speed 75mph max

90mph, but its 75mph through the Severn Tunnel so trains will be braking anyway.
Page 417 here: http://www.networkrail.co.uk/browse%20documents/sectional%20appendix/western%20sectional%20appendix.pdf

I think the consensus here is that FGW's 158s can and do hit their 90mph max on various parts of the FGW network, but rolling stock/timetable constraints, more often than not, see the 158s throttled to 75mph max.
 
Full chat on a SWT 159 through the London 'burbs is most enjoyable.

When I discovered that my Portsmouth-Zones 1-6 season was valid via. Salisbury (think they've removed this from the routeing guide shortly after I stopped doing this journey), I used the 159 service a few times.  Felt odd travelling on a stretch of my usual commute (Woking-Waterloo) with the noisy diesel engine and considerably more comfortable seating.

What with the typical wait for a platform at Waterloo, I remember the journey taking around 1.5 hours.  Isn't it great how far things have moved on in the last 21 years...!

The 158 and 159s are good and comfortable trains for longish distance journeys.  Just need a few extras, like power sockets.

The First Class weekend upgrade is a bargain for Exeter to Waterloo (or Clapham) and makes for a very pleasant journey. Some decent weekday fares, too. Always my preferred route when traveling to the South East.

Makes for an interesting change of scenery and the 159s seem suited to the route. Downsides are the irregular trolley service and lack of substantial food thereon. Not so bothered about timings and stopping at every wayside halt (!) as adds a certain charm to the journey.