Great Western Coffee Shop

Just found this gem on youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdJB3N9pK0k

First time I've seen footage of the prototype HST.

Would be nice to see a FGW HST back in original livery. Maybe as a tie-in with the GWR 175 celebrations!

I'm sure one day we'll see an HST back in its original livery. What I would love to see is the original interior back too. Those orange seats in First and the blue seats that matched the window alignment in 2nd were great!  ;D

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3269/2733619121_362a107d97.jpg

Hmm, not sure about the orange velour. In fact there seemed to be orange everywhere in the original HST Mk3s  :D

(http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt68/bignosemac/1970sHSTBuffet.jpg)

Hang on, you're forgetting the violent yellow vestibules!

Traveled on the prototype in 1976 it had a public service runs on the Western but only at the then time tabled speeds, also worked on it as an apprentice at OOC

Traveled on loco hauled Mk3's on the service from London Liverpool St to Colchester still had the old style seats must say I prefer the current FGW seats

I'd love to get one of those cherry red British Rail ice-buckets!!!!!

I like the MK I in the opening footage of the prototype HST at 0.08

Whilst the Second Class had Blue seats, as the MK III only had one basic body shell, not all the Second class seats lined up with the windows.

Correct some comprimises were made in second class seat alignment, but most seats still had a view and it was obvious some effort at alignemnt had ben made.  Unlike modern trains were seats are bunged in with complete disregard for window alignment.