Interesting HST Combo today

[whole diary]

[Super Guard]

I thought the max speed was that allowed by the slowest vehicle in the formation.  I assumed 2 x Powercars running on their own are restricted to 75mph?

[LiskeardRich]

I thought the max speed was that allowed by the slowest vehicle in the formation.  I assumed 2 x Powercars running on their own are restricted to 75mph?

This is my belief as well.

[Electric train]

I thought the max speed was that allowed by the slowest vehicle in the formation.  I assumed 2 x Powercars running on their own are restricted to 75mph?

Restricting the speed of 2 power cars on their own (effectively 2 light engines) has to do with breaking force much the same as a single light loco has a max speed of 45mph.  The train if I can remember my train breaking stuff provides 80% of the breaking force (I'll really must dig my collage notes out of the loft  ) the combo in this thread was "working a train" so breaking force is not an issue the drawbar I suspect is the limiting factor here.

[Phil]

I've seen a couple of odd combinations recently. A few weeks ago, an HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) DMU^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit) came through Melksham; power car at either end, and just two coaches between them. I'd like to think they were trialling the future of the line when HSTs go out of service and they start looking for alternative uses for the stock

Then yesterday I was having lunch in Chippenham and saw a full-length HST on the down line with Coach A in the middle. I'm fairly sure I've seen train buffs mention before that it's not possible, as Coach A has to be connected to a power car; so I'm not robustly defending my corner here - just saying what I'm certain I saw.

[BerkshireBugsy]

I've seen a couple of odd combinations recently. A few weeks ago, an HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) DMU^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit) came through Melksham; power car at either end, and just two coaches between them. I'd like to think they were trialling the future of the line when HSTs go out of service and they start looking for alternative uses for the stock

Then yesterday I was having lunch in Chippenham and saw a full-length HST on the down line with Coach A in the middle. I'm fairly sure I've seen train buffs mention before that it's not possible, as Coach A has to be connected to a power car; so I'm not robustly defending my corner here - just saying what I'm certain I saw.

I think I must have been at Reading when I saw what I believed to be a 9 car hst ..from memory there were the normal 2 first class carriages, a restaurant car, a standard class carriage then another coach A then the normal standard coaches. Maybe this was the same diagram you describe Phil? I'm not an insider so apologise if this is the wrong use of the term "diagram" here

[bobm]

Last summer, and possibly the summers before, there was a nine car HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) on the Saturdsy morning service to Newquay. The rear carriage was used solely for the movement of luggage - mainly surfboards. I was there one Saturday when the driver pulled up at the usual eight coach marker and the rear coach was off the platform. Meant dispatching the train in the normal way only for it to pull forward a coach length and then depart after all the paraphernalia was loaded.

I understand the train started from Bristol St Philips Marsh and ran to London from Hereford as a nine car before going to Newquay.

[SandTEngineer]

....in the old days adding an extra coach to an HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) formation used to be a convenient way of moving spare coaches between depots. Of course now you avoid track access charges by not running ECS^▸ (Empty Coaching Stock) around 

[smokey]

The oddest HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) working I've ever seen was back in the late 80's.

It was a service from Plymouth, going East, working Front Power car then the 7 or 8 trailers.

Must have been a working Front Power car as the TGS was the Rear vehicle with Flashing Battery tail lamp.

No rear power car NO Barrier vehicle!

Oh for a Camera. 

I'm sure it was a service train, but may have been bound for Laira.

And before anyone says thats Not allowed this was when it was still BR^▸ (British Rail(ways)) when sense was more important than Stupidity.

[JayMac]

And the shortest ever HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) to carry passengers:

http://www.luxsoft.demon.co.uk/village/hst.html

 

[EBrown]

And the shortest ever HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) to carry passengers:

http://www.luxsoft.demon.co.uk/village/hst.html

 

An interesting read, thanks for sharing.

This page is designed to be viewed at 800 by 600 resolution (maximised)
... and it may take a time to download using a dial-up connection !

[inspector_blakey]

And the shortest ever HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) to carry passengers:

http://www.luxsoft.demon.co.uk/village/hst.html

There was me thinking it would be that 2+1 combo that ran from Oxford to Didcot a few years ago for a power car naming. But putting all the pax in the rear powercar is impressive!

[bobm]

Not as obvious from the outside as three power cars but there's at least one set running round with a first class coach labelled up as coach D.

It is the second time I have come across it and on both occasions no PA^▸ (Public Address (broadcast loudspeaker announcements) or Passenger Assist (railway staff providing physical assistance to passengers with mobility issues), depending on context) announcement has been made about it being declassified and no signs in the coach either.  Result - hardly anyone sits in it!

Not sure what they do about reservations as there are fewer seats than the conventional coach D.

It was on the 18:30 London Paddington to Weston-super-Mare tonight.

[inspector_blakey]

The oddest HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) working I've ever seen was back in the late 80's.

It was a service from Plymouth, going East, working Front Power car then the 7 or 8 trailers.

Must have been a working Front Power car as the TGS was the Rear vehicle with Flashing Battery tail lamp.

No rear power car NO Barrier vehicle!

Oh for a Camera. 

I'm sure it was a service train, but may have been bound for Laira.

And before anyone says thats Not allowed this was when it was still BR^▸ (British Rail(ways)) when sense was more important than Stupidity.

There was a very similar move a few weeks/months ago following a problem with an HST on the GWML^▸ (Great Western Main Line): the train was eventually divided in service, passengers moved and the unaffected front portion worked to Swindon, I think, where it was terminated.

[devon_metro]

Not as obvious from the outside as three power cars but there's at least one set running round with a first class coach labelled up as coach D.

It is the second time I have come across it and on both occasions no PA^▸ (Public Address (broadcast loudspeaker announcements) or Passenger Assist (railway staff providing physical assistance to passengers with mobility issues), depending on context) announcement has been made about it being declassified and no signs in the coach either.  Result - hardly anyone sits in it!

Not sure what they do about reservations as there are fewer seats than the conventional coach D.

It was on the 18:30 London Paddington to Weston-super-Mare tonight.

I've once enjoyed Penzance - Newton Abbot in a declassified coach, most enjoyable. Nobody seemed to believe me when I mentioned it wasn't actually first class! Shame!

[bobm]

There was a very similar move a few weeks/months ago following a problem with an HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) on the GWML^▸ (Great Western Main Line): the train was eventually divided in service, passengers moved and the unaffected front portion worked to Swindon, I think, where it was terminated.

It did indeed http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=10198.msg105952#msg105952