'The Flying Banana' GWR HST charity railtour, 1st June 2019

[whole diary]

[johnneyw]

“A genuine rail enthusiast” ..... and I thought I still firmly in the closet?!

In reality I have hundreds of people in GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) who felt strongly they wanted to see off the HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train) in style. My only small contribution was empowering them to get on with making it happen.

I always regret the end of LHCS^▸ (Locomotive Hauled Coaching Stock) in/out of Paddington on regular service trains in the day was never seen off properly.

Now to think of the 143 farewell ...

Yes, I think they've earned a decent send off. Love 'em or loathe 'em, nobody can deny they did an important job.

[martyjon]

What I would love to see is at least one set to be preserved. My ideal preservation scenario would be for 4 power cars to be saved along with an additional buffet car and a number of Mark 3's as spares and for a complete cloned "Blue Pullman" set created with 4 around table seating so as to recognise the luxury of what these trains were when first introduced until the TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company)'s started messing around with the seating bringing in airline style seating. Pipe dreaming now, can you imagine a restored "Blue Pullman" HST^▸ (High Speed Train) leaving Paddington on a March morning bound for Cheltenham on Gold Cup Day with the punters enjoying a Bucks Fizz breakfast. An extended return journey via Worcester, Stourbridge Junction, Galton Bridge, Snow Hill, Warwick, Leamington Spa, Banbury and Oxford would allow for a three course evening dinner to be served to the homegoing punters celebrating their backing the winner or commiserating with fellow punters who backed a loser. One can dream but a single winning lottery ticket on a triple rollover draw and my dream could become reality.

[broadgage]

“A genuine rail enthusiast” ..... and I thought I still firmly in the closet?!

In reality I have hundreds of people in GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) who felt strongly they wanted to see off the HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train) in style. My only small contribution was empowering them to get on with making it happen.

I always regret the end of LHCS^▸ (Locomotive Hauled Coaching Stock) in/out of Paddington on regular service trains in the day was never seen off properly.

Now to think of the 143 farewell ...

I doubt that any significant farewell for the 143s could be arranged for two reasons.
Firstly, whilst they no doubt have their admirers, there is little affection for 143s. Many passengers would regard them as a necessary evil rather than like them. "Better than no train" is about the best that can be said of them.

Secondly, they are more of a rural or branch line unit which limits the opportunities for anything like the HST farewell.
Four units in adjacent platforms, each serving a different route ? Where on earth could that be arranged.

They are an important part of railway history and I hope that a few are preserved, but a grand "last day" seems a bit unlikely.

[Celestial]

I think Mark's tongue was firmly in his cheek with that sign-off, and it was a nice way to end a very complimentary message about his team.  I'm not sure it warranted a serious response.

[johnneyw]

I think Mark's tongue was firmly in his cheek with that sign-off, and it was a nice way to end a very complimentary message about his team.  I'm not sure it warranted a serious response.

I daresay you are correct but "many a true word spoken in jest". After all SEWWEB started as an April Fools article.

[Thatcham Crossing]

Four units in adjacent platforms, each serving a different route ?

You could pretty much do that from where they are based, couldn't you?  - to Paignton, Exmouth and Barnstaple with a "fast" run to Plymouth!

[RichardB]

I took Mark's Cl 143 send off mention very seriously.  After all, GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) organised a lovely farewell to the Cl 142s a few years ago.  It was a really good Sunday which took in Alphington, Heathfield, Okehampton and a fast run from Exeter to Plymouth.

It will be another very significant milestone when the 143s go so I'm sure there will be something to mark the occasion.

[Celestial]

Sorry, the intent of my message was that Mark wrote a very nice note, that immediately had cold water poured over it which I didn't feel was right. Especially given that I think we are very fortunate to have his occasional comments, and I didn't think that response was appropriate, and was possibly churlish.

But obviously others disagree, so will leave it there.

[grahame]

One of our strength is in a forum of multiple views ... yet I don't think there's much difference in views in this thread.  Members really appreciate the sendoff the full length HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train) got, the great help from GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) in laying that on, and the comment back and forth on this thread to say a proper "thank you" right to the top, with the response that much of it is a team effort.

Now. Different topic.  Yes, in my view there should be a "thank you" to class 143 as they bow out. Such things are not only good for those of [us] with sentimental memories of them, but surrounding press also helps remind Jo Public of the railway by having it in the news, and telling Jo Public that there are sparkling new (or perhaps newer) trains on the regular runs now, and (s)he should try them.

[Phantom]

I was at Reading waiting for a connection back to Weston, when the train went through

I have to say I was impressed by the tunes made on the horns at either end of the train

[Robin Summerhill]

I doubt that any significant farewell for the 143s could be arranged for two reasons.
Firstly, whilst they no doubt have their admirers, there is little affection for 143s. Many passengers would regard them as a necessary evil rather than like them. "Better than no train" is about the best that can be said of them.

Many passengers thought exactly the same about steam traction 50+ years ago. Nevertheless there is significant support for heritage railways and main line steam operations these days (perhaps not shared by some in NR^» (Network Rail - home page) but you'll rarely find 100% agreement on anything!).

People have their own likes and interests that other people may find odd, to say the least. The selection of specialist publications that appear in the "missing words round" on "Have I got News for You" emphasises the point for me! I particularly recall the week that "Brick Collectors Weekly" was featured and the question was: "Before they became brick collectors, many members used to be ---?" Paul Merton piped up with a one word answer: "Married."

There is such a beast as the Morris Marina Owners Club...

[Western Pathfinder]

Of which I am a member !...

[jamestheredengine]

We need a second railtour with the start/finish ends in Carmarthen – the only flaw of the Flying Banana was it was very east-end oriented. Something like Carmarthen, Llanelli, Neath, Cardiff, Abergavenny, Hereford, Worcester, Oxford, Swindon, Melksham, Westbury, Taunton, Exeter, Newton Abbot, Paignton, Kingswear, Paignton, Newton Abbot, Exeter, Taunton, Westbury, Bath, Stapleton Road, Severn Tunnel Junction, Cardiff, etc, Carmarthen.

[IndustryInsider]

I reckon HST^▸ (High Speed Train) rail tours, albeit not GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) organised ones, will become a very common sight in future years.

[bobm]

Just as an important postscript - the charity run on the 1st June raised £30,000 for Action for Children.