In an effort to speed up British railway services, two projects were started in the early 1970s. The Advanced Pasenger Train (APT) was a high tech approach with a tilt mechanism to allow it to go round corners faster, and a whole host of other innovations. The High Speed Train (HST) was a more conventional approach which pushed traditional railway engineering to new heights.
Sadly, the APT was a failure despite some £40million being spent on it. In contrast the HST was a huge success, attracting new passengers to services that were considerably speeded up following their introduction into service from 1976. Almost 100 HST's were built and provided long distance services across the country.
In 1987 a shortened HST train achieved a world speed record for a diesel train of 148 mph (238km/hr) on a test run on the East Coast main line near Grantham.
The locomotive in this shot has a vinyl wrap showing profiles of steam and diesel locomotives in the National Railway Museum collection, and lists of other museum locomotives.
Today, the HST still provides some of the fastest services in Britain, but despite the fact that they have been in service for 40 years, when some are replaced over the next few years with electrification, the displaced HSTs will move to Scotland to speed up services between main towns and cities there.
Re-engineering about 10 years ago has made them highly reliable, and their coaches are more comfortable than more recent trains, so for me, if I'm travelling on a route where these trains are used, I'm more than happy!
Great shot of this interesting train. I wander what`s the hurry to go so fast. By any exident the damage and number of victems get worser with the speed increase
Enthralled by your description as always. There is talk (again) of a very fast train between Melbourne and Sydney. There was talk twenty years ago too. So far not even a peg driven into the ground.
Thank you all for your comments and fav, they are appreciated!
Tony, I think that a small number of these locomotives were built for Australia some years ago, but I've never heard any more about them.
Ian
Thank you Richard - since neither Katharine or I drive, many of our journeys are by train, and it is fascinating to see how things work!
Ian