Intercity 125 celebrating 40 years
Intercity 125 celebrating 40 years
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Ste1987

Original Poster:

1,798 posts

135 months

Wednesday 4th May 2016
quotequote all
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-36188805

Had no idea this loco was 40! Looks good for its age. I'm quite fond of the 125 as I still have the Hornby model in the black livery in the loft somewhere:


SVX

2,188 posts

240 months

Wednesday 4th May 2016
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I have to admit I'm a sucker for the sound of a Paxman Valenta on full chat. A design ahead of it's time.

Talksteer

5,701 posts

262 months

Thursday 5th May 2016
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The prototype HST was in Derby station today, I was surprised it was still able to run.

mph1977

12,467 posts

197 months

Thursday 5th May 2016
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Talksteer said:
The prototype HST was in Derby station today, I was surprised it was still able to run.
she's been almost completely rebuilt, the two prototypes were built in 1972 - the rebuild was needed becasue she has sat out of use for a significant period , the oldest prouction powercars were built in 1975 and have been in use continuously since then

Yertis

19,707 posts

295 months

Thursday 5th May 2016
quotequote all
Ste1987 said:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-36188805

Had no idea this loco was 40! Looks good for its age. I'm quite fond of the 125 as I still have the Hornby model in the black livery in the loft somewhere:

I don't want to knock Kenneth Grange because he's one of my design 'heros' but to say he designed the HSTis a bit of a stretch. He styled the nose cone beautifully.

essayer

10,410 posts

223 months

Thursday 5th May 2016
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Still have my Hornby set with that exact livery !
Working headlights, no less.

Boatbuoy

1,975 posts

191 months

Thursday 5th May 2016
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mph1977 said:
Talksteer said:
The prototype HST was in Derby station today, I was surprised it was still able to run.
she's been almost completely rebuilt, the two prototypes were built in 1972 - the rebuild was needed becasue she has sat out of use for a significant period , the oldest prouction powercars were built in 1975 and have been in use continuously since then
Lots of info in the 125 Group's website under the 'Project Miller' section: http://www.125group.org.uk/project-miller/about-pr...

prand

6,244 posts

225 months

Thursday 5th May 2016
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I did laugh when FGW sent out a tweet celebrating the fact, and the immediate response was abuse about being proud to have vintage rolling stock.

I can't wait for these, the adalantes and the thames turbos to be replaced. I use them daily, don't have a nostalgic feel for them at all any more.


surveyor

18,689 posts

213 months

Thursday 5th May 2016
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I don't know...

The East Coast 125's are great things, and so much nicer in terms of noise and vibration than the Hull Trains and Grand Central stuff.

Mind you they borrowed one from East Midlands and it was bloody awful.

I suspect the 40 year old ones are quite bad, the refurbed one's quite good...

bristolracer

5,949 posts

178 months

Thursday 5th May 2016
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I remember going down to the main Paddington/Bristol line to watch the first ones run.

My mates and I would often crush pennies on the track under the wheels of the class 47s that were in use but there was no chance of finding the penny when the HST had hit it at 125mph. the level crossing we used to leave the pennies on was closed shortly after, when the HST became the main train on the line.

We managed to stop one by accident when my friend decided to push the call button at the crossing. He pushed the button and walked off,the signal man phoned back and got no answer as we were running away as fast as we could. The signal went to red and the next HST stopped. After 5 minutes the driver went to the signal,phoned the signalman, walked a good few hundred yards down to the crossing,checked and went back to the signal to confirm all was clear. My mate and i were hiding in hedge expecting to feel the long arm of law!

I occasionally use them these days, still a great train considering its age.

Huff

3,420 posts

220 months

Thursday 5th May 2016
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I havea short commute on these everyday (Bath-bristol-rtn, occasional runs to London) and yes the refurbed ones are OK again (shame there's no Paxman Valenta scream anymore...)

One thing they still demonstrate is how nasty the ubiquitous 'diesel-under- every carriage-floor' solution is on most other services. Can't wait for full electrification of the GWR though...

vournikas

12,556 posts

233 months

Thursday 5th May 2016
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24lemons

3,000 posts

214 months

Friday 6th May 2016
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vournikas said:
Haha! I was watching those videos last night! I didn't realise the engines had been changed. I have vivid memories of the noisy bit of the train going past as it left the station and the scream was incredible to experience up close!

J4CKO

46,816 posts

229 months

Friday 6th May 2016
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As a kid these seemed so futuristic, we all had the trains sets, we made cardboard ones at school in craft lessons, quite a big impact on us at the time, seemed so futuristic and 125 mph still sounded mentally fast.