End of the Line - A HST Story | EMR 

I’d liken the HST more like the 747 than Concorde. A stop gap to the APT that never came, similar to the 747 being a stop gap to supersonic. Both ended up becoming the icons of their respective industries, outliving their intended lifespans by some margins.

My favourite HST moment down the Midland was an occasion when the leading power car failed upon departure from the Pan. We stopped at Luton and the guard came on and explained the situation but added "Well, we still have another power car at the rear and the driver is game for it if you are..." which then led to a spirited journey of the rear power car pushing the entire set to Sheffield and still managing 130mph (as measured by GPS) and got in 12 minutes early Wouldn't get that on one of those 222s

My uncle, Ernie Kettle was a senior fitter at Paxmans and responsible for the cylinder heads for the original engines. This followed flying 85 operations as a bomber navigator in WW2. He was equally proud of both achievements.He died in 2019 aged 97.

Never again will we have something as superb and stylish like the HST carrying us to our destination. They were the last of Britain’s great railways. We will miss you.

They have served us well, the sound of that Valenta when wound up is as iconic as the sounds of the Rolls Royce Merlin

The hst’s are the Crown Jewels of the railway and will be missed by many rail lovers like myself. But life has to move on whether we like it or not. I will still cherish the hst’s all the time though and so will many other people.

Certainly one of the best, if not THE best train the UK has ever had. Smooth, quiet, comfortable, reliable, stylish and long lasting. Superior in many, many aspects to the newer units that replaced them. I will miss them greatly. Not just because they are so iconic, and one of the final legacies of BR, but because their sucessors are, frankly, not a patch on them! And to think the orgininal design is almost 50 years old...

The ride of a MK3 coach is still the best there is, smooth quiet, comfortable - exactly what the passenger wants.

Love the HST’s and so glad they are still running passenger services here in Scotland. Long live the HST!

Let me begin by saying thank you for the excellent documentary. I sat at home watching it on my laptop and getting teary eyed knowing a piece of BR history that I only read about in books as a child is retiring from front line passengers service after 45 years (39 years on the MML). To the folks who build the fleet nearly 50 years ago, to those who sat behind the control, to the train staff, and to those who maintained the fleet until the very last day, let me say thank you for keeping the Class 43 HSTs on the rails for all those years. You folks operated and maintained a will built train that will now stand alongside another British railway record holding icon, the LNER Class A4 4468 Mallard. If anyone said that the British don't built trains like they used to. You let the world know this: "We invented the railways, exported it to the world, and built trains that are so iconic that they are now preserved for future generations." Today's modern intercity trains, although faster and more fuel efficient, can not beat the long standing reputation, and the memories, of the HSTs. The Class 43 High Speed Trains, also known as the InterCity 125, will always and forever be "The Queen of the Railways."

I was born in 1975, been brought up with the hst. They will be sadly missed. I will definitely do the hst rail tours as and when I can.

Always remember these in the 1980s and 90s. Good childhood memories of a great looking train.

I love the HSTS I'm gonna miss them 😢

I remember the last days of the Deltics. It was January 1992, there were tears, memories and lost of emotion. Back then, the HST's were the young upstarts, seen as the the usurpers, dislodging the adored Deltic's from their favourite routes and in to retirement. At the end the last enthusiasts special run, a HST attempted to join in with the plaudits with a solitary blast of its horn, which was almost drowned out by a resounding Boooo! from the highly charged crowd. How times have changed, haven't those young upstart done well. A truly iconic train, worthy of the title.

So many memories. Being on one when it fell of the rails - only doing about 2mph (though track works) but such a clunk! Offering up my seat in a crowded carriage to an obviously pregnant woman with obvious backache only to look up and see every young woman in the carriage cooing at me :) Knowing where they'd stop at every station so I'd be next to the door handle and (politely) be first on. Having really long arms and so often first off - some people simply could not reach those outside handles! Line side fire and one held stationary at Kettering for a couple of hours midsummer on full electrics and aircon - the noise! Always trying to clear the steps at (old) Harborough before the rear power car passed - the noise! Seeing them lined up in St Pancras and feeling like I was home already. Much glassless vestibule photography. One passing Loughborough where an empty Coke can on the platform edge got sucked in and spat out of the vortex a dozen times at a million miles an hour. One parked up (Leicester?) with serious tree damage to the windscreen. Occasional passengers who obviously have court dates (their mood, their dress, their unsure behaviour among the morning commuters) and the one who kicked back hard against having no ticket - the staff legging it and abandoning the entire carriage to this nutter who we were all locked in with until BTP picked them off at Leicester. Standing through a long buffet car lecture by Revenue Protection to a dude with no ticket and sheepishly producing my season ticket when what I really wanted to say was, "Leicester return please!" - not sure she would have found it funny? Watching a fellow passenger put his cellphone on his seat tray then a newspaper on top then us both leaving at the same stop - he got his phone back but only after the train was leaving and just as he realised what he'd done! Seeing a buffered version (43465?) passing Harborough. A furtive couple in our reserved standard class seats (they'd removed and hidden the seat reservation tickets) and being upgraded to weekend first at no charge. The dignity and stoicism of the staff at Loughborough every time someone who'd had enough put themselves under one at Allsopp's Lane. The little, unsure panicky driver PA announcement when his crew calls went unanswered one weekend during engineering works and the train would be opposite-platformed at Harborough and he didn't want the doors opening on the usual side as that would be track- rather than platform-facing. The missing bit of platform during Loughborough's refurb and the frequent and stern announcements to disembark forward and a bunch of LUT students who ignored them and opened the doors anyway and the old short platform at Harborough and doing exactly that with my father as a kid. A charming form of transit that will be missed but thankfully also preserved as heritage.

When someone we love dies we have memories when a train is retired it’s the same thing…. 49 years is a lifetime of such memories!!! They are still around Cross Country ScotRail and GWR still have them they are still part of our family ❤️and will never be forgotten

Fantastic Documentary. I love the line 'Everyone has a memory of the HST' and that will be true for everyone. The HST is truly an icon and it was a pleasure to travel on.

HST is One of the best British diesel ever made and this is why we should start building and designing our own trains again

This is one of the most emotional videos I have ever watched, the HST's will be such a miss on the MML! We will never ever forget this British railway icon. LONG LIVE THE HST!!!!! :)

Nobody could doubt the quality of the engineering, the seat comfort and the ride. And it was British ! I have fond memories of the Dawlish Sea Wall, Box, Stevenage without stopping, York and Sheffield. Oh the joy of a rover ticket that let you ride all day on these wonderful sets. Even up to last year I was a regular on the HST sets London to Norwich. Inappropriate electric traction and you needed the right driver but we will never see smooth riding and comfort like that again. RIP British HST

Britain's finest train and locomotive - can tell how good the loco is in how long it was in service and how it affected people for better including staff as shown at 20:42

there's only one word i would use to describe these trains & that is ICONIC. Have seen me through, childhood & adult years.

as a American, I love all British Railways and locomotives, and seeing the 125's retire brought tears to my eyes, as these beauties were the backbone of Britains express passenger lines all the way up to their retirement. Thank you Inter City 125, you've given your country a good service, now rest peacefully, you will always be loved and remembered.

Rest in peace HST you'll always have a place in my heart HST you have retired a little bit earlier so you could enjoyed your retirement you're a legend to the railway

Up there with Concorde as an icon of British engineering. Never beat the whistle of the Valenta engine going full pelt out of a station in the old days especially the lines of Leeds, York,Birmingham New Street, Newcastle and Darlington which had the roofs over so it magnified the sound❤️

I worked with the engineers who developed this train in the mid 1980's and I was impressed by the engineering. This train impressed me in these early days ever since I took one from Newport to London. Goodbye HST!

Best of British and an absolute design classic. I will miss these very much. i will especially miss not being able to travel to Skegness on these in the summer.

God i remember being a kid seeing them in the intercity livery in like 2009 and then seeing others in the old blue red and yellow livery. such an amazing train that served 47 years god damn well.

My heart is now broken rest in peace HST you'll always have a place in my heart I will find a picture and I remember you will be the Engine I will miss very dreadfully rest in peace HST Long live the HST

I. Was crying looking back at the HST it was a great train 🚆 the legend of the train will never die

Amazing documentary, gonna miss these so much,, the railway isn't the same without the HST

Absolute proof that we can produce world beating pieces of engineering in Britain. What a magnificent piece of kit these trains were. And credit too to BREL who built the new coaches to go with each HST 125 trainset. They were also superb and ahead of their time. They could compete comfortably with any of the European trains in the mid seventies. A miracle really when you consider how underfunded and unloved BR was by successive governments.

It is emotional and I had many unforgettable memories while traveling between 2012-15.

I'm still grieving the end of the HST 😭 so many of my memories, from the early 80's on, involve one of these ❤️❤️ thanks for the memories, beautiful girls

Sad they were retired. Remember: They were trains known for their comfort and slam-doors.

I had the opportunity to visit NL TND a few years back, and you could see the pride the team had for the old 43sm the place will not be the same without themm so glad to see the preservation movement are carrying on the legacy, and we are once again hearing the scream of a Paxman Valenta, just a shame that a set never got a chance to visit Colchester town station, as that is basically on the site of the old Paxman plant, and a crankshaft is proudly on display there, farewell old friends

And delighted that they have a new lease of life and their very own depot here in Scotland - still going strong - hoorah for the HST. This was a truly touching and well done tribute to an iconic train that revolutionised they way we saw rail travel. I do remember travelling on the Master Cutler HST as well as The Highland Cheiftan

A lovely record of the trains and the lives of your people - wonderful trains and your staff are a credit to you EMR

Brilliant send off by EMR. Well done to all involved in this documentary.

My favourite old train clearly and train of my childhood (I'm 28 years old). I've travelled in 3 HST's with Paxman VP185 power cars: 11:05 London Kings Cross to Peterborough (February 19th or 26th 2018) - full EMT set, 17:32 Nottingham to St. Pancras (First Class - May 2nd 2018) and on LNER set NL65, 13:45 Leeds to Kings Cross on April 5th 2019 in the front First Class coach. Thank you to EMR for the nostalgic experience (even though my early HST trips had Paxman Valenta engines) 🙂👍!

Some of the best trains going along with the Electric HSTs still in service.

The HST sort of lives on in Australia as the XPT. The design was bought by Australia in the 1980's and used to build the eXpress Passenger Train that I used as a child and is still in use today.

Me being a child of the late 70s early 1980s, my dad would often take me trainspotting over the old Midlands central line out of New Street Birmingham. Seeing a brand new InterCity 125 HST in it's old classic BR livery and iconic front and back engine cabs starting up it's powerful engines and hearing it swish past at full tilt on a bridge or grassy embankment was an absolute thrill back in junior high school. They remain my all time favourite train to this very day 40+ years later.

Had a go on a couple and still to this day was the most comfortable and relaxing train I've ever been on. There gonna be missed.

i remember as a kid with my family in 1980s every school holiday went to london king's cross from Leeds several times a year what a joy witnessing the mighty sprint to 125MPH

East Coast line in the ‘80s,’90s and up to 2011. I used to get on at either Grantham or King’s Cross with a standard ticket in the morning and have breakfast all the way down into town.... excellent service and fond memories ..... overcrowding in the ‘90s and breakdowns as the 23h35 out of KX all added to the experience.

So sad to see these finally go. End of an era for a much loved train, a train that was far more than the sum of it's parts. Will always be a part of my childhood travelling on these from Luton to London on the Midland Mainline or the BedPan line as we knew it. Always preferred to get on an HST rather than the Thameslink 319's

It was good to see my old school friend talking with pride about his life's work keeping these trains in top service all these years. I know he will miss them greatly and so will I. The standard of comfort and quiet environment while cruising at 125 mile on mile is sadly gone. The new trains are more efficient but I feel the standard has not been improved by having noisy multiple underfloor engines and light weight construction. I hope EMR's new replacements are going to be an improvement on the new trains they have now. I saw they are taking note of what people have said about other companies replacements for the HST.

Well done EMR, a wonderful thought provoking, and dare I say, quite emotional video. The HST, is truly one of the greats, and possibly a saviour? At a time when BR was really having it bad, these iconic locomotives were introduced and revolutionised the way we travelled. Going to miss these old girls screaming past at full chat!

Never ever again will such a comfortable and roomy train be experienced sadly

II have travelled on these wonderful HSts many times, mainly Paddington to Cornwall but also Penzance to Edinburgh.' Always an exciting experience, especially in First Class. A true icon built by British Rail!. Thank you for an excellent tribute to them. The new IETs will never be as popular

Lovely documentary! I’m lucky enough to have travelled several hundred thousand miles aboard HST’s (so far!) during work and pleasure trips ... and was extra lucky enough to have had a cab ride once during WCRM! Sad to see them leave the MML but I enjoyed one final trip recently before they departed ... and often gave the lead power a thank-you pat on the side after arrival into London over the years! Don’t forget ... this year’s Staycation Express along the Settle and Carlisle route is using a HST (ex-MML power cars as well) ... hopefully I’ll find time to have a jolly during summer! 👍

What a well organised documented tribute, to the most Iconic train our country has made. Nothing can replace a truly beautiful locomotive like these. Their public service has been truly admired by all. I'm sure their continuance for the future will be taken care of by someone, somewhere on our rail tracks. Never forgotten. Iain

I'd love to see these back on the railway, even if it is only for private charters. They're stunning trains.

My father worked on the HST's back in the day at Old Oak Common (depot serving GWR line). I was fortunate enough as a child to go into the power car and hear it start up. What an experience that was! Growing up as a child, I used to love watching them zoom past the station at Mill Hill Broadway and hearing the rumble on the track's as they were approaching. The sound of the paxman valenta is something else and the VP185's to a degree retained some part of the valenta scream. I will miss seeing and hearing the HST's. This in my view, is the definition of a train.

In many ways, the HST was what the APT wasn't--a reliable train that actually changed the commutes of many people in England. Smaller cities well away from London started to become bedroom communities because of the HST's high speed.

Great mini documentary this, EMR is brilliant, had a panic attack on one of their trains and they couldn't have been more helpful and supportive, thankyou east mids railway, pride of Britain

HSTs are one of my favourite trains of all time I'm gonna miss them so much

For years I took HSTs to/from Loughborough and for years, until the platforms were extended to the north ("for the Olympics" IIRC), there was the instruction to move forward from the rear carriages so that you got off north of the A60 road bridge. I think back in the 1980s when I first did the journey that instruction didn't exist because I distinctly remember getting off on the old disused south part of platform 1 and walking under the road bridge just as the trailing power car thundered past!

What a fantastic video, especially hearing the staff's personal memories of the HST.

A superb documentary about a superb icon of British railway engineering. The journey along the Midland Main Line to London will not never be the same again.

Up here in Scotland we are only too happy to have many of these great machines still working hard doing their job. Smooth and comfortable. Nothing better than seeing a piece of engineering stand the test of time. Brilliant engineers designed it and equally brilliant engineers still maintain and upgrade them to this day. You’ll see plenty of them up here in Scotland. I’m sure they will be here for a while yet working hard after their upgrades a few years ago.

They will always be in my heart. ❤️😔

Nice one everybody. Still the best train for passengers on the UK network. Loved by all of us that worked for BR. Especially those of us who started when they were new and are now retiring at the same time as HSTs. Hopefully we have done as good a job as the HSTs

What a magnificent film, really brought a tear to my eye. I remember getting so excited as a boy at the prospect of these super fast trains and then even better going on one for the first time. I don’t know if we have any thing left that’s exciting anymore. Anyway thank you to the whole team that brought them into service and kept them in service for this long. Just a brilliant train, with only one exception for me and that was the brake pad smell when slowing down. Thank you. 👍

these trains are forever a part of my memory if only in a train simulator

What a lovely film to watch, Many thanks.

The HST power cars were a great advance but there should be more mention of Mark 3s including loco hauled ones.

Great and a fitting tribute to a classic train.

As a lad born December 1979, that had various Hornby train sets as a child, there's truly just something 'right' about a HST in 'Swallow' livery 🥰🥰🥰

What a fantastic tribute to an amazing piece of engineering. Farewell HST! 💙

Its smooth,quiet and an allround delightfull experience

Beautiful machine as a kid traveling the east coat mainline on a weekly basis getting out onto the open straights south of York standing in the doorway of the old mark 3 coach and pulling the window down to feel 125mph great times , great memories

Superb tribute from Team EMR.

I miss the HSTs from the Great Western Main Line. My memory of East Midlands HSTs is catching an more original Paxman VP185 powered HST, run by East Midlands Trains in 2018 from Leicester to Nottingham. It was an awesome, excellent and fun ride, and very quick! Thankfully I came down from the concourse in time to catch it. Thank you HST, I'll miss you...

Great send off video, and nicely produced too. Many happy memories of the HST

Thank you for your service ❤️

Thanks to everyone involved in putting this film together. I particularly enjoyed hearing the stories from all the staff especially about the Master Cutler, a service my Dad worked on when he worked the dining cars out of Sheffield in the 70s and 80s. :)

Excellent tribute to what has been the greatest success story in the modernising of Britain`s railways .

They were always a joy to ride on, very comfortable, and very quiet in the coaches. Will never forget the first time I travelled on one. I did not feel or hear the train moving, but moving out of Paddington we were. So different to all the multiple units I had been used to . Sadly the newer trains are nowhere near as good - the underfloor traction motors on modern stock brings a lot of noise into the coach - along with the noisy air conditioning systems. Plus of course your more cramped in the new units. Loved the buffet cars on the HST - possible of course because you could walk from one end of the train to the other - something you cannot do on a lot of the new units. I did not travel that often on the railway, but when I did i always enjoyed the HST experience. I will miss them.

Brilliantly narrated. Thumbs way up.

What a fabulous documentary and tribute to a great train.

A great Legend is Born

2:35 1976 is the year the HST first appeared in passenger service.

The Australian version of the HST we call XPT here will keep on running till at least 2023

Great video, thank you.

That really saddens my heart to see them go 💔

I was lucky enough to catch one of cross country's HSTs from new street to Plymouth, best journey i've ever had on the rails

Dont cry because its over Be happy because it happened -A wise man

Ever since I first saw the HST I feel in love with it, I love the shape, the feeling I get standing by one and the engine powering up when the driver gives it some when he/she powers out of the station and I will miss them and they have change the railway since the first HST rolled of the production line

Thank you, a very nice tribute. When the HST's were introduced, they represented a big step forward in speed and comfort for passengers. The real tragedy is that the new trains are inferior in most respects, uncomfortable , noisy, rough riding. Where is the progress?

Shame I didnt travel on a midland mainline one...But this video is beautiful..Shows a fitting tribute to a HST on the MML and the last HSTs out of London. Nicely done EMR!

can't imagine the IETs being remembered like this when they go

What a well produced video, well, documentary really. So informative and good that @EMR saw fit to do such a thing.

My first job when transitioning from the training school on Litchurch lane was fitting the body side lights (windows) to the GTS’s for the east coast main line sets. Working on Mr Allen’s gang, happy days. The mk3 was such a good vehicle to work on, it was pretty good on passenger safety too. I remember seeing a whole rake of coaches lined up in a field after the Colwich train crash with the mk3 loco hauled stock only suffering vestibule damage.

Excellent video, well done for the initiative. This film is important and will hopefully help future generations appreciate machines that have a soul. The comment about icons is certainly very true for HST. Cheers

excellent video and they were very good trains giving excellent service

I remember as a child travelling to Somerset on various occasions with my Mum on the Great Western Valentas from Paddington...the holiday began when we boarded this magnificent train👍👍👍

Can't help but be sad to think that they're gone:(

Excellent video, for a first class train. Thank you