Great Western HST Farewell

The stars of the final line up at Paddington are undoubtedly the two 'celebrity' power cars 43002 'Sir Kenneth Grange' and 43185

43093 arrives into Truro with the 09:50 Penzance - Paddington

After 43 years of front line use on Intercity Trains from London's Paddington May 18th 2019 saw the final scheduled use of HST's by Great Western Railway. For the final day four HST's were in use worked by 43188/43093, 43162/43188, 43009/43155, 43002/43198. Notable was the pairing of the final set which saw both the first (002) and last (198) production power cars paired for the final day and also work the final GWR passenger service from Paddington with the 18:30 Paddington - Taunton.

The last full length GWR HST to leave Cornwall crosses Brunel's Royal Albert Bridge over the River Tamar.

43185 at Reading with the 09:29 Swansea - Paddington

My day actually started on the previous Friday night with a positioning move on the Night Riviera Sleeper (worthy of another post in its own right) which would position us (and a handful of other enthusiasts with the same idea) at Truro in time to enjoy the last GWR HST out of Cornwall, 43093 and 43188 on the 06:50 Penzance - Paddington. I have ridden surprisingly few HST's as far as Cornwall and the crossing of the Royal Albert Bridge into Devon was a poignant moment. Similarly provoking of emotions was what could quite possibly be my final run along the Dawlish sea wall beside an opening HST window - having travelled extensively over the scenic railways of the UK the stretch from Newton Abbot to Exeter St Davids is still probably unbeaten as my favourite. The weather forecast had been poor, and indeed was leaving Cornwall however crossing through Devon the sun began to appear and beat down on this final HST from Cornwall to London.

At lunchtime before all the crowds arrived 43185 in vinyled 'Intercity Swallow' livery rests at Paddington.

43188 at Paddington ready to depart with the 13:00 to Bristol Temple Meads

We left our first HST at Reading, some delicate planning having taken place that should allow travel on each of the four sets performing on the day. Sure enough, as 43098 was departing, 43185 in it's distinctive InterCity 'Swallow' branding was rolling into the adjacent platform with the 09:29 Swansea - Paddington. This was enjoyed into Paddington where there was time for some photos of the IC powercar under the roof before getting back onto our first set with 43188 now leading on the 13:00 Paddington - Bristol Temple Meads. Here we met some friends and the process of enjoying, and drinking dry, the buffet cars began! By Bristol the buffet was out of cider, prosecco and perhaps wine too! The buffet steward making attempts to over-stock for the return journey must have been disappointed when his customers then disappeared onto a local train across to Cardiff!

43042 and 43097 prove that all is not lost at Newport with a
short 'Castle' working with classic coaches.

The trip through the Severn Tunnel allowed us to be in position for 43002 to lead us back into London partnered with 43198 on the 14:29 Swansea - Paddington, the last HST from South Wales to London. Despite some earlier troubles with 43002 which had seen it shut down for much of the outbound run the 1st built power car ran well for the fast run back down the Great Western, certainly clocking it's top speed of 125mph if various phone GPS trackers were to be believed!

Our arrival at Paddington put is in third position in the well organised line up of the last four trains in platforms 1-4. I was somehow not prepared for quite how popular these trains were or how well patronised this final line up would be - literally hundreds, if not a thousand people had turned up at Paddington wielding cameras to record the historic event. The atmosphere was brilliant with all the enthusiasts and staff displaying all the right attitudes and responsibility paying attention to the rules so that everyone could enjoy the event - though many can't have got anywhere near enough the trains to get decent photographs!

43002 'Sir Kenneth Grange' arrives into Newport with the 14:29 - the last service HST from South Wales to London.

43002 and 43185 together on the blocks at Paddington.

The final run, the 18:30 Paddington - Taunton had been advertised as a reservation only service leaving all those without seats three other options for their final GWR HST fix; the 18:03 to Plymouth, 18:15 to Cheltenham or 18:22 to Hereford. Our chariot was to be 43162 and 43172 with the Cheltenham run, our final of the four sets, which was taken just to Reading (it had already been a long day!) from where the final two HST's were watched passing, before the sad reality that it was actually over finally started to dawn while on board an Intercity Express Train back to London. It just wasn't the same!

A huge number of enthusiasts gathered at Paddington in the poor weather
conditions to witness the last HST arrivals and departures.

Thanks to all those who made the day very special in the end- particularly GWR who really didn't have to organise anything, but actually pulled all the stops out to make quite an event of the day. My only suggestion to improve the offering would be to offer enthusiasts some sort or 'Day Rover' ticket enabling the various trains to be covered. It does become rather expensive otherwise!

The final GWR HST! 43198 leas the 18:30 Paddington -
Plymouth away from Reading bringing down 43 years of HST
Intercity services on the Great Western Mainline.

Of course this isn't the end of HST's just yet. With the exception of a railtour which followed on 1st June the trains will no longer work into Paddington; however GWR is keeping eleven shortened 'Castle' sets to work local traffic between Cornwall, Devon and South Wales. These will be refurbished with retention toilets and slide-plug automatic doors. Elsewhere while HST's are imminently about to start beind displaced on the ECML by LNER and their replacement on the Midland Mainline seems inevitable the sets used by Cross Country are being refurbished, and a large number of sets are beginning to enjoy a second life working Inter7City services for Scotrail. They may not pass the Dawlish sea wall but the HST is far from dead yet!

The line up from the end of the platforms at Paddington: 43188, 43162, 43009 and 43198 wait their final departures.

SŽ, Slovenia Trip Report 10-12 June 2019

664 106 departs Most na Soči and crosses the Idrijka River with the 10:38 Autovlak to Bohinjska Bistrica. 12/06/2019

Introduction:

In the usual position 664 112 waits at Ljublijana. 661 032 is stabled
behind having arrived during the day. 10/06/2019

It was 2015 in the dying days of class 664 action on the 'Citadella' from Hodos to Pragersko that I had made my previous fleeting visit to Slovenia. At the end of my trip report I concluded that it was a country I would like to come back to, but doubted it would be before the 664's had finished on this route (I also correctly predicted that the electrification would be finished before that of the GWR electrification!). Both predictions would prove to be correct!

363 021 at Zidani Most with a service to Ljublijana.

The big 'Reagan' 664 diesels have indeed finished on the international train however with SŽ announcing a sizeable order for new multiple units to be delivered from 2020 it was time to return. Again a short trip of just two nights was all that could be fitted in with the simple target to pick up one of the big Alsthom Co-Co 363 'broken nose' electrics and also to get a ride on the 'Autovlak' car train which runs between Bhoinjska Bistrica and Most na Soči - Now the last regular diesel hauled train in Slovenia.





Monday 10th June-

363 021 follows the river Sava with a service from Dobova to Ljublijana. 10/06/2019

541 005 waits to depart Ljublijana for Dobova. 10/06/2019

An uneventful flight out to Ljublijana with Wizz Air saw us arrive into the main station shortly after midday. After exploring the station and photographing 664112, which was stabled in the usual spot over at the west side of the station we took the first loco hauled train with 541005 on the 13:45 to Dobova as far as Zidani Most. The plan was then to pick up EC246 'Citadella'- although no longer a bet for a 664 the train did now present a good chance for a 363!

363 015 is in charge of the Citadella at Zagorgi. 10/06/2019

The wait for a 'Zig-Zag' was a lot shorter than expected as the first train to appear along the river was 363021 on a passenger service- Not the 'Citadella' but R5066 inbound from Dobova- a 342 duty. Target number one had been achieved very efficiently! Of course 363021 was taken, but being greedy we then bailed off at Zagorgi in the hope that 'Citadella' might produce another! A couple of freights passed and caught us off guard, both 363 hauled. Surely it would be too good to be true to get a fourth 363 in a row on our train? No- 363015 was in charge of the 'Citadella' and took us forward to Ljublijana, departing 8 minutes late- a lot better than the 50 minute delay of my last trip!

With the weather closing in 363 025 pauses at Borovnika bound for Koper.
10/06/2019

Unfortunately the train lost a little more time and arrived into Ljublijana just in time to miss the next train I wanted to cover, the 16:50 to Dobova with a 342 in charge. I had a couple more targets in mine for 363's however, and both produced. 363024 on IC502 'Pohorje' and 363025 on IC509 'Koper'- the later was taken to Borovnica, heading into an electrical storm before returning on a unit. 664112 at the stabling point had been joined by 661032 and these were photographed one more time before heading into town to check into our accommodation and find some dinner content with the day's haul. 363's appeared to be out in abundance. The surprise was the lack of 342's! None covered and none even photographed- something that would require a plan for the morning.


Tuesday 11th June-

Beneath a threatening sky 665 105 waits for it's next Autovlak working from Most na Soči. 11/06/2019

A very shabby 315 207 is bound for Dobova. 11/06/2019.

Up at a sensible time to purchase a meat Burek for breakfast and head to the station. Having passed on a stupidly early start there were few loco hauled moves available before our planned train to Jesenice to head over to the Autovlak. The only option available from the diagrams to net a 342 was a quick leap to Ljublijana Zalog. The outbound run had a late start with one of the elderly Polish (EN57) style 315 EMU's. The return disappointingly was a Desiro- not the hoped for 342. Running late into Ljublijana gave us an unfavourable +0 onto EC212 to Jesinice, fortunately the EC was running a few minutes late also, but less fortunately was powered by 541005 (now not required since yesterday)! Also briefly sighted out of the window was the fireless steam loco used at the Ljublijana power station - this must be one of the last steam locos in regular use in Europe now- maybe worth investigating if I ever have some more time here!

643 031 pauses in the Ljublijana carriage sidings. 11/06/2019.

There was a little wait at Jesinice for the branch train during which several freights were seen. The DMU to Nova Gorica was then boarded. After around 15 minutes at Bled Jezero we were all chucked off and onto a bus. Not what we had planned and worry quickly set in about how this might affect the Autovlak! As things turned out the line was only shut as far as Bohinjska Bistrica from where a DMU was waiting to take passengers onwards to Nova Gorica, all be it it 35 minutes late.

664 105 runs around its train at Most na Soči. 11/06/2019

After checking into our accommodation for the night it was back to the station for the arrival of the car train, behind 664105 in place of the usual class 644 (I understand 644020 is on maintenance). This was a good result, although it did leave the 644 as a required class! 664105 was taken all the way to Most na Soči, the gripper noticeably bemused that it was then taken back up the hill to Podbrdo! Here we transfered to a DMU to Grahovo. With the clouds now rolling in it was probably inevitable that the viaduct shot was in cloud (if only it had been 5 minutes earlier!) but it was a pleasant beer stop!

Travelling on the Autovlak is a unique and picturesque experience. 11/06/2019

Back to Most na Soči by DMU to pick up the Autovlak for a last run back up the hill, 664105 making a great sight basking in the sun with a threatening sky looming behind. It wasn't until walking back to our accommodation we finally got rained on, before enjoying a good final night meal.

Wednesday 12th June-

A grey morning at Bohinjska Bistrica as 'new' class 664 106 takes it's turn on the Autovlak. 12/06/2019.

Passing the Autovlak at Podbrodo with 664 106. 12/06/2019

There were a couple of options this morning before making our way back to the airport and home (how was it almost over so soon?!). Aware of the potential chaos of the bus replacement and having still not had a 342 option 1 was to head straight back to Ljublijana to try some more moves. Option 2 was to use the local buses to spend the morning on Lake Bled enjoying the sunshine. However hen 664106 was viewed on the arriving Autovlak it was obvious that option 3 would be used - another run to Most na Soči and back with our second 'Reagan' of the trip! The train was taken down the hill before being photographed on the return, the journey back up the hill then being taken by DMU.

813 021 ready to start its train from Bohinjska Bistrica 12/06/2019.

541 021 waites with a freight in the yard at Jesenice. 12/06/2019

Had we not waited 15 minutes en-route for a late running passing train the bus replacement would have got us back to Jesenice in time to make our planned connection onto IC211 back to Kranj (and Ljublijana). As it was we missed the connection by around 8 minutes. Research had already revealed there was a back up train behind, but no chance of picking up another loco now. We left SŽ at Kranj for a taxi I had booked from Jesenice to the airport. This station is actually much closer to the airport than Ljublijana and the 15 minute taxi ride cost €30- perhaps more than I had expected, but it made our flight!





Conclusions-

664 105 powers the Autovlak over the impressive viaduct at Grahovo. 11/06/2019.

I always knew the trip would be too short, and it was. But it did also achieve everything I had hoped to despite my worries about actually picking up a 363! The one disappointment perhaps would be the failure to pick up, or even see a 342 - while the bane of the 363 bashers they are still quite nice locos!

363 021 pauses with a freight at Jesenice as the weather closes in. 12/06/2019

Slovenia is a beautiful country but slightly lacking in loco hauled passenger trains, though does seem to have freight in abundance. The Autovlak comes highly recommended- great traction, great scenery and a very interesting operation. If the classic traction sticks I'm sure I'll be back- and maybe get the 644 one day! It remains to be seen how much loco haulage will remain after the new EMU's are delivered- though it is hard to see an outcome where much more than a handful of Euro Cities remain hauled- as a sign of the times just as I returned from the trip it was announced that a Pendolino would replace the loco hauled classic train on IC502/3 'Pohorje'.

Plenty of Alsthom 'Zig-Zag' action at Ljublijana with 363 015 and 363 021 bringing in subsequent arrivals. 10/06/2019