Testing the prototype HST in 1973
|
Often said to have been a stopgap before the introduction of the Advanced Passenger Train the prototype High Speed Diesel Train (HSDT), as it was originally known, owed a great deal of its design to the Western Region of BR.
A large number of design staff at the RTC in the early 1970's came from Swindon and the BT10 (or DOC3) bogie was certainly of WR parentage. The power cars were equipped with Paxman Valenta
12RP200L, 2,250 HP 12-cylinder marine engines chosen for their high power to
weight ratio but although the vehicles had been built with sufficient room for a much larger 16-cylinder version these were never
fitted. |
|
Authorised in August 1970, only 22 months later the prototype vehicles arrived at the RTC in the summer of 1972 where they underwent safety checks in the specialist workshop. Later the train was instrumented prior to starting its intensive and stringent type testing. |
Click on the picture for a bigger image - All photos are the author's unless otherwise credited.
 |
Here's an interesting drawing of the initial design of power car which is totally different from what finally emerged from Crewe Author's collection |
 |
And the final design for the prototype HST power car Author's collection |
 |
This is a composite picture of the original publicity material for the HSDT from 1972. Unfortunately it doesn't join very well! Author's collection |
||
 |
One of the power
cars receives its power unit at BREL's Crewe Works
Author's collection |
 |
Another view inside the
works
Author's collection |
 |
A sectioned elevation of the Mk3
coach
Author's collection |
 |
A model of the prototype HST
Author's collection |
|
Once the power cars were completed at Crewe they were hauled to Derby where they were assembled with the Mk3 coaches which were built in the C&W Works to form the complete unit. For some details of the train consist look here |
|||
 |
One of the two HST prototype power cars 41 001 pictured in the loop at the top of the RTC yard having just arrived from Crewe on 11th June 1972. Note the brake van! 41 002 arrived a couple of months later. |
 |
Pictured fresh from the C & W Works and parked in the former St Andrews Goods Yard during summer 1972 is E12002, the first of several Mk3 coaches, which were to form the prototype HST set. |
 |
A closer view of E12000 at Cricklewood after a trial run - note the running number in the toilet window - an idea which was soon abandoned Author's collection |
 |
Later in the summer at the RTC yard the coaches had lost their 2nd class logos. |
 |
BR test engineers set up their equipment inside one of the coaches which was fitted with dust covers to protect the seats |
 |
41 001 at the head of the set stands on the Way & Works Sidings at the RTC at Derby during its early testing days. Colin Marsden |
 |
41 001 in the yard at RTC being shunted into the workshop with one of the coaches BR Official |
 |
On a misty day in February 1973 the HST set passes the RTC yard on its first run - note ex-LMS Dynamometer Car - now Test Car No:3 - behind the leading power car. |
 |
Leaving a nice trail of smoke the HST disappears towards Trent Junction |
 |
A black and white version taken a few seconds later. Note ex-WR Test Car 4 on the right with the wasp striped corridor door. Mick Wright |
 |
Another shot at the Technical Centre sees the unit standing in the sidings outside the EDU with the Vehicles Lab in the background |
 |
Pictured next to its revolutionary rival APT-E in the Vehicles Laboratory workshop at the Research Division, Derby in October 1974. Author's collection |
 |
Here is 41 001 at the NRM in March 2005 |
 |
A close-up of the power bogie at the NRM |
 |
The rear of each power car was equipped with a driving position complete with windscreen, wiper, horn etc |
|
The guard's door at the rear |
|
The unit underwent a number of high speed runs on the ECML between York and Darlington commencing on 5th May 1973. During June the set ran up to 140 mile/h and on June 12th attained a world speed record for diesel traction of 143.2 mile/h in the Northallerton area. The emblem at the head of the page is taken from the special commemorative tie which was issued after the event. |
|||
 |
The information label which accompanied the tie - the money went to charity |
 |
During the type testing on ECML the unit was based at Leeds Neville Hill depot where it is pictured in June 1973 after the high speed run |
 |
The last coach and rear power car of the prototype set pictured at platform 8 (the present platform 3) at York about to depart for Neville Hill after a high speed dash up the main line from Darlington. |
 |
The BR testing engineers pose for a group photo at York towards the end of the high speed testing of the prototype Class 252 HST in the summer of 1973 Author's collection |
 |
Pictured at York Station in the summer of 1973 David Wharton |
 |
The Mk1 buffet pictured on the Midland line loco-hauled with a few other interesting coaches. Unfortunately another poor image |
 |
This shows the train on an early run down the Midland line - note the Mk1 buffet car in the formation. This was specially mounted on Mk3 bogies BR official |
 |
A Mk3 2nd class buffet E10000 was later included in the formation and is pictured on 11th November 1974 in Longsight Carriage sheds after being removed from the HST set. A J Sparks |
 |
The set also ventured onto the WCML. It is pictured here in the Down Loop at Beattock Station in March 1974 short-formed into a 2 + 2 set for reasons lost in the mists of time. Mick Wright |
 |
Testing was also carried out on the Western Region based at Old Oak Common depot. Here's re-numbered power car 43001 on set no:252 001 sticking out of the Paint Shop at OOC in 1974. Martyn Chapman |
 |
Inside the shop is coach No: W41001 marshalled next to the CM&EE's ex LMS Test Car No:3. Note that these first Mk3 coaches had buffers fitted unlike their successors in HST formations. Martyn Chapman |
 |
Approaching Bristol TM from the west on December 17th 1974 on test G Roy Haunsell |
 |
Here it is on 28th January 1975 pictured at Tavistock Jcn on the Up Relief line. It is thought to be on a Press special but has instrumentation fitted in the cab (perhaps an intercom) evidenced by the cables. Exe Rail |
|
This is a publicity photograph, probably taken on the ECML between York and Darlington Author's collection |
|
Following completion of over 100,000 miles during its type testing and evaluation phase, mainly run on ECML the unit moved to the WR in late 1974 and entered passenger service on the Western Region of BR on 5th May 1975 running initially between London Paddington, Bristol and Weston-Super-Mare |
 |
On 24th March 1975 the set
passes Southall, probably on a driver training run Ian Walmsley |
 |
On 5th May 1975 prototype set 252 001 stands in platform 4 at Paddington on its first day in service. Colin Marsden |
 |
On 17th May 1975 the set is
captured again at Paddington with a service to Bristol
Ian Walmsley |
 |
The rear power car now numbered W43001 at
Paddington on the same day. Ian Walmsley |
 |
The prototype 252 set leaves
Bath en route to Bristol in the first days of service running
Author's collection |
 |
On 7th July 1975 the unit is
pictured near Box Tunnel
Ivo Peters |
 |
In August 1975, the set is pictured in platform 3 at Swindon on the 10.15 Paddington to Weston super Mare service alongside the APT-E train . Note the black marks over the roof left by the exhaust on the trailing power car. This was later overcome on the production power cars by the fitting of a cowling above the cab roof, which deflected a flow of clean air beneath the exhaust flow. BR Official |
 |
252 001 approaching
Paddington.
Unknown |
 |
252 001 in original livery heads a London-bound service on the Up Through road at Reading sometime in 1976. Pete Piszczek |
 |
In September 1976 set 252 001 rolls into Swindon's platform 3 with a Down service including production Mk3 coaches. By this time the original livery was looking decidedly jaded. Pete Piszczek |
|
Shildon 1975 The HST was included in the celebrations to mark 150 years since the opening of the Stockton & Darlington railway at Shildon, Co. Durham in August 1975 where it was the last in the cavalcade of rolling stock. |
|
|
The HST passes 8 MP as it
completes the procession
BR Official |
|
|
After the procession Exhibit
No:34 is pictured alongside Locomotion BR Official |
|
Following the widespread introduction of production HST's the prototype power cars were withdrawn from service in late 1976 and returned to the RTC at Derby where they were taken into Departmental stock. They were re-numbered as ADB975812/3 and used for a number of years to haul various test trains. There was even talk of converting them to straight electric traction when the 'electric HST' was being considered, but it was not to be. |
|
Here is the prototype short-formed at
Holwell on the Old Dalby test track whilst undertaking some test work in
the mid-1970's
Alan Rimmer |
 |
On 17th May 1978
one of the power cars heads a test train with two APT-P power cars in the
formation through Wigan North Western station.
David N Clough |
 |
Another view of the APT-P test
train leaving Derby on an unknown date Authors collection |
 |
Here a special test train is
pictured at Sydney Gardens, Bath in July 1978 with one of the power
cars and including Lab One in the formation Ivo Peters |
 |
Another test train is pictured
at Derby with the prototype power cars and some APT-P vehicles in March
1979. Garry Brookes |
 |
The two powers cars pictured on
the Way & Works sidings in the late 1970's Unknown |
 |
Here are the two power
cars, now in departmental use, pictured on the Goods lines outside the
Locomotive Works at Derby in April 1980
Dave Godfrey |
 |
The two power cars were often
stabled at the back of Etches Park depot in Derby, where they were
pictured in April 1980.
Dave Godfrey |
 |
A close up of one of the power
cars shows that it now has two headlights fitted behind the front panel -
possibly for test train work, the original set number has now been removed
but it carries no departmental number.
Dave Godfrey |
|
|
In March 1983 the two power cars are pictured out of use on the scrap road at Derby Locomotive Works. Their fate would be quite different, one was scrapped at Rotherham in 1990 and the other still survives today as part of the national collection at NRM. Adrian Healey |
 |
In October 1986 975813 was still to be found inside the works, alongside one of the APT-P power cars, both awaiting their fate. John Glynn |
 |
The surviving power car is pictured back at Old Oak Common, 26 years after the previous OOC photos, attending the August 2000 open day Duncan Milburn |
Miscellaneous
I have recently noted a few pictures on the 'internet of the complete set at Didcot c1975, inside OOC c1977 and a later test train passing Didcot with Lab One in tow but no date. These images can be found on Brian Daniels' Fotopic site here in the 'Class 43' album.
More pictures will be added as time permits
