An illustrated review of the High Speed Train, one of the greatest success stories of the British Rail era which began a revolution in express rail travel in Great Britain. Initially marketed as Inter City 125, these dynamic new trains with streamlined power cars at each end, proved the catalyst to a much-needed revival in British Rail’s fortunes. Many examples are still in front-line service more than forty years after the first sets were introduced.
HST: The Train That Saved Britain's Railways is a photographic tribute to the HST. A remarkable number of liveries have been applied to the trains over the years, from BR’s original and InterCity liveries to the multitude of different colours applied by franchised train operators in the privatisation era. Further variety came later, courtesy of open-access operators and Network Rail itself in the form of HSTs converted to become the Network Measurement Train.
Few trains have covered as much ground as the HST, which for many years provided the majority of long-distance services on the Great Western, East Coast and Midland Main Lines, as well as dominating Cross Country journeys from Cornwall to the North East of Scotland. A wide variety of locations are featured including shots taken from the lineside, at stations and in depots.
The photographs are presented mainly in one-per-page format and are accompanied by extensive captions. Also includes a bibliography and an index to the power cars illustrated. Hardback. 192 pages.