First Great Western HST (High Speed Train), Paddington Station, London 

Originally introduced by British Rail when it was a nationalised concern these High Speed Trains have been ploughing up and down the West Country Routes for more than three decades. Originally named as the Inter City 125 based on its top operating speed of 125mph (the class still holds a world record of 143mph for a diesel locomotive) these days the train operating companies refer to them as HST’s and they now appear in many different colour schemes. Each train has two locomotives top and tailing the carriages and meaning that they can be operated in pull or push mode. It’s fair to say they revolutionised high speed rail travel when they were introduced and have since become a classic of British design.

Image reference LDNPADFGWHST1

All photographs copyright artofthestate

First Great Western HST, Paddington Station

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