Great Western Trains (Merlin) HSTs

[richscylla]

I'm looking at modelling the West Country region around the time of privatisation (probably south of Bristol for greater variety of running) and have some questions surrounding the Great Western Trains HSTs, and more specifically their MK3s. 

Lima and Hornby both produced the MK3s in this livery, but with a difference. Hornby's coaches had Great Western written on the sides, and Lima had Great Western and INTERCITY on the sides of theirs. I know I have seem images of the Lima version, was the Hornby one incorrect, or were these prototypical as well?

In addition, were the Hornby coaches produced in this livery the infamous shorties or had they improved the tooling by then?

I'm going to be running them in mixed formations with Swallow branded INTERCITY stock (and will try and pick up some of the new Hornby HSTs as I hear great things about them. Does anyone know of any plans for Hornby to do a run of their new HST in GWT? 

Sorry for so many questions - any help would be wonderful. 

 

Thanks, 

 

Rich 
 

[phil-b259]

I'm looking at modelling the West Country region around the time of privatisation (probably south of Bristol for greater variety of running) and have some questions surrounding the Great Western Trains HSTs, and more specifically their MK3s. 

 

Lima and Hornby both produced the MK3s in this livery, but with a difference. Hornby's coaches had Great Western written on the sides, and Lima had Great Western and INTERCITY on the sides of theirs. I know I have seem images of the Lima version, was the Hornby one incorrect, or were these prototypical as well?

 

In addition, were the Hornby coaches produced in this livery the infamous shorties or had they improved the tooling by then?

 

I'm going to be running them in mixed formations with Swallow branded INTERCITY stock (and will try and pick up some of the new Hornby HSTs as I hear great things about them. Does anyone know of any plans for Hornby to do a run of their new HST in GWT? 

 

Sorry for so many questions - any help would be wonderful. 

 

Thanks, 

 

Rich 

 

 

They were both correct - just not for very long in time wise.

 

The very first privatisation livery unveiled by the new Great Western franchise did include the INTERCITY branding on the coach sides - possibly due to thoughts that this market identifier as it were would still be a feature of post privatisation long distance travel. After a short time however reality set in and the GREAT WESTERN was added instead.

 

see

 

http://tomcurtisrailgallery.weebly.com/uploads/6/9/0/3/6903499/43003colepaddpenz09021999.jpg https://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=https%3A%2F%2Ffarm6.staticflickr.com%2F5613%2F15315693959_246bf42b2f_b.jpg&imgrefurl=http%3A%2F%2Fpicssr.com%2Ftags%2Fmerlinlogo%2Fpage2&docid=UQlemsv7dgizYM&tbnid=1GIpcyY7FbnPkM%3A&vet=10ahUKEwjD9YWImZbYAhUoJcAKHbeYAJQQMwhdKBQwFA..i&w=1024&h=690&itg=1&client=firefox-b&bih=968&biw=1920&q=merlin%20great%20western&ved=0ahUKEwjD9YWImZbYAhUoJcAKHbeYAJQQMwhdKBQwFA&iact=mrc&uact=8 (INTERCITY + GREAT WESTERN)

 

http://www.hondawanderer.com/43149_Bruton_1998.htm (just GREAT WESTERN)

 

https://thebeautyoftransport.com/2016/10/05/the-train-on-kaleidoscope-lines-british-passenger-railway-post-privatisation-visual-identities/

Edited December 19, 2017 by phil-b259

[richscylla]

Thanks so much Phil!

[The Fatadder]

I think our chances of a GWT hst are pretty slim given if I recall correctly First are really unkeen on their old liveries being produced.

Given Hornby have ran all the other early privatisation liveries (GNER, Virgin and Midland Mainline) I think that’s it.

 

The Hornby model is the scale length one and is a good representation of the livery (but they never did a TGS)

 

I have two rakes, a full rake of Hornby with a FGW TGS that I partially resprayed (I did sleepers in GWT at the same time) and a mixed set of Lima coaches and Hornby in intercity. One set uses Hornby we powercars in intercity while the other has Lima powercars in GWT.

 

I have also done the sleeper, with resprayed intercity mk2s and GWT sleepers along with resprayed Vitrains Class 47s in GWT green

 

Finally I did an early Virgin Cross Country HST with the Virgin XC branding with the new Hornby powercars as a basis

 

Always good to see another late 90s layout

 

Edit: I should add try to avoid the Hornby old powercars In GWT, which have the guards window (either very I common or completely gone by GWT)

Edited December 19, 2017 by The Fatadder

[richscylla]

Sounds awesome The Fatadder, 

 

Do you have any pictures of your collection? 

 

Rich

[The Fatadder]

Will see what I can do, most of the current 1998 fleet is non passenger (given that is the focus of my current ‘modern’ layout). So it will take some digging to get to the right stock box

 

I may even get round to adding the orange cantrail to the 47s...

 

One day I want to build a large exhibition layout set in 1998, though I need to finish building Brent in 1947 and my China clay camieo in 1998 first.

[rob D2]

Will see what I can do, most of the current 1998 fleet is non passenger (given that is the focus of my current ‘modern’ layout). So it will take some digging to get to the right stock box

I may even get round to adding the orange cantrail to the 47s...

One day I want to build a large exhibition layout set in 1998, though I need to finish building Brent in 1947 and my China clay camieo in 1998 first.

 

Also model that period so also interested in seeing some stock...!

[The Fatadder]

A few photos from the archive

Virgin HST Powercars

​New Hornby model with Fox transfers

 

​Vitrains Class 47, repainted into late 90s Fraggonset livery 

 

GWT HST running with Intercity powercars, I'm sure I had a reference to a GWT owned powercar with a guards window but cannot find my reference material from the time...

this set has been fitted with modified Kaydees (removal of the pins) and converted to P4, Here it is running at maximum speed.  edit: After spending an hour with a copy of the 1998 Platform 5 list and Flickr I have found the two powercars I originally intended to model, 43006 (with guard's window and  probably 43181 if I can get the plates for it)

 

Not sure whats happened to the photos of the GWT 47, so will pop up to the workshop later and take a new one.  When I eventually finish the painting it will run with 4 GWT sleepers and 3 Intercity Mk2s (its a shame they never painted mk2s in Merlin.  

 

I am also planning to add a set of Virgin XC loco hauled mk2s to go with the Fraggonset 47 / Virgin 47 (the latter is half way through a respray to renumber) 

Edited December 19, 2017 by The Fatadder

[The Fatadder]

And my favourite class 47

 

Look forward to seeing what you come up with