Hornby Mk3 coach gangway ends - why black and white?

[deltic79]

There were some HST TGS fitted with buffers. at least on the power car end, presumably it made shunting rakes at depots easier. They may have had them removed, could not see any on a quick google search so possibly only appropriate in blue/grey or intercity livery if at all.

 

Indeed there were. These carried buffers at the guards end only and were modified for use with Class 91s (and the class 89 for that matter) on the early ECML electric services to Leeds in 1989. This allowed the 91 to couple to HST sets with a surrogate Class 43 DVT at the other end until the Mk4 rakes came on stream. Once the Mk4s were available the Mk3/surrogate DVT rakes were replaced and reverted to standard HST sets again, yet the modified TGS vehicles retained their buffers.

[cheesysmith]

the blue/grey mk3 coach is only good out of the box for the modern repaint into the BR colours. the coaches didn't have the central door locking orange light, or the circular butterfly valve that is low down on the body side as a emergency release of such.

[47137]

the blue/grey mk3 coach is only good out of the box for the modern repaint into the BR colours. the coaches didn't have the central door locking orange light, or the circular butterfly valve that is low down on the body side as a emergency release of such.

But, there aren't any HSTs with the modern repaint into BR colours. Even if you rub the "125" off the sides, and keep the buffers, the model would still be wrong as loco hauled coaches because the bottom edge of the grey stripe would be too high on the body sides. So, if you accept the model, you can tell yourself it is an imaginary modern HST repaint ... but really, such a modern repaint would really want a refitted interior, with the airline style seats (at least for the East coast route).

 

The only way to make it 'right' would be to scrape off the door lock lights, fill in the emergency release handles and somehow hide all the damage, which is just not worthwhile or (for me) practical. I think it is a fine model, possibly a bit under-priced and it would be better if Hornby could charge a few pounds more and apply a prototypical livery.

 

- Richard.

 

Edited after a few hours to make the second paragraph more constructive.

[ifitlooksright]

Yellow vestibules and end doors on hsts and loco hauled in blue / grey days.

[ess1uk]

I always remember them as yellow too.

[ifitlooksright]

I remember seeing loco hauled TGS on 110mph west coast expresses? Same design as HST tgs?

[YK 50A]

I remember seeing loco hauled TGS on 110mph west coast expresses? Same design as HST tgs?

 

Hi,

 

You are almost certainly referring to one of the 3 Mk3B BFOs, first used on the WCML from 1986 and now employed on FGW sleeper trains.  Although similar to a TGS in appearance, they are technically very different vehicles and aren't compatible with each other.  Also the "T" in TGS refers to "Trailer", terminology not used with loco hauled stock.

 

Alun