Yesterday (Sat 21st Dec) saw the final use of the ex BR High Speed Train (HST) sets on what is now the LNER train operation in the UK. The trains entered service on the East Coast London-Scotland route (and associated branches) back in 1978 so have seen 41 years continuous service up until the timetable changes which came in from Sunday 15th December.
To commemorate this, one of the sets (2 power cars + passenger cars) was repainted (not a cheap option) in their original BR colours to operate a special 4-day series of excursions, which concluded yesterday with a one-way passenger trip between Leeds and London.
I travelled over to Peterborough to see the train come through there yesterday lunchtime......
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No expense seems to have been spared to get a high-quality paint finish which seems to indicate that this set could well be destined for preservation with one of the operators of historic stock on the mainline here. Various rumours abound as to who this might be, but nothing definite has been stated yet.
The set is destined to do one private trip for rail staff in Scotland next weekend, but then seems to be going into secure storage thereafter.
HST's are continuing in very reduced numbers on some other lines for a few years yet (EMR/GWR/Scotrail), but their days are now numbered. Two of the powercars have already been pledged for donation to the 125 Preservation group on the Great Central (Nottingham) preserved line - see http://www.125group.org.uk for more details