This is the textbook definition of 'niche'. Sir, I salute your dedication to the cause for staying overnight in Luton to film this video!

SLIDEY WINDOWS SLAMMY DOORS. I feel a T-shirt coming on..........

on the last day of these trains, i expect you to wear a SLIDEY WINDOWS SLAMMY DOORS shirt.

Geoff: I heard emr are using some old lner hsts Also Geoff: RIDING ON A LNER HST

Its truly amazing the amount of knowledge Geoff has on railways Fascinating And always enjoyable

I never thought I'd miss the HST (Class 43) sets, but seeing nothing but the new Hitachi units on the GWR these days, watching this video made me realise that I really do miss them! Thanks Geoff for another great video! ;-)

Another great video Geoff. Please keep them going as they are so well produced.

A super niche video featuring the legendary HST. Thanks Geoff, really appreciate it.

Love your niche videos. Even though I'm not a rail enthusiast I find your fascination with all things rail and train fascinating.

hi geoff i wanna say i really appreciate your videos, right now im in year 11 and i really love learning about trains and they've become my passion so thank you for your videos they really educate me

These are the kind of videos that have me coming back to the channel every week month after month, year after year. Going to ride this train as a Christmas treat I think :)

I enjoy these niche videos! Having never been to the UK, there's a chance they could be hard to understand, but having watched many of your other videos I feel there's a good context. I also appreciate your usage of the printed maps and the hand drawn maps to further illustrate your points.

I stayed last night in Luton Somebody has to 🤣🤣🤣 Geoff you're getting funnier with age mate!

Regarding the pricing between contacless and paper tickets, Travelling from St Albans and Harpenden, it can work out significantly cheaper to use contactless for one way and open return journeys, but significantly more to do so for day return journeys. For example, an anytime single (the only one available) from StA to StP is 12.90, but contactless is around 10.00peak/8.00off-peak. The same applies between these two stations where an open return isn't an option with a paper ticket, so you just have to do two single tickets. But then say you used contactless on the return it'd be 16.00, when you could have paid 13.50 for a super off peak. So even if you have a railcard, it can end up cheaper using contactless rather than a paper ticket. Same for West Hamstead, and many other stations within boundaries zones 1&2, Gatwick Airport etc as well. Kinda stupid and confusing but then that's the ticketing system for you...

These are the kinds of videos (along with least used and request stops) are my favorites from you

So great to have a small number of these iconic trains still running for the time being at least. I believe EMR are the only operator to have the VP185 engined power cars. Smashing video as always Geoff!

I miss these HST's on GWR.. So nice, I love hearing them from the inside!

Slidey Windows, Slammy Doors. 7:52 glad to see that it’s not only me that ends up with more sharpie on my hand than the paper! Be as niche as you want - love it.

Feels like you're properly back Geoff. Really glad to see it. :-)

Yes, Geoff, this is a properly niche video BUT your obvious enthusiasm for what you are doing is just lovely to see and offsets any and all disinclination towards a chosen topic. Oh, and of course: SLIDEY WINDOWS, SLAMMY DOORS!

I miss slidey windows and slammy doors so much. Was very sad to see the last bubble car retire, and will be even sader to see the 125 go.

When Virgin Voyager trains were first introduced on their (then) CrossCountry service I travelled on them from East Croydon to Kensington Olympia using a zones 2 - 6 paper one day Travelcard ticket! The route travelled was entirely outside Zone 1. Before travelling I did first confirm that Travelcards were accepted on Virgin Trains.

What a great video. Interesting and wonderful trains. Keep up the good work. Love the slides windows and slammy doors.

Awesome! Love these kind of videos Geoff!!

9:15 43 423, former Grand Central Class 43, the last to be powered by a Paxman Valenta (hence the nameplate) and my personal favourite HST Power Car!

Slidey Windows, Slammy Doors!

One of your best Geoff... when you are happy we all are happy too! Can it be that long ago when I first saw a 125 sweeping round the curve into Berkhamsted - just magnificent! They were brand new then and now they are going - but they are still brilliant plus the sheer terror of people not being able to find a door handle as the train comes to rest at their station was always a joy :D

Thanks a lot Geoff. I absolutely love those Class 43's. I had a friend who was an engineer for British Rail and I was allowed to take a hst set from Kings Cross to Bounds Green depot. Great fun!

"Slidey Windows, Slammy Doors!" Please keep making the niche videos.

"Slidey Windows, Slammy Doors" os such a good name for a band!!

im from australia and the last time i went on the tube let alone england was when i was 12. yet i love these niche videos of yours, i just find them so fascinating even if im not always quite sure whats going on. slidey windows, slammy doors!!

I love your love of all trains - keep up the excellent work

Geoff: There is a rumour that EMR have the old LNER set trains Me: You are riding on one with red LNER seats and LNER displays and engines Also I live near the midland mainline and I've seen a lot of LNER trains locally recently, branded as EMR's. So I don't think this is just a rumour

Geoff, you are an absolute total train geek! And we love it :)

Geoff I love seeing all of your videos no matter the topic. I am an American who was stationed over in the UK for 3 1/2 years and miss it all.

Super video Geoff - thank you. Brought back many memories of many journies to and from York to King Cross in the late 1970s and early 80s, after the Deltics had finished

That's quite something, Class 43 HST sets on routes that previously run Pacers

What do you mean "niche"? I'm not even british, and I still subscribe to your channel, loving every second of it!

I would not refer to your videos as weird but eclectic but call them what you will. Either way you make interesting and enjoyable videos. Thanks! Of course I live in a city with NO underground, overground, tram or other but instead we have buses and one passenger train that leaves a nearby city around 6 am and goes up the east coast stopping in places like Washington DC, NY and Boston. I was blessed once several years ago to come to London and enjoy what trains I could get to in an afternoon.

Geoff I'm literally in Canada, no plans of going to the UK any time soon. And I love your niche videos the most.

When you filmed the HST set arrived in Luton airport it was EMR but was clearly a ex LNER set

When I've been on the Scotrail 125's the conductors make a long announcment explaining how to open the window, open the door, shut the window again, for the benefit of younger passengers who just stand there waiting for the doors to open automatically! Having to do something for themselves is a new experience for some of them!

Great to see a real nerdy type video, Geoff, I love em! I also love the HST's, great to see you on a 'proper train' - can't beat them! And living down in Devon, it interests me to hear that GWR are still using a few class 43's, albeit in different configurations to the HST, I shall keep my eye open for them - would be most strange to see one of them making an appearance at my local station in Barnstaple!

Slidey windows, Slammy doors!! Well done Geoff!! I hope the HST’s don’t disappear before I come there in 2021. 🚅✈️

I still want to go on an HST, being too young to have ever been on them and living on the WCML, might have to try this out soon, just want to hear that satisfying door slam

Geoff is a legend. Coming up with crazy ideas. Legend

Love your videos ... keep up the great work

Great video mate I really like watching your videos there really cool wow your on a fast train😌👍

I remember when the HST's were introduced and we all hated them for replacing Deltics. Still have some resentment towards them for that.

Geoff! Excellent video. I can only assume the readers at St Pancras are only calibrated for Thameslink and EMR smart cards? Which brings me on my question Geoff. Have you any experience with Train Operator own Smartcards? I.E the key from Southern and South Eastern or Touch by GWR and SWR?

Niche is fun; it's what we have come to expect from you. Great tradition; a bit like Bill Frindle's cricket statistics on the radio!

Maybe not one off your best videos but you make the subject sound very interesting. Must be great in a way travelling on trains at the moment with it being so quite.

6:26 I live near here jeff and I can confirm the electric cables have been installed through Kettering then up the Corby branch line at Glendon Junction BUT do not go further then Glendon up to Market Harborough and Leicester.

"are they taking those away?" "they they're taking our 12.....FROM MY COLD DEAD HANDS!" XD

Good morning Geoff. Just watching this video for the umpteenth time whilst sitting in a class 43 (low back seats) about to leave St Pancras. Totally awesome 👌

Great video. How cool are the 125s ! I remember them from the 80s .

"Slidey Windows, Slammy Doors!" oh the memories.

"Sometimes you just have to catch a proper train" Well said. And it's sad to see these 125s go. Also, seeing Luton Airport reminded me of the Airline series from 1998, I loved that show

Please continue to make such niche videos! They are awesome! 👍👍👍

Ben Goldachre. Two hero’s in one video. Thx for cheering us up Geoff

That sounds like a good combination: "Two power cars at either end" (4:30). Double-headed HST here we come :-D (forgive me for the interpretation but couldn't resist it!!)

I drive 40 miles from where I live to the north York moors railway just to ride on mk1s with slam doors and sliding windows.

Fair enough, "Slidey Windows, Slammy Doors". Loved the video Geoff.

Geoff, I just took one of the world's great rail journeys a week ago on the Kuranda Rail (in Cairns, QLD)- you'll be pleased to know there's slidey windows & very slammy doors on that! Along with dramatic cliff drops on one side of the train, and a waterfall on the other! When borders open up again you must come to Australia and do it!

Slidey Windows, Slammy doors Here from twitter ;)

9:39 those pads are for National rail smart cards only, such as the southeastern key. You can’t touch oyster or contactless on them. Notice how they have a different symbol than the oyster ones. I travel regularly within Kent and these are all over the place down here and everywhere in Britain in general

It's nice to see you use the line with which I am most familiar (Bedford - St. Pancras), and on a 125, too!

Geoff I love you your videos are so so good for knowing how to use transport etc.

I remember when “Real” trains had a loco at the front and HST were considered modern rubbish

"It's got slam doors, It's got slidy windows, non of this electric nonsense", Thats what i like to summaries trains as and what most should be like, but without the diesel smell though

Looks like a smooth, quiet and altogether delightful experience

Why am I watching these videos. No interest in trains but here I am subscribed and watching every new video

I'm here for the niche stuff. MORE TRAINS.

Whilst its great to be on a class 43 HST and paying with Contactless, is it possible to travel on a Class 800 Hitachi and pay with Contactless? I was thinking Paddington/ Reading.

Niche? I like niche. It tastes good.....Oh wait, that’s quiche. I like that too. Especially when served through a slammy door! Great video once again Geoff!😉

hi geoff what can i say what a great video and brill news that the hst lovers can still grab a hst full length with our fav slam door and open windows. i so miss the full length hsts out of plymouth and london paddington. peter from birmingham

EMR HST's set to continue until roughly May 2021

25 years ago, my mission was to try and catch an Intercity train using just a basic one day travelcard. I managed it, with a ride from Kensington Olympia to Clapham Junction. Imagine if that train was still about now, Jeff would be doing a video "Today, the only way you can catch an Intercity using a basic one day travelcard."

You so have to do a last proper HST video! Loving this!

I'm here for the niche videos. Great episode. Thanks Geoff.

The readers on the gates at St Pancras were updated on 21 October to do contactless pay as you go (and no, it wasn't because of this video - it had been planned for some time but was more complicated to sort out than it might seem!).

Used to live by that line just past the Elstree tunnels and train spot the 43 class

Great video Geoff stay safe👍

GWR own the 2+3 sets and the 2+4 sets and some of them haven’t been adapted yet. Unfortunately I don’t have the TOPS number of the coaches. Great video as always Geoff!

It's been great fun to follow your rail-themed vlogs covering so many fascinating facts and figures about the British trains & types of rail services available now. As I live in south-western Poland, I can experience all those cool train rides in the UK only vicariously, however, your commentary makes up for that downside quite well. Also, on this occasion, I'd like to post a question about an electrical locomotive BR Class 83 pl.m.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Plik:E3035_at_Doncaster_Works.JPG&filetimestamp=20051227191219. Have you ever spotted it in operation ? I am asking because this loco gave birth to an iconic locomotive in Poland back in the 70s. Our national operator was then looking for a universal type of electrical locomotive capable of hauling passenger trains at speeds above 120 km/h as the electrification of our network was well underway. Finally, a decision was made to liaise with the British industry and subsequently a licence was purchased under which a Polish version known as class EU O7 and 08 were developed. Following numerous upgrades, many of those engines are still in operation hauling light goods trains and passenger ones. They are nicknamed 'Englishmen' because of the licence and almost all train drivers still appreciate their reliability as well as flexibility.

I really like the new liveries that EMR have on the 222s and the HSTs.

A great niche video Geoff, once you realised you were on an ex LNER set, I believe you got all the HST facts correct!

Nice video Geoff. GWR’s HSTs run between Plymouth and Penzance. Went on them a week ago.

"Old LNER set" Big tick there then!!

It’s a shame that loads of HST’s Are Retiring From Service But Scotrail, Cross Country, And East Midlands Railway Still Have Their 43’s

I was face palming and yelling at the screen when you said there was rumours that the LNER HSTs are coming to East Midlands Railway and you was on one! but I like how it was quickly recovered it and noticed that you was on one, but it also a great video, The only HST that you were missing is the Flying Banana, Network Rail Measurement Train but technically you can't ride on that one.

Cheers Geoff, that train brings back happy memories

For a moment I forgot that HSTs have been gone from the GWML (Paddington-Reading) for some time... 🤯

I do love Slidey Windows, Slammy Doors!

Sad to see these go. First visited the UK when I was 10 and I already fell in love with them (back then they still had the intercity 125 swallow livery), and it took me 16 years till I had the chance to ride on one. And yes, I'm already missing the slidey windows, slammy doors.

So (a) you paid TWICE to travel from Luton Airport Parkway to STP and (b) you stayed a night in Luton beforehand. I salute your dedication to the cause of niche but fascinating transport videos 😁

Next: Using bottlecaps to buy a NYC subway ticket.

No recorded announcements. Everything is great about a 125.

Back in the mid 80s I used to regularly travel on the CLC route from Lime St to Hough Green, through Allerton (now Liverpool South Parkway). On Sundays the train was often a claggy Class 31 hauling ancient Mk I and II stock, sometimes even corridor. At that time Hough Green was in its own unique zone, C7. This meant you could spend a good forty minutes behind a loco on an Area C Saveaway! No such luck nowadays, and they changed the zones in the 90s so you need an All Zone for that journey today.

Dear Geoff! Great video! I also enjoyed your other videos, especially the one about Greenwich tunnel vs ferry! You have a great voice and personality! The only thing I would ask is to add a bit more historical background... Otherwise brilliant! Keep up the great work! Marius.