Friends, I have just purchased a First Great western book set HST mainly because the livery reminds me of one of my favourite songs "Smoke on the water"!

Anyway, it comes with the dummy and 2 carriages plus the power unit, which I believe is the only drive unit?

My question  is this, can further carriages be added or is it designed to operate only with the stock provided in the set?

Regards, Peter.

Yes, you can extend the train. HSTs normally ran as either 7 or 8 coach trains with a power car at either end. Dapol's model is more than capable of running with this length of train (although annoyingly mine won't do a scale 125mph!).

Typical formations are : Power car + TGS + TSO + TSO + TSO + TSO + Buffet + FO + FO + Power car.

TGS = tourist, guard standard/second
TSO = tourist second/standard open
FO = first open

Western region 7 car sets had one less TSO.

Happy modelling.

Steven B.

Thank you, I had not considered extending the train to life size but another carriage or two would make it look more interesting!

Warmest regards, Peter.

they ran a trial of a 5 car gwr hst set the other day so i read. maybe try to model that as it is something unusual.

they may use short hst sets on cardiff - portsmouth in the future when they have some spare. scotrail are getting some hsts to run in short sets as well.


tim

The standard length for the livery that you have purchased would be 8 coaches.

Remember when you purchase new coaches to check  they are the HST designated coaches with no buffers...

Quote from: petercharlesfagg on January 27, 2016, 07:24:41 PM
Thank you, I had not considered extending the train to life size but another carriage or two would make it look more interesting!
Warmest regards, Peter.

In which case I'd suggest a TGS and a buffet car to keep the train formation in proportion with the full length train.

Happy modelling.

Steven B.