HST Great West

Drivers Eye View

London / Bath / Bristol / Exeter - The magnificent engineering of Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s original Great Western Railway route is best appreciated from the Driver’s cab.

In this case an InterCity 125 High Speed Train. We proceed through the outskirts of London at an exhilarating 125mph, across the Wharncliffe viaduct at Brent (where construction of the GWR actually began in 1835) across the Thames at Maidenhead (the bridge that was expected to fall down) through the horrendously expensive Sonning Cutting to arrive at InterCity’s Gateway station at Reading.

Next stop is Swindon (although we take a brief look at broad gauge track at Didcot) followed by a non-stop run to Bath through the famous Box Tunnel (the last section to be opened, well behind schedule).

Brunel’s original terminus, with its wooden overall roof, is seen upon arrival at Bristol Temple Meads.

There then follows a condensed run down the old Bristol and Exeter Railway, flying over the West of England Mainline at Cogload Junction just before Taunton, climbing the famous Wellington Bank up to White Ball Tunnel and finally arriving at Exeter St Davids.

Filmed 1993.