43017 Bourton 18 November 1984

43017 leads the 1A31 07:55 Swansea to Paddington service past Bourton on 18 November 1984. Apart from the rear power car, the entire train is in the original livery, which even today still looks smart and modern. I hope that when they finally reach the end of their life, at least one set is repainted into this iconic colour scheme by which ever operator is still using them. By that time I expect the blinkered attitude of many enthusiasts towards these fine trains may well have softened, and I expect we will see the usual chasing around for pictures of the last ones by people who have hitherto ignored them! Personally I would rather see a well lit picture of a HST (especially in this livery), than yet another picture of a Class 66 hauled freight in rubbish light.