But One Remains
One full HST remains for enthusiasts to enjoy via its programme of rail tours. This visually recreates the much missed Midland and Western Pullman trains from the 1960s.
The Nanking blue livery is unique in British Railways history; and truly magnificent it is!
But, for today's blog we need to look at a GWR Castle class HST.
And One Fondly Remembered
Interior signage is very familiar ...
... with WiFi on offer; also seat numbers ...
... and coach letters.
We remember the door opening buttons ...
... controlling the newly fitted sliding doors.
We may mourn the passing of seats emblazoned GWR in the fake leather (leatherette?) of the headrests.
Sadly, these Castles HST delights are no longer available on normal scheduled services in the UK.
But ...
You can still enjoy them if you hop on a flight to Lagos, Nigeria.
The City is developing two rejigged commuter lines coloured coded BLUE ...
... and RED.
Both routes will be electrified in due course but, for the time being, diesels will be used. And the Red Line stock looks strangely familiar ...
... and not very Nigerian. What sits at the front end explains it all.
They are former Castles and still carry their UK TOPS fleet numbers!
But, you may wonder, why are these "InterCity" trains being deployed on African commuter lines.
Good question!
Here is the interior of a retired Castles coach ...
... and here is the Lagos version ...
... but still recycling the GWR seats.
Look closely at the sliding doors and you will see an important modification.
Fixed steps have been added to bridge the gap between the UK's smaller loading gauge and the platform, so a leap becomes two extra steps.
How come, fbb wonders, that these splendid trains, now "too expensive" for First GWR to operate according to DaFT, are providing cost-effective interim trains for the commuters of Lagos.
And the seats are far more comfortable than in UK commuter trains.
Other trains for Lagos are also second hand but not previously used. They were bought for the Amtrak Hiawatha route ...
... but never used. Hiawatha got these ...
... and the Talgo stock went to Lagos.
Wadnibs Wotsits Whatnot?
Mrs fbb has never been a lover of this tasty snack, challenging the Wotsit's food content and decrying its texture. fbb was always an avid consumer of Tangy Cheese NikNaks.
The arrival of yet another tank wagon packed in 'Wadnibs' (late No 2 son's neologusm, as yet unrecognised by the OED) ... 
... prompted an fbb thought.
Apart from the colour, is there any visual difference between the two?
WOTSITS
WADNIBS
Fortunately for fbb's digestion, the colour is obvious, as he understands that taste and texture of the expanded polystyrene 'cocktail sausages' is less than appetising.
Next Comfort-able blog : Fri 28th Nov
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