IN 1977 the 'Age of the Train’ was the TV advert and it introduced the Inter City 125 train into service.

It was planned as a stop gap between retiring aged locomotives and the new ATP tilting trains.

The tilting trains were dogged with problems and never entered service and some say British Rail was saved by the IC125, more commonly know as the HST (High Speed Train).

After 43 years of sterling service the last full length (eight-car) services to Wales, Worcester and the West Country left Paddington between 1800 and 1830 last Saturday (May 18) for the final time.

Enthusiasts had booked the services solid and operator Great Western Railway had to lay on extra services for ‘normal’ passengers.