Sir Kenneth on a Desert Island

Power Car 43002 ‘Sir Kenneth Grange’ leads GWR service 1A83 1000 Penzance-Paddington along the sea wall at Teignmouth, 21st December 2016. © D.Langham

125 Group Honorary President Sir Kenneth Grange is the guest on BBC Radio 4 ‘Desert Island Discs’ programme, at 11:15am on New Years Day. Sir Kenneth is of course eminent industrial designer of many things including the nosecones of both Prototype and Production High Speed Trains. The show will also be repeated during the week and should be available on the BBC iPlayer here www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b086l4zd

2016 has been a fantastic year for the HST and 125 Group, with many great events celebrating the 40th Anniversary of the Inter-City 125, including St.Philips Marsh depot open day in May and HSTs@40 at Great Central Railway (Nottingham) in November, plus 41001’s many visits around the UK. Thanks to all of the railway industry folk and preservation volunteers who have toiled to organise the events and to everyone who has attended, raising funds for some excellent causes.

2017 promises to be an interesting year for the High Speed Train, with the first new replacement Hitachi units scheduled for introduction. If you are interested in HSTs and want to support our preservation cause then why not join 125 Group? Members receive our quarterly magazine ‘One Two Five’, packed with information and informed comment on mainline fleet developments plus the latest exciting news on our Prototype power car 41001. Join here: www.125group.org.uk/group-membership

Happy New Year from all at 125 Group!

Sir Kenneth Grange heading for York NRM

Sir Kenneth Grange with 43002 ©125 Group

125 Group is delighted to announce that our Honorary President Sir Kenneth Grange, distinguished industrial designer of the High Speed Train nosecone, will be VIP guest at a special public ceremony at York National Railway Museum on Sunday 2nd October to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the introduction of the Inter-City 125 High Speed Train on British Rail back in 1976.

Sir Kenneth will be joined by his namesake original Inter-City 125 liveried power car 43002 plus on show for the first time will be 43185 unveiled in INTERCITY Swallow livery. The power cars will be on display at the NRM for the whole day, the celebration event will commence at 12:30pm until 3pm, where the public will be able to learn about the history of the HST and have a chance to hear first-hand Sir Kenneth’s experiences when designing what is widely considered the most successful British train ever. Entry to York NRM is free, more details HERE.

125 Group is very pleased to contribute to this year’s HST40 events, including assisting GWR with livery diagrams for both power cars, sponsoring the 43002 ‘Sir Kenneth Grange’ nameplates and sourcing the pair of original HST steel swallows which have been fitted to 43185, look out for more exciting HST40 news over the weekend. Official HST40 merchandise including stylish ’40YEARS’ badges, as worn by 43002 and friends, are available to buy on the 125 Group website HERE, with all proceeds going towards our preservation efforts.

43185 at Paddington 16th June 1995 ©125 Group

Great Western Railway’s 43002 and 43185 will be making the special trip from the West Country to York for the event. They are expected to run back to back, under their own power, departing from Plymouth Laira depot early on Friday with schedule 0242 Laira to York NRM via Exeter St.Davids, Bridgwater, Bristol Temple Meads 05/19, Cheltenham Spa 06/18, Bromsgrove, Bordesley Jn, Tamworth, Derby 0858-0929, Chesterfield, Beighton Jn, Swinton 10/52, Pontefract Baghill, Milford 1121-1155, York station 12/20, arriving at York NRM at 1233. Full live schedule courtesy of Realtime Trains here: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/R41173/2016/09/30/advanced

The power cars are booked to return from York back to GWR territory departing Sunday evening running with schedule 2000 York NRM to Bristol St.Philips Marsh depot, however this transit is expected to run very early. http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/R41180/2016/10/02/advanced