Visit 125 Group Sales Stand at Old Oak Common

Prototype Power Car 41001 is one of the star exhibits at Old Oak Common open day. During 1975 the Prototype HST was based at the depot while on Western Region passenger service trials, seen here at Didcot E Jn on a Weston-Super-Mare to Paddington service 2nd July 1975. ©Robin Patrick

New Exclusive HST World Speed Record 30th Anniversary Artwork and Mugs

Be sure to visit the 125 Group Sales Stand at Old Oak Common open day where we have a wide range of High Speed Train merchandise available including our NEW EXCLUSIVE World Speed Record HST Artwork and Mugs celebrating the 30th Anniversary of power cars 43102 and 43159 reaching 148.5mph on 1st November 1987, setting the world speed record for diesel traction which still stands today. Produced for us by Stuart Black, the high quality artwork and mug are priced at £9 each item. Don’t miss out, come and see us on stand O0 (that’s Oscar – Zero in phonetic alphabet!)

Open Day Tickets Still Available

Tickets are still available on-line for Great Western Railway Old Oak Common public open day Saturday 2nd September 2017, celebrating over 111 years of train maintenance and servicing at this West London depot. Prototype High Speed Train power car 41001 is one of the star exhibits plus a unique collection of steam, diesel and electric locomotives, sales stands, children’s activities, fun fair, entertainers plus locomotive naming ceremonies. This will be a very special event and the weather forecast is sun sun sun (at the moment!) Full information about the open day, including how to get there and to buy tickets on-line, all on the event website www.oocopenday.com

 

Victorious Nene Valley

41001 125 Group Mk3s Wansford NVR 10Apr2016 ©125 Group

The Prototype HST Power Car and 125 Group’s matching Mk3 coaches have completed a victorious weekend of passenger running at the Nene Valley Railway Spring Diesel Gala, the first ever visit of 41001 to this scenic line. The gala was well attended by locomotives and passengers and the HST proved a very popular attraction, at times there were so many passengers on board that it was difficult to walk through to our ‘Buffet 125’ so apologies to anyone who missed out on the delicious bacon baps and burgers on offer! Highlights included running through to the delightful station at Yarwell Junction, and several pairings with class 50, 56 and 60 locomotives, including a few cases where the Screaming Valenta was left doing all the work – it was our pleasure! Thank you to all who came along to ride on the iconic Prototype HST and for the many compliments about our restoration of 41001 and the Mk3 coaches. The 125 Group team would like to offer special thanks to to all of the staff and volunteers at the Nene Valley Railway for their warm welcome and hospitality.

41001 and the Mk3s are today (Tuesday 12th April) leaving the NVR bound for home – Great Central Railway (Nottingham). The HST is expected to depart from Wansford soon after lunch as part of a non-passenger convoy hauled by locomotive 56098, running with schedule 5Z41 1445 Orton Mere-Hotchley Hill via Peterborough ECML (1505-1507), Melton Mowbray (15/59), Syston East Jn, Syston North Jn (16/20), Loughborough South Jn (16/34) and onto GCR(N). After arrival and shunting at Rushcliffe Halt, 41001 will haul the Mk3s the last leg of the journey back to Ruddington. The full schedule for the movement can be found courtesy of Realtime Trains here: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/K96076/2016/04/12/advanced  These are the planned timings, routing and traction, all of which can change at short notice subject to operational constraints, and the train may run early or late or be cancelled.