Farewell Bo’ness

Prototype HST 41001 meets Virgin Highland Chieftain HST at Manuel © Andy McLean

Prototype Power Car 41001 and 125 Group’s matching Mk3 coaches have been storming the Bo’ness & Kinneil Railway all weekend, entertaining enthusiasts at the Summer Diesel Gala. 125 Group is grateful to everyone at the B&KR for giving us such a friendly welcome and for hosting a great event. Special thanks to all who came along, bought tickets and rode the trains, we hope you enjoyed the screaming historic HST as much as we did!

Our High Speed Train is now heading for home base, Ruddington on the Great Central Railway (Nottingham). Traction for the mainline transit should be Michael Owen’s splendid locomotives 20205 + 20189, hauling consist 12092 + 10206 + 11074 + 41001. Below is a summary of the planned non-passenger workings with live schedule links courtesy of Realtime Trains.

Monday 25th July 2016

5M20 08+40 Bo’ness Junction Exchange Siding – York Holgate via Linlithgow, Suburban Line, Millerhill, Drem, Berwick-Upon-Tweed, Newcastle, Sunderland, Hartlepool, Eaglescliffe, Thirsk, York Avoiding Lines, arrive York Holgate 18+07. Note this movement is booked to be recessed in many loops for a great deal of time, see schedule for the full timing details. http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/K91057/2016/07/25/advanced

Tuesday 26th July 2016

5M20 12+54 York Holgate – Hotchley Hill/Rushcliffe Halt via Milford, Pontefract Baghill, Swinton, Old Road, Chesterfield, Langley Mill, Loughborough, Leicester, Wigston North Jn (run-round/reverse), Leicester, Loughborough South Jn 18/06, booked to arrive Hotchley Hill/Rushcliffe Halt 18+38. http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/K91057/2016/07/26/advanced

UPDATE: The class 20s are formed top and tail on the set, there is a possibility 5M20 may reverse at Loughborough South Jn at 1627 and run onto GCR(N) early missing out Leicester, subject to operating conditions at the time. 

The class 20s are then planned to part company with the HST and run light to Butterley. Power Car 41001 will then haul 11074, 10206 and 12092 as 5Z41 19+00 Hotchley Hill/Rushcliffe Halt – Ruddington.

Please note, as always, all of this information is provided in good faith but these movements, traction, consists and even routes taken can change at short notice on the day subject to operational constraints, the trains may run early or late or be cancelled.

Extra HST Dates for Half Term at GCR(N)

Prototype HST Power Car 41001 will be operating extra running days over the next two weekends at Great Central Railway (Nottingham), accompanied for the first time by our freshly repainted Mk3 coaches. The dates are Saturday 13th / Sunday 14th and Saturday 20th / Sunday 21st February, trains depart Ruddington at 1100, 1300 and 1500. The High Speed Train will be operating over these Half Term weekends while resident 8F steam locomotive 8274 is undergoing winter maintenance. Class 73 locomotive E6016 (73110) is planned to be at the other end of the train.

41001 & Mk3s (before repainting) crossing the River Soar on GCR(N) ©’43054′

These will be the first workings of the historic power car and coaches together in matching 1970s livery, recreating the overall look of the original prototype HST. The 125 Group Sales Stand will be open on-board along with Buffet 125 selling teas, coffees & snacks. For more details and to book tickets see the GCR(N) website www.gcrn.co.uk

Our MkIII coaches 11074, 10206 and 12092 are planned to leave Kilmarnock Works this week, and be hauled south to Ruddington GCR(N) under the care of Rail Operations Group. We will try to provide details of the special movement in advance on the 125 Group web site, facebook page and on our twitter account. Thanks to Wabtec Rail Scotland and ROG for their timely assistance!
www.125group.org.uk