St.Philips Marsh High Speed Train depot in Bristol opens its doors this Bank Holiday Monday 2nd May for a public open day Celebrating 40 Years of the Inter-City 125. Our Prototype power car and matching Mk3 coaches will be on display, along with Production HSTs from many of the current operators, plus varied diesel and steam traction. The unveiling of a special power car livery will take place at about 11.30am with a very special guest. This is a rare opportunity to get up close to your favourite trains, some with driving cabs open for visit.
The 125 Group sales stand will also be on site, along with other trade and food stalls, a free bus shuttle will run from Bristol Temple Meads station. We hope you can join us for what will be a very memorable event which no High Speed Train fan will want to miss! The open day is being hosted by Great Western Railway in aid of Springboard Opportunity Group. For more information and to book tickets CLICK HERE.
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.
