Prototype Power Car 41001 and 125 Group’s Mk3 coaches have been given a wash and brush up at their home base of Ruddington GCR(N) and early tomorrow (Thursday 31st March) will be heading for the Mid-Norfolk Railway to take part in their diesel gala this weekend.
41001 Wash and Brush Up
The HST will be departing from Ruddington at 0645 to Rushcliffe Halt where an ensemble of English Electric class 50 locomotives will meet up and haul train to Leicester Depot with schedule 5Z50 0910 Hotchley Hill to Leicester. After some shunting 41001 and the matching Mk3s will depart as part of the convoy heading for deepest East Anglia, running as 5X50 1210 Leicester Depot to Dereham via Oakham (1305-1326), Stamford, Peterborough (14/02), March, Ely North Curve, Thetford and Wymondham (1549-1554).
Full schedules for the movements can be found courtesy of Realtime Trains here:
These are the planned timings, routing and traction, all of which can change at short notice on the day subject to operational constraints, and the train may run early or late!
The Prototype High Speed Train Power Car and our matching coaches are ready for their exciting Springtime visits around the UK. 41001 and Mk3s 11074, 10206 and 12092 have been undergoing routine maintenance and examination at their home base of Ruddington on the Great Central Railway (Nottingham) and are ready to go on-tour.
Mid Norfolk Railway – Friday 1st to Sunday 3rd April 2016 The very first away visit for 41001 and matching three coaches is to the MNR Spring Diesel Gala where they will be the stars of this diesel traction packed 3 day event, working passenger services through the beautiful rolling Norfolk countryside between Wymondham Abbey, Dereham and Hoe. Highlights include operation with the MNR’s own Mk3s making a set of 5 similar vehicles, Saturday and Sunday breakfast trains plus on Friday very special calls at the private Hardingham station complete with run-bys passing the splendidly restored signal box – remember to wave to the signalman! ‘Buffet 125’ will be open for refreshments and hot food at selected times. For more details and to purchase tickets check out the MNR website.
Nene Valley Railway – Saturday 9th & Sunday 10th April 2016 We are pleased that 41001 and Mk3s are planned to visit the NVR Diesel Gala, operating passenger services between Yarwell, Wansford and Peterborough NV on Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th only. This event features a wide range of visiting locomotives, plus hot food and draught ales will be available from the on-board ‘Buffet 125’. For full information and to buy tickets, see the NVR website.
St.Philips Marsh Open Day – Bank Holiday Monday 2nd May 2016 Prototype power car 41001 is the fore-runner of the enormously successful production Inter-City 125 fleet which is now celebrating 40 years in traffic. Great Western Railway are marking this historic milepost by hosting an open day at Bristol St.Philips Marsh depot, featuring a gathering of locomotives and power cars from operators far and wide, plus pioneer 41001 which will be a static exhibit. Very special power car naming and livery unveiling events make this an open day not to be missed! For more information and to purchase tickets see the Open Day website.
The 125 Group Sales Stand will feature on all of the above visits, come along and speak to the team, purchase HST related merchandise and join up as a member (you can do this on-line too). 41001 and the Mk3 coaches should be departing from Ruddington GCR(N) this Thursday 31st March on the first leg of their tour. We will endeavour to provide advance movement gen on this website and 125 Group facebook and twitter. PLEASE NOTE : All dates and information supplied in good faith, but as always, may be subject to alteration due to operational circumstances. We can not be held responsible for losses resulting from cancellation of operating days or changes to this programme.
