After the excitement of attending Bristol St.Philips Marsh open day, the Prototype HST Power Car and 125 Group’s matching coaches will be completing their journey home to Great Central Railway (Nottingham) on Monday 23rd May. 41001 and the Mk3s have been receiving expert attention from the professional folk at East Midlands Trains Etches Park depot.
Under the charge of Rail Operations Group, they are planned to be hauled by 37884 running as 5Z37 departing from Derby at 1510, heading up the Midland Mainline and onto GCR(N). The live schedule courtesy of Realtime Trains is available HERE.
The historic preserved High Speed Train will be running at Great Central Railway (Nottingham) on Saturday 28th May. Passenger services will depart from Ruddington station (sat-nav postcode NG11 6JS) at 1030, 1215, 1400 and 1545. Trains will operate top ‘n’ tail with 41001 at the south end of the Mk3 coaches and either 47292 or E6016 (73110) at the north end. Tickets are available to buy on the day or on-line from www.gcrn.co.uk.
Today’s public open day at St.Philips Marsh depot was a fantastic success, celebrating 40 years of the High Speed Train. Pioneer Production Power Car 43002 was unveiled in original Inter-City 125 livery and was named ‘Sir Kenneth Grange’ by the man himself, designer of the iconic HST nosecone. Power cars from host Great Western Railway and five visiting operators, including Prototype 41001, made this a very special event marking the historic anniversary in style, at the same time raising funds for the charity Springboard Opportunity Group.
125 Group would like to extend heartfelt thanks to GWR for undertaking the complex planning and executing such a splendid show, and to all of the owners and operators of visiting power cars, locomotives and rolling stock for allowing their vehicles to take part. Congratulations to 125 Group’s Honorary President Sir Kenneth Grange for such a fitting and well deserved naming, and of course to everyone who bought tickets and came along today, braving the rain and enjoying the brief sunshine!
If you have a passion for Britain’s most successful train, join us as a member of 125 Group and help our mission to preserve a Production HST and reinstall the original Paxman Valenta engine. Sign-up online HERE.
Tomorrow Tuesday 3rd May the visiting HSTs will return north in non-passenger convoy, a summary of the planned workings is shown below however please note, as always, this information is provided in good faith but these movements can change at short notice on the day subject to operational constraints, the trains may run early or late or be cancelled. Live schedule links are shown where available courtesy of Realtime Trains.
0629 St.Philip’s Marsh to Etches Park formed of Virgin Power Car 43300 + NMT Power Car 43013 + Grand Central Power Car 43423 + Prototype Power Car 41001 + 125 Group’s Mk3s 11074+10206+12092 + Virgin Trailer First 41190 + East Midlands Trains Power Car 43048. http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/K96086/2016/05/03/advanced
Prototype Power Car 41001 and 125 Group’s Mk3s 11074+10206+12092 will be stabling at Etches Park Depot.
1330 Etches Park to Heaton, formed of Virgin Power Car 43300 + NMT Power Car 43013 + Grand Central Power Car 43423 + Virgin Trailer First 41190. http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/K96087/2016/05/03/advanced
Update – Virgin Power Car 43300 + Virgin Trailer First 41190 + NMT Power Car 43013 spent Tuesday night at Heaton depot and are now returning home on Wednesday morning as 5Z45 0631 Heaton to Craigentinny, running via Prestonpans, Millerhill, Suburban Line, Haymarket and Edinburgh. http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/O90281/2016/05/04/advanced
