Mk3

Celebrating 40 Years of 125mph Operation

125 Group Chairman Gary Heelas and Chef Leanne Cooke in RFM 10206. ©125 Group

125 Group was pleased to support Great Western Railway in May, by providing its Prototype High Speed Train for the successful charity open day at Bristol St.Philips Marsh depot and by sponsoring the naming of GWR power car 43002 ‘Sir Kenneth Grange’ after designer of the famous nosecone, and now Honorary President of 125 Group. The power car was beautifully restored to original livery and adorned with ‘40 YEARS 1976/2016’ Plaques.

To continue the celebration of 40 years of the iconic HST, and with the further co-operation of GWR, 125 Group is pleased to unveil the same design of 40th Anniversary Plaque on its own Prototype HST operating on the Great Central Railway (Nottingham) based at Ruddington. The plaque will be mounted and displayed inside 125 Group’s Mk3 Restaurant Buffet Car 10206, formerly HST catering vehicle 40507, which provides tasty hot food to travellers behind 41001.

125 Group is also set to work with other current HST operators and owners, to enable the display of further plaques celebrating HST40. Keep your eyes peeled for more plaques soon! #HST40

We would like to acknowledge the efforts and support of Paul Gentleman, Great Western Railway, Newton Replicas and Porterbrook in producing these plaques.

Media enquiries: media@125group.org.uk

Bonnie Bo’ness

Prototype HST 41001 at Bo’ness ©125 Group

Prototype Power Car 41001 and 125 Group’s matching Mk3 coaches are headlining the Bo’ness & Kinneil Railway Summer Diesel Gala this weekend. The historic High Speed Train has been entertaining the enthusiasts for the past two days hauling passenger trains from Bo’ness up the stiff climb to Manuel.

Tomorrow Sunday 24th July is the last day of the gala and the Prototype HST is now planned to work the 1220, 1545 and 1900 departures from Bo’ness with our Valenta Power Car leading and hauling the these trains solo to Manuel. Note the 1220 is a new confirmed addition. For details about the B&KR click HERE, we hope you can join us for a trip on the splendid railway behind 41001.

On Monday 25th July 41001 and our Mk3 coaches 11074, 10206 and 12092 will start their homeward journey south, hauled by locomotives 20205 + 20189. The transit is expected to depart from Bo’ness Junction Exchange Siding at approx 0830 bound for York, with onward movement to Ruddington GCRN on Tuesday. More details will be posted here when available.