on tour

Prototype HST Bo’ness Transfer Retimed

20189, 20205, 125 Group Mk3s & 41001 5Z20 waiting at Loughborough South Jn, 20th July 2016. ©125 Group

Further to the previous posting, the Prototype HST transit moves from Ruddington GCR(N) to the Bo’ness and Kinneil Railway Summer Diesel Gala have been revised as follows (as at 0845 Thursday):

Wednesday 20th July 2016

5Z20 20+05 Hotchley Hill/Rushcliffe Halt – York Holgate Sidings (arrive 01+08) via Loughborough South Jn 20/45, Humberstone Road (run round/reverse), Toton Centre (run round/reverse), Derby, Chesterfield, Beighton Jn, Moorthorpe, Milford. Consist 20189 + 20205 hauling 11074 + 10206 + 12092 + 41001. http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/O13420/2016/07/20/advanced

Thursday 21st July 2016 – CONFIRMED SCHEDULE FROM YORK

5S20 12+14 York Holgate Sidings – Bo’ness Junction Exchange Siding via York Avoiding Line, East Coast Mainline, Newcastle, Dunbar, Monktonhall Jn, Millerhill, Suburban Line, Falkirk High, Cadder Down Passenger Loop (run round/reverse), Falkirk High, booked to arrive Bo’ness Junction Exchange Siding 23+32. Consist 20189 + 20205 hauling 11074 + 10206 + 12092 + 41001. 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/K91057/2016/07/21/advanced

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

Victorious Nene Valley

41001 125 Group Mk3s Wansford NVR 10Apr2016 ©125 Group

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.