Porterbrook provides major boost to HST museum plan

AN enthusiasts’ group set up to preserve Intercity 125 High Speed Trains has taken a significant step forward in its plans to open a maintenance depot and museum.

The 125 Group had identified the Great Central Railway (Nottingham) site at Ruddington as ideal to provide bespoke covered facilities, and launched a £100,000 appeal.

It has now received a “sizeable donation” from rolling stock leasing company Porterbrook, which leases HSTs to CrossCountry, East Midlands Trains, Great Western Railway and LNER.

Porterbrook previously gave financial and engineering support to the 125 Group when it restored the National Railway Museum’s prototype 41001.

More HST vehicles are expected to become available in the near future, and the charity wants a building that will act not only as a maintenance facility, but also a museum for the iconic trains.

Commenting on its support for the scheme, Stephen McGurk, Porterbrook’s chief commercial officer, said: “The InterCity 125 is a design icon that transformed long distance rail travel across Britain. It is absolutely right that examples of this world-beating train should be secured for future generations.”

Gary Heelas, 125 Group chairman says: “We have a long way to go but the provision of this covered space at Ruddington will allow us to maintain and store the vehicles in a dry and relatively clean environment.

“It will also mean that the hours of free time given by our volunteers will be far more productive, with everything required being in one place.”

The group is currently the custodian of 41001, and it owns Restaurant Modular First (RFB) 10206, Open First (FO) 11074 and Trailer Standard (TS) 12092.

Having stated its intention to preserve HST vehicles, it qualifies this by adding that condition will determine what it acquires. It wants to own more than one Class 43 power car with at least one restored to as-near original condition as possible, complete with a Paxman Valenta engine.