Second record-holding HST power car to be preserved
BOTH High Speed Train power cars that hold the world diesel speed record are to be preserved, with the donation of No. 43159 to the 125 Group.
As reported last issue, Class 43 power car No. 43102 has gone on display at Locomotion in Shildon, after being donated to the National Railway Museum by leasing company Porterbrook following its withdrawal from service on the Midland Main Line in May.
It set the world speed record for diesel traction of 148.5mph while descending Stoke Bank on November 1, 1987, during a test run for the new Mk.4 coach bogies.
On the rear of that train was
No. 43159, which Porterbrook has now gifted to the 125 Group, based at the Nottingham Transport Heritage Centre in Ruddington on the Great Central Railway (Nottingham). It had been in storage for more than two years, having last worked for Great Western Railway on April 7, 2019.
No. 43159 will be the fourth HST power car in the 125 Group's collection, putting it in the unique position of being able to showcase the full history of the Class 43s, with examples of three different engines that were installed during their 45 years of service.
The group also owns No. 43044, which it plans to restore with the original Paxman Valenta engine, and Nos. 43048 and 43089 with the later Paxman VP185 power unit.
Completing the set will be No. 43159 with its MTU engine, fitted in 2007.
Full Mk.3 set
The group has acquired a full set of nine Mk.3 HST trailer coaches to run with the power cars.
It had also previously restored the surviving prototype power car, No. 41001, to working order under a loan agreement with the NRM that ended in November 2019.
The group stated that normally it selected vehicles based on condition rather than their painted number, but that the historical significance of No. 43159 did play a part in the decision to take it on.
All of these power cars will be maintained to an operational standard with main line certification.
Regarding the acquisition of No. 43159, the group stated: “The 125 Group wishes to place on record its sincerest gratitude to Porterbrook for its amazing generosity in supporting our aims, but also wishes to thank its own members, for their support and financial backing to bring this small fleet of HSTs into the preservation circle.”