Heritage News
THE RUDDINGTON-BASED 125 Group has secured its third HST power car – 43044. The vehicle has been out of use at Neville Hill for more than a year and was missing several parts but these have been replaced easily by the 125 Group. Its defective VP185 engine had been extensively robbed for spares, but this played into the hands of the Group as it always planned to re-engine one power car with an original Paxman Valenta engine and associated Marston Cooler group. A big plus is that it sits on low-mileage bogies. Some protracted discussions with Porterbrook and East Midlands Railway on the purchase of 43044 led to an amicable agreement for some of the remedial work to be undertaken at Neville Hill before moving the power car to Ruddington where it joined 43048 and 43089. The 125 Group is especially thankful to the two long-serving members who have generously funded the purchase and also to Porterbrook and EMR for their extensive help and assistance.
Meanwhile, the Group was also able to form up its full ex-EMR HST set for the first time on February 19 following the collection of its remaining Mk 3 vehicles from storage at Gascoigne Wood. The early afternoon saw 43048 TCB Miller and 43089 arrive from Leicester with 40730, 41057 and 42111 in tow, to which were added 40741, 41067, 42119, 42120 and 42337. The 2+8 set then formed the 5M55 1610 Gascoigne Wood-Rectory Junction, where the Mk 3s will be stored in the former oil terminal sidings until Ruddington is accessible again. The power cars returned to Leicester to continue their occasional work with DATS. TS 42120 has been provisionally identified as the Mk 3 that will be used as a spares donor, but this will be subject to a detailed inspection.