Three more Class 43s enter preservation
of Class 43 High Speed Train (HST) power cars entering preservation continues to grow, with another three finding salvation since the last issue of Railways Illustrated was prepared.
Firstly, Northumbria Rail has achieved its ambition of securing an HST power car to join its fleet of preserved prototype HST Mk.3 trailers and Class 442 ‘Wessex’ driving car 77382.
The organisation made no secret of its intention to try and secure a Class 43 at some point, but confirmed to Railways Illustrated that it has now completed the purchase of two power cars, with 43045 and 43060 secured by the preservationists. Both power cars are fitted with Paxman VP185 engines, and after coming off lease with East Midlands Railway were hired to Colas Rail for a brief period before being returned to Porterbrook in spring 2021 and stored at Long Marston.
Colas later leased a number of Class 43s fitted with MTU4000 engines for use on Network Rail test trains and also on the infrastructure company’s New Measurement Train. Northumbria Rail spokesman Dave Milburn Shell said the power cars are in good condition and currently in store at Porterbrook’s Long Marston facility, although discussions about a permanent home for 43045 and 43060 are progressing well, and he hoped that they would be in a position to move in the near future. Northumbria Rail now has the capability to operate its Mk.3 coaching stock either with a Class 43 at each end or by using one of the power cars at one end of the train, with the Class 442 acting as a driving van trailer (DVT) at the other end.
Work on the restoration of its coaching stock continues at Arlington’s Eastleigh Works and also at private locations. Mr Milburn Shell told Railways Illustrated that it is also investigating the possible purchase of another of the prototype Mk.3 HST trailers, which may be available in the near future.
Meanwhile, the Welsh Railways Trust has announced that Porterbrook has donated 43056 The Royal British Legion. The power car is due to move to the Gwili Railway, where it will go on static display and assist in the WRT’S ambition to create a museum telling the stories of Welsh Railways.
WRT trustee James Buckley said “We are incredibly proud to be preserving the first HST power car in Wales and extremely grateful to Porterbrook for its donation.
“By adding 43056 to our collection, we can tell the story of Welsh Railways from early 1874 right through to 2019.
“Our plan for 43056 is that it will be subject to six months of conservation and cosmetic work before going on public display for Easter 2022.
“It is then intended that it will be moved undercover as part of project Dan Do, which we hope will be completed by the summer of 2022.” 43056 has in recent months been located at Plymouth Laira, along with a number of other Class 43s that have been used to donate spares to aid the operational power cars in use with GWR. Find out more about the WRT online at https://welshrailwaytrust.wales/en_gb/