125 Preservation’s move to Railworld due soon

THE SHORT-FORMED HST due to move to Railworld in Peterborough for occasional use on the Nene Valley Railway should be at the Cambridgeshire site before the end of the year. The set, which will comprises Class 43 HST power cars 43045 and 43060, along with three Mk.3 coaches belonging to 125 Preservation, has undergone UAT testing ahead of the move.

The two power cars, which are both fitted with Paxman VP185 engines, were bought for preservation last year, having seen brief use with Colas Rail Freight following withdrawal with East Midlands Railway. The power cars and first-built production HST Mk.3 trailer buffet coach 40001 (last operated by Great Western Railway and numbered 40904) will be located on sidings that have been recently installed at the Railworld site, with the buffet coach planned to be in use at the facility when the HST is not in service on the railway.

Two of the Mk.3 HST coaches built for use with the original prototype HST – 41002 (currently carrying LNER livery and numbered 42357) and 42000 (also in LNER colours, as 42355) – will also join the power cars, but due to space constraints at the Railworld site, these will be located at Overton on the NVR. These two coaches are currently in store at Ely Papworth Sidings and a date for their move has yet to be confirmed.

New The Grammar School Doncaster AD 1350 and County of Leicestershire display nameplates have been produced for 43045 and 43060 respectively, although the nameplates are of a different design to those originally carried by the power cars during the 1980s.

It is planned that the HST will see use on the Nene Valley Railway at special events and on selected running days. The operation of preserved HSTS at both the Colne Valley Railway and Midland Railway – Butterley have proved to be extremely popular in recent months.

Robert Falconer The North Norfolk Railway’s Class 31 D5631 heads towards Weybourne on October 9, hauling the railway’s rake of Mk.1 suburban coaches in an idyllic scene, with the North Sea in the background.

Courtesy 125 Preservation 125 Preservation’s HST power cars 43060 and 43045 stand at Long Marston awaiting movement to Peterborough, which is hoped will take place during November. First-built production Mk.3 trailer buffet 40001, which was last operated by GWR as 40904, is sandwiched between the two power cars, ready for the move.