First runs for preserved HST

125 Group power cars in action at the Midland Railway-Butterley.

THE 125 Group’s world speed record-holding HST power car No. 43159 has joined the operational fleet at the Midland Railway-Butterley (MR-B), writes Peter Nicholson.

Together with No. 43048, the pair was due to make the first public passenger working of a production HST set in preservation on a heritage railway at the MR-B, just after this issue went to press on

April 2/3. A shortened Mk.3 set will be providing a timetabled service throughout the weekend.

On February 5, power cars Nos. 43089 and 43048 worked from the MR-B to Leicester depot to collect a rake of Mk.3 loco-hauled coaches, including a Mk.3 DVT, for transfer to Loughborough Works on behalf of DATS and UKRL – the latter now working out of the exBrush works.

The power cars then ran to Loram at Derby where

No. 43159 was attached and all three worked back to the MR-B. While at Loram, a number of jobs were undertaken on No. 43159, including replacement of four secondary springs, a full TPWS/

AWS test and an Ultrasonic Axle Test (UAT).

■ Power cars Nos. 43045 and 43060 at Long Marston have been acquired by Northumbria Rail. The company had previously acquired EMU Class 442 driving car No. 77382, which has been fitted with a buckeye coupling for use as a driving trailer with a set of former HST Mk.3 coaches (see RM October 2021, p81).