East Midlands 125 Farewell 13/05/21

This weekend marks the end, after 45 years, of regular scheduled HST workings from any/ all London termini, with the cessation of the residual weekday and weekend diagrams for the remaining two EMR sets at the May timetable change. To mark this occasion, the Branch Line Society, in partnership with EMR and the 125 Group is running an excursion from St Pancras to Leicester and return tomorrow (Thursday 13th May). I’m sure that this will be of interest to both modern traction enthusiasts and perhaps all those with a keen sense of “Occasion” who would recognise the significance of the passing of these legendary trains.

For this excursion, special interest is attached to the intended use of two celebrity EMR power cars - 43102 (InterCity Swallow livery) and 43274 (unique EMR Purple livery); plus the planned routing via the Kettering-Corby-Oakham-Melton Mowbray diversionary route in both directions, rather than the customary MML route via Market Harborough.

The timings for this outing have been advised as STP depart 10.19/ LEI arrive 12.05 (note 106 minutes for 120 route miles including speed restrictions on the diversionary section). After a brief photographic stop, return from LEI will be at 12.19, again via Corby, arriving STP at 14.19, with a possible short pause at Wellingborough if I read the advance publicity correctly.

This obviously represents very little prior notice (I myself only became aware yesterday), but for those who might, for example, be looking for one last opportunity to photograph or film a 125 set on, say, Harringworth Viaduct or at other classic MML locations, and/ or for those who live within striking distance of the MML, I hope this will be of interest.

Not sure whether this should be posted on the What’s Going On or the Diesel and Electric Traction Forum, so I’m going to do both.

 

That's a shame. Those East Midlands HSTs felt like a proper time capsule with the low back seats providing as close a facsimile of the first HST experience I had on a day trip to Bristol in the late 70s. All the ECML/Cross Country/Western versions had their original seats replaced with generic high-backed seating (like pretty much every other seat on every train around here at least) which provides such a different experience and view around the carriage.

Glad I got a last couple of rides to Sheffield before the plague struck.

Simon

 

East Midlands HST farewell passing Harpenden

Keith

 

Pictures from Oakham to follow. Currently enjoying a beer at the Grainstore.

 

Oakham.
2021-05-13 43274 IM17 OAKHAM by KING COBRA 92, on Flickr

2021-05-13 43102 1M17 OAKHAM by KING COBRA 92, on Flickr