Class 43 (aka 125 HST) preservation

I just discovered the 125 Heritage website. These are a group preserving class 43 power cars based on Colne Valley Railway.
https://125heritage.co.uk/

I was also aware of the 125 Group based at Ruddington
https://www.125group.org.uk/

The rather sad thought was that I remember being excited to see and travel on these (to/from Didcot) when they were first introduced and now they are old enough to be preserved. . . . What with that and taking early retirement last year, does that make me officially an 'old fart'?

On the other hand, one of the great things about this hobby is that it's a continually evolving thing.

 

Yes, like me you have now qualified to join that club. It is now official. We are both Old Farts.

My first meeting with HST's was at Crewe back in about 1975.

 

A sobering thought. Aged 10 I took my first HST picture at the Shildon cavalcade in 1975. Since then I have always been pleased to see and hear one racing along, even racking up many HST miles as a passenger on the ECML over the years. The noise still excites me and now shortly to be heard only on a preserved set makes me feel old.

 

The good news is that preservation will see the original Valenta sound return - the later re-enginings never had the same (ear splitting) aura.

My trip home on 1B90 has not been the same since 13th December 2019...

 

Indeed. I still get a cold shiver listening to the scream played at full volume from various YouTube videos.

 

I was looking forward to seeing a "Preserved 125" going across the GCR "Gap" (when bridged)..and passing over an EMT 125 on the Midland Main Line - but the EMT trains have now gone and the Gap is still there! Still I suppose there may be either a XC 125 or a 125 charter to create such a picture in about 2 to 4 years....

 

I thought they were going to use 1 of these with that '72 prototype GCRN has?

 

That opens up a different discussion, as the prototype has been recalled to the NRM.


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I can't keep up with all this!
Still, glad their preserving these beautiful machines, the GWR mainline won't be the same without them.

 

you've been one of them for quite a while now....................

Turn the sound up :-

 

I wonder which railways would want IC 125s or Mk 3 coaches.
I recall a member of Battlefield Railway explaining to me even loco hauled Mk3s were worth their weight on scrap metal 17 years ago in 2005 when the WCML Mk3s were coming out of service.
Hard to haul with a diesel loco.
Still a IC 125 could easily haul Mk3s so just the issue as to whether or not a IC 125 would look good on a heritage railway?

 

I am struggling to see why a MkIII coach is "hard to haul with a diesel loco" given the 40 years pedigree? Are we confusing MkIII coaches and HST trailers?

 

Not exactly "Preservation" but the first of the ones exported to Mexico have been painted......
https://twitter.com/paul_winginit/status/1703696845359153239

 

Let's not forget http://125preservation.co.uk/

 

Mexican set.....

 

Jeepers, has it shrunk in transit or is that lump pulling it enormous?

Simon

 

Ex Union Pacific EMD SD70 I think.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EMD_SD70_series

 

Looks like it’ll struggle to top 25 mph?


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If some of them are fit to run in Mexico, why are none of them being used here to alleviate stock shortages?