Tue, 15 May 2012 06:34:12 +0000 http://www.125group.org.uk/ PostNuke Powered Site en-gb http://www.125group.org.uk/images/logo.gif http://www.125group.org.uk/ website@125group.org.uk http://www.125group.org.uk/Article46.html 125 Group will be attending the NRM Railfest event at York from 2nd June to 10th June 2012. We will be manning the cabs of prototype power car 41001 and production power car 43159, which has kindly been loaned to the museum for the event by First Great Western. There is also a plan to have 42353, one of the prototype coaches, in attendance. We will also have a sales stand in the guards van of 41001 and are planning on giving conducted tours of both power cars engine rooms to show the difference and similarities over the past 40 years. Full information can be found here: www.nrm.org.uk Tue, 15 May 2012 06:34:12 +0000 http://www.125group.org.uk/Article45.html Prototype power car 41001 was successfully moved from the National Railway Museum at York to East Midlands Trains depot at Leeds Neville Hill on Thursday where it will undergo restoration with the aim of eventually returning it to working order. More details here: www.projectmiller.org.uk Mon, 02 Apr 2012 12:05:05 +0000 http://www.125group.org.uk/Article44.html The movement of 41001 to Neville Hill has jumped what is hopefully the final hurdle in the preparation process with the news that it has successfuly passed the various statutory inspections and has been registered as a “live” vehicle on the Rolling Stock Library. This now paves the way for it to actually move. Devon & Cornwall Railways will move the vehicle on behalf of Project Miller and we expect that the journey from York to Leeds will take place on Thursday 29th March. Whilst we appreciate that there will be many people who may wish to view the locomotive making this journey, in accordance with railway processes, we are unable to make specific details of times or route for the transfer public. Wed, 28 Mar 2012 16:21:26 +0000 http://www.125group.org.uk/Article42.html Project Miller is gathering pace and we have some exciting news to share about our progress with bringing prototype power car 41001 back to life. Check out the Project Miller website for the latest updates. More details here: www.projectmiller.org.uk Fri, 23 Mar 2012 00:14:12 +0000 http://www.125group.org.uk/Article39.html Updated HST diagrams are now available for the current timetable. Just click on 'Diagrams' in the Main Menu on the left of this page. Mon, 16 Jan 2012 01:24:57 +0000 http://www.125group.org.uk/Article38.html After concluding the loan agreement for Valenta engine S508, the Project Miller team have successfully moved the engine from the NRM at York to our secure base. The engine is now inside our shed and work will commence shortly on assessing the engine with a view to getting it operational again within 41001. More details here: www.projectmiller.org.uk Wed, 03 Aug 2011 06:39:41 +0000 http://www.125group.org.uk/Article37.html The 125 Group is pleased to announce that it has reached agreement in principle with the National Railway Museum (NRM) for the return to service of the forerunner to the High Speed Train (HST) – the train which the revolutionised high speed rail travel in the UK in the 1970s. “Project Miller”, named after the original designer of the train, will see the 125 Group take prototype HST Power Car 41001 on long term loan from the Museum, subject to finalisation of loan arrangements, and undertake a full technical assessment of the vehicle and its component systems to determine the full scope of works required. These are expected to include repairs and overhaul to systems including cooler group, bogies and electrical and electronic components, as well as replacing the current sectioned engine with a production Paxman Valenta RP200L engine donated to the NRM from the MTU re-power programme. Since its formation in 1994, the 125 Group has worked to raise the profile of the HST with the aim of securing the preservation of an example of this iconic fleet for future generations. Gary Heelas, Chairman of the 125 Group, said: – “We are delighted that the NRM has recognised the work of the 125 Group, and what it has achieved over the past 15 years, through giving us the opportunity to work with them to bring 41001 back to life. The Group’s primary objective is to save at least one power car and to return it, as near as possible, to original condition. As the only group dedicated to the future of HSTs we have worked to build an extensive library of technical documents together with a stock of the major components and materials which will be required in future. The “hands on” experience which Project Miller will afford to the team can only enhance our ability to achieve our aims, and will hopefully help to maintain interest in these iconic trains over the coming years.” Steve Davies, Director, NRM said:- “I am delighted that the NRM feels able to support the potential restoration to working order of this important piece of modern railway history, especially at a time when the original Valenta engines have now been withdrawn from regular front line service. It also helps to demonstrate the NRM’s commitment to bringing focus to a broad range of traction, not just steam. We therefore look forward to working alongside the Project Miller team to deliver what we believe will be a unique contribution to the heritage railway movement’s operational fleet, representing the period of inception of arguably Britain’s most successful train ever.” More details about Project Miller will be made available in the coming months on the project website, www.projectmiller.org.uk. For more information, please contact:- 125 Group – Gary Heelas, chairman@125group.org.uk NRM – Gemma Sneyd, PR & Communications Officer, 01904 686271   ENDS Thu, 12 May 2011 22:39:32 +0000 http://www.125group.org.uk/Article36.html UKrailtours (see here) are taking booking of tickets on behalf of East Midlands Trains. This excursion shall act as a shuttle run from London St. Pancras to the Mid Norfolk Railway to support their Diesel gala weekend. All the proceeds of this tour will go to EMTs sponsored charity, The Railway Children. Click the link above for more in-depth details and booking options. Thu, 20 Jan 2011 10:22:41 +0000 http://www.125group.org.uk/Article35.html Grand Central have announced their plans for the final days of the last functioning valenta fitted power car 43123, including the possibility of special trips between Sunderland and York on one day in the week leading upto Xmas. Please refer to the Grand Central web-site for details. Sat, 18 Dec 2010 10:47:12 +0000 http://www.125group.org.uk/Article33.html We are now stocking the new DVD from Visions International detailing the last few years of HST operation. Follow the links to the online shop for more details. Fri, 29 Oct 2010 18:51:21 +0000 http://www.125group.org.uk/Article32.html Our 2011 calendar is now available to buy using the online shop button on the left menu. For yet another year we've kept the price at £10 for the full colour A3 calendar and all profits go towards preservation. Wed, 20 Oct 2010 20:27:01 +0000 http://www.125group.org.uk/Article31.html Up-to-date diagrams are now available for all HST passenger operating companies. Click on the 'Diagrams' link on the left of this page to download. Fri, 23 Jul 2010 21:41:40 +0000 http://www.125group.org.uk/Article30.html A lot of time has passed since our last 'Preservation update' but make no mistake, a lot has definitely been going on behind the scenes! The end of 2008 saw a spate of break-ins at our storage site; with the theft of various tools, radiator panels (Roughly 8-10) and other valuable components. VDL quickly decided that since by the end of 2009, we would have the only pool of these components in existence, we could not feasibly allow anymore to go missing if we were to achieve our end objective. So the board took the decision that the only solution was to seek secure covered storage. Over the past 18 months we have been settling in to our new home. We now have our "pick of the litter" Valenta engines stored inside along with our Marston cooler collection and many, many other valuable components (We may need an extension soon!) After much housekeeping and organisational work, we're getting to a position where we can start dismantling and restoring our assets in preparation for use sometime in the future. More to follow... Ben Webber Valenta Diesels ltd ben.webber@valentadiesels.co.uk Sun, 04 Apr 2010 11:18:32 +0000 http://www.125group.org.uk/Article29.html We have recently updated the diagrams page; all the Operators except FGW (these have not been submitted to us) are current up until May 2010 timetable change. Sun, 07 Mar 2010 11:34:40 +0000 http://www.125group.org.uk/Article28.html During the Autumn, the VDL board had a 'strategy meeting' to discuss and set forth what precisely our primary objective should be. If we take a look at the 125 Groups Aims & Objectives, the ultimate aim is set forth as; "To raise enough money to purchase some examples of IC 125 rolling stock to enter preservation. Such rolling stock shall include one or more power cars, as near as possible to original operational configuration, but including as a minimum a Paxman Valenta engined power car, Marston cooler group and original shaped front end." After much discussion considering endless posibilities and scenarios, we decided to 'Keep it simple' with three main points; - VDL's primary objective is to run "a Valenta-engined power car on an HST" - This may mean owning a single power car, and running this on another owners HST set. - There is no commitment to mainline running, and VDL does not envisage becoming a train operator. However, this is by no means set in stone. Should the circumstances to acquire a full 2+8 set be right, we obviously wouldn't say no! Tue, 19 Jan 2010 22:46:41 +0000 http://www.125group.org.uk/Article27.html We still have a few 2010 Calendars remaining, you can purchase these through the Online Shop in the menu on the left. Tue, 19 Jan 2010 22:35:47 +0000 http://www.125group.org.uk/Article24.html There was an issue with the Online shop which only seemed to occur with Internet explorer 8, that is, it squashed the table which the items were displayed in making it very difficult to read and navigate. This has now been fixed and should display properly. Mon, 20 Jul 2009 09:43:21 +0000 http://www.125group.org.uk/Article23.html As you will all know, the May timetable change has just occured and most TOCs diagrams will have changed to increase service level as we head toward the Summer. We update the diagrams on this website as and when they become available to us and it should be stressed that this is through individuals good will. Diagrams are not generally freely available and we do not have a specific person who compiles them each time there is an update. Diagrams will be updated on this website when they become available to us. Thankyou for your patience. Thu, 21 May 2009 23:15:27 +0000 http://www.125group.org.uk/Article22.html We're pleased to announce that we've reduced the Rio; Midland to Manchester DVD to £12.50 for a limited period. This is a reduction of £5 from £17.50. To take advantage of this, visit our Online shop here. Wed, 29 Apr 2009 20:13:42 +0000 http://www.125group.org.uk/Article21.html We're delighted to offer ANBRICO DVDs lineside journey from St. Pancras to Manchester for sale at the bargain price of just £12.50 For more information, see our Online shop here. Mon, 27 Apr 2009 20:26:21 +0000 http://www.125group.org.uk/Article19.html It's here!! The long anticipated launch of the Valenta Venturer DVD that is! Filmed from the Cab of 43064, join us from Derby travelling north through Derbyshire to Chesterfield and in to Yorkshire, calling at Sheffield before heading for York via Doncaster and a burst of 125mph running down the East Coast Mainline. Leaving York, we turn for Scarborough, through the picturesque east Yorkshire countryside before arrival at the seaside terminus. The journey is featured almost in it's entirety and is accompanied throughout by the sound of 43064s Valenta. Sit back, relax and enjoy the music! As usual, the DVD is available to purchase online, for the price of £15.00 here Please Note: Group Members can purchase this DVD for the special price of £12.50, however this is ONLY available via Postal orders. Please remember to quote your membership number. Tue, 13 Jan 2009 11:33:01 +0000 http://www.125group.org.uk/Article18.html Our December sale has now finished. Please check back for future DVD launches and potential limited price reductions. Sat, 27 Dec 2008 14:53:37 +0000 http://www.125group.org.uk/Article16.html We're pleased to announce that we have reduced our S352 and Midland to Manchester DVDs to a bargain price of just £10 for a limited period before Christmas. Know someone who would like a copy? Then why not take advantage! Click the 'Online Shop' link in the menu on the Left. Sun, 30 Nov 2008 21:44:21 +0000 http://www.125group.org.uk/Article15.html The Groups 2009 Calendar is available for purchase in our Online Shop. Click the link under the '125 Group' heading in the menu on the left. Tue, 25 Nov 2008 18:49:58 +0000 http://www.125group.org.uk/Article14.html Yet again, a lot has happened since our last ‘Preservation update’, some of which has already been mentioned below, some not. First of all, let’s go right the way back to April. On arrival at our storage facility, we were greeted with two new acquisitions, Valenta engine S155 and Marston cooler 71194. Sadly, these assets time with us would be short lived, as they were primarily acquired for component recovery. S155 is of the early recessed deck engines (the same as S148 mentioned somewhere below); this engine was primarily a strategic move, as it’s fitted with a NA-256 turbo charger which has just done a few years work since new. The Marston cooler was taken as it was the pick of what was available, though again, itself being just for spares. Sadly, as space was running a little thin, (now being up to 11 Valentas and 8.5 Marstons – don’t ask) it was time to take the ratchets and spanners to S148 and S155. We saved the Governors, Turbos, Inter coolers, Fuel pumps, Rockers, Pushrods and many other useful bits you could lose and find 10 times over. Marston 71194 met a quick end with the help of our newly acquired forklift ‘Lucy’, but only after safely removing some useful panels and a gearbox – you can never have too many gearboxes! S148 and S155 were from the same batch of Valentas ordered by BR to replace the original fabricated blocks, both being cast back in 1981. RIP. Fri, 21 Nov 2008 17:43:23 +0000