Bristol VIP Sir Kenneth Grange

Sir Kenneth Grange with 41001 ©125 Group

The 40th Anniversary of the High Speed Train will be celebrated in style this Bank Holiday Monday at Great Western Railway’s Bristol St.Philips Marsh public Open Day. Special guest will be Sir Kenneth Grange, designer of the styling and livery of both Prototype and Production HSTs back in the 1970s. This is a rare opportunity to see inside a major train maintenance depot and to meet the man behind the iconic 125 nosecone. Sir Kenneth is Honorary President of 125 Group and will be signing autographs in return for donations to the event charity Springboard Opportunity Group.

Many locomotives will be on view, including 41001 and HSTs of different operators, also at about 11.30 a special livery will be unveiled plus a naming which no 125 fan will want to miss. The non-passenger convoy of Virgin’s 43300 + Network Rail’s 43013 + Grand Central’s 43423 + Virgin’s First Class coach 41190 has arrived safely at Derby Etches Park and transit is expected to continue on Sunday as planned, see previous posting for details.

A few tickets are still available to buy on-line plus there will be a limited number on sale at the gate (cash only), for more information and to book tickets CLICK HERE.

HSTs Head for Bristol

41001 on GCR(N) ‘Mainline’ ©125 Group

High Speed Train power cars of many colours will be departing from all over the UK for Bristol over this weekend, heading for St.Philips Marsh public Open Day on Monday 2nd May.  Prototype 41001 and 125 Group’s Mk3 coaches are also being prepared for the trip from their home base at Ruddington Great Central Railway (Nottingham) to the Great Western Railway.

Tickets are still available for what promises to be a very memorable open day celebrating 40 Years of HSTs. The event is being hosted by Great Western Railway in aid of Springboard Opportunity Group.  For more information and to book tickets CLICK HERE.

This is a summary of the non-passenger convoys planned however please note, as always, this information is provided in good faith but these movements can change at short notice on the day subject to operational constraints, the trains may run early or late or be cancelled. Live schedule links are shown where available courtesy of Realtime Trains.

Saturday 30th April

0750 Craigentinny to Heaton, formed of Virgin Power Car 43300 + Virgin Trailer First 41190 + NMT Power Car 43013. http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/K96080/2016/04/30/advanced

1339 Heaton to Etches Park, formed of Virgin Power Car 43300 + NMT Power Car 43013 + Grand Central Power Car 43423 + Virgin Trailer First 41190. http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/K96081/2016/04/30/advanced

Sunday 1st May

5Z42 1619 Etches Park to Hotchley Hill (GCRN Rushcliffe Halt), formed of Virgin Power Car 43300 + NMT Power Car 43013 + Grand Central Power Car 43423 + Virgin Trailer First 41190 + East Midlands Trains Power Car 43048. http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/K96084/2016/05/01/advanced

Prototype Power Car 41001 + 125 Group Mk3s 12092 + 10206 + 11074 are expected to depart from Ruddington at 1645 heading for Rushcliffe Halt, including a run-round at 50 Steps.

5Z43 1925 Hotchley Hill (GCRN Rushcliffe Halt) to Bristol St.Philips Marsh, formed of Virgin Power Car 43300 + NMT Power Car 43013 + Grand Central Power Car 43423 + Prototype Power Car 41001 + 125 Group Mk3s 12092 + 10206 + 11074 + Virgin Trailer First 41190 + East Midlands Trains Power Car 43048. http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/K96085/2016/05/01/advanced

The convoy is planned to return north from Bristol early on Tuesday 3rd May.