Month: January 2017

HST Charity Railtour – Book Now!

*** UPDATE 23/01/2017 – 1st Class has already SOLD OUT! however Standard Class Seats are still available. ***
*** There will be a full buffet and catering trolley service on board the railtour. BOOK NOW to avoid disappointment! ***

The Branch Line Society in conjunction with Virgin Trains East Coast (VTEC), 125 Group and PLEG is delighted to announce ‘Bound for Craigy’, an exciting HST special celebrating 40 years of the iconic train, raising money for Railway Children.  Travelling from Kings Cross to Edinburgh and return on Saturday 18th March, the nine coach set will be taking an unusual route visiting Bounds Green and Craigentinny depots along the way, covering the Hertford loop and the Blyth and Tyne route for good measure.  To add a little more interest, we pay two visits to Millerhill Yard and cover the Edinburgh Suburban line too, plus many unusual loops along the East Coast Mainline!

This VTEC HST will be powered by one regular Virgin MTU power car and one Paxman VP185 power car, courtesy of East Midlands Trains. Looking for a little more fun?  OK then let’s throw in the use of FOUR Class 08 shunting locomotives to haul our train – two on each depot.  Free Wi-Fi throughout the train?  Of course!  Ok so what about food then – ‘cos it’s going to be a long day!  Well, for Standard Class we will have trolley service throughout the train of drinks and light refreshments or stretch your legs and pop down to the Café Bar for some hot stuff.  First Class?  Well, strap yourself in for a full English breakfast on the way out, a lovely two course light lunch and an amazing three course dinner on the way home with complimentary tea, coffee and soft drinks.  Real ale?  You bet!!

Tickets are available NOW! We hope you can join us on this very special charity railtour, discounted fares are available for 125 Group members and our roving sales stand will also be on-board. All bookings for this train are being handled by the Branch Line Society. Please note tickets are not available from Virgin Trains East Coast or 125 Group. For full details and to buy tickets, download the Branch Line Society booking form HERE.

Sir Kenneth on a Desert Island

Power Car 43002 ‘Sir Kenneth Grange’ leads GWR service 1A83 1000 Penzance-Paddington along the sea wall at Teignmouth, 21st December 2016. © D.Langham

125 Group Honorary President Sir Kenneth Grange is the guest on BBC Radio 4 ‘Desert Island Discs’ programme, at 11:15am on New Years Day. Sir Kenneth is of course eminent industrial designer of many things including the nosecones of both Prototype and Production High Speed Trains. The show will also be repeated during the week and should be available on the BBC iPlayer here www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b086l4zd

2016 has been a fantastic year for the HST and 125 Group, with many great events celebrating the 40th Anniversary of the Inter-City 125, including St.Philips Marsh depot open day in May and HSTs@40 at Great Central Railway (Nottingham) in November, plus 41001’s many visits around the UK. Thanks to all of the railway industry folk and preservation volunteers who have toiled to organise the events and to everyone who has attended, raising funds for some excellent causes.

2017 promises to be an interesting year for the High Speed Train, with the first new replacement Hitachi units scheduled for introduction. If you are interested in HSTs and want to support our preservation cause then why not join 125 Group? Members receive our quarterly magazine ‘One Two Five’, packed with information and informed comment on mainline fleet developments plus the latest exciting news on our Prototype power car 41001. Join here: www.125group.org.uk/group-membership

Happy New Year from all at 125 Group!