Farewell Bo’ness

Prototype HST 41001 meets Virgin Highland Chieftain HST at Manuel © Andy McLean

Prototype Power Car 41001 and 125 Group’s matching Mk3 coaches have been storming the Bo’ness & Kinneil Railway all weekend, entertaining enthusiasts at the Summer Diesel Gala. 125 Group is grateful to everyone at the B&KR for giving us such a friendly welcome and for hosting a great event. Special thanks to all who came along, bought tickets and rode the trains, we hope you enjoyed the screaming historic HST as much as we did!

Our High Speed Train is now heading for home base, Ruddington on the Great Central Railway (Nottingham). Traction for the mainline transit should be Michael Owen’s splendid locomotives 20205 + 20189, hauling consist 12092 + 10206 + 11074 + 41001. Below is a summary of the planned non-passenger workings with live schedule links courtesy of Realtime Trains.

Monday 25th July 2016

5M20 08+40 Bo’ness Junction Exchange Siding – York Holgate via Linlithgow, Suburban Line, Millerhill, Drem, Berwick-Upon-Tweed, Newcastle, Sunderland, Hartlepool, Eaglescliffe, Thirsk, York Avoiding Lines, arrive York Holgate 18+07. Note this movement is booked to be recessed in many loops for a great deal of time, see schedule for the full timing details. http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/K91057/2016/07/25/advanced

Tuesday 26th July 2016

5M20 12+54 York Holgate – Hotchley Hill/Rushcliffe Halt via Milford, Pontefract Baghill, Swinton, Old Road, Chesterfield, Langley Mill, Loughborough, Leicester, Wigston North Jn (run-round/reverse), Leicester, Loughborough South Jn 18/06, booked to arrive Hotchley Hill/Rushcliffe Halt 18+38. http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/K91057/2016/07/26/advanced

UPDATE: The class 20s are formed top and tail on the set, there is a possibility 5M20 may reverse at Loughborough South Jn at 1627 and run onto GCR(N) early missing out Leicester, subject to operating conditions at the time. 

The class 20s are then planned to part company with the HST and run light to Butterley. Power Car 41001 will then haul 11074, 10206 and 12092 as 5Z41 19+00 Hotchley Hill/Rushcliffe Halt – Ruddington.

Please note, as always, all of this information is provided in good faith but these movements, traction, consists and even routes taken can change at short notice on the day subject to operational constraints, the trains may run early or late or be cancelled.

Valenta Returns to Scotland!

41001 Crossing the Border 21st July 2016 ©125 Group

Prototype Power Car 41001 is now in Scotland, its first visit in preservation, together with 125 Group’s matching Mk3 coaches passed over the border on the ECML at Marshall Meadows at 1801 this evening. The historic HST is heading for the Bo’ness & Kinneil Railway where it will be starring in their Summer Diesel Gala this weekend. The transit is running under schedule 5S20 12+14 York Holgate Sidings – Bo’ness Junction Exchange Siding hauled by superb locomotives 20189 + 20205. Follow progress courtesy of Realtime Trains here: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/K91057/2016/07/21/advanced.

At the time of posting (2030 Thu) the convoy is running 76 minutes early passing Polmont, having been routed via Edinburgh Waverley station instead of the planned Suburban line. The train is expected to run through to Cadder Loop as booked, we can not be sure if the early running will be maintained or not.  Once at Bo’ness Junction Exchange Siding, the Class 20s will propel the train down the link line and are then expected to haul the HST to Bo’ness itself.

Join us at the B&KR Summer Diesel Gala this weekend and experience 41001’s fantastic Paxman Valenta engine, the screaming type originally fitted to all Inter-City 125s. The HST will be working passenger trains on all three days Friday 22nd, Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th July. More information, including ticket prices and a link to the special timetable and LOCOMOTIVE ROSTERS are available at the B&KR website HERE.