The Midland Venturer

A railtour almost 30 years in the making!

125 Group are thrilled to announce the first main line rail tour using our very own HST!

Running on SATURDAY 28 OCTOBER 2023, the trip will start in the Midlands with calls at Ilkeston, Nottingham, Derby and Sheffield before running along its former route to London St Pancras.

After a break in the capital, we retrace our steps with set downs at Loughborough (connections available for Derby and Sheffield), Nottingham and Ilkeston.

Outbound: Ilkeston (PU 07.48) – Codnor Park Jn – Trowell Jn – Radford Jn – Nottingham P1 (PU 08.30 / RM) – Radford Jn – Trowell Jn – Alfreton – Chesterfield P3 (PU 09.04) – Beighton Jn – Woodburn Jn – Sheffield P8 (PU 09.35) – Chesterfield P2 – Derby P6 (PU 10.16) – Loughborough P2 – Leicester P3 (PU 10.56) – Kettering – Bedford – Luton – London St Pancras P3 (SD 12.06 / break)*

Return: London St Pancras P3 (PU 16.19) – Flitwick P4 – Bedford P2 – Wellingborough P3 – Kettering P2 – Leicester P2 (SD 17.54) – Loughborough P3 (SD 18.14) – Nottingham P3 (SD 18.40 / RM) – Radford Jn – Trowell Jn – Ilkeston (SD 19.16)*

The train will be formed of six trailer vehicles (4 standard, 1 caterer and 1 first class) with power cars MTU 43159 in its stunning Midland Mainline livery and VP185 43089 in EMT colours providing the power. The coaches will utilise our recently installed tanked toilet system to comply with Network Rail standards and our catering vehicle will supply hot and cold food and drinks throughout the trip. The menu for the railtour can be found here. A limited number of first class places are available and a selection of light refreshments will be included in the booking price for First Class (Update: FC is now full).

Bookings are being handled for us by our good friends at the Branch Line Society. 125 Group members are asked to add their membership number on the booking which can be made here.

*Please note the routing and timings are subject to change and are correct at time of posting.

Running days in July 2023

A side onimage of power car 43159 in Midland Mainline RIO livery

Join us for 43159‘s unveiling & first outing in her new livery with our friends at Midland Railway – Butterley over the weekend of Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd July

Our operations over this weekend are planned to use our record breaking power cars 43159 (the World’s fastest diesel) and 43048 (the first to operate in preservation at 125mph) with Mark 3 coaches 40741, 41067, 42119. 42120 & 42337. Timetable & ticket information for the weekend can be found here.

While on board, come and check out Buffet 125 serving refreshments and snacks throughout the day and enjoy your trip in first class comfort as we operate the Railway’s Yellow timetable of six services each day. Shop 125 will also be open with a wide selection including our new 125 Group and Speed Record branded items.

Other site attractions will be available should you break your journey. Why not take the chance to view 43089 at Swanwick Junction (please note there is no public road access to Swanwick) and maybe take a ride on the Golden Valley Light Railway?

Please come along and support our operation, meet the team and enjoy our early preservation operations along the beautiful Midland Railway.

125 Group would like to take this opportunity to say how very grateful we are to Midland Railway – Butterley for their continued support in both storing and using our lovely HST.