Modern Railways Crosscountry HST Farewell railtour

Picture of Crosscountry HST at Water Orton in 2014

With CrossCountry’s HSTs set for withdrawal this year, 125 Group are pleased to form part of the operator’s farewell celebrations for this fleet after more than 40 years of operation on CrossCountry routes. Our sales stand will form part of the on board activities available during this special trip to Swanage on Tuesday 26th September.

This full day trip will comprise two ‘tours’ with tickets available for each tour separately. The day consists of the ‘Pines Express’ from Leeds to Swanage, and the ‘Bournemouth Belle’ from Swanage to Bournemouth. A range of activities including a charity raffle are planned on board. More information including timings can be found on the Modern Railways website here.

Tickets are available via our friends at the Branch Line Society for both tours. The Pines Express (Update: SOLD OUT) is £95 in Standard Class and can be purchased here & the Bournemouth Belle is £30 in Standard Class which you can purchase here.

MkIII Holiday to Scotland

125 Group is proud owner of three MkIII coaches, FO 11074, RFM 10206 and TSO 12092, based at Ruddington on the Great Central Railway (Nottingham). Tomorrow the vehicles will be making the journey north to spend Christmas and Hogmanay in Scotland.

41001 coupled to 12092 at Ruddington GCR(N) ©125 Group

All being well, they will set off from Ruddington at 0700 (Fri 11th Dec 2015) hauled by Prototype HST power car 41001 as far as Rushcliffe Halt. After some shunting, the vehicles will depart in the charge of Rail Operations Group, hauled by locomotives 56098 and 56301, running via Leicester, Nuneaton and the West Coast Mainline to Carlisle and through to Kilmarnock.

Since acquiring 11074, 10206 and 12092 in March this year, 125 Group volunteers have toiled to restore the coaches to full working order. All electrical systems have been reinstated, including new batteries, replacement motor alternator, circuit and relay overhaul and replacement. Air-conditioning systems have also been brought back to life plus the RFM kitchen has been overhauled for culinary use and of course all coaches have received a deep clean. The vehicles normally operate with our Prototype HST Power Car 41001 on GCR(N).

For more information on our MkIIIs and 41001, check out the 125 Group website. Join us as a member and help us raise funds to preserve a production Inter-City 125 High Speed Train. www.125group.org.uk