on tour

Mid-Norfolk Railway first visit for Prototype HST

The Mid-Norfolk Railway and 125 Group are proud to announce the first away heritage railway visit of restored Prototype High Speed Train power car 41001 will be to the Dereham to Wymondham line for the Spring Diesel Gala in early April 2016.

41001 hauling 125 Group’s Mk3s coaches in 2015 prior to repaint into Prototype HST Livery ©125 Group

With its distinctive original type Paxman Valenta engine, 41001 will visit the MNR with 125 Group’s three matching Mk3 coaches, representative of the type that it would have operated with in the 1970s, First Class 11074, Standard Class 12092, and Restaurant-Buffet car 10206. The coaches are currently being re-liveried in the original prototype blue and light grey colours and the visit to the Mid-Norfolk Railway will be the first opportunity to ride on the Prototype High Speed Train away from its home base at the Great Central Railway (Nottingham). 125 Group are the custodians of 41001 which is part of the National Collection.

Prototype HST at White Waltham near Maidenhead September 1975 ©Dave Hird

The diesel gala itself will run from Friday 1st to Sunday 3rd April with an intensive service operating on the 12 mile line between Dereham and Wymondham. There will be other visiting locomotives which will be announced nearer to the event including representatives from other heritage railways and mainline operators.

For event information and how to book tickets, see the MNR website: www.mnr.org.uk/category/events

The story of how 125 Group restored 41001 under ‘Project Miller’ can be found on our website: www.125group.org.uk

Great Western HST Charity Railtour

Saturday 10th October 2015 is the date for a very special charity railtour using a GWR High Speed Train from London Paddington and intermediate stations running through to Buckfastleigh on the South Devon Railway, also visiting the mothballed Heathfield freight branch line. ‘The First Devon and Exeter Explorer HST Special’ is being run by GWR (the franchise succeeding FGW) in conjunction with the Branch Line Society, in aid of First Devon and Exeter Prostate Cancer Fund, with the aim of raising £20,000 for a portable scanner.

Timings are provisional and subject to Network Rail validation with pick up and set down at: London Paddington (07.15/20.39), Reading (07.42/20.08), Didcot Parkway (07.55/19.52), Swindon (08.15/ 19.33), Bristol TM (08.52/18.50), Taunton (09.25/ 18.02) and Exeter St. David’s (09.54/17.37) through P6 requested both ways. Then via Newton Abbot (through P1 requested), Totnes facing crossover at 222m 33ch to P2 (reverse) via the mainline connection onto the South Devon Railway to Buckfastleigh (11.15). Enjoy a break on the delightful South Devon Railway or this small market town with all its amenities and attractions. Given the length of a HST the front should be well beyond the end of the platform to clear the starting signal for return. There will be workshop tours and services operating on the SDR.

Departing at 11.25 the HST makes an extra optional return trip to Heathfield (12.44/12.55) also for local people, returning to Buckfastleigh at 14.47. It then picks up all the passengers from the main tour before departure at 15.02 to Heathfield again (16.22/16.42) then back to London Paddington. This might be the farewell railtour to the mothballed Heathfield branch which has had no booked traffic since the timber trains to Chirk were transferred to Exeter Riverside on 2 April 2015.

We are pleased to announce that the 125 Group sales stand will be on board the train, with a range of HST merchandise including mugs, DVDs and our new 2016 Calendar, with proceeds going to our preservation fund. A comprehensive catering service will also be available on board including real ales and freshly cooked food from the Travelling Chef, all proceeds from these services will be donated to charity. We hope you can join us on this very special charity HST railtour!

Standard class fares for pick up between London Paddington and Bristol Temple Meads £75, or £50 from Taunton or Exeter St Davids. Special fare from Buckfastleigh – Buckfastleigh £25 which will be donated to South Devon Railway and the Devon Diesel Society. First class fares are not available and no child discounts on this occasion.

Our friends at the Branch Line Society are handling bookings for this special HST railtour, for full details including provisional timings and how to book tickets, see their website http://www.branchline.org.uk/events.php