2019

SU1484 : High Speed Train 125 (HST 125) power car 43002 Sir Kenneth Grange, 'Steam' museum, Swindon

taken 5 years ago, near to Swindon, England

High Speed Train 125 (HST 125) power car 43002 Sir Kenneth Grange, 'Steam' museum, Swindon
High Speed Train 125 (HST 125) power car 43002 Sir Kenneth Grange, 'Steam' museum, Swindon
This locomotive is making a short visit to Swindon before moving off to the National Rail Museum, York. It is significant in that it is the first production power car to enter service having been delivered in late 1975, and that it is named for the designer responsible for the distinctive front end. These trains are now all out of service after over 40 years having been replaced by new Hitachi trains. 43002 has been repainted in its original blue, yellow and grey livery.
HST (High Speed Train) 125 trains

Written by Brian Robert Marshall

The HST 125 Inter-City trains had their genesis in the 1960s and, following trials, they came into service in 1976. They are diesel-electric and benefit from a high power-to-weight ratio meaning they can accelerate rapidly to their designed top speed of 125 mph (201 kph). They have been designed to be omni-directional so they don't need to be turned round at the end of each journey. There are driver's cabs and sets of red and white lights at each end. Replacements are on the horizon after almost 40 years and millions of miles but the timescale is uncertain not least because, on 26 February 2010, Transport Secretary Lord Adonis announced that an assessment of the multi-billion pound, 30-year procurement plan had been ordered. If the review is ultimately favourable, the likely replacement will be the Japanese Hitachi Super Express. Following withdrawal of the Class 180 'Adelante' after a brief period HST 125s will continue to be a regular feature on the railways for some time to come.
Update March 2015: see LinkExternal link
update July 2018: the Hitachi Class 802 train sets are now in service, for the moment alongside the HST 125. Because the electrication programme has been truncated so that some lines due to be electrified now won't be for the foreseeable future these Hitachis will be 'bi-mode'. More here LinkExternal link
Update May 2019: no more HST 125s in the West Country LinkExternal link

HST 125 power car 43002

This locomotive visited Swindon in July 2019 on the back of a low loader after refurbishment. It will subsequently become a museum piece.


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SU1484, 1040 images   (more nearby 🔍)
Photographer
Brian Robert Marshall   (more nearby)
Date Taken
Thursday, 18 July, 2019   (more nearby)
Submitted
Friday, 19 July, 2019
Subject Location
OSGB36: geotagged! SU 142 849 [100m precision]
WGS84: 51:33.7680N 1:47.7494W
Camera Location
OSGB36: geotagged! SU 142 849
View Direction
East-southeast (about 112 degrees)
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Image Type (about): close look 
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