125 Group

Railway heritage group April 2022 125 Group 125GroupOfficialLogo.png 1994 InterCity 125 train preservation East Lancashire Railway The 125 Group is a railway heritage group in England dedicated to the preservation of the InterCity 125s. The 125 Group was founded in 1994 at a time when the InterCity 125 remained in daily use and under no threat of withdrawal.New HST members sought Rail 442 21 August 2002 66 In 2006, it purchased ten Paxman Valenta engines when the majority of the Class 43 powercars were repowered with a view to restoring some to original condition when withdrawn. March 2023 In 2011, it reached an agreement with the National Railway Museum to become the custodian of Class 41 prototype powercar 41001 and restore it to operational condition at Neville Hill TMD.Prototype HST to run again The Railway Magazine 1323 July 2011 11Project Miller for 41001 Today's Railways UK 115 July 2011 70 This work was completed in 2014, with 41001 based at the Great Central Railway (Nottingham).Prototype HST power car returns to service The Railway Magazine 1365 December 2014 9 The group purchased a number of Mark 3 carriages to operate with it.125 Group adds to Mk 3 collection Rail 859 15 August 2018 28 These were Mark 3B variants that were compatible with 41001's electrical system and had last been operated by Virgin Trains West Coast with Class 87 and Class 90 electric locomotives. In 2020, these were sold and replaced by ex-HST Mark 3s, three from East Midlands Railway and one ex First Great Western.Russell David 125 Group to acquire HST coaches Preservation Rail Express 286 March 2020 78Major fleet recast for 125 Group Railways Illustrated March 2020 9 During 2019, the National Railway Museum terminated the lease of 41001.NRM takes prototype HST power car back after serious breaches Heritage Railway 260 25 October 2019 29NRM takes HST power car back Railways Illustrated December 2019 6 Upon being withdrawn in 2020, former East Midlands Railway Class 43 powercars 43048 and 43089 were donated by Porterbrook to the 125 Group.Historic HST power cars donated to 125 Group Porterbrook 14 October 2019Russell David 125 Group acquires second HST power car Preservation Rail Express 296 January 2021 36 In 2021, the group purchased a third powercar, 43044, from Porterbrook.Bendall Simon Nicholls Mark Third Power Car, more Mk 3s for 125 Group Fleet Review Railways Illustrated May 2021 22 It is planned to replace its Paxman VP185 engine with a Paxman Valenta.Original Valenta power engine to be fitted to 43044 Rail Magazine 926 10 March 2021 30 In June 2021, Porterbrook donated a fourth powercar, 43159, that was involved in the record-breaking 148 mph run on the East Coast Main Line in 1987. With this former First Great Western power car having a MTU engine, the group has examples of all three engine types used by the Class 43s.HST record-breaker moves to 125 Group Rail 934 June 2021 22 In 2023 43025 was purchased thanks to a donation from a member of the group.Cooke Phil 2 May 2023 Fleet Update – May 2023 https://www.125group.org.uk/fleet-update-may-2023/ 19 May 2023 125 Group en-GBFifth HST power car joins 125 Group fleet Rail Express issue 325 June 2023 page 9 In November 2025 43190 was acquired as a parts source from Romic in exchange for some Mark 3 carriages.HST Class 43 swapped for spares Heritage Railway issue 360 19 December 2025 page 24 References External links Category:Rail transport preservation in the United Kingdom Category:1994 establishments in England