125 Group

The 125 Group is a volunteer run charity[1] in England dedicated to the preservation of the InterCity 125s and specifically, Class 43 powercars. Its aims are:[2]

  • To provide a central correspondence post for news and views concerning the Class 43 power cars, Mark 3 rolling stock, operations, works attention and any other relevant information.
  • To provide a magazine to members within the membership fee, in which the gathered news and features will be distributed in a standard format to all members on a regular basis at intervals agreed by the committee, but in any event no less than four occasions per year.
  • Ultimately, to raise enough money to purchase some examples of IC 125 rolling stock to enter preservation. Such rolling stock shall include one or more power cars, as near as possible to original operational configuration, but including as a minimum a Paxman Valenta engined power car, Marston cooler group and original shaped front end.
125 Group
Formation1994
PurposePreservation of InterCity 125s
HeadquartersGreat Central Railway (Nottingham)
Websitewww.125group.org.uk

The 125 Group was founded in 1994, at a time when the InterCity 125 remained in daily use and under no threat of withdrawal. In 2006, it purchased 10 Paxman Valenta engines when the majority of the Class 43 powercars were repowered with a view to restoring some to original condition when withdrawn.[3][4]

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.[5] This work was completed in 2014, with 41001 based at the Great Central Railway (Nottingham).[6] The 125 Group purchased a number of Mark 3 carriages to operate with it.[4][7]

In 2019, the National Railway Museum terminated the lease of 41001.[8][9] Upon withdrawal in early 2020, former East Midlands Railway Class 43 powercars 43048 and 43089 will be donated by Porterbrook to the 125 Group.[10][11]

In order to support its ongoing preservation efforts, an appeal was launched to raise £100,000 for a depot building to be located at its current base of operations, Great Central Railway (Nottingham).[12] As of January 2020, this total stood at over £88,000.[13]

References
  1. "Charity overview". apps.charitycommission.gov.uk. Retrieved 2020-01-03.
  2. "Our Aims". 125 Group. 2014-10-22. Retrieved 2020-01-03.
  3. Preservation Progress 125 Group 20 April 2008
  4. "HST: a preservation for the nation". Rail magazine. 16 January 2017. Retrieved 25 December 2019.
  5. Prototype HST to run again The Railway Magazine issue 1323 July 2011 page 11
  6. Prototype HST power car returns to service The Railway Magazine issue 1365 December 2014 page 9
  7. 125 Group adds to Mk 3 collection Rail issue 859 15 August 2018 page 28
  8. NRM takes prototype HST power car back after serious breaches Heritage Railway issue 260 25 October 2019 page 29
  9. Holden, Michael (10 October 2019). "NRM release statement on Class 41 locomotive future". Rail Advent. Retrieved 25 December 2019.
  10. Historic HST power cars donated to 125 Group Porterbrook 14 October 2019
  11. Porterbrook donates power cars to 125 Group Rail Express issue 283 December 2019 page 78
  12. Group, 125 (2018-06-15). "Porterbrook Jump-Starts 125 Group HST Depot Appeal". 125 Group. Retrieved 2020-01-03.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  13. "125 Group HST Depot Appeal". 125 Group. 2018-06-15. Retrieved 2020-01-03.
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