Celebrating a record-breaking HST

As the InterCity 125 HSTs near the end of their long careers on the Midland Main Line, EMR have taken the pleasing step of repainting power car 43102 in the stylish British Rail InterCity ‘Swallow’ livery.  This power car, partnered with sister 43159, achieved the world speed record for a diesel train, on a test run between Northallerton and York on 1st November 1987.  The record, 148.5mph, still stands.
HSTs have been running on our line for 39 years but this comes to an end with the timetable change in May 2021.  The introduction of electric trains on the Corby services and a reshuffle of the Meridian fleet along with the recently introduced Class 180 trains means the HSTs can be retired.  With the current timetable reduced because of Covid, only two HSTs are currently in use each day.  It seems incredible now to think that they were built in the mid- to late-1970s as a temporary stop-gap pending development of the tilting Advanced Passenger Train (APT), and are still working with several train operators over 40 years later!  They transformed long-distance travel in Britain and they will be much missed.  43102, however, is destined for dignified retirement at the National Railway Museum in York.

Design classic:  HST power car 43102, freshly repainted in BR Intercity ‘Swallow’ livery, waits at Market Harborough with the 16:29 to Nottingham (15:34 ex-St Pancras) on 24th February 2021.  After withdrawal from EMR service by May 2021, it is understood to be destined for the National Railway Museum in York.   Photo: Steve Jones

Record-breaker: The nameplate on 43102, commemorating its achievement back in 1987.   Photo: Steve Jones