‘Scene’ when a World Speed Record holder visited the Midland Railway Butterley (MRB) on 03/04/2022 on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

My wife and I were out for our usual Sunday morning walk when I noticed more cars than usual in the car park.

 

So, being curious as to the reason, I looked over the wall to discover this scene.

 

A preserved DMU parked up with no sign of any action. 

 

But why all the people?

 

Butterley railway station.

on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

Details below jointly supplied by son Andrew and friend Peter Rose.

 

Class 127  British Railways Derby DMU built in 1959. 

 

Formed of DMBS 51625, TSL 59609 and DMBS 51591.

 

Stored out of use according to the ‘MRB’ website.

 

 

 

 

43048 ‘125 Group’ British Rail Crewe built Class 43 HST power car /1.

on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’ 

 

This turned up wearing the remains of its ‘East Midland Trains’ livery.

 

Further investigation when I got home showed that 125 Group (who, I believe, are based at Ruddington, Nottinghamshire) were using its two Class 43 power cars No. 43048 and No. 43159 together with a rake of five coaches to provide a timetabled service from Butterley over the weekend of 2nd & 3rd April 2022.

 

It is, I understand their intention is to run excursions using the set using Butterley as a base.

 

Personally, I think that is a wonderful idea and I look forward to be able to support them when they do.

 

Power(cars) to their collective elbows.

 

Then with a mighty roar and a burst of exhaust smoke it departed.

 

 

 

 

43048 ‘125 Group’ British Rail Crewe built Class 43 HST power car /2.

on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

 

 

 

43159 ‘125 Group’ British Rail Crewe built Class 43 HST power car /1.

on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

It’s not everyday that a World Record holder visits Butterley but 43159 together with 43102 holds the World Speed Record for Rail Diesel Traction at a speed 148.5 mph recorded on the East Coast Main Line in November 1987.

 

The power car wearing the remains of its ‘First Great Western’ livery accelerating away up the slope towards Swanwick Junction.

 

 

 

 

 

 

43159 ‘125 Group’ British Rail Crewe built Class 43 HST power car /2.

on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

As the HST disappears into the distance, a look down the yard reveals 141113 ‘British Leyland’ built DMU’ ‘West Yorkshire Metro’ and part of a Class 143 set.

 

Two HST power cars, a Class 141, and half a Class 143 and we only went out for a walk!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

‘Scene’ at the Midland Railway Centre Butterley today 8th. February 2015

The normal rolling stock for this time of year is this preserved ‘British Rail’ Class 141. No 113 being one of 20 that were ordered in 1984. 

 

They were the first production order for the ‘Pacer’ type that were derived from the Leyland National bus.

Seen in the livery of ‘West Yorkshire PTE’ who were a major user. 

 

Initially notoriously unreliable at the start of their lives they were modified by Hunslet-Barclay in the late 1980’s and performance improved. 

 

They did not last long in service however although some units were exported to Iran.

 

The later and closely related Class 142’s are still in regular daily service across mainly Northern England.

 

Normally, such mundane fare would not get me out of the house on a Sunday afternoon. 

 

However, the rumour mill, according to my son Andrew had it that there were going to be a number of Class 20 locomotives working turn and turn about with the Class 141.

 

The reason for their appearance was seemingly that one or more had had extensive work done and a bit of ‘running in’ was required before it or they were despatched elsewhere.

 

The rumour mill was correct. 

 

So the many people who had turned up were treated to 20 048 and 20 205 in BR Blue livery and 20 189 in the livery of Balfour Beatty who had been using the loco on various railway related duties.

 

It is interesting that these 50 year old loco’s are still in demand because there hardly seems to be a week go by without a report in the railway press about one of there number being leased out for further work on the system. 

 

Long may it continue !!

 

20 048

20 205

20 189

 

For another take on the days events go to Rudderless Railway Ramblings