Intercity 125 Departs Paddington for Last Time – 18th May 2019
Last weekend saw the last passenger service depart London Paddington to be hauled by a Great Western Railway Intercity 125 Class 43 train.
Sir Kenneth Grange also joined as hundreds of enthusiasts and passengers lined the platforms at London Paddington, at around 17:30 on Saturday 18th May, for the end of an era that won’t be forgotten. Police were called in for crowd management purposes at a number of stations along the route.
All 4 HST booked workings were platformed side by side in London Paddington making an excellent photographic opportunity of the class 43s, which entered service on the Great Western Mainline with first power car 43002 being delivered in 1975.
The final GWR HST GWML passenger services were hauled by celebrity power cars 43002 (Intercity 125 BR livery, named Sir Kenneth Grange), 43185 (in Intercity Swallow livery), amongst several other HST Class 43 power cars. The full pairings were:
- 43093 + 43188
- 43002 + 43198
- 43185 + 43009
- 43172 + 43162
What’s next for Intercity 125 Class 43?
A total of 54 power cars transferred to Abellio ScotRail, who use the 125mph class 43 trains on Aberdeen, Inverness, Glasgow and Edinburgh served routes.
24 HST power cars have been retained by GWR for services in the South West, mostly between Cardiff and Penzance.
Many power cars have gone off lease, and stored at Ely, whilst 43002 will be preserved at the NRM when retired.
Where to see last class 43?
Although the final passenger train class 43-hauled out of London Paddington was on Saturday 18th May, you’ll still be able to see the class 43 Intercity 125 trains on short sets in the South West.
Not only this, but you’ll also have the opportunity to see the celebrity power cars 43002 and 43185 work the Great Western Railway Class 43 rail tour on June 1st*, in just a couple of weeks! (*Subject to availability). Full details of the GWR HST farewell railtour can be found on our railtours section.
Class 43 trains are also in service with LNER working numerous services out of London Kings Cross. Class 43s can also be seen across the East Midlands Trains network between London St Pancras, Bedford, Sheffield and Nottingham. Network Rail also use a small number of class 43 power cars for their NMT test trains out of Derby RTC across the 125mph rail network, which is serviced in Heaton, Newcastle. Class 43 trains are also in service with CrossCountry trains and a FGW livery HST is working on lease with Hull Trains.
Author: matt
Owner of Rail Record