Museum marks 40 years of InterCity High Speed Train

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WHAT has been hailed as the world’s most successful traction of all time celebrated its 40th birthday at the National Railway Museum.

High Speed Train power car No. 43002 Sir Kenneth Grange on the turntable in the Great Hall of the National Railway Museum. GWR
High Speed Train power car No. 43002 Sir Kenneth Grange on the turntable in the Great Hall of the National Railway Museum. GWR

On Sunday, October 2, visitors had the unique chance to see the original HST Class 43 power car in its now-restored blue/yellow livery, as it would have been seen for the first time in 1976.

GWR HST Class 43 power car No. 43002, the first production example, was at the St Philips Marsh depot open day in May aptly named after Sir Kenneth Grange in honour of his creation of its exterior styling of the power car nose cone, interior layout of the HST, and the train’s aerodynamics.

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Sir Kenneth himself was on hand to take part in a plaque presentation cremony in the Great Hall. After welcoming the power car into the museum, he was joined by Great Western Railway engineering director Andrew Mellors, who presented a commemorative plaque to the museum which was accepted by head curator Andrew McLean. The plaque design was produced by Great Western Railway’s graphic designer Paul Gentleman.

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