A few close-ups of HST power cars.

43098GB_070302

VIRGIN WAS ONE of the big winners in early privatisation, picking up two major InterCity franchises, West Coast and Cross Country. In the end, they never quite managed to passenger revolution that they promised, but they did have a nice livery. Wearing the familiar red and dark grey, No. 43098 Railway Children is seen on the rear of a XC service at Reading General on March 7th, 2002.

43072GB_070906

Still looking good 30 years after it rolled out of Crewe Works, Cheshire, Midland Mainline HST power car No. 43072 screams by the photographer on September 7th, 2006. The Class 43 is named after its home depot, Derby Etches Park.

43112GB_290306

Now wiped off the face of the railway scene, on March 29th, 2006, GNER was still king on the East Coast Main Line. Even the power car, No. 43112 Doncaster, has changed number since this scene was recorded, and it now carries the 43312 identity, signifying that it has swapped its Paxman Valenta engine for a MTU ‘Series 4000′ prime mover. The location is Peterborough.