HST power car

Made:
1972
railway company:
British Railways
BR Class 41 - 1985. Andrew Scott Head of the National Railway Museum, York, 2006. Andrew Scott Head of the National Railway Museum, York, 2006.

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Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

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License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

BR Class 41 - 1985.
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Andrew Scott Head of the National Railway Museum, York, 2006.
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Andrew Scott Head of the National Railway Museum, York, 2006.
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Diesel power car, British Railways, No 41001, prototype High Speed Train power car, built 1972.

As car ownership increased, British Rail needed something to attract passengers. The answer was the High Speed Train – also known as the Inter-City 125 due to its top speed of 125mph. As a diesel-powered engine, the HST did not need expensive electrification at a time of little support for the railways.

To this end, 41001, the British Railways prototype High Speed Train diesel power car was built along with 41002 at British Rail Engineering Limited at Crewe in 1972. This prototype power car was a test vehicle for what became the world’s fastest diesel train. The prototype became part of the National Collection in 1988 and after many years out of use it was restored to working order in 2014.

The first production High Speed Train power car was delivered in late 1975 and these “journey shrinkers” revolutionised rail travel in the UK.

Details

Category:
Locomotives and Rolling Stock
Object Number:
1988-7000
type:
powered unit
credit:
British Rail, Add. not known

Parts

HST power car

HST power car

Diesel power unit from British Railways, No 41001, prototype High Speed Train power car, built 1972. Paxman Valenta diesel engine power unit, sectioned for display

Object Number:
1988-7000/1
type:
powered unit - diesel engine