The Class 43 locos were first constructed from 1975 onwards at Crewe
Works. At the time, the design was revolutionary, and it would go on to
become the most iconic of British Rail locomotives. Their sleek design
would become world famous and, when introduced, they were known as the
High Speed Train, or HST, due to their top speed of 125 mph. 197 power
cars were built, with the last into traffic in 1982. When built they
were all fitted with the distinctive Paxman Valenta engine, but they
have all been replaced with either Paxman VP185, or MTU engines. They
have operated over all the former British Rail regions, although they
were scarce on the Southern. The main operators currently are Great
Western, East Midlands Trains, Virgin Trains East Coast, Grand Central
and Cross Country Trains. The Great Western and East Coast trains
already have their replacements on order, and it remains to be seen how
long they will remain in service. Just three power cars have been
scrapped, and only then following high-profile accidents; a testament to
how well the design would stand the test of time. Class 43 Locomotives
pays tribute to this iconic class in a comprehensive series of
photographs alongside detailed captions and annotation.
