Class 43 Gallery

Images of Class 43 Powercars taken in the Taunton Area. The High Speed Train (HST) has certainly had some interesting times since introduced by British Rail in the 1980's. Taunton and the South West have always had an association with the class. When originally introduced it was intended that the HST's would remain as a complete operational set, as such they were given a unit style numbering sequence starting in 253xxx. It soon became apparent working the sets in this way was impractical, as a fault on a single coach or power car rendered the whole set unusable until the fault was rectified. Later the power cars were given Class 43 status and became interchangeable between coaching stock rakes. Throughout their life the HST has moved with the times, with hundreds of modifications having been carried out in order to keep the fleet modern and efficient. With the onset of privatization many modifications became specific to one operator fleet, to the extent that in some cases there were quite some wide ranging differences between HST's used by different operators. The HST has always been a part of normal rail travel in the South West, but not many of the general public realize that the HST's which they travel on today, are exactly the same as those which they may have boarded or seen some 30 years previously! This collection details some of the cosmetic and technical changes which have taken place over the last 30 years.

21st August 2026 The Network Rail New Measurement Train is pictured at Platform 3 at Taunton on Friday 21st August 2026. No. 43014 'The Railway Observer' and No. 43013 'Mark Carne CBE' prepare to leave with the final leg of their testing diagram as 1Q19 18:38 Taunton - London Paddington. (Photo: Richard Hiscox)

21st August 2026 The Network Rail New Measurement Train HST passes Cogload Junction in the evening sunlight on Friday 21st August 2026. No. 43014 'The Railway Observer' and No. 43013 'Mark Carne CBE' were operating the final leg of their testing diagram for the day as 1Q19 18:38 Taunton - London Paddington, pictured here with the welcome sight of rain clouds above Sts Peter & Paul's Church in North Curry, after a prolonged drought period. (Photo: Brian Garrett)

21st August 2026 Amid the sun-scorched fields on the edge of the Somerset Levels, the Network Rail NMT HST passes Cogload Junction on Friday 21st August 2026. No. 43013 'Mark Carne CBE' and No. 43014 'The Railway Observer' were operating the penultimate leg of their track-testing diagram while running 1Q18 15:39 Paington - Taunton via Bristol East Depot. (Photo: Anhtony Christie)

21st August 2026 Amid the sun-scorched fields on the edge of the Somerset Levels, the Network Rail NMT HST descends from the Cogload Junction flyover on Friday 21st August 2026. No. 43013 'Mark Carne CBE' and No. 43014 'The Railway Observer' were operating the penultimate leg of their track testing diagram while operating 1Q18 15:39 Paington - Taunton via Bristol East Depot. Image taken on a camera pole. (Photo: Brian Garrett)

12th August 2026 Pictured passing Banklands in the glorious morning sunlight on Wednesday 12th August 2026. The superbly presented Midland Pullman HST set speeds north through the parched landscape with power cars No. 43050 'Loch Morar' and No.43055. The pristine set was operating 1Z32 06:16 Paignton to Scarborough "Yorkshire Coast Pullman". (Photo: S A Ginn)

12th August 2026 The Midland Pullman HST set formed of No. 43050 'Loch Morar' and No.43055 passes Norton Fitzwarren at 06:56 on 12th August 20026 while operating 1Z32 06:16 Paignton to Scarborough "Yorkshire Coast Pullman". The Pullman charter HST was formed with coaches: 44078 41187 40804 41166 41176 41149 40802 41108 and 41162. (Photo: Phil Izzard)

11th August 2026 No.43055 leads No. 43050 'Loch Morar' south through Taunton on the 11th August 2026 while operating an empty stock transfer in preparation for the next day's 'Yorkshire Coast Pullman' charter. The Midland Pullman was operating 3Z31 09:50 Crewe - Goodrington, pictured passing Taunton Station. (Photo: Hugo Howell)

8th August 2026 The 125 Group 'The Summer Riviera' charter returns from Devon at Norton Fitzwarren on Saturday 8th August 2026. VP185 powercar painted in former East Midlands Trains livery. No.43089 and No.43025 are pictured operating 1Z54 16:45 Paington - Manchester Piccadilly. (Photo: Phil Izzard)

8th August 2026 Following a short delay due to an incident at Weston Milton, the 125 Groups HST set worked by power cars No.43025 'Exeter' paired with No.43089 pass Fordgate with the 1Z51 07:35 Manchester Victoria to Paignton operating “The Summer Riviera" charter on Saturday 8th August 2026. (Photo: S A Ginn)

8th August 2026 The 125 Group, 'The Summer Riviera' charter passes Creech St Michael on Saturday 8th August 2026. No.43025 leads No.43089 through the village heading west while operating 1Z51 07:35 Manchester Victoria - Paignton charter with the group's resplendent Intercity 125 livery. (Photo: Kian Westlake)

8th August 2026 Making its first visit to the South West the 125 Group operated 'The Summer Riviera' charter on Saturday 8th August 2026. No.43025 'Exeter' and No.43089 are pictured passing Cogload Junction, operating 1Z51 07:35 Manchester Victoria - Paignton. The charter was operating 23 minutes late due to a fatality near Weston Milton, which caused a delay to passing services. The set was formed of Mk3 coaches 41067 41057 40730 42119 42120 42111, and 44000, creating a once-common sight at Cogload Junction. (Photo: Brian Garrett)

29th July 2026 The Midland Pullman HST headed to the Devon Riviera on the 29th July 2026. The Torbay Riviera Pullman passed through Taunton in glorious sunshine with No. 43050 'Loch Morar' leading No.43055 operating 1Z44 05:24 Hull - Paington. The Pullman HST is pictured passing Cogload Junction in the summer sunshine. (Photo: Shaun Mockridge)

29th July 2026 The Midland Pullman HST headed to the Devon Riviera on the 29th July 2026. The Torbay Riviera Pullman passed through Taunton in glorious sunshine with No. 43050 'Loch Morar' leading No.43055 operating 1Z44 05:24 Hull - Paington. The Pullman HST is pictured passing through Platform 3 on the approach to 40 Steps. (Photo: Kian Westlake)

29th July 2026 The Midland Pullman was back in the Taunton area on Wednesday 29th July 2026. It was captured storming up the grade through Beam Bridge, running as the 1Z44 05:24 Hull to Paignton; on this occasion, worked by power cars No. 43050 'Loch Morar' and No.43055. (Photo: S A Ginn)

24th July 2026 The Network Rail New Measurement Train passes Cogload Junction on Friday 24th July 2026. No. 43062 'John Armitt' leads No. 43013 'Mark Carne CBE' on the final testing diagram of the day while operating 1Q19 18:38 Taunton - London Paddington. (Photo: Brian Garrett)

24th July 2026 The Network Rail New Measurement Train passes Cogload Junction on Friday 24th July 2026. No. 43013 'Mark Carne CBE' is pictured leading No. 43062 'John Armitt' operating the late-running 1Q18 15:39 Paington - Taunton track testing run. This service had terminated short at Bristol Temple Meads and arrived into Taunton in time to make a right-time departure back to London Paddington. (Photo: Brian Garrett)

14th July 2026 Colas Rail HST powercars No.43251 and No.43357 are pictured at Taunton Station at 03:42 in the morning on the 14th July 2026. The pair were operating a Network Rail Test Train as 3Q22 23:48 Bristol Kingsland Road - Canton Taff Vale Sidings, which visited Taunton twice during the night. (Photo: Richard Hiscox)

8th June 2026 Departing the West Somerset Railway after a highly successful diesel gala event, Rail Adventure moved the colourful convoy locomotives back to their home bases on Monday, 8th June 2026. No.43480 and No.43465 lead No.37250, No.47714, and No.26007 as 0Q43 09:56 Bishops Lydeard - Barrow Hill. The convoy is pictured passing through Platform 2 at Taunton Station. (Photo: Paul Clarke)

8th June 2026 Following a successful four-day stint at the West Somerset Railway 2026 Summer Diesel Festival, guest locos returned north on Monday, 8th June 2026. Having travelled down the previous day, Rail Adventure Class 43 power cars No.43480 and No.43465 lead No.37250, No.47714, and No.26007 past Charlton on the approach to Cogload Junction, running as the 0Q43 09:56 Bishops Lydeard WSR to Barrow Hill (Photo: S A Ginn)

8th June 2026 Departing the West Somerset Railway after a highly successful diesel gala event, Rail Adventure moved the colourful convoy locomotives back to their home bases on Monday, 8th June 2026. No.43480 and No.43465 lead No.37250, No.47714, and No.26007 as 0Q43 09:56 Bishops Lydeard - Barrow Hill. (Photo: Phil Izzard)

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