The pack contains motorised W43002 Sir Kenneth Grange in InterCity 125 blue/grey livery and unpowered 43198 Driver Brian Cooper 15 June 1947-5 October 1999/ Driver Stan Martin 25 June 1950-6 November 2004 in GWR green. As well as representing the first and last built HST power cars, both were also used to power the last timetabled HST passenger service from London Paddington on May 18 2019 and the ‘Flying Banana’ farewell railtour a few weeks later. 43198 had just recently received its dual identity, while W43002 was named after the HST designer at a ceremony at St Phillip’s Marsh HST depot in 2016.
For this release, Hornby has given both power cars a gloss paint finish which really boosts their appeal for those who wish to have a commemorative memento of GWR’s farewell to the HST on traditional long-distance services. W43002 is now part of the National Collection, while 43198 remains in the GWR fleet – a small number of HST power cars have been retained for use on some South West services with shortened formations of Mk 3 carriages with new sliding doors.
Bearing the hallmarks of previous releases, the motorised vehicle features a heavy chassis and five-pole skew-wound motor, while both vehicles als…
