GWR gifts HST power car to preserved railway for cosmetic restoration

Great Western Railway has donated an HST power car to the Plym Valley Railway (PVR), where it will be cosmetically restored.

The loco, 43063, was moved across Plymouth from Laira depot on Tuesday November 26 after another, 43161, was transferred the previous night.

The PVR has said 43161 will be used as a source of spaces for 43063, having its cab lifted before being broken up over the winter for spare parts to keep other members of the class operational.

However, both will be visible during the railway’s Christmas trains from November 30.

43063 has been based at Laira and operating between Plymouth and London Paddington since 1979. Since privatisation it has operated by Virgin Cross Country and First Great Western. Both it and 43161 last worked in January 2020 and remains in FGW’s purple livery.

Daniel Phillips, Plym Valley Railway Co. Ltd Chairman, thanked GWR for the “fantastic opportunity”.

“I have wanted to preserve a power car for years and am so pleased that we have been given the opportunity,” he said.

“There will soon be a time when the HST is not a regular visitor to the city so to have one preserved less than a mile from where they have been based for decades is amazing. If you would like to get involved in the restoration of our new asset, please get in touch with the railway.”

The remaining GWR ‘Castle’ HSTs, currently used on local services in Devon and Cornwall.

As 43063 has no power unit and will become a permanent static exhibit.

A third power car, 43091, which was last used in September 2019, will be at the PVR temporarily before moving to a new location by road.

A GWR spokesman said: "We are pleased to support the Plym Valley Railway with power cars, 43063, 43161 and 43091. These were previously used for spares to support the Castle Class fleet and are now no longer required."