British Rail Class 252


Class 252 was the classification allocated to the prototype High Speed Train unit, numbered 252001.

History

When originally built, in 1972, the prototype High Speed Train units were considered to be formed of two locomotives at either end of a rake of carriages. As a result, the power cars were designated Class 41 and numbered 41001/41002, while the carriages were given numbers in the new Mark 3 carriage number series.
Shortly after their introduction, it was decided to classify the unit as a Diesel Electric Multiple Unit. It was allocated Class 252, and the whole formation was renumbered into a new carriage number series for HST and Advanced Passenger Train vehicles. Two coaches were not included in the renumbering, as these were transferred for use in the Royal Train as part of its upgrade before the Silver Jubilee of Elizabeth II. The power cars were allocated numbers in the 43xxx series, and the two prototype cars took the numbers 43000/43001. Thus, the production-run cars were numbered from 43002 onwards.
Ironically, the situation reversed again in the 1980s, and the production power cars were then considered to be class 43, as this time around no power car or carriage was renumbered. By this time, the prototype cars had been transferred into departmental service and had taken numbers in the departmental carriage 975xxx series, so they were not involved in this redesignation, and they retained their departmental carriage numbers rather than being transferred to the departmental locomotive list.
The former 41002/43001 has now been scrapped, but the other prototype locomotive, 41001/43000, was preserved at the National Railway Museum, York. Of the passenger-carrying vehicles, all remain in use on the mainline, except for one of the former restaurant cars, which was scrapped in 1993.
The 125 Group restored prototype powercar 41001 back to operational condition in 2013. This entailed a complete restoration of the vehicle and a fitment of a Paxman Valenta engine at Neville Hill TMD. The engine was successfully started in July 2013, and on 31 May 2014 the loco moved under its own power for the first time in over 30 years.

Formation

The vehicles that made up the prototype High Speed Train are listed below, together with their current identity and use:
Key:In serviceSpecial serviceScrappedPreservedDepartmental

First NumberSecond NumberTypeConverted toCurrent Location
1000040000Trailer Buffet Departmental, 975984New Measurement Train
1010040500Trailer Kitchen Departmental, 977089Scrapped
1100041000Trailer First Departmental, 975814New Measurement Train
11001-Trailer First Royal Train, 2903In service
1100241001Trailer First Production TF, 41170In service, in LNER
1100341002Trailer First Production TF, 41174In service, as TS 42357, in LNER
1200042000Trailer Second Production TF, 41172In service, as TS 42355, in LNER
12001-Trailer Second Royal Train, 2904In service
1200242001Trailer Second Production TF, 41171In service, as TS 42353, in GWR
1200342002Trailer Second Production TF, 41173In service, as TS 42356, in GWR
4100143000Driving Motor Brake Departmental, 975812Preserved, National Railway Museum
4100243001Driving Motor Brake Departmental, 975813Scrapped