The story of the —famously known as the InterCity 125 —is a tale of British engineering that quite literally saved a dying rail industry.
The "Speed Star" of the tracks was defined by its iconic aerodynamic nose, designed by . Unlike the bulky locomotives of the past, the Class 43 looked like the future—sleek, vibrant, and fast even when standing still. It used two power cars (one at each end) to "push and pull" a rake of Mark 3 coaches, providing a smooth and quiet ride for passengers. 2. Breaking Records 43 : The Speed Star
In the early 1970s, British Rail was struggling with declining passenger numbers and outdated equipment. Engineers at Derby set out to create a train that could travel at on existing tracks, avoiding the massive costs of building brand-new high-speed lines like those in France or Japan. 1. The Design: Form Meets Function The story of the —famously known as the