British Rail Classes 253, 254 and 255 facts for kids

Class 253, Class 254, and Class 255 are special names given to the famous InterCity 125 high-speed trains in Great Britain. These trains were a big step forward for rail travel, making journeys much faster and more comfortable. They became a symbol of modern British railways for many years.

The Amazing InterCity 125 Trains

The InterCity 125, often called the HST (High Speed Train), was a groundbreaking design. It was built to connect major cities across Great Britain quickly and efficiently. When these trains first appeared, they were some of the fastest diesel trains in the world!

What is the InterCity 125?

The InterCity 125 isn't just one train; it's a set of carriages pulled by powerful engines at each end. This design, with engines at both front and back, meant the train didn't need to turn around at the end of a journey. It could simply change direction, saving lots of time.

Designing a Fast Train

Work on the InterCity 125 began in the late 1960s. Engineers wanted to create a train that could travel at speeds up to 125 miles per hour (201 km/h) on existing railway lines. This was a huge challenge because most trains at the time were much slower. The first trains were introduced in 1976.

How They Were Built

The trains were built by British Rail Engineering Limited (BREL) in Derby and Crewe. Each train set usually had two power cars (the engines) and several passenger carriages in between. The sleek, aerodynamic shape of the power cars helped them cut through the air at high speeds.

Why Different Class Numbers?

You might wonder why there are three different class numbers: 253, 254, and 255. These numbers were used by British Rail to classify the early InterCity 125 sets.

• Class 253 was given to the sets used on the Western Region lines, connecting London with places like Bristol and South Wales.
• Class 254 was for the sets running on the East Coast Main Line, linking London with cities like Leeds, Newcastle, and Edinburgh.
• Class 255 was a very small classification, sometimes used for specific test sets or early versions.

Over time, as more InterCity 125s were built and moved around, these specific class numbers became less commonly used. Instead, people just referred to them as "HSTs" or "InterCity 125s." The individual power cars were given their own numbers, starting with 43xxx.

How Fast Did They Go?

The "125" in InterCity 125 stands for its top speed: 125 miles per hour (201 km/h). This was incredibly fast for its time and allowed for much quicker journeys between cities. For example, a trip from London to Bristol could be completed in just over an hour and a half.

Setting Records

The InterCity 125 even set a world speed record for diesel trains in 1987, reaching 148 miles per hour (238 km/h) during a special test run. This showed just how powerful and well-designed these trains were.

Where Did They Travel?

The InterCity 125 trains became the backbone of long-distance travel across Great Britain. They served major routes, including:

• The Great Western Main Line (London Paddington to Bristol, South Wales, and the West Country).
• The East Coast Main Line (London King's Cross to Yorkshire, North East England, and Scotland).
• Later, they also ran on routes from London to the Midlands and from Scotland to the South West.

These trains helped to make rail travel popular again, offering a comfortable and speedy alternative to cars or planes for many journeys.

A Lasting Legacy

The InterCity 125 trains have been running for over 40 years, which is a very long time for any type of vehicle! While newer trains have now taken over many of their original routes, some InterCity 125 sets are still in service today, especially in the west of England and Scotland. They are a true testament to great British engineering and design.

They changed the way people travelled and proved that high-speed rail could work in Great Britain. Many people still have fond memories of travelling on these iconic trains.

Images for kids

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  Class 254 at Edinburgh Waverley in 1978

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  A GWR Castle set at Exeter St Davids with powercars 43155 - 43154.

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  Chepstow Castle on powercar 43170.