OVER 40 years ago, on October 5, 1981, a BR HST with power cars Nos. 43165 and 43166 first took over services on the north east-south west Cross Country route with the 07.00 Bristol Temple Meads-Leeds. To celebrate, operator CrossCountry and industry journal Modern Railways ran a charter HST, open to all who’d bought tickets, from Leeds to the Severn Valley Railway on September 27, using coaching set XC02, departing Leeds as 1Z43 08.02. Enthusiasts were delighted to traverse the rare connecting track between Network Rail and the SVR at Kidderminster.
Power car No. 43366, one at Kidderminster SVR, before completing two full return runs to Bridgnorth over the SVR (again open to those who had purchased tickets). InterCity-liveried No. 43184 was at the other end of the set. GBRf’s Class 66 No. 66799 was also named at Kidderminster SVR as on the same day.
