Preserved LNER Mark 4 stock?

[D6130]

Earlier this morning, en-route from Leeds to London, I passed two LNER InterCity-liveried mark 4 carriages parked in what looked like a builder's yard on the Down side of the WCML at Tuxford. Presumably these are vehicles made surplus when the 225 sets were reduced from nine to seven cars. Does anyone know the why and the wherefore?

 

[sprinterguy]

Pullman Opens 11412 (formerly 11209) and 11426 (formerly 11252), preserved by 225 Preservation (A separate setup to the 225 Group) when the mark 4 sets were reduced to 7 carriages as you rightly surmise. Full details can be found on their website here:

225 Preservation

As the owners of the first Mark 4 coaches to enter preservation, we bring you the next chapter of the iconic InterCity 225 - the last British-designed high speed train.

225.org.uk

We are the proud owners of the first two Mark 4 coaches from the InterCity 225 fleet to enter preservation. Our coaches are numbers 11412 (which entered service as 11209 in October 1989) and 11426 (which entered service as 11252 in February 1991).

The 114xx vehicles were the last smoking coaches built in Britain and - we believe - anywhere in Europe. They feature unique pressure-ventilated roof ducts and glass partitions similar to those fitted to the Trailer Open End TOE carriages, but they were built far later than those vehicles, as it was initially thought that first-class passengers would not require a smoking compartment.

These coaches became redundant as part of the reduction in length of the InterCity 225 sets that remain in service with LNER from nine to seven cars. Reducing the trailing load of the trains enabled an improvement in acceleration, required for the implementation of the East Coast ‘Velocity’ timetable in December 2025 which delivers greater capacity and faster journeys on key routes including London to Edinburgh, Newcastle and Leeds.

Our very first job is getting them powered up, which we are working on behind the scenes as we speak. As soon as they are ‘live’, we will use them for community and charitable benefit according to our mission statement. This will include among other things, educational activities such as teaching heritage railway carriage restoration and electrical/mechanical engineering skills.

We have an expert team of existing railway vehicle owners, together with key staff members who have driven and maintained these wonderful trains over the course of their lives, who will ensure they are kept powered up and in working order. We also fundamentally believe in preventative maintenance. We have already, for example, begun a programme of works on the roof of 11412, which required some very minor remedial attention.

Eventually, the remainder of the InterCity 225 fleet will be withdrawn. When this happens, 225 Preservation CIC will seek to partner with other organisations to preserve a full-length set that can be used for heritage events. Our aim is for this to include at least one of 11412 or 11426, if not both.

And a previous discussion on this forum here:

Mainline Coaches beside East Coast Mainline

Afternoon, Last Saturday I noticed two what appear to be MkIV coaches in Intercity livery (the new one on LNER at the moment) THey seems to be near Tuxford Crossovers on the left hand side heading north. Anyone have the numbers and the actual location of these coaches please? Also why are...

www.railforums.co.uk