Great Western Coffee Shop

The 1st November 2017 marks the 30th Anniversary of the world record speed run for a diesel powered train.

A shortened HST set of two power cars and three Mk3 carriages (being used as a testbed for new bogies destined to be fitted to the Mk4 carriages) achieved an independently verified speed of 148.5mph over a measured mile between Northallerton and Thirsk on the East Coast Main Line.

That record for diesel powered traction still stands today.

The power cars used on the record run were 43102 (now 43302) and 43159.

43302, now with Virgin Trains East Coast has had a name plate fitted commemorating the record run.
(https://drive.google.com/uc?id=0B8VBuNEcQ7EgZWh0QTB5RnFrWlE)
Picture credit: Tim Wade

43159 is now with (First) Great Western Railway. I've no idea if GWR are commemorating the record run on their power car. So here's a picture of 43159 at Railfest 2012, National Railway Museum, York.
(https://drive.google.com/uc?id=0B8VBuNEcQ7EgQ0pma3VQS2lsanM)

... and here's another: http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=10898.msg112896#msg112896  ;) :D ;D

That's when they had proper Paxman engines with clag and turbo scream.   None of this reliable quiet German rubbish.

 ;D

German?! MTU are owned by Rolls Royce Holdings...

The power cars on East Midlands still use Paxman engines, but they are now owned by MAN Diesel who are a German company!  ;D

I rather like the sound of the V16  :)

Which are actually more powerful than the Valentas they replaced.

The MTU engines are de-rated to match the output of the Valentas. Unfettered, and with other components upgraded to handle the extra power, an MTU powered HST set could probably beat the record with ease. I doubt we'll ever see such an attempt though.

Don't you mean 'unmuzzled'?

Yes, something to be truly proud of. Why bother to compete with 600km/h electric trains, when you can make a diesel train go at 50.5 megaKylies/fortnight?

Anyone remember 'Going for Gold' (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Going_for_Gold), the TV general knowledge quiz where Good Honest British people competed with Dodgy Foreigners to find out who knew most about British history, British soap operas and so on? Bit like that really, isn't it?

 

Do I? They are synonyms in this context aren't they?

Unfettered means 'not restricted' doesn't it?

An SI unit I've not come across before. What precisely does it measure? Are pert bottoms, and teeth to mouth ratio, part of the calculation? 

A wonderful thing is a Kylie !

It isn't an SI unit, actually - it's part of the new avoirduécureuil system due to be introduced when metric weights and measures are abolished after Brexit. A Kylie is exactly five foots and two squinches, or 1570mm in real money.

It is just that Unmuzzled is the term that has been used of the IETs in the context.  :)