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The Class 43 locos were first constructed from 1975 onwards at Crewe Works. At the time- the design was revolutionary- and it would go on to become the most iconic of British Rail locomotives. Their sleek design would become world famous and- when introduced- they were known as the High Speed Train- or HST- due to their top speed of 125 mph. 197 power cars were built- with the last into traffic in 1982.When built they were all fitted with the distinctive Paxman Valenta engine- but they have all been replaced with either Paxman VP185- or MTU engines. They have operated over all the former British Rail regions- although they were scarce on the Southern. The main operators currently are Great Western- East Midlands Trains- Virgin Trains East Coast- Grand Central and Cross Country Trains. The Great Western and East Coast trains already have their replacements on order- and it remains to be seen how long they will remain in service.Just three power cars have been scrapped- and only then following high-profile accidents; a testament to how well the design would stand the test of time. Class 43 Locomotives pays tribute to this iconic class in a comprehensive series of photographs alongside detailed captions and annotation....