Hornby R7140 TTS Sound Decoders – Class 43 Valenta

Description

Hornby R7140 TTS Sound Decoders (Pair) – Class 43 Valenta

TTS decoders fitted with latest firmware from December 2019.

BR, Class 43 HST, ‘Valenta’ Powered Decoder Pack – Era 8

Prototype:

This TTS decoder set is specifically for the BR Class 43 HST 125 Trains, one for each power car. Originally the Class 43 HST 125s conceived as a cheaper, more reliable alternative to the Advanced Passenger Train in the early 1970s, the British Railways Board authorised the development of a prototype High Speed Diesel Train with two locomotives designated as Class 41. These aerodynamic power cars were constructed by British Railways Engineering Ltd at their Crewe Works and emerged in June and August 1972, fitted with Paxman Valenta 12RP200L engines, developing 2,250 hp.

When originally built at BREL’s Crewe Works, the InterCity 125 units were considered to be diesel multiple units and allocated as Class 253 to the Western Region and Class 254 for the Eastern Region. With the introduction of Trailer Guard Second (TGS) carriages, later power cars had no guard’s equipment installed and by 1987 most power cars were simply classified as Driving Motor (DM), although they still had luggage van space, retaining a window by the luggage door on each side.

Following problems with the power cars and the operational ease of removing power cars to perform scheduled maintenance, unit formations were abandoned, resulting in the Class 43 locomotive prefix being adopted. The fleet of 197 Class 43 power cars produced between 1976 and 1982 were numbered 43002 to 43198 and are officially the fastest diesel units in the world. The units have an absolute maximum speed of 148mph (238kph), which is the current world diesel traction record, set on November 1, 1987.

The TTS decoders have been upgraded to the latest firmware from December 2019. TTS Decoder Function Allocations. Valenta TTS Sounds to be used in the BR HST 125 Models.