Both 43013 'Mark Carne CBE' and 43014 'The Railway Observer' entered traffic on the Western Region in May 1976, although they were not paired together in a set, but with 43012 and 43015 respectively. Having been absorbed into the Virgin fleet following privatisation, in October 2002 both power cars were released to Network Rail by Virgin, along with 43062, for use on their High Speed National Measurement Train (NMT).

During mid-2009, both 43013 and 43014 were fitted with MTU engine units by Brush Traction, replacing the original Paxman units. On June 14, 2014, 43014 was named 'The Railway Observer' at Derby RTC by the Vice-President of the RCTS, Eric Palmer, while 43013 was named 'Mark Carne CBE' in a ceremony at Paddington Station on July 12, 2018.