The last Sunday of August and the first Sunday of September would see the return of Great Western steam traction on the mainline since 2019 ? Vintage Trains and their popular Shakespeare Express finally returned after a lengthy layoff due to the pandemic. Unfortunately for VT, Clun Castle wasn't able to take part in the full Shakespeare programme due a superheater issue cropping up last minute. The team at Tyseley worked their magic and were able to get the Great Western Castle up and running for the final two Shakespeare trips.
We wasn't able to capture the penultimate run but we were on hand to witness a barnstorming final run through Dorridge station on the Castle's second daily return from Stratford to Birmingham. Three angles capture the thunderous passage through Dorridge with that iconic Great Western whistle blaring and this was accompanied by a fantastic smoke trail ! Stirring stuff for fans of the GWR. Although the highlight was the high speed passage at the end of the video, I have included some classic Great Western scenes at Birmingham Moor Street where 7029 hauls the empty coaching stock through one the finest preserved Great Western mainline railway stations in major use today. Another well preserved railway station is Wilmcote on the edge and Stratford Upon Avon. We capture Clun Castle topping the 1/75 Wilmcote Bank on the first return trip to Birmingham.
A great day for followers of all things Great Western, I hope you enjoy the video.
26 авг 2024
