The Bekoning Bard

The Bekoning Bard was a Marylebone to Stratford excursion run by Chiltern Railways. The name derived from the trains two destinations, Beaconsfield, for the Bekonscot model village, and Stratford Upon Avon, the home of Shakespeare.
On the Friday the empty stock was brought down to London from Tyseley behind 5043 Earl of Mount Edgcumbe and 47580. At West Ruislip the Castle was detached and taken off to Greenford to be turned on the triangle while the 47 continued into Marylebone.
We begin with two shots of the empty stock working between Seer Green and Gerrards Cross.
Saturday, and the train is seen departing from a rather damp Beaconsfield and climbing towards White House Farm Tunnel.
The next location, the A422 bridge to the north of Banbury station was a poor choice as when the tape was played back the background traffic noise was unacceptably loud.
For this reason the video jumps to Stratford and the arrival of the train.
Shortly after arrival, an argument could be heard echoing round the station, fortunately this turned out to be two actresses performing an extract from A Midsummer Night's Dream (Act 3 Scene 2) for the passengers, who, being typically British, mostly looked the other way.
Having shunted the stock 5043 headed off to Tyseley for servicing, returning not long before the booked departure time and it is seen running tender-first through Wilmcote.

Heading back to London the Castle passes through Hatton before joining the main line and descending Hatton Bank.
As the train headed downhill, so did the day. While the loco took water at Banbury we moved to a bridge near Fritwell and waited. With the train closing rapidly a rain shower blew up from nowhere, covered the lens with water droplets and, once the train had passed, stopped as quickly as it had started.

From Fritwell it was on to Seer Green. With a twenty-minute water stop at Beaconsfield this should have been easy, except that the water stop was cancelled and as we arrived at Seer Green the loco could be heard rapidly approaching. Running onto the station we just had time to get the tripod down and the tape started before the train reached the platform end.
While 47580 returned north with the stock 5043 once again went to turn at Greenford before heading home light-engine and the final shot is of the Castle, now running substantially late, ambling through Denham Golf Club halt, stuck behind an Aylesbury bound stopping train.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• 5043
• Earl
• of
• Mount
• Edgcumbe

[Throatmad2090]

0:15 I don't remember the diesel being just behind Earl of Mount Edgcumbe? I was at Marylebone when it left & I thought the class 47 was at tge back? I'm confused now, could someone explain this puzzling thing. :o)

[1Z64]

You weren't seeing things, the first two clips are of the empty stock being worked from Tyseley to Marylebone the evening before. If you read my accompanying notes it's all explained there.

[hurleyfunbags]

A fantastic sequence. Looks like she needs some attention to the smokebox door though as it was pretty scorched by the time she got back.

[GreatWestern175]

An excellent and certainly very interesting amount of work made here. Pretty intense scenes with the Earl working very well. She sounds similar to a King being a double chimney Castle. The two actresses acting out an argument scene was a good laugh to watch! As always please keep 'em coming! :)

[colliecandle]

superb photography and the audio was just as good! You can feel the sound as well as hear that GWR 'bark'

[73096std5]

great vid 5* she sounds really nice at 6:11

[AndreiTupolev]

I'm sure they have someone in the guard's van at the back with a radio.

[60103Henry]

Great Video, 5 Stars! Top marks for creativity! We have a Facebook group called Friends of Bekonscot Model Village which you are welcome to join.

[BristolCastle]

excellent video

5*

[sammyb1929]

who were those to women in dresses

were they making a film or somthing

[60103Henry]

Great Video, 5 Stars! i was on it from Beaconsfield to Marylebone, it was great!