60163 Tornado & The William Shakespeare 30-12-11

Friday 30th December, and The William Shakespeare, the last steam excursion of 2011.
Originally booked for 6024 King Edward I, it was found that the King no longer fits the Great Western lines that it was built for and the job was passed to 60163 Tornado.
For the opening shot, we went to a hillside to the west of High Wycombe, the scene of our very first attempt at videoing a steam train, some twenty-five years ago. Surprisingly, the increase in lineside vegetation appeared to be minimal, and the view had hardly changed in that time.
Huge advances in camera and tripod technology made for a much clearer and smoother result, but the difficulty of panning for long distances, while trying to step round the tripod, remains the same.
With only a minimal stop at Banbury, we played safe and went straight to a crossing at Edstone, on the approach to Bearley Junction, for the second shot.
The turning of Tornado, on the Hatton Triangle, was covered, first at Hatton Station, and then from the roadside near Bearley.
As well as a change of loco, the train had had a change of route and the return working was now to be via Tyseley, Nuneaton and Coventry, before joining the original route at Leamington Spa.
It must be about twenty years since we were last at Wood End. Back then it was 5080 Defiant that emerged from Wood End Tunnel, with one of a number of Tyseley -- Stratford shuttles.
It was doubtful that we would get to our next location (another of the crossings behind Shustoke reservoir) in time, but something in the Water Orton area was delaying trains, and Tornado was now running around twenty minutes late.
Finally, with darkness falling, the rain refusing to let up, a train that has probably lost its booked path and very few well lit stations, without ticket barriers, to choose from, we headed to our old favourite Seer Green.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• The
• William
• Shakespeare
• 60163
• Tornado

[robmasterman]

A wonderful farewell to mainline steam in 2011, and thanks to you both Martyn, captured to perfection for the rest of us to savour....Bob

[LSWRlinesider]

Great video. Your uploads are I think by far the most interesting lineside films on this site. You have a painter's eye! Keep up the good work.

[teddyowot]

yes worth waiting for the best cheers

[kebl0597]

I very much enjoyed this video, thankyou! The first shot at High Wycombe is very satisfying watching indeed, lovely job with the slow pan, though for me the second shot was my favourite with the super job on fast zoom and pan. Very exciting close pass, just what I enjoy! Thanks again for shooting and sharing.

[KINGANDCASTLE]

Nice one.

[EMuksteam]

Excellent shots in such wet weather,I did like the last clip with all the smoke

[sirhcsteam]

Excellent record of the run,worth getting wet for, as I did.

[Steamclips]

It's a pity then that 6024 has been apparently robbed of valuable income just as it's desparately needed for the upcoming overhaul!

[Steamclips]

A nice way to finish the year Martyn. For those of us who tend to specialise in the long shot, how I agree with your comment on walking around the tripod! no amount of technology can compensate for that, although I am told that a course in Yoga can help!!! Excellent work as always and good shooting in 2012. Alan

[GreatWestern175]

Ironically look closely at the way Gareth Jones inspects the gauging between Tornado's cylinder and the platform at Hatton at 4:19