5043 - Castle Over Shap - 20/6/09

Great Western motive power has never fared particularly well in the northen fells so the return of a 'Castle' running over Shap was eagerly awaited with many wondering how a she would perform following recent excellent runs by 'Scots Guardsman'.
In my video I think we can see that Great Western pride has been well and truly restored after some spirited running by 5043 'Earl Of Mount Edgcumbe' with this Vintage Trains excursion, steam hauled from Crewe to Carlisle and return. The immaculately turned out loco ran well with a sensible load and excellent footplate crews. The video features scenes at Shap Wells northbound and on the return just after Shap Summit, where the only spot of rain in the entire area landed on the camera lens and, finally, storming through Warrington Bank Quay

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• mainline
• preserved
• steam
• trains
• railways
• castle
• over
• shap
• 5043
• earl
• of
• mount
• edgcumbe
• vintage
• collett
• great
• western
• wells
• warrington
• bank
• quay

[1Goldsteam]

Wonderful to watch, thank you very much for posting.

Alan

[acw71000]

Many thanks Alan, I think the Earl is proving a few doubters wrong with her performances

[JimTLonW6]

Excellent video, I'm sure those on the train will never forget it! The Warrington shot reminds me of once on Reading Station when a train came through on the centre road at full tilt; I think it was a King but it could have been a Castle, the effect was sensational anyway!

[acw71000]

Thanks, I've always thought there is something a bit special about station shots at night especially with steam

[KWVRMAD]

5*!

[acw71000]

Thanks very much

[Heck9001]

Hi acw; agreed about Scout Green. I grew up reading about photographers recording the end of steam on Shap. How they set up their tents in 'the copse' at Scout Green (still visible today in your film) for all night vigils getting 'gen' from the 'bobbie' at lonely Scout Green box with its leaning chimney. So Scout Green attained iconic status in my mind - just think of the sights and sounds that box must have witnessed! Keep up the good work in 2010.

[acw71000]

Thanks very much, yes it was a great performance by loco and crew on Shap. I love Scout Green for the wonderful panorama it offers and you can lose the wires a little.

[Heck9001]

Great film. I believe 5043's climb is considered one of the performance highlights of 2009 so your pictures are to savour. I like the 'panoramic' approach to shooting Shap - nicely done; and the Warrington shot is absolutely tremendous! Many thanks!

[Creepycottages]

I have several similar - I remember again in the early sixties we had a caravan near Barmouth North Wales. There used to be a junction Morfa Mawdach (cambrian coast to Shrewsbury) - there was a nice bar in the Station we used to be taken as kids - I remember the drivers allowing us on the footplate ! Can't remember what loco's but it sure was a priviledge !