GWR 175 - Birmingham Moor St to London Paddington with 5043

In what way would you end GWR 175? Well December 11th became an historic day. Nearly 25 years since the last steam working from Birmingham Moor Street took place, engineering work had taken place to connect the bay platforms that had been defunct for many years.

Tyseley was asked by Chiltern Railways to mark the reopening by running a steam charter from Moor Street to London Paddington. As 5043 Earl of Mount Edgcumbe was to haul the first run out of Moor St, it was to be ironic as its sister engine 7029 Clun Castle hauled the last service in 1987. It was also highly appropriate event to mark the conclusion to GWR 175 after an eventfull year for all concerned.

Beginning at a foot crossing at Fenny Compton 5043 hauling 8 coaches can be heard in fine form as the engine swiftly passes the crossing.
The next scene takes us to South Moreton, the eastern outskirts of Didcot where 5043 is put onto the relief line following a few minutes delay. The long panoramic glimpse of a Castle along the GWML shows how well at home it is.

The return working takes place at Maidenhead. A very neatural station atmosphere is easy to tell as most people mainly commuters are unaware that a steam train is about to pass by them, which catches them by suprise. The Castle exellerates follwing a brief signal check at Taplow.

The last scene concludes at Hatton where 5043 blitzs the 1 in 110 in supreme style and power. The shot had to be edited at the end as a car alarm went off as the last coach goes past. Not something I would like to hear again!

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• 5043
• earl
• of
• mount
• edgcumbe
• the
• first
• moor
• street
• express
• steam
• charter
• great
• western
• main
• line
• fenny
• compton
• south
• moreton
• maidenhead
• hatton
• bank

[hrofc1]

Agree with all comments here. This shows the fantastic heritage of the GW 4cyl engines. STAR-CASTLE-KING. They will never be beaten for power/economy/size.

Now the next run should be with 6024±

[GreatWestern175]

@hrofc1 Very well mentioned, what you see here shows what a double-chimney Castle is capable of. To be honest 5043 has beaten the lot. Not even 6024 can match 5043 for its reliability and performance, now that I've witnessed the Castle

[slipperysam33]

Superb Video! Especially of your sequence you had at South Moreton, im pretty certain i saw you on the hillside that day as i was awaiting at Cholsey Farm Bridge for 5043!!

[GreatWestern175]

@slipperysam33 thank you sir, and I was that very person on the hillside you saw as I was the only one there

[NN2Blue]

A superb compilation! Thank you for sharing! I would have to disagree - the car alarm going off would have been a humorous end to the compilation. I am forever telling the unbelievers that GWR 4 cylinder locos set off car alarms! - LOL! Mike

[GreatWestern175]

@NN2Blue You could say so seeing as Castles are loud and fast, were as 5043's case really thundered the scene in many areas. It sounds humorous to some but to me i felt it was important to dub over that slight ending as it was the last conclusion to GWR175

[metrovick001]

Very professional. A beautiful loco.

[FonteDeiMarmi]

Saw 5043 leave Paddington for Birmingham and it was spectacular, these shots are awesome, love the long panning and the Maidenhead/Hatton clip. well done!

[60103Henry]

Good Shots there :) I saw her at Langley :)

[NN2Blue]

@GreatWestern175 I completely understand. But what you could do is just upload the Hatton Bank clip entitled "E of ME Cocks a Snook at Modern Transport!" :-) Mike

[GreatWestern175]

@NapierNimbus Quite alot to say there but all for a good cause. The South Moreton scene came out really good than I thought, was concerned about the slight wind issues befre shooting the scene but thankfully didnt cause too much hassle. The night shots had some of the best sounds from the engine