The Bath Spa Christmas Express with 4492 Dominion of New Zealand

The Bath Spa Christmas Express, the first of two pre-Christmas excursions from Poole to Bath and Bristol, with 4492 Dominion of New Zealand, running via Southampton, Eastleigh and Salisbury.
Departure from Poole was at 8:57am and we arrived at our first location, the edge of Parkestone Bay, with about ten minutes to spare.
A pick-up at Bournemouth and a nine-minute stop at Brockenhurst meant that it was possible to get ahead of the train before Southampton, so we went to Ashurst New Forest station.
While 4492 took the long route via Eastleigh, we cut across to Dunbridge, and a foot crossing to the west of the station, for our third shot.
A twenty-minute water stop at Salisbury gave us enough time to get to a hillside vantage point at Great Wishford, it's just a shame that the A4 shut off before reaching us.
According to the satnav, Great Wishford to Corston was not possible in the time available, but, as with 70000 on the 12th October, we went anyway. There was a great feeling of deja vu as we came over the hill at Newton St Loe and could see photographers in the field below, twenty minutes after the train should have left Bath. We fared better this time, parking wise, but as we set the tripod up the train appeared, and the resulting video was too incomplete to make the final edit. One or two fewer lorries on the A36 and we would have made it.
We had intended to start the return at Keynsham but decided against it, due to traffic, and instead went to Beechen Cliff, overlooking Bath.
It didn't seem as if Bath to Warminster would be achievable, the booked time for the train being only 37 minutes, so we played safe and headed for Romsey, but as we approached Wilton, after a slow drive down the A36, there was a hiss of steam and 4492 swept across the bridge in front of us.
At Romsey, there was no warning of the A4's approach and the camera only just powered-up in time.
For the last shot of the day, it was down to the deserted, windswept platform at Millbrook, on the edge of Southampton's Western Docks.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• Bath
• Spa
• Christmas
• Express
• 4492
• Dominion
• of
• New
• Zealand

[mitchy754]

Amazing video! Lovely shots and very atmospheric!

Liked and faved!

Mitchy

[1Z64]

@mitchy754 Thanks for your kind comment. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

[AndreiTupolev]

Some beautiful shots. Nice scene setting. That jogger at the beginning could've been in an ad for breakfast cereal or something. Lucky with the 444 as well. Lovely shot at Ashurst.

[1Z64]

@AndreiTupolev Thanks very much for your comment. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

[GreatWestern175]

Another nice day out to get the blue A4, I have to say that these Bath Spa Express itineraries have not appealed to me really well but the weather in this run was certainly one to saver. If only the regulator on the A4 could of been kept open at Great Wishford you would've had the right exaust through out!

[1Z64]

@GreatWestern175 Thanks Ryan. You get some days when things don't always go to plan but this wasn't one of them. No hold ups, and a nice variety of shots made this an enjoyable days filming.

[dickeramb]

Great Video, thanks.

[NwsNoaaChaser]

I've only just realised that you published this video Martyn, slipped through the subscriptions net! Very good video, and very nice to see you filming down my neck of the woods. Very impressed with the Great Washford shot and of the A4 rounding the bend at Mottisfont. I understand that there was a speed restriction imposed on 4492 at Mottisfont on the westbound line. The same restriction wasn't applied on the eastbound run in the evening (as I discovered when I went there!)

[Eurotruth]

Great video. You must be mad chasing this train all round the south!

[robmasterman]

@1Z64 You're too self critical Martyn....but that's not a bad thing....Keep them coming...Bob

[1Z64]

@Steamclips Thanks Alan. I looked at the possibility of Bathwick Hill in the half light. I couldn't tell what it would look like in full darkness but was more concerned about what i'd be stepping in getting there and back in the pitch black. Beechen cliff was a better option although I knew it would only be a going away shot.

[1Z64]

@balmesh Thank you very much indeed Alan. The Ashurst was okay apart from my tripod head slipping at the vital moment. But it was a wonderful day.

[1Z64]

@robmasterman Thank You Bob you're too kind. Filming this time of year is very hit and miss weather wise. This particular day was mild and often sunny but I love filming after dark where conditions don't come into it as long as it's dry. I was pleased with the results at Bath but just wished the actual shot of the train could have been better.