SHAKESPEARE EXPRESS 2011

Hm........ I don't think so. Yesterday 4936 sped through Dorridge at 61mph and neither station or loco came to any harm!

 

4936 Kinlet Hall certainly looks and sounds fantastic at the moment.

I ventured over to Edstone Aqueduct for the tender first trip to Stratford yesterday morning.

The lunchtime run was photographed from Wilmcote station platform as the train crested Wilmcote Bank then Ray Churchill cut off the regulator to slow for the speed restriction through the platform. I then managed to reach Shrewley bridge (only just) for the run through there.

The final run back to Birmingham was photographed in light drizzle from the bottom of the footbridge north of Shrewley. I was at the bottom while Rick Eborall had chosen the top of the bridge.
All photos here... Can I recommend viewing using the "Slideshow" button (top right).
http://evergreen.zenfolio.com/p750453865#h17e1d902

 

Must of been lifted then, cheers for the correction.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYki0yViUiY

4936 at Shrewley yesterday afternoon

 

Hello all.

We have 4965 "Rood Ashton Hall" pulling the Shakespeare Express this Sunday. She finally gets her turn! lol

 

With 4 loco's in the first 4 weeks of operation, one thing you can't be accused of is lack of variety!

 

Should be fine and sunny tomorrow for 4965 according to the Met Office.

 

4965 nearly 25 late through Hall Green this morning, the preceding Unit was also the best part of 20 down so presumably there's been some sort of farce in the Snow Hill/Moor St area.

 

Lunchtime run out of Stratford was on time through Dorridge with 4965 sounding good.

 

On time at Hatton North Junction on train D from the "classic" view point.

 

4965 having to shut off due to a late green at Widney Manor on the D train

 

Thought I'd add three photograph's of former stablemate 4953 Pitchford Hall immaculately running on the TPO at the Great Central Railway today though the pictures were not taken by me.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/loose_grip_99/5970782234/in/photostream
http://www.flickr.com/photos/36840294@N07/5970179231/in/pool-greatcentralrailway
http://www.flickr.com/photos/36840294@N07/5970126563/in/pool-greatcentralrailway

I'd also like to add it's good to see 4965 out and about again, looking gorgeous as ever.

 

Roster to the end of season bar the last one has just been put up on the VT website. 4965 for all up to 4th September except for 21st August when it will be the Earl.

 

A word of warning to those who like to take phots from the farm track here :
http://streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?x=41...archp=ids.srf&dn=703&ax=417664&ay=256929&lm=0
Two brothers are involved with the farm and brother 1 has always given permission to walk down the track. Brother 2 however is not so keen and has taken to parking his 4x4 in the shot or simply telling people to shove off, even when brother 1 has given his permission.

 

I found out about this problem when I wanted to photograph A4 no.4492 earlier in the year. When I asked for permission to photograph from the man's property, as I normally like to do, the guy said the problem originated around a photographer who had left a gate open and had released farmstock onto a main road. He then strangely added that he was tired of people banging on his door all the time asking for the necessary permission for access. I don't see how we can win here!! <BJ>

 

To be fair most of us would expect next doors kids to knock on the door and ask before they retrieve their football from our garden. However if every weekend you had to keep going to the door because they'd come round yet again you'd start to get a bit sick of it and suggest they go and play elsewhere. As well as treating landowners property with respect, we also need to think about how often we need to keep using the same sites.

 

I can understand him being hacked off with people leaving gates open. Why anyone needed to go into a field for a shot at that location is a bit of a mystery as the shot is from the track so no need to open any gates.

 

The problem with the route of the Shakespeare is that there's precious few locations where it isn't all treed in so the location in question has become rather popular. Your analogy is a good one but at least one photter would buy a dozen eggs when asking permission to make it worth the chap's while to come and answer the door.

 

A point well made but the guy in the 4x4 on Sunday was having none of it. He was offered financial recompense for any inconvenience caused but the offer was declined in very "industrial" language.