Shakespeare Express 2015 Season

Went out to see 4965 again yesterday, weather not great again but still worth popping out for. Got this shot in the rain near Dorridge:


Then caught Rood's final climb up to Wilmcote of 2015 on video. Not the greatest video ever but the soundtrack is all right

 

Sorry chaps, but that is the guard carrying out his duties of periodically observing the progress of the train. Ben of course should know that. we shall be having words with him and updating his knowledge of operating process on Tuesday.

 

An excellent round-off to some truly engaging photographic coverage of 4965's stint on this summer's Shakespeares. And best of all, the panned image at Dorridge offers a distant, but distinct echo of the work of the late great Michael Mensing, whose most memorable images for me (first discovered in the pages of "Trains Illustrated") were the striking panned shots of Castles and Kings at speed that he captured on the ex-GW main line between Birmingham Snow Hill, Solihull, Dorridge and Leamington in the late 50's / early 60's. So thank-you for posting this.

 

My footage of 4965 in action over the weekend.

 

Thank you, I had to do a bit of map studying and scouting to find a stretch of line without too much vegetation to allow that shot! I would like to try it again when the sun is out. Wasn't aware of Michael Mensing, I will look out for any books with his work.

 

A wicked thread swerve here, but delighted to see that you name-checked Michael Mensing, a superb photographer of the steam era railways. He created some truly superb railway images,not just "vin ordinaire" loco photos; I have several books that I regularly pick up and flick through with his pictures, plus it is always a pleasure to see his photos published in magazines such as British Railways Illustrated and Railway Bylines. Oh to be able to go back to those days.

Cheers

Alan

 

Mr Mensing's work is superb if like me you like the transition stage of steam to diesel his work is well worth a look. Nice to see him mentioned on here.

 

The last run of the summer season with 5043 resplendent in the afternoon sunshine.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/25640353@N05/21005969780/in/dateposted-public/

 

At last the sun came out to play today! In the first shot 5043 produces some nice exhaust as she charges towards Stratford Parkway station.

Then on the final run, the castle races a combine harvester on the way to Bearley Junction

A fitting way to end the season.

 

Yet more superb images that somehow capture the "English-Midlands-in-the-Early-Autumn" setting perfectly. The turnout of the Earl is just awesome (as indeed that of 4965 has been in previous weeks). And to those who would blithely confer the Gold Standard for locomotive turn-out upon "Merchant 28", well. yes, I have to concede that, in the immortal words of Eric Morecambe, it would certainly rank as "not far short of not bad", when I look at these images, I really do wonder whether its even in the same league!!

 

It would be nice to see 5043 and 35028 side-by-side one day. I suspect there'd be little in it, except that the older GW design has more brass and copper to get a shine from.

I once saw 7029 Clun Castle and 35028 running to and from Stratford upon Avon on the same day: 9th June 1985, GW150 year. They passed each other twice during the day, including at Stratford station in the afternoon, when 7029 arrived with her second train from Brum just before 35028 departed back to Marylebone. But I digress...

 

4965 passing Dorridge on 2nd August: http://daviddepperphotography.zenfolio.com/p281705087#h5792d4e1

Work really causing a backlog to me sorting out my snaps from the last 2 months of late.