Vintage Trains 2023

Wonderful climb of the Lickey. I think the diesel assisted with acceleration from around 40ish at Stoke Works Junction to 55 at Bromsgrove and the start of the climb proper at the first over bridge but then it seemed to be all steam from the sound thereafter. 17-18 at the top. Wonderful sound. A memorable five or six minutes. Well done Vintage Trains. Nice to have a quick chat with Michael Whitehouse at Gloucester including memories of Count Louis visiting the Ratty. Thank you for everything that went into today. I’ll be back.

 

The best of this morning's efforts from ChurchWalk in Shifnal as the pair cross the viaduct.
At Codsall West Midlands were on time so matched the Castle's passage through the station a few minutes down (it happens) and at Church Stretton - well there's a second Castle in there somewhere .

 

I was at Bromsgrove station and I’m pretty sure the Type 4 was dead.

 

My footage of 5043 & 7029's spectacular climb up the Lickey Incline.

 

Another view this time from the air of 5043 & 7029 on the Lickey




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Here's another angle of 5043 Earl of Mount Edgcumbe and 7029 Clun Castle sounding incredible up the Lickey Incline and in the process making history by being the first two Castles to double head a tour up the Lickey in steam preservation. Enjoy.

 

I had a bit of a round trip around Wales yesterday, going to Hereford to see the 2 Castles then on to Chester for Flying Scotsman

This first collection features Vintage Trains 'The Welsh Marches Express' with 5043 Earl of Mount Edgcumbe & 7029 Clun Castle and D1755 tail end Charlie and for movements around Hereford all photos at Hereford station 10th June 2023
https://tinyurl.com/3bmxd7vw
D1755 on the rear
https://tinyurl.com/y4dkx23p

Neil

 

Filmed yesterday

 

That link requires a sign-in.

I can't see how to find that FB page. Can someone please provide a link.

 

I suspect you need to have either a Facebook or Instagram account.

Try this as although you might need a Google account https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1UI...IdcAtNZOJ62bAcMA/viewform?edit_requested=true

 

Thank you. I do have a Google account (in fact two of them).

 

Having past Ashchurch in the 70s, then to have a blanket 40 imposed by NR due to the weather which was kicking off all around us, we had to see the irony of carrying the fire risk diesel around. However, it was the only sensible thing to do on the day. To be honest I was so thankful it got the go-ahead at all. I have to say I didn’t feel the diesel push from Stoke Works to Bromsgrove and thought I would have felt a jolt as he notched back as it definitely played no part in the climb. As Julian says those few minutes were something you’d want to bottle for life. Barnt Green certainly knew we were coming. There was a momentary slip near the top but I don’t know which loco. To VT I say thank very much for one heck of a day snatched from the jaws of defeat. We’d been booked since last September and every conceivable barrier had stopped it running like strikes and bridge issues culminating in the second loco being added and the rerouting. One of my group was an ex-Worcester Loco fireman who used to work the Lickey in the day. Happy Bunnies all round.

 

I am itching to hear more details of the trip, especially whether it is planned to have a diesel on the back. Also roughly what time it is expected to leave from and return to King's Cross. The logistics of this one will be interesting - wonder whether VT will be receiving assistance from another TOC to make it happen? Also if there will be any positioning trips involved that they will sell seats for.

Nick M.

 

The rain in the Bromsgrove area was indeed providential, and had we just been pushed up the Lickey by the Class 47, the day would have been a complete write-off for me.

I must say I really liked the itinerary for this tour. Civilised starting time, enough time in Hereford to get lunch, and a quick beer break in Gloucester, with a return to New Street in good time for onward travel.


Now I am eagerly awaiting the next encounter between the pair of Castles and the Lickey when hopefully there will not be any speed restrictions on the approach to Bromsgrove and no issues with adhesion. The day before the tour, I was heading towards Brum on a Class 170 which was doing 79mph through Bromsgrove, and the minimum was around 39mph, so there’s a benchmark!

Nick M.

 

This weekends Shakespears are being shared by 7029 and 5043 in conjunction with the Tyseley loco works open weekend. LE movements visible on RTT: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/se...8/0000-2359?stp=WVS&show=all&order=wtt&toc=TY

Does anyone happen to know which loco is hauling which trip?

 

Did you really have anything else in your diary for tomorrow?

 

Well Mr Whitehouse, I have this thing called work.
In Cambridge
Which is nowhere near Birmingham

In all seriousness sir I hope this event goes well for you and your team.
It’s something a bit special isn’t it? Wow.

 

tickets bought ages ago
be there as soon as

 

Not too bad