Worcester Christmas Express 13/12/23

44871 did a Shrewsbury to Crewe & back ECS on Nov 23 2019. I think that may be about a 65 mile round trip. But I agree fair distance to go, and not unique on the modern railway. Think GWR sleepers back and forth to Reading as an example.

 

60103 passes Croft this morning, the overbridge packed with people, and a few miles away at Narborough there was certainly the biggest crowd I have seen at a small main line station. Both platforms and the footbridge packed six deep. Does everyone think it’s a last chance ?

 

Powering away from Droitwich Spa !

 

Here's my video of Flying Scotsman attacking the Lickey Incline on the last tour of her centenary year of 2023. I hope you enjoy the video.

 

And Droitwich in the morning where we narrowly avoided West Midlands trains getting in the way. Then the return ecs catching some weak low sun at Defford on the return from Gloucester, a few minutes later the sun dropped entirely out of the cloud.

 

You win some, you loose some! My efforts from todays run including Bromsgrove station at the base of the lickey:

 

It’s by no means it’s last run according to Anthony Coulls

 

I think these rumours have originated in the latest Steam Railway who seem a bit excited about the fact the contract is ending with Riley's and nothing further has been announced.
Anyone involved with public service procurement will know that nothing can be announced until these procedures have concluded and nobody has said that there isn't another contract being negotiated, so seems a bit of a non-story to me.

 

Flying Scotsman filmed near Burbage, Frisby, Leicester, Over Whitacre and Syston