SHAKESPEARE EXPRESS 2011

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Lizzie at Shrewley and Lapworth today

 

As much as I am a fan of Tyseley's copper capped machinery, what a great locomotive (6201) to start the season with. Brought back memories of my only other run with her a few years ago, both ways over the Welsh marches route. A fine locomotive, looking and sounding good and a nice start to the Shakespeare Express season.

 

Going well at Widney Manor on the final train of the day.

 

My photos the second run http://rickeborall.zenfolio.com/recent.html

RICK

 

Good photos folks.
However on the down side, I was out photographing the first run at Widney Manor station car park. On arrival there was a hole in a piece of fence, which seemed to have been recently cut, and a camera positioned at it.
I thought that it was a bit over the top, damaging NR property just to get a different shot.

 

A couple from me of Lizzie yesturday

First seen roaring past Lapworth on the Lunchtime run: http://www.flickr.com/photos/61102738@N08/5901229695/in/photostream/

And later seen at Widney Manor, presumably i was standing at the other end of the line of photters from Lickey Banker: http://www.flickr.com/photos/61102738@N08/5901791616/in/photostream/

 

This was no more than a TPWS trip.

 

This seems to be happening quite regular now, wasn't that the cause of 34067's stop on Filton?

 

Yes it was a little bit crowded at the end of the car park so I got myself stood on my usual piece of Armco by a concrete post which does as an improvised monopod !!

 

Just spotted on UKSteam that 4936 is off the Shakespeare Express on Sunday due to a gauging issue at Bordesley.
I still don't get it as to why gauging issues tend to arise so close to the running.
Alan.

 

Does anyone know the difference between 4936 and 4965 (both Halls) which has run through Bordesley I presume?

 

Anyone who's seen the state of Bordesley station would welcome 4936's right hand cylinder demolishing it frankly...

Presumably it affects 4965 and all Halls, 4965 hasn't been that way for a while either.

 

I wasn't thinking months in advance but may be a couple of weeks before when hopefully they would know of any work planned before the run. Also if some emergency work came up close to the run then you'd hope they'd have the line "flagged" as having a steam run due and then, OK, gauging would need to be re-assessed.

 

Apparently the gauging problem has been known about for a couple of weeks! All is nearly well with Bordesley platform again thanks to network rail promptly sorting the situation out and a hall should return to the SE on the 17th..........
How long have uk steam been rostering the locos for the SE?? Did VT ever advertise 4936 for the SE?

 

Uksteam put locos on trains in all faithfulness and it has long been rumoured that 4936 would be on the SE on this day, although it was never on the VT website. David does his best on the info he's got and what he thinks will happen.

 

Exactly!! Not always necessarily facts........ As you say a lot of it is based on rumours and speculation. Which just like some of the comments above illustrate, cause's adverse commentry about the tour operator, network rail and the toc.......

 

I for one am really grateful for the UKsteam info and I know that what is shown only reflects the information to hand at the time. In the case of 4936 it did do test runs on Thursday to and from Stratford which was possibly an indication that it was lined up for this weekend's SE. That it isn't happening is unfortunate but if UKsteam didn't find out about it until late then that's the way it is.
If the gauging issue was rumoured a couple of weeks, as someone suggested in an earlier post, then there's a quandry about whether to reflect that or to wait for definite information. Can't win either way.
I thought that the decision not to run 4936 was made only late this week and it looks like I could have been wrong (sorry if I was). Perhaps it was made earlier but the information hadn't filtered through.
Anyway we're lucky to have UKsteam, we'd be loads worse off without it.
Alan.