A selection of Mainline Action

14 June 2008

5029 Nunney Castle on the Lincoln Imp at Barrow Hill

Mainline Leicestershire: Tyseley-based GWR 4-6-0 5029 Nunney Castle rushes towards Barrow upon Soar station with the Lincoln Imp. Not much went right here: the train appeared without warning and it ran on the inside line (the worst for the lighting conditions). (1.4mB)

1 March 2008

71000 Duke of Gloucester on the Cheshireman at Pillings Lock

This was a useful reminder of why I hate filming steam around Leicestershire. There is no denying there are some spectacular locations on the mainline, but not around here!

Having examined several locations to the north of Leicester, avoiding those I have used in recent years, I decided the location at Pillings Lock by the canal near Barrow upon Soar was a reasonable bet. With a 50% chance of sun there was a chance of a nice scenic shot despite the proliferation of trees; but it didn't happen. The sun went in within seconds of the train's arrival to set a pattern which was to be repeated time and again throughout the day.

71000 Duke of Gloucester at Pillings Lock (2.7mB)

17 November 2007

4965 Rood Ashton Hall on the Lincoln Imp

A golden opportunity to see old friend 4965 Rood Ashton Hall for possibly the last time in the foreseeable future when she passed through my home town on Saturday. A rare chance to experience the charms of the mainline around the East Midlands.

A modern allegory. Colourful Croft: the cry of defiance mingled with despair from the photographer below,  failed to prevent the inevitable from happening. I was also moved to wonder how the great Ivo Peters might have coped with filming signalmen who follow the modern Health and Safety dress code.

Lovely Loughborough: later, high above the heavily pallisaded bridge north of Loughborough Station, Rood Ashton Hall powers past in the early morning sun. (2.5mB)

2 September 2007

LMS "Coronation Pacific" no. 6233 "Duchess of Sutherland" on the "Shakespeare Express"

The 12:30 ex Stratford rushes through Lapworth Station at 67mph (1.7mB)

I picked up the late afternoon run on Wilmcote Bank. The whistle could be heard in the distance as the Duchess powered through Wilmcote Station. (3.3mB)

Shakespeare Express

(See below for On-board footage)

3/9/06: a run on the Shakespeare Express for recently restored 4953 "Pitchford Hall". The evening run (shown first) was a complete contrast to that of lunchtime as 4953 "Pitchford Hall", perhaps anxious to avoid a wait at Hatton Junction, makes stately progress on the middle stages of Wilmcote Bank. Plenty of time to make friends with a few passengers, exchange pleasantries with the stewards and have a good look at this lovely machine. Earlier in the day she had stormed the mainline section, and we see her charging through Lapworth Station! (3.2mB).

4965 "Rood Aston Hall" at Stratford station with the "Shakespeare Express" on 20 August 2006.

Editor's Note: who needs a tripod when a cheap monopod will do the business

4965 "Rood Aston Hall" makes light work of Bishopton Bank with the evening train on 6 August 2006 (1.3mB)

9 July 2006. It's the Shakespeare season again and we are all a year older. A packed gallery lined up on the footbridge to enjoy the sight of 4965 "Rood Ashton Hall approaching Bentley Heath level crossing. It's wonderful to witness the enthusiasm and interest generated by Mainline Steam, although one of the little girls thought that steam engines were filthy and disgusting - sacre bleu!. (2.1mB)

On-board Footage of the Shakespeare Express: 20 August 2006

These files have been uploaded to Google Video.

4965 "Rood Ashton Hall" departs Stratford and climbs Wilmcote Bank

The Hatton - Lapworth 'fast' section of the Mainline

The Dorridge - Widney Manor section. 4965 accelerates away from the Dorridge restriction and hits top speed at Widney Manor

The Tyseley - Snowhill section. The Shakespeare leaves Tyseley and passes Small Heath, Bordesley Junction and the splendidly restored Moor Street station before entering the tunnel into Snowshill. In true Ivo Peters tradition the tape runs out just as the train reaches platform 1.

Editors Note: do not be fooled by the spectacular lighting. This is, after all the environs of Birmingham with scenery to match. However, the train journey here is quite exciting as Rood Ashton Hall is accelerated rapidly to her speed limit of 60mph, before she rolls into Snowhill.

The sites below contain plenty of excellent photographs and a full programme of excursions:

 Vintage Trains  and  Shakespeare Express