Summer Stratford Steam Specials - Shakespeare Express & Merchant of Avon - 2019

2019 saw Vintage Trains starting their summer Sunday trips - The Shakespeare Express - from Birmingham to Stratford up and running again after not running them since 2017 as well as West Coast Railway Company starting up Sunday trips to Stratford Upon Avon from Burton Upon Trent - The Merchant of Avon. These tours ran over alternating Sundays from July through to September. This video capture four of the charters/specials with 4 different locomotives.
The video starts with LMS 45596 'Bahamas' at Stratford-upon-Avon with Vintage Train's Shakespeare Express. The first return is seen at Stratford Parkway where the Jubilee accelerates through away from the central station. The afternoon return is seen from a footbridge in Shrewley as Bahamas gets back up to speed after joining the Chiltern Mainline at Hatton North Junction.
Two weeks later and it's back to Stratford-upon-Avon for GWR 7029 'Clun Castle's turn on VT's Shakespeare Express. The Castle is seen powering through Lapworth on it's first return run. Later in the day, 7029 races through Widney Manor returning back to Birmingham.
The next Sunday and it was the first Merchant of Avon I was able to see with 48151 (turning out to be it's final tour before going for overhaul). The day starts at Wychnor Junction where the 8F is almost at top speed after departing Burton Upon Trent. The next shot is at Water Orton where 48151 is seen powering away from the Coleshill Parkway stop. Final shot of the outward run is seen at Wilmcote where the 8F gently chuffs through. 48151 is then seen on it's turning move round Hatton triangle at Hatton station and crossing the canal near Lapworth. The return is seen at Wilmcote where 48151 crests the summit while priming and at Water Orton with 31128 piloting due to a fire risk.
The final day of summer steam to Stratford was Sunday 22nd September with LMS 45699 'Galatea' working WCRC's Merchant of Avon. The jubilee is first seen powering up the bank past Elford/Portway Lane. She is then seen powering through Water Orton changing tracks before the station. The next shot was at Wood End where 45699 coasts through into the tunnel. The last shot of the tour and video is Galatea roaring up the bank away from Henley in Arden past Blunts Green. The jubilee could be heard for a good 5 minutes before her passing and a few minutes after! A brilliant end to a summer of steam specials in the midlands!!

[@TheCrazyhorse1876]

Excellent coverage of the tours including the wildlife.

[@swearingkevo]

Nice selection of clips

[@paulbeever6812]

EXCELLENT!!

[@crunchynutsteamfilms5043]

Only just found this lovely compilation, well done! When you were at Blunts Green, I was at Wood End and I too could hear it for an extremely long time before it arrived - a good 8 minutes!!

[@SMILEVIDEOTRAINS]

very nicely put together.

[@SimonTog]

Very well done :)