45690 Leander with a monstrous climb of Hemerdon Bank with the last Royal Duchy of 2021 - 12/09/2021

I've been to Hemerdon numerous times to film various types of engines going up the 1 in 42 Hemerdon Bank out of Plymouth, but this run featuring 45690 Leander hauling the last Royal Duchy of 2021, is probably right up there as the best one I've filmed from this particular location. The outward produced a mixed bag of results for me, the engine as ever sounded marvellous in both locations at Whiteball and Rattery, but the Hemerdon run blew both the shots out of the water to such an extent that the shot you're about to see deserves to be solo.
I arrived in good time and with heavy clouds all over the area, I decided instead of going to the sidings, which was my original decision, I decided to film in the field where the last stretch of the 1 in 42 is before reaching the summit by the bridge. However, it turned out to be an inspired decision, as the shot was just spectacular. With good company leading up to it, the light began to get much worse as the sun got lower in the clouds making lighting not great, but I didn't care about the lighting conditions, I cared about the locomotive's performance. The engine left Plymouth on time and was making good strides towards Hemerdon. Luck was on our side, as an IET train was supposed to play a part in whether we got blocked off or not, but the IET was running quite late meaning the possibility of us getting bowled was never on the cards. The engine sounded absolutely marvelous as she roared through the woods and eventually coming into view. The exhaust was just incredible and the noise as the engine not only passed my camera but also by the bridge was just phenomenal. Probably one of the best soundtracks up Hemerdon I've had for a long time. Let's hope she returns to Devon sooner than expected or any Jubilee for that matter.
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[@currysauce5242]

I was standing a few metres away from you when you took this video, using my mobile phone to get a wobbly video! It's great to see a quality record of a momentous four minutes. Leander was truly awesome. Astonishing to see a loco of 85 years vintage perform like this. All credit to the crew, engineers etc who look after Leander. Once again, thanks for uploading the video. Haven't seen a sight or sound like it since the 60s.

[@gunterbartsch9284]

You are doing a great job - nature is always there 👍

[@rodsmith2031]

Magnificent footage.

[@558vulcanxh]

Thanks for an excellent video of Leander, last time I saw this loco was in snowy Edale, 1980/90 and it was having an easy time , not like now.
It stopped in Earles sidings and we could feel the warmth from a few yards away . Happy days.👍👍

[@adamc1272]

Great, great video, thank you for the upload. The Jubilees aren't anything special on paper but Leander is a game old girl - I once saw her blast up the Lickey unassisted (there's a great video floating around on RUclips of the run, all I can remember is that the weather was absolutely appalling). I never realised Hemerdon was 1 in 42 either - what a beast! Thanks again!

[@SimonTog]

Super good video :)

[@martinreed5049]

I was on that trip, it was fantastic

[@levelcrossing150]

Lovely, I liked the intro too.

[@user-cw9qn1nb2n]

A brilliant piece of video, and kudos for hanging onto the sound as the train disappears. And in the foreground of that last shot, isn't that fence post a piece of bridge rail from the days of the broad gauge? Certainly looks like it to me, so at least 130 years old!

[@jamesburnside3023]

Awesome job done a great video of that Loco working its heart out on the climb.

[@HenrysAdventures]

Great shot! She sounds fantastic! I saw her at Plymouth!

[@davidbailey533]

It amazes me that bigger more powerful engines have struggled with a similar amount of carriages yet she made it look easy best I seen yet up the hermedon

[@richardharrold9736]

Partly a case of how she is handled, but also, load eight rather than the more usual ten or more, and likely running at less than full capacity.

[@limeyfox]

@@richardharrold9736The limit for the largest engines is 9.

[@richardharrold9736]

@@limeyfox used to be more than that...

[@irvinmartin9259]

With those big wheels, it’s a bit tall geared for long climbs.

[@richardharrold9736]

True, but same diameter as the Saints, Stars and Castles which worked this line for sixty years...

[@peterpan1435]

@@richardharrold9736Wheel size is one factor, though the length of the wheel-crank offset is another.

[@richardharrold9736]

@@peterpan1435 and the latter is a direct function of piston stroke.