45118 Thunders up the Lickey from a standing start; The Diamond Jubilee Express 27/07/2024

The long awaited first revenue earning mainline tour for 45118 took it along a former stamping ground for the peaks, the Midland route from Bristol to Birmingham and Derby then onto York. With other commitments meaning I was down in Birmingham this weekend there was only 1 location I was ever going to consider for a shot; the Lickey. A pathing stop at Bromsgrove meant the peak was tackling the 1 in 37 3/4 from a standing start, and we see 45118 looking and sounding brilliant just over halfway up the incline at Pikes Pool. It could be heard for a good while before it appeared and for a good while afterwards...

[@richardhooper7297]

Great video. I travelled behind Peaks from Cardiff to York many times in the 70s/80s and the Lickey was always a highlight, usually from the first coach.

[@steamdriver12]

Thanks mate, much appreciated. I bet they always made a hell of a sound going full pelt at the bank...sadly I'm nowhere near old enough to have experienced that - this was my first ever shot of a peak...Graham

[@allanwilson8161]

Yes head out of the window next to the loco working flat out great !

[@rsambrook]

Seems to have missed the standing start bit

[@GreatBritishRailways1]

Nicely captured. Regards, John

[@steamdriver12]

Thanks John, much appreciated...Graham

[@robertmilne4304]

Good but rather a long wait.

[@user-gk8gg1zt7l]

Very nice, like

[@steamdriver12]

Thanks mate, appreciated...Graham

[@NewRailBasher]

Great catch. Nicely done

[@steamdriver12]

Thanks mate, appreciated...Graham

[@robertbate5790]

Classic effort. Done that trip myself a time or two in the 70's. 45/6 reigned at the time. Also managed it by HST, a little quicker. 👍👍👍👍👍

[@steamdriver12]

Thanks mate, appreciated...Graham

[@user-ig1xo3om2x]

took 75s to even see the loco.

[@MarcelosalivaTRENESArg]

Excellent video my friends awesome like and Greeting 🙋🏻‍♂️ from Argentina nuevo subcritor suscribete 😊

[@steamdriver12]

Thanks mate, much appreciated...Graham

[@stevenpitts6665]

Spoiled by not panning.

[@steamdriver12]

Guessing you don't know the area then...it wasn't that I didn't want to pan, the simple fact is that in the position I was in, I couldn't - the view of the line disappears immediately beyond where I was standing as the land next to it climbs higher. There are very few vantage points on the Lickey itself and none that I'm aware of these days where you can pan; those that are currently usable are likely to become obscured by vegetation over time so enjoy these shots, however brief they may be while you can...Graham