GWR Castle 5043 Earl of Mount Edgecumbe passing Stratford-upon-Avon Parkway. 30 June 2024

The 16.44 Stratford-upon-Avon to Worcester Shrub Hill Shakespeare Express, 1Z68, headed by 5043 Earl of Mount Edgecumbe passing the fine traditional GWR station at Stratford Parkway (!) on Sunday 30 June 2024. Vintage Trains' 47773 was used to avoid lengthy turning moves and tender first running as well as giving 5043 with its 8 coaches train a bit of a shove on the 1/75 climb to Wilmcote.

[@deauvilledad07]

Nice video of the copper top. Well done 🤓

[@petertandy4430]

Cheers Tony,
I do like to see one or two of these local workings and our afternoon walk coincided nicely with the timings today - hence no still shot but just a ;phone video.

[@87030blackdouglas]

Nice. I saw this by chance at Blackwell Court (nr Brant Green) whilst on Cub Camp!

[@petertandy4430]

Hi Jason,
Good to hear from you - long time no see. I bet the Castle sounded pretty decent there. I saw a video of it on the Lickey - it looked a bit odd because it wasn't being fired (no dark smoke) and the safety valves were lifting. I would have thought the fireman would have been working pretty hard all the way up with no steam to spare! The 47 sounded a bit thrashy, mind you!
All the best
Pete

[@87030blackdouglas]

Hi, yes, it has certainly been a while since I last saw you, but then I don`t get out lineside much these days. It certainly did sound decent and plenty of smoke.
Hopefully bump into you again one day.
Jason