5043 - Castle Over Shap - 20/6/09

Great Western motive power has never fared particularly well in the northen fells so the return of a 'Castle' running over Shap was eagerly awaited with many wondering how a she would perform following recent excellent runs by 'Scots Guardsman'.
In my video I think we can see that Great Western pride has been well and truly restored after some spirited running by 5043 'Earl Of Mount Edgcumbe' with this Vintage Trains excursion, steam hauled from Crewe to Carlisle and return. The immaculately turned out loco ran well with a sensible load and excellent footplate crews. The video features scenes at Shap Wells northbound and on the return just after Shap Summit, where the only spot of rain in the entire area landed on the camera lens and, finally, storming through Warrington Bank Quay

[@acw71000]

Thanks, my ears are still ringing after that run, great crew and great engine.

[@acw71000]

Thanks Si, good to meet you too yesterday, and what a day it turned out to be for 5043. Lets hope we see her up here again before too long.

[@acw71000]

Thanks Chris, I would certainly love to see her up here again soon. Glad to see you were able to get up to Greenholme for her, what a stirring sight.

[@acw71000]

Thanks Steve, I think it was a memorable day and I hope we see her up her again before too long.

[@siobhan104]

That last shot through the station Wow!! Excellent stuff.

[@jimyoung2188]

Hooray, good to see her with the true coloured coaches for once, nicely shot, she certainly had her skirts up through Warrington, still my favourite loco well done.

[@acw71000]

Thank you, the Earl has certainly proved herself over the past few years and is a great credit to the professionals at Tyseley

[@acw71000]

Thanks, it was great to hear the roar of a 'Castle' up in the north and proving all the doubters wrong.

[@valhemp]

Another beautifully filmed railway experience. Thanx I always enjoy your videos.

[@Heck9001]

Great film. I believe 5043's climb is considered one of the performance highlights of 2009 so your pictures are to savour. I like the 'panoramic' approach to shooting Shap - nicely done; and the Warrington shot is absolutely tremendous! Many thanks!

[@acw71000]

Thanks, it was certainly a memorable day.

[@acw71000]

Thank you, all steam specials seem to put on a good show at Warrington, glad you enjoyed it.

[@acw71000]

Cheers, a great performance by the engine and her crew.

[@austinmetro6317]

Fantastic film of the power of steam

[@acw71000]

Thank you, it was a great display by the Earl and her crew on that day

[@acw71000]

Thanks, it was a memorable day.

[@acw71000]

Thank you very much for your very kind comments. I'm pleased you enjoy the videos.

[@acw71000]

Many thanks Mark, I did want the train in the landscape effect but I think I may have had the sound turned down too much on the camera. Although the wind was relatively light it was blowing away from us unfortunately. But what a triumphant day it was for everyone involved with the loco. Good to meet you at last as well.

[@Creepycottages]

I have several similar - I remember again in the early sixties we had a caravan near Barmouth North Wales. There used to be a junction Morfa Mawdach (cambrian coast to Shrewsbury) - there was a nice bar in the Station we used to be taken as kids - I remember the drivers allowing us on the footplate ! Can't remember what loco's but it sure was a priviledge !

[@acw71000]

Many thanks Alan, I think the Earl is proving a few doubters wrong with her performances

[@acw71000]

Yes thats right, first time since 1967. Great performance by 5043 and her crew.

[@thunderchild21]

Wonderful video again Austin. Being a passenger on the train I'm happy that was well worth the money I paid. Well Done. Jeff

[@GJDobbzy]

what a lovely video mate. it is nice to see a castle class running as well as that. the senary there is breath taking and some how the castle blend in like it run there ever day. nice video 5 stars

[@Creepycottages]

Reminded me of the time I was at Perry Barr (Birmingham) station early 60's and a heavy goods (bound for Bescot ?) came howling through the station - it made me jump out of my skin ! Very good video and wonderful blast through the station !

[@acw71000]

Thanks very much Jeff, I'm sure you are still on a high after such an exhilarating run. The noise at Warrington was tremendous.

[@1Goldsteam]

Wonderful to watch, thank you very much for posting. Alan

[@acw71000]

Thanks Andy, she certainly ran well with the great Bill Andrew driving and Tyseley men on the shovel.

[@SBsteamtrainvideos]

What a noice going through Warrington! Obviously the crew were on top form.

[@TAMWORTHFAN]

A fine performance from a fine locomotive.

[@JimTLonW6]

Excellent video, I'm sure those on the train will never forget it! The Warrington shot reminds me of once on Reading Station when a train came through on the centre road at full tilt; I think it was a King but it could have been a Castle, the effect was sensational anyway!

[@acw71000]

Thanks, I've always thought there is something a bit special about station shots at night especially with steam

[@acw71000]

Indeed it was, we can enjoy her sound for 10 more years too.

[@Heck9001]

Hi acw; agreed about Scout Green. I grew up reading about photographers recording the end of steam on Shap. How they set up their tents in 'the copse' at Scout Green (still visible today in your film) for all night vigils getting 'gen' from the 'bobbie' at lonely Scout Green box with its leaning chimney. So Scout Green attained iconic status in my mind - just think of the sights and sounds that box must have witnessed! Keep up the good work in 2010.

[@acw71000]

Thanks very much

[@acw71000]

That's one of the memories you don't forget, I'm sure footplate crews put on a bit of a show when passing through a station. Thanks very much for your kind comments

[@acw71000]

Thanks very much, yes it was a great performance by loco and crew on Shap. I love Scout Green for the wonderful panorama it offers and you can lose the wires a little.

[@21C123]

Excellent footage! 5*

[@SteamAgePictures]

That's the way to do it! Lovely shots, Austin. You got the zoom just right on the long Shap Wells shot, and the pan was very steady too. Given how much the trees and flag were waving around, the soundtrack is earily quiet to begin with; just a bit of birdsong. Very effective! 5*

[@peterpullen958]

Fabulous.

[@acw71000]

Agreed, it was a brilliant performance from the Castle and her crew, showing what a Western engine could do in the right hands

[@andalfi1]

Absolutely superb camera work there Austin, can't see where it could have been bettered. Never really been a G.W. fan, but looks quite impressive here (even with one bogie less than the Scot)!

[@khankadet]

Excellent footage Austin. I do hope it's not the last we see of her - Western engines have a fine bark to them. Chris

[@hurleyfunbags]

Fantastic! That's how it should be done!

[@acw71000]

Thanks very much Joe, could have done with a bit more sound in the first shot but the very slight wind was blowing in the wrong direction.

[@Teenagetrainphotos]

Woww Austin! Three fantastic clips! Credit to yourself :D Great to meet you aswell... Keep the great stuff coming :P Si

[@sandletters39]

This must have been the second time that a "Castle" was seen over Shap. The first was in Oct 67 with a then 17 yr old Clun Castle when steam still operated with normal turns and coincidently, these two "Castles" in this subject had double chimnies.

[@AndreiTupolev]

Don't forget Launceston Castle was tried out by the LMS back in 1926, and they supposedly wanted to buy some from the GW, but ended up ordering the Scots.

[@sandletters39]

I must have heard about that but I have forgotten about it.

[@acw71000]

Thanks Mike, yes we were up there being bitten by hundreds of little midges!!!

[@rab4472]

Another excellent production Austin. Where you in the field by the monument? Mike

[@AndreiTupolev]

It worked as far as Carlisle, so they say, so it must have done.

[@sandletters39]

Did it race over Shap at that time?

[@KWVRMAD]

5*!