7029 Clun Castle snakes through Warwickshire countryside! | The Shakespeare Express Week 5 | 18/8/24

Today’s video features Week 5 of Vintage Trains’ regular Shakespeare Express services! WR Castle Class 4-6-0 7029 Clun Castle was once more in charge today. Last week she was accompanied throughout by Tyseley’s Class 47 47773, but due to the fire risk level having been lowered to green following a few rainy days since then, she did this run solo as usual. 'The Shakey' performs 2 return trips from Birmingham Snow Hill to Stratford Upon Avon; out tender first via the North Warwicks Line through Henley in Arden and returning smokebox first via the Chiltern Mainline through Dorridge and Solihull. The weather for the day was meant to be sunny yet cloudy and the day managed to be just that.
During the Shakespeare this year I've tried to get South of Dorridge for some of the runs and although I wasn't successful for the morning run I was for the afternoon one, ticking off a location I've not seen done in a long time and one that I've been meaning to do! Despite not being south of Dorridge on the morning run, I still managed somewhere quite unique, along the footpath between Bentley Heath Crossing and Poplar Road. The footpath is currently extremely overgrown, so whilst I did have to hack at some bushes to get onto it lol I managed to find the vantage point somewhat doable. 7029 rounds the corner from Dorridge in style, racing along the straight and whistling past the camera. After that I headed back home for some supplies. For the afternoon run I drove down to Langley near Claverdon on the short section of single line between Bearley Junction and Hatton West Junction. There's a wealth of locations on that route and a pleasant panning shot can be found at the brow of a hill just East of Langley. 7029 is seen cantering through the beautiful countryside with a few whistles, capturing perfectly what the Shakey is all about! After that I returned home.
Thank you as always to VT, 7029 and her crew for making the video possible and I hope you enjoy the result!

[@GreatBritishRailways1]

Dan, Good to see some new locations for the Shakespeare and nicely captured. Regards, John

[@crunchynutsteamfilms5043]

Cheers John, I definitely felt the need to spice things up a tad lol. Regards, Dan

[@teamtrains]

Amazing catch of clun castle

[@crunchynutsteamfilms5043]

Thank you very much! Regards, Dan

[@kellyashfordtrains2642]

Long live God's Wonderful Railway.

[@crunchynutsteamfilms5043]

Most certainly! Regards, Dan

[@robertbate5790]

Difficult to recognise now, but I'm surprised the path is still there. The houses behind you left are built on a filled in brick pit. Opposite there used to be the war time Ministry of Supply depot, connected to the down relief near the crossing. Up main just where you are standing is part of the scene of derailment of the Birkenhead Paddington goods that also demolished the front of the signal box, circa '65.

[@crunchynutsteamfilms5043]

Cheers for the memories as usual, all of that sounds familiar from photos I've seen of the area back in the day! It's lovely to know authentic locomotives still travel along here. Regards, Dan

[@robertbate5790]

@@crunchynutsteamfilms5043 ABSOLUTELY, cheers Dan. 👍👍