LMS Black Five 44871 speeds along the East Coast with The Edinburgh Flyer! | 23/3/24

Today’s video sees me chasing LMS ‘Black 5’ Class 4-6-0 44871 hauling RYTC’s “The Edinburgh Flyer” tour from York to Edinburgh and return up the East Coast Main Line (ECML) via Darlington, Durham, Newcastle and Berwick Upon Tweed! The weather for the day was quite a mixed bag, sunshine and showers but with one common denominator of being very windy! This video includes the first steam filming I’ve ever done in Scotland.
I started out my day in Keighley after attending the KWVR gala yesterday, and headed first to Leeds and then to York where 44871 and stock hadn’t yet moved into the platform. Unfortunately, the tour left Holgate loop quite late and this meant I missed my planned train to Northallerton, but my assumption was the signallers would hold it for a TP service not long after. I tried to film at York, but upon departure I was smoked out and battered by wind so I didn’t include it. Continuing North, I hoped to film at Northallerton but Tyneside control were presumably throwing a party at that moment because a series of very odd decisions kept 44871 in front of my train and my train to be delayed by over 15 minutes by Newcastle. This meant I heard 44871’s departure whistle as I got off my train and thus the shot I got there was abandoned too. Having lost 3 shots already, I headed to Berwick, slightly irritated, and grabbed the 235 bus to Burnmouth on the coastal section of the ECML by the A1. This shot was very pretty and I was quite happy with my wind jamming efforts too as the wind was very strong.
After that I made my way on foot to Reston station for the evening shots. I wanted to try out a spot near Reston but looking at the clouds I didn’t want to be caught in the rain so wisely chose the station so I could shelter. Despite a very close call with an LNER IET, I think the Reston shot works well, especially as the regulator was opened just in front of the camera and it was good to try out the new station. After that I took at Transpennine train back down to Alnmouth, where I set up with the signal box in view. Again it was a very difficult call with a northbound IET but it thankfully cleared and 44871 came rocketing through. I then took a little Northern unit down to Newcastle, and in another questionable decision by Tyneside control which went in my favour, we overtook 44871 at Morpeth even though we weren’t scheduled to! The next shot therefore shows a loud but slippy departure from Platform 3 at Newcastle Central! After that I ran over to Platform 4 and grabbed an LNER IET bound for Doncaster back home.
Thank you for all who made today possible, to 44871 and her crew, to RYTC and WCR and to the trains and buses that got me around. I’m a bit ambivalent to Tyneside control after today as they both inconvenienced and helped me lol. I hope you enjoyed as I did!

[@ragarse3]

Smashing vid thanks. Black Fives always underrated. I am a bit coy that as a young boy the Jubs, with their exotic empire names, were my favourites. As I grew up it dawned on me that the Stanier Black Fives had qualities outranking exotic names! It seems remarkable now how the pounding which the running gear took to transfer all that energy, beautifully captured in these vids,to the rails didnt shake the beast to bits. Ah but we could design and build stuff then!

[@crunchynutsteamfilms5043]

Thank you, I'm, really glad that you enjoyed it! I too am following in your footsteps as I prefer the Jubilees myself but maybe I'll have converted in the future lol! And yes, all of them are fine pieces of engineering, modern traction doesn't come close. Regards, Dan

[@martinchamberlain542]

I used to love the Jubilees as well. I swear I learned a lot of history and geography as a result of their nameplates! The black fives have always been great performers as well, though. Great video, many thanks.

[@crunchynutsteamfilms5043]

Haha the nameplates are certainly an interesting reminder of a bygone era! I do like the Jubliee roar, when performing at speed. They're lovely machines. Regards, Dan

[@WestCountrySteamVideos]

Great video mate! That opening shot at Burnmouth was incredible! Kind regards Tom

[@crunchynutsteamfilms5043]

Thank you very much man! I've wanted to do something like that shot for a while, glad I finally managed! Regards, Dan

[@thebrummierailenthusiasts5329]

0:18 This is where the line crosses the Scotland and England border

[@crunchynutsteamfilms5043]

That's more or less it Scott, I was very close to the border! Regards, Dan

[@thebrummierailenthusiasts5329]

@@crunchynutsteamfilms5043indeed Dan

[@richardswiderski4985]

Great video Dan If it was like Cheshire is was very windy and cold😂 Glad you managed to overtake her in the end.Good to see some action up North.Take care.

[@crunchynutsteamfilms5043]

Haha exactly the same up North mate 😂😂. I did manage but it was not the easiest thing I've ever done lol. Take care yourself mate. Regards, Dan

[@thebrummierailenthusiasts5329]

2:26 looks like the wind is blowing against your camera

[@crunchynutsteamfilms5043]

It was mate, the wind was really bad that day. Regards, Dan

[@thebrummierailenthusiasts5329]

@@crunchynutsteamfilms5043yeah

[@CC-Cobalt-1043]

I saw it at Newcastle this morning

[@crunchynutsteamfilms5043]

I hope it was great! Regards, Dan

[@kellyashfordtrains2642]

Gimme more.

[@crunchynutsteamfilms5043]

Haha happily! My next video of the Black 5 should be quite soon. Regards, Dan