Today's video is the eagerly awaited return of Clun Castle to the mainline. Indeed, with the return of 7029, it was also the return of GW Steam to the mainline and of the return Shakespeare Express being steam hauled. Last time I saw 7029 was the 21st December 2019, so good they got it repaired so quickly, and indeed she sounded wonderful today. Hopefully this heralds a new beginning for West Midlands Steam, which has been somewhat scarce.
The first location was Danzey, but not the station, rather a hillside to the West. Unfortunately I had forgotten my bike lock so I had to wheel the bike through the fields and haul it over stiles, in true Crunchy Nut Steam Films professional style lol.
For the second location I had remembered my bike lock, so locked that up in the station car park and headed out onto Platform 1 where Clun was really thrashing it along.
The third location tied in with a nice walk around the Warwickshire countryside, and so decided on a repeat of the shot of 45699 Galatea in 2019, at Blunt's Green, although unfortunately the shrubbery has grown comparatively fast. It was there that I was able to catch up with Brian (SYKAROST), thanks for the chat mate!
Then for the final location it was by bike to Widney Manor, where I messed up the zoom a little (Sorry) and met up with Brian again lol.
Really lovely to see 7029 back, we now await 5043! Thanks so much to Vintage Trains, who have braved the worst of luck well, I hope this is a new beginning for them.
I should be travelling on the Shakey on the 5th so probably no lineside footage, but most likely some footage of it turning at Snow Hill and the like. Hopefully there will also be some footage on here of the LSL tour coming down here on the 1st.
Hope you enjoyed!
