60 years ago, 7029 Clun Castle hauled the famous Z48 Railtour also known as the 'Great Western High Speed Railtour' which was an Ian Allan Railtour back on the 9th of May 1964. With Clun Castle in mainLIne steam, it was always a dream to send 7029 Clun Castle back to Plymouth to commemorate the event. Vintage Trains decided that the locomotive was to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Z48 railtour by hauling the train all the way from Birmingham down to Bristol before running unassisted to Plymouth, before returning back to Bristol before heading to Lonon Paddington and then returning to Birmingham, the following day. The special event was a two day special from the 10th of May to the 11th. This was a great way to celebrate my 30th Birthday and a Great Western Castle unassisted up the South Devon Banks was the perfect 30th birthday present.
The weather promised blue skies and sunshine, and we got it on both days with few hazy clouds which meant that the lighting was not lost. My first shot was at Dorsley Park on Rattery Bank on the outskirts of Totnes. I arrived in good time in position. The bridge was incredibly busy as the sun was in the right place when Clun Castle was due up. The engine was slightly late, however she made up a few minutes and was only 3 minutes late through Totnes. The famous Great Western Bark was a joy to behold as for the first time, probably since the 1980's, Clun Castle was hauling a tour to Plymouth. The engine sounded perfectly tackling the fiercing Rattery Bank, and even better an IET train passed us just a few seconds later, which was lucky.
The next day I went straight to Hemerdon. However, my planned spots were already taken and so I decided to head to Hemerdon Sidings, which has changed a bit since I was last there. However, little did I know that there was a dramatic event that was to happen to Clun Castle. The engine nearly made it up Hemerdon in one piece, but just fell short of the summit and subsequently STALLED! Apparently, the rumours circulating that the reason for the stall was due to vegetation being overgrown in places and tangled with the coaches brakes meaning the brakes were dragging. As a result, Clun Castle came to a stop. Happily, a diesel was a path behind the loco. O permission was made for the diesel to be attached to the train to get her up the bank. The engine finally left half an hour late, however she sounded pretty good through the old Hemerdon Sidings.
Afterwards, I went straight to Burlescombe to capture Clun Castle climbing Whiteball Bank towards Bristol. The engine made up some time and now with a diesel on the back being pretty much dead weight, meaning that the load was heavier for Clun Castle. The engine thundered through 5 minutes late and sounding back to her usual self and sounding on form as she roared up Whiteball Bank. Afterwards, I went to St Annes in Bristol to capture a sight, which was incredibly common back in steam days, as a great western Castle leaves Bristol heading for London. Clun Castle was stabled for coal and water, and during the mid afternoon she left Bristol bang on time for her non stop run to London. The engine sounded really good leaving Bristol and she put her Hemerdon troubles behind her and made it to London nearly on time, which isn't bad considering.
It was a brilliant two days and even better news was to come. Vintage Trains are nowdoing a double header special with 7029 Clun Castle and 5043 Earl of Mount Edgcumbe in September up the South Devon Banks to Plymouth unassisted. I cannot wait for that day and will hopefully give Vintage Trains more reasons to use their amazing fleet more often down in the South West.
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