The sun shines for 7029 "Clun Castle" on 'The Polar Express'. Filmed Saturday 25th November 2023, released Sunday 26th November 2023.
November & December 2023 saw the return of Vintage Trains' annual 'Polar Express' trips for it's fourth year, this time running from Birmingham Moor Street to both Dorridge & the new destination of Whitlocks End (AKA 'The North Poles'). On the day of my visit, it was the turn of BR(W) 'Castle' No. 7029 "Clun Castle" to take the reins and perform 5 round trips per day with Class 47 No. 47773 on the rear.
We start the day with 7029 "Clun Castle" on it's first return run of the day at Bentley Heath Crossing accelerating onto the busy Chiltern Main Line. Previously to this, we saw 47773 on the approach to Bentley Heath Crossing in some spectacular sunlight. We then headed for the end of Widney Manor Station car park, where we were in time to see 7029 "Clun Castle" once again, this time barrelling towards us proving the great majesty of the 'Castle' class with a shrill blast of the whistle. Then, after a long wait in the freezing winter conditions at Shirley Station, we were greeted with the sight of 47773 once again trundling past us with the third outbound run of the day, this time to Whitlocks End rather than Dorridge. Then the magic started as 7029 "Clun Castle" tundered through Shirley Station under the cover of darkness evoking the memories of days gone by with steam at night. We were incredibly lucky with this shot as a southbound West Midlands Railway service only cleared Platform 1 seconds before 7029 "Clun Castle" came into view. Following this, two more lower quality clips are featured at both Widney Manor Station and Shirley Station. By this point we called it a day after heading down to Birmingham in the morning to catch Ex-LMS 'Royal Scot' No. 46115 "Scots Guardsman" on 'The Capital Christmas Express' (Link here • 46115 "Scots Guardsman... ).
Locations featured, with timestamps & locomotives:
-00:00, Intro
-00:11, 7029 + 47773, Bentley Heath Crossing
-01:57, 47773 + 7029, Bentley Heath Crossing
-03:27, 7029 + 47773, Widney Manor Station car park
-04:56, 47773 + 7029, Shirley Station
-06:19, 7029 + 47773, Shirley Station
-07:11, Notice
-07:26, 7029 + 47773, Widney Manor Station
-08:23, 7029 + 47773, Shirley Station
-09:13, Outro
Locomotives:
-BR Class 47 No. D1755/47773
-BR(W) Class 4073 'Castle' No. 7029 "CLUN CASTLE"
Locomotives UK