7029 Clun Castle roars up the North Warwicks Line! | The Derby Shakespeare Express | 25/10/26

Today’s video features an appearance from WR Castle Class 4-6-0 7029 Clun Castle hauling Vintage Trains’ penultimate Shakespeare Express of the 2025 season. This one was another extended Shakespeare Express, originating at Derby and travelling via Burton and Tamworth before travelling through Birmingham, down the Chiltern Mainline through Solihull to Hatton, from where the diesel took the train into Stratford upon Avon to allow a smokebox first departure on the middle of the day return to Birmingham, out via the Chilktern Mainline through Solihull and return tender first along the North Warwicks Line. The return travelled also along the NWL back to Birmingham and rejoined the outward route back to Derby at Tyseley. Today's weather was extremely blustery and sunny to begin with, calming and clouding over towards the end of the day. I started by driving over to Elford this morning, north of Tamworth. A location only doable by car, it's one I'd been wanting to do for a while and finally got the chance too try it out, though it was so blustery it was a bit difficult to film. Despite that, 7029 came past at some speed, in beautiful sunshine so I was quite pleased. After that, I drove down to Lapworth, to see 7029 once again blast through at some pace, with a lovely whistle. I then moved on to Widney Manor, where I met ‪@blackcountrysteamvideos8021‬ for a bit. 7029 had a pretty tame run past and unfortunately the sun went in moments beforehand but still and enjoyable shot. Later on, I drove over to Danzey Green for the final shot of the day, and how brilliant it was! 7029 came through, slogging up the long 1 in 150 gradient from Bearley to Earlswood, with minimal assistance at the rear (actually a feature of today, much nicer to see) and making some proper noise through the Warwickshire valleys in the dying light. At that, I headed home. Thank you to everyone who made today possible, including VT, 7029 and her crews as well as my car for reliably transporting me around lol. Cheers to everyone I met and spoke to and I hope you enjoy as I certainly did!