Transport

The Shakespeare Express is a regular summer season, steam-hauled, service between Birmingham Snow Hill and Stratford-upon-Avon operated by Vintage Trains using Tyseley's locomotives. Great Western Railway Hall 4-6-0 4965 Rood Ashton Hall is seen at Snow Hill. The modern concrete station is not very fitting! HFF and have a great weekend.

Always good for an impressive display Southern King Arthur N15 4-6-0 30777 Sir Lamiel storms up the hill out of Loughborough during the 2011 Winter Gala. GREAT NEWS! National collection locomotive N15, King Arthur class, No. 777, Sir Lamiel is set to return to steam following a new overhaul agreement with the 5305 Locomotive Association. The overhaul will take place to main line standards with work due to start later this year and due to be completed in 2023. To support the overhaul we have launching the Knights of the Round Table appeal. www.sirlamiel.org.uk/index.php/knights-of-the-round-table/

Light & shadow on the footplate of narrow gauge steam locomotive Mallet 2-4-6-0 E18 built by Henschel in 1923. Now preserved.

British Railways Britannia Class 4-6-2 70013 Oliver Cromwell scatters the seagulls as it speeds southwards on the East Coast Main Line near Scrooby, just south of Bawtry. HFF and have great (if a bit hot) weekend!

Under the spreading old oak tree... A shot of the 10am from Loughborough - the GCR's first public train since 15th March 2020 - climbing the gradient from under the A46 bridge on the approach to Birstall behind 9F 2-10-0 92214. HFF & have a great weekend.

The 'Thank You NHS' Spitfire PR.XI PL983 flew over Leicester Royal Infirmary today to thank all the frontline healthcare staff who have worked so hard throughout the coronavirus pandemic.

Entering Bingley station on the Midland Railway's Aire Valley line Stanier 5XP Jubilee 4-6-0 45699 Galatea gives a good impression of a 1967 express, a time when the real 45562 Alberta used to pass this way. Shame about the wires... This is the returning Carlisle-York Waverley railtour at 19.41 running 1 minute early and she was really cracking along.

Back before the world went off the rails! Dawn over Loughborough engine shed and Stanier 5MT 4-6-0 45305 is brewing up.

The girls show an interest in GWR Manor 4-6-0 7827 Lydham Manor on the 10.30 Dartmouth to Paignton train. Or is their interest directed more at the young fireman?? The Dart Valley Railway plc was formerly known as the Torbay Steam Railway but today operates as the Dartmouth Steam Railway. It was the only heritage line running trains in the Southwest during our holiday.