Double Header at Hemerdon - GWR 5043 & 7029 triumph unassisted over the West Country banks! - 2024

7029 Clun Castle and 5043 Earl of Mount Edgcumbe lead a memorable visit to the West Country, with a double header day trip to Plymouth. Starting in Birmingham, 1Z20 was hauled by 2 Class 20 locomotives. Upon arrival into Bristol, two GWR Castle Class steam locomotives, No.7029 Clun Castle and No.5043 Earl of Mount Edgcumbe, inherited the lead of the tour. There were no problems attacking Whiteball and Rattery, despite being completely unassisted. The two Class 20s shadowed the tour in case of a failure. Whilst passengers enjoyed a sunny afternoon in Plymouth, the train was turned at Laira triangle, fueled and prepared for the return to Birmingham. 4 months ago, 7029 failed to climb Hemerdon; a repeat of such was not expected on this particular occasion. In chronological order, shots were taken at:

00:00 Double header Castles
00:10 Whiteball
01:33 Rattery
03:23 Hemerdon
05:59 Class 20s

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Disclaimer : No trespassing was committed in the making of this video, all shots were taken at stations, roads or footpaths.

[wgj]

Unassisted steam is the only way to see hear and enjoy the majesty of the steam locomotive. Have ghost diesels by all means. I have enjoyed a number of the early GREAT BRITAINS S but until Nigel, s original modus operandi is restored I will enjoy this wonderful show of power put on by Tyseley.

[abloogywoogywoo]

Epic climb from the double header.
Also, its funny how the 20s resemble a class 58 running together.

[WesternSpot]

Saw this amazing rail tour at Bristol Temple Meads such an awesome whistle and departure. Lovely video btw😁

[trainandbikefan]

I was busy with some DIY in our garden when I heard them storming past Norton Fitzwarren - Fabulous sound and thanks for another great sequence!!

[stulaine]

I was standing on the bridge with you, but kept my phone in my pocket knowing you would put up this superbly edited movie. When I was 16 I had a cheap Japanese Standard 8mm camera you had 4min 10 seconds and had to turn the cassette over without letting light on to the film - now you can produce thi quality for as long as you like.

[neilewart]

I was a passenger on the train. Really do appreciate these shots or the train from the lineside.

[larx]

Terrific!! Well done on a very windy day, many thanks for sharing. Cheerz, Alan.

[tims]

Just watched them climb up to whiteball through burlescombe. Beautiful sounds ❤ thanks for the footage ❤

[andrewross]

Thank you very much for uploading this video.

[bantam]

Great video, it was a great day out and the castles sounded superb all day from where I was sat. Only thing better was the 20s up Lickey to top off a superb day

[cornishrailproductions]

Tremendous video once again. 7029 & 5043 sounding amazing climbing the West Country banks, should’ve done that last time to prevent the stall. Nice catch with the 20s too. Gutted I missed it because of college. Hopefully it will happen again next year though.

[helmutsandner]

Awesome video presentation. English Steam locomotives are some of the best looking locomotives.

[FlyingForFunTrecanair]

Cor! What a tremendous sound; electricity (and alcohol free beer) will never be so exciting!

[KC-shunting]

Steam should only ever be assisted by steam. By the way, some sponge foam and an elastic band can get rid of wind noise.

[dukeofdevon]

Nice video. I seen these at Plymouth earlier. I will do hemerdon one day. Nice couple of 20’s too 😎

[drdoolittle]

Crazy! only yesterday I was sitting in the cab ( on YT ) of an electric passenger express climbing Shap at 110, only to have to slow to 80 at the summit, without braking! The drivers knew which marker board to cut the power to arrive at the 80 board bang-on!

[mobilephil]

Beautiful footage. Interesting that even with the combined muscle of two castles, you can still hear them beginning to labour a bit before they triumphantly wipe their asses with the gradient.

[AussiePom]

It reminds me of when 7029 and 5051 did the same thing for the GW 150 in the 1985. But if you look at old archive footage the GWR and BR western region always had a pilot engine assisting the train engine over the Devon banks. In the days of all steam it was a steam loco and later it was a diesel so there's nothing remarkable about this as the spectacle remains the same.

[AndreiTupolev]

12 coaches? That must be every single one Tyseley has

[bassetdad]

two working locos on the train means it was assisted.