Vintage Trains hires Duchess of Sutherland

WITH GWR Castle 4-6-0 No. 5043 Earl of Mount Edgcumbe still waiting for a replacement super heater header (its original was used to return sister engine No. 7029 Clun Castle back into traffic last year), Vintage Trains has hired LMS Princess Coronation No. 6233 Duchess of Sutherland to provide cover until it is fit for main line work again.

The big Stanier 4-6-2 returns for duty on March 12, when it is due to take a train over the Settle and Carlisle line.

The ‘Cumbrian Mountaineer’ will depart Tyseley Locomotive Works platform with diesel haulage as far as Hellifield, where the Duchess takes over for the run to Carlisle.

Following a break, No. 6233 takes the strain by working the return journey over the length of the Settle and Carlisle’s gradients unassisted.

Prior to that, Clun Castle opens the Vintage Trains season on Saturday, March 5 by heading a ‘Welsh Marches Express’ circular tour north to Shrewsbury and then on through Shropshire passing Leominster and Craven Arms before stopping for a break at Hereford.

Return run

On the homeward run, Clun Castle tackles come six miles of an average 1-in-100 climb up the summit at Llafihangel, and then passing Abergavenny and Pontypool Road before taking the Bristol line at Maindee Junction.

From there it heads on though Severn Tunnel to Swindon and Didcot, before making for Birmingham via Oxford.

March 26 sees the Castle back in action, working a trip to Chester. Departing Tyseley platform, the ‘Chester Venturer’ heads east to pick up at Coleshill Parkway, Tamworth High Level, Leicester and Nuneaton.

These trains are just a few examples of what Vintage Trains has planned through to June, with 13 departures arranged so far, excluding two ‘Shakespeare Express’ trips from Tyseley to Stratford-upon-Avon on April 23/24.

Seats are available in Pullman, club or tourist class coaches and limited free car parking booked in advance is available to passengers. Tickets can be booked at www.vintagetrains. co.uk