Uploaded November 2022 | Updated September 2026, 10 hours ago
70000 Britannia heads a Saphos steam hauled excursion to Bath & Bristol in the middle of another drivers rail strike which would see the majority of public passenger trains cancelled. As the steam tour is a private train from a private operator, this would not effect the steam special. The effect of strike would mean 'Greens all the way' for the crew of the Britannia and also near deserted railway stations and along a very quiet railway network.
The outbound leg is seen from four locations. We start off in the suburbs of our hometown Birmingham to see Britannia opening up just in the nick of time after having just joined the Birmingham to Coventry mainline (WCML)at Stechford which is about a mile before us. The next shot would see us head to Banbury in Oxfordshire, where a deserted station would greet us. With the ticket barriers down and not a member of staff in sight, it all felt a bit like the original Covid Lockdown. While it felt very eerie at such a big station, it was very enjoyable to have the platforms to ourselves, except for the late arrivals of a few locals which made it just five people. Eventually the Brit came into sight and sweeped through the left handed curve through the station and it was going nicely despite the shut off.
Next up was Kennington just south of Oxford, where the Brit charges towards Didcot and eventually onto the Great Western Mainline. The final scenes take place on the edge of Bath at Twerton and Newton St Loe. The Saphos steam special is seen exiting Twerton tunnel and then gracefully heading off towards Bristol. This is where the action ends as we're unavailable for the return leg.
I hope you enjoy the video.
70000 Britannia heads a Saphos steam hauled excursion to Bath & Bristol in the middle of another drivers rail strike which would see the majority of public passenger trains cancelled. As the steam tour is a private train from a private operator, this would not effect the steam special. The effect of strike would mean 'Greens all the way' for the crew of the Britannia and also near deserted railway stations and along a very quiet railway network.
The outbound leg is seen from four locations. We start off in the suburbs of our hometown Birmingham to see Britannia opening up just in the nick of time after having just joined the Birmingham to Coventry mainline (WCML)at Stechford which is about a mile before us. The next shot would see us head to Banbury in Oxfordshire, where a deserted station would greet us. With the ticket barriers down and not a member of staff in sight, it all felt a bit like the original Covid Lockdown. While it felt very eerie at such a big station, it was very enjoyable to have the platforms to ourselves, except for the late arrivals of a few locals which made it just five people. Eventually the Brit came into sight and sweeped through the left handed curve through the station and it was going nicely despite the shut off.
Next up was Kennington just south of Oxford, where the Brit charges towards Didcot and eventually onto the Great Western Mainline. The final scenes take place on the edge of Bath at Twerton and Newton St Loe. The Saphos steam special is seen exiting Twerton tunnel and then gracefully heading off towards Bristol. This is where the action ends as we're unavailable for the return leg.
I hope you enjoy the video.
