Uploaded August 2022 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
July 24, 2022 was a cool and rainy day in the English Midlands. Despite this, most of the railways in the area were still running diesel only or with very limited steam due to the extreme heatwave that had baked the country earlier in the week. I had intended to film "Clun Castle" on the Shakespeare Express to Stratford-upon-Avon but with Network Rail's steam ban still in effect I decided to try my luck in Shropshire. After a quick visit to Ironbridge, often called the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution and home to the world's first iron bridge built in 1779, I headed to the nearby Blists Hill Victorian Town, a living history museum telling the story of life in the 19th century. They were hosting a steam weekend, with four visiting miniature traction engines roaming the property. I then headed south to the Severn Valley Railway. I had hoped to see the Bullied Pacific "Taw Valley" which has been painted purple in celebration of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee this summer, however it had been stored elsewhere and the engine in steam was BR 43106, an ex-LMS 2-6-0. Normally on a summer weekend they would be running three steam locomotives over the line, however due to the fire risk earlier in the week all services were dieselized and steam was limited to footplate rides within Bridgnorth yard. As much as I would have liked to have spent the day chasing I have to admit it was a great experience to get to ride on the footplate of a British steam loco, even if only for a short distance. After my ride, I backtracked north towards the Royal Air Force Museum in Cosford. On the way I made a detour to the Telford Steam Railway, a very short line that on this day was running their Peckett 0-4-0T "Rocket." I was only there for a few minutes but getting to see the cute little saddletank climb the grade out of the station was a great way to end my time with UK steam. After touring the RAF museum, not seen in the video, I finally headed back to Birmingham International Airport to drop off my rental car and get ready for my return flight to America early the next morning.
July 24, 2022 was a cool and rainy day in the English Midlands. Despite this, most of the railways in the area were still running diesel only or with very limited steam due to the extreme heatwave that had baked the country earlier in the week. I had intended to film "Clun Castle" on the Shakespeare Express to Stratford-upon-Avon but with Network Rail's steam ban still in effect I decided to try my luck in Shropshire. After a quick visit to Ironbridge, often called the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution and home to the world's first iron bridge built in 1779, I headed to the nearby Blists Hill Victorian Town, a living history museum telling the story of life in the 19th century. They were hosting a steam weekend, with four visiting miniature traction engines roaming the property. I then headed south to the Severn Valley Railway. I had hoped to see the Bullied Pacific "Taw Valley" which has been painted purple in celebration of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee this summer, however it had been stored elsewhere and the engine in steam was BR 43106, an ex-LMS 2-6-0. Normally on a summer weekend they would be running three steam locomotives over the line, however due to the fire risk earlier in the week all services were dieselized and steam was limited to footplate rides within Bridgnorth yard. As much as I would have liked to have spent the day chasing I have to admit it was a great experience to get to ride on the footplate of a British steam loco, even if only for a short distance. After my ride, I backtracked north towards the Royal Air Force Museum in Cosford. On the way I made a detour to the Telford Steam Railway, a very short line that on this day was running their Peckett 0-4-0T "Rocket." I was only there for a few minutes but getting to see the cute little saddletank climb the grade out of the station was a great way to end my time with UK steam. After touring the RAF museum, not seen in the video, I finally headed back to Birmingham International Airport to drop off my rental car and get ready for my return flight to America early the next morning.
