This very special main line steam outing had its origin in the late 2010s when Vintage Trains need to raise capital to form a Community Benefit Society to ensure the future of its Tyseley operations. (A fuller description of the background to this is at https://pjhtransportpix.zenfolio.com/p62784574 ). A major incentive offered to prospective shareholders was that they would have exclusive and free access to the first railtour to be doubleheaded by two Tyseley Castles, as soon as they were both available for mainline use. The Society was duly established but faced many challenges and delays in reaching this point, but at last the date for this trip was announced. So it was that on a cold damp winter morning, hundreds gathered at Birmingham Snow Hill for the excursion to Didcot. No 7029 Clun Castle, running tender first, headed the train of ten coaches from Tyseley into the platform, then ran round to couple up to No 5043 Earl of Mount Edgcumbe at the other end whilst over 300 passengers boarded. We set off down the tunnel to Birmingham Moor Street and our speed rose gradually to 41 through Tyseley and 59 at Solihull before braking for a stop at Widney Manor for the remaining passengers to board. After Dorridge the pair of Castles really opened up and reached 69, then braked sharply before Hatton. Off again down the bank, we hit 69 at Warwick Parkway, easing to 64 through Warwick and were then checked again, passing Leamington Spa at 33. Despite the rising gradient to Fenny Compton, we were soon into the high 60s, and we reached 75 down through Cropredy and rattled through Banbury at 66. We did 68 at Kings Sutton, 72 through Heyford and then more checks, ending in a dead stop at Yarnton, as we were running ahead of time. Restarting, we reached 60 after Oxford North Junction, but were checked again, running through the middle of Oxford station at 33. We continued in fits and starts to our destination, Didcot Parkway. Today’s event was provided jointly by Vintage Trains and the Didcot Railway Centre, who were hosting the lineup of the four Castles in front of their impressive engine shed. Didcot Parkway station provided a grandstand view of our two locomotives as they shunted our stock to a siding then passed us again to reverse down into the shed yard. Moving then to the centre, we saw the impressive lineup of No 4079 Pendennis Castle in steam, No 5043, No 5051 Drysllwyn Castle and No 7029. Behind them was a further varied array of GWR motive power and a Prairie tank and two vintage coaches on the shuttle. All too soon it was time for the journey home. With No 5043 now on the point, our start from Didcot Parkway was pedestrian but after Culham we stormed away reaching 67 at Kennington, charging at 65 through the middle road at Oxford, 70 at Oxford North Junction and 68 at Kidlington. After a slowing at Tackley, we were swiftly back into the 60s and reached 73 at Aynho and 72 at Kings Sutton before slowing for our water stop at Banbury. We then had a noisy getaway and reached 57 at Cropredy and 75 at Fenny Compton. We continued in the high 60s and low 70s to the outskirts of Leamington. We had a period of slow running through to the other side of Warwick, possibly because we had caught up a Chiltern dmu which left Banbury just before us. While we were idling at 9 mph, the locomotives whistled to each other and off we went. My note at the time read “Cacophony of two fine engines giving their all”. We accelerated to 40 at Warwick Parkway and on up the climb of Hatton bank, reaching the northbound summit at 65 and Hatton North Junction at 70. Soon we reached 75, and on we ran past Lapworth until slowing for Dorridge and then the Widney Manor stop. After such an exhilarating sprint, we ambled over the last leg, finishing with a rousing blast up the hill through the tunnel from Moor Street. It had been a magnificent day. Thank you, Vintage Trains!
