45407 The Lancashire Fusilier blasts out of Edge Hill Tunnels! | Day 8, Great Britain XVI | 20/04/24

Today’s video sees me chasing LMS ‘Black 5’ Class 4-6-0 44871 double heading with LMS ‘Black 5’ Class 4-6-0 45407 the Lancashire Fusilier, hauling Day 2 of RYTC’s “Great Britain XVI”, which is a 9 day tour covering all the best and most scenic routes in Britain! The tour goes from London and back, this year passing the Kent Coast, through the Cotswolds, up through the Cumbrian Fells and spending a few days in Scotland, before it will return back to London via Central Wales and the Great Western Mainline. Day 8 originated in Liverpool Lime Street, heading up Edge Hill Bank with only 45407 at the helm (44871 was attached to the front at Chester), past Runcorn, Frodsham and Chester, then down the Welsh Marches through Ruabon to Shrewsbury. At that it headed to Craven Arms, took the Heart of Wales line to Llanelli and will terminate in Swansea this evening.
With the departure from Liverpool being very early morning and full sun being forecast, expectations were high, and it also meant I had to start the day from Wolverhampton to secure a spot, taking the 5:15 Avanti service to Warrington, followed by Transpennine Express to Liverpool Lime Street. After waiting for a few hours, 45407 proved to be more than up to the challenge of climbing out of Liverpool and through Lime Street Tunnels! With a heavy set of coaches on and very limited diesel assistance, it duly slogged its way up, sounding great resounding through the cutting originally made by the creators of the Liverpool & Manchester Railway nearly 200 years ago, and beautifully lit by the morning sun. I then made my way down into Liverpool, taking a Merseyrail service to Chester and overtaking the fives, taking the 10:20 service to Shrewsbury. A hop down the Welsh Marches saw me arrive at Church Stretton, where I walked to All Stretton. I waited at the crossing for the fives, unfortunately they were a bit late which meant the sun went in for a moment, but they sounded great working up the slight incline. After that I took the 13:07 back towards home, and stopped off at the SVR gala.
Thank you to all who made today possible, including my company today ‪@SAYFILMPRODUCTIONS‬, ‪@04clemea‬ and particularly ‪@blackcountrysteamvideos8021‬ who very kindly let me stop overnight in order to start the day at Wolverhampton and manned the second camera at All Stretton. Thanks also to WCR, the Black 5s and their crew for the impressive performances and thanks to Avanti, Transpennine, Northern and TfW for providing trains that all ran virtually on time! The weather also deserves a thanks as it’s been a beautiful day. I hope you enjoy this as I did!

[@kevinheaton9213]

Thank you for such a brilliant video regards kevin😊

[@crunchynutsteamfilms5043]

Thank you very much, I'm very glad you enjoyed it! Regards, Dan

[@ragarse3]

Another fab video, thanks. I am always amazed at the skill of previous century engineers, whether that be the locomotives (is there anything more satisfying than seeing a double header thrashing along in great synchronisation) or indeed the great tunnel builders - Edge Hill to Lime Street is to my mind one of the great engineering feats rarely recognised. As a pedestrian, looking down from the road displays the great depth of the cuts and the great uniformity - and all by hand. Amazing.

[@crunchynutsteamfilms5043]

Haha absolutely! It's incredible to think of all the history behind the cutting and who has been through it on what locomotives over its nearly 200 years! Certainly an incredible feat of engineering. Thanks for watching and for the comment! Regards, Dan

[@blackcountrysteamvideos8021]

An extremely early start, a long day out but worth it mate. Glad I featured as the star of the show 😂 onto Plymouth mate. Let’s make it count

[@crunchynutsteamfilms5043]

Definitely to all of those mate and I couldn't have it any other way really 😂😂. Plymouth should be excellent man. Regards, Dan

[@thebrummierailenthusiasts5329]

1:03 I like the way it accelerates away from lime street station and charges up through the cutting and into the tunnel and through edge hill station

[@crunchynutsteamfilms5043]

Haha that's why Edge Hill is a good location mate! Regards, Dan

[@thebrummierailenthusiasts5329]

@@crunchynutsteamfilms5043yeah mate

[@Scottchilliwhile]

@@thebrummierailenthusiasts5329a miss hulee scotch bonnet dipped in some Elishas special ‘fiery love juice’ chilli oil. Sure to burn your mouth completely off. It’s got your name all over it.

[@mobilephil244]

Glorious. I wonder at what point a "bridge" becomes a "tunnel" ?

[@crunchynutsteamfilms5043]

Haha difficult to say really, I've often wondered myself 😂. There are definitely sections of both in the cuttings out of Lime Street, I just used tunnels as it's not inaccurate and sounds better lol. Regards, Dan

[@richardswiderski4985]

Great video Dan I was at Helsby (which you forgot to mention)😂 Sadly as you say it was not double headed.😢

[@crunchynutsteamfilms5043]

Yes I'm unsure why it wasn't to begin with lol, still it was nice to see 45407 on her own as she rarely is. Regards, Dan

[@mumumaaaah]

This is what makes me a steam railfan and I love steam in the United Kingdom and the United States

[@crunchynutsteamfilms5043]

Absolutely, steam is the best traction whatever country you're in! Regards, Dan

[@kellyashfordtrains2642]

Sweet & Steamy.

[@crunchynutsteamfilms5043]

Absolutely. Regards, Dan

[@Ben281]

First again

[@crunchynutsteamfilms5043]

Much appreciated mate 😂. Regards, Dan