A Racehorse Returns - 60532 'Blue Peter's comeback to the ECML, plus 46100 'Royal Scot' - 13/07/2024

In 2002 the Queen celebrated her Golden Jubilee, New Labour was in government and BR(E) Peppercorn Pacific no 60532 'Blue Peter' was withdrawn from service following the expiry of its boiler certificate, after that the A2 spent 12 years on display at various museums until in 2014 it was bought by Jeremy Hosking and moved to Crewe for a comprehensive overhaul, after 7 years of hard work costing £5 Million, 'Blue Peter' returned to steam for the first time in 22 years in March 2024 and following test runs on the Severn Valley Railway and the mainline and a full paint job in BR Express Passenger Blue livery would make a formal return in a rededication ceremony at London Kings Cross on Saturday 13th July 2024, after which the A2 would haul the Chairmans private set on a 188 mile run to York along the East Coast Mainline

On the day itself and away from the limelight of 'Blue Peter', LSG's 46100 'Royal Scot' was to haul to Steam Dreams trip from Haywards Heath to Oxford via the Chiltern Mainline with the Scot joining at Willesden, seen briefly climbing the 1in164 at Saunderton making easy work with the diesel on the rear providing assistance

Over to the ECML for the A2 and we begin at Langford in Bedfordshire as 60532 races along the flat section through the county heading north, picking up 'Blue Peter's action a little later is next caption accelerating away from Helpston Jc at Lolham from both the field and level crossing ready to take on the climb of Stoke
Originally our next shot should've been around Muskham, however the A2 ended up skipping its booked stop in Claypole Loop and subsequently ran near half an hour early, fortunately for us the train ended up being looped at Carlton on Trent which meant we could turn into nearby Tuxford to capture 60532 powering away from the loop at the level crossing
Finally 'Blue Peter' lives up to its namesake of a racehorse as she storms through Burn, nr Hambleton on the final stretch its its trip into York

A very welcoming sight to have another Eastern region sole survivor returning to steam for everyone to enjoy and a huge credit to the team at Crewe for completing the overhaul and having 60532 to once again be admired by her enthusiasts and supporters alike!

Thank you as always to Jack for his assistance in todays chase and for providing the clip at Lolham Crossing on my other camcorder

00:00 46100 Saunderton
01:31 60532 Langford
02:50 60532 Lolham
04:56 60532 Lolham Level Crossing
05:20 60532 Tuxford
06:06 60532 Burn