60103 Flying Scotsman to St Blazey. The Royal Duchy 30th April 2023

A very special day indeed as a railway icon in her Centenary Year makes a welcome reunion.

We pick up the action as 60103 tackles Tigley and Rattery Banks in "close up" due to the poor visibility. The local farmer has set up a grandstand with a trailer, a lovely gesture for the assembled crowd at this popular spot.

On then to even larger crowds gathered at Saltash Station where Network Rail staff are in attendance to keep everyone “safe”. By chance the Plymouth bound service trains from Penzance, one of which would have blocked the “up” platform, were running 10mins late leaving the view clear for everyone, a real piece of good fortune! In improving visibility “Scotsman” crosses Brunel’s famous bridge over the Tamar and on in to Cornwall as we film amid an excited throng.

However if we are talking: “crowds”, the St Blazey Roundhouse and Turntable was definitely the place to be as all of Cornwall, it seemed, came out to see the much anticipated restored “Grade 2 listed” turntable in action again and what better steam locomotive to inaugurate it than the nation's favourite ? The whole event became a jamboree with cheers, applause, local dignitaries, restoration teams receiving much official acclaim and the second camera remotely controlled on a 10 foot pole recording the only uninterrupted view from the public side of the fence!! I have to admit that 60103 looked absolutely splendid mounted on the newly painted turntable.

For the final shots of the day we chose the climb through Bodmin Parkway, taking a chance with the stopping “down” service train and the Glynn valley where the line is rapidly disappearing behind the growing forestry as a strong gusty breeze blows but I think we just about got away with it!


A truly wonderful day to remember!!

Chapters:

0:00 Titles, Tigley & Rattery Banks
2:13 Saltash & Tamar Bridge
4:53 St Blazey turntable
9:09 Bodmin Parkway & Glynn Valley