60007 Sir Nigel Gresley battles the rain on the ECML - 02.03.24

For the first time in ages, the sight of a BR Express Blue A4 on it's home turf returned, as 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley took charge of the Steam Dreams excursion from London to York, outward via Grantham and returning via Lincoln.

The video begins on the day prior to the railtour, with the ECS movement from Crewe to Southall, captured at Cheddington as the A4 passes at a great pace, with a West Midlands Trains service clearing the platform just in the nick of time.

The next day, the weather had turned extremely grim, with endless rain seeming to never disappear. Beginning at a busy Welwyn North the A4 powers away from a passenger pickup at Welwyn Garden City, followed by Holme Lode, where in amongst dealing with the rain, the A4 completely caught me out, hence the abrupt start to the shot. Take note of the level crossing in this clip for later on. The rain was still no better at Askham Tunnel, captured above the tunnel mouth on Holme Ln.

By the time the return journey departed York the rain had finally cleared up, and we see the A4 just missing the sunlight at Colton Ln. Now under the cover of darkness, we returned to Holme Lode, this time filming from the level crossing that featured in the shot on the outward journey. Finally, we headed to Hatfield station, where the A4 had originally been pathed on the fast, but with it being slightly late and the need to be clear of LNER services, ran through the slow, only to start braking as it passed us to switch onto the fast thereafter!

Not the easiest day of filming but certainly not a complete loss. A big thank you to Jack for providing me with a lift to all the locations shown making the chase possible.

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