The Vintage Trains Shakespeare Express season commenced this weekend, with 5029 making the debut run on Sunday 6th July, with two return trips from Birmingham Snow Hill to Stratford. Despite a very wet and blustery day, making conditions rather difficult, Nunney Castle performed very well throughout, with no problems – 5029’s GWR bark was soon "raising the echoes" blasting up the 1 in 45 gradient through the tunnel into Snow Hill, demonstrating again GWR locomotives reputation for “sure footedness”.
Below are two images of 5029, the one immediately below is the locomotive bringing the ECS through Moor St Station prior to the first outward journey, and the bottom one is 5029 crossing the Girder Bridge at Olton.