While lying in bed enjoying my cuppa and biscuits on Friday, April 10th, I looked at Realtime Trains and saw that there was a steam locomotive movement passing through Gloucestershire later on, writes Ian Thomas.
No sooner had I seen this than my cousin, Rich Kelsey, messaged me about it and we arranged to go to Kemble to view the move.
The train consisted of BR Class 8 4-6-2 No. 71000 Duke of Gloucester and a “Blood and Custard” MK1 support coach, running as 5Z31 (the 09:17 Southall Locomotive Services to Kidderminster SVR).
It was booked to stop at Kemble for around 25 minutes to take on water from a nearby road tanker, allowing plenty of time for pictures. The morning cloud thinned and the sun appeared at just the right time, allowing for some great photographs.
I thought I would also include a picture of LNER A4 4-6-2 60009 Union of South Africa that I took at Kemble in October 1994, along with another shot of 71000—this time in the high Pennines at Garsdale on the Settle & Carlisle line.
Pictures by Ian Thomas and Rich Kelsey
