HI all,
Two weeks before Christmas I had the all clear to resume normal activities by my visiting district nurse. So taking things easy up to the weekend before festive activities took place I was then out and about chasing the Polar Express hauled by Great Western Castle class 5043 “Earl of Mount Edgcombe” who some centuries ago came by his title in 1789 and his estate is just over the border into Cornwall beyond Saltash and Plymouth, and served in the Royal Navy at the time. Here are a few pictures of the engine running between Birmingham Moor Street and Dorridge. 5043 had the third longest name of all the castle class engines. The longest was 5017 “The Gloucestershire Regiment 28th, 61st.” 2nd 5069 “Isambard Kingdom Brunnel” One of Brunel’s name plates can be seen at the railway museum in Swindon and one of the names off 5017 can be seen in pride of place at Gloucester docks. This engine was stationed at Gloucester Horton Road depot for many years and was always kept nice and clean. See pictures below. December 2025.
Regards
Ledg.

Gloucester based 5017 Crosses over Westbury Junction at Reading with a down Parcels train. A London train has clear signals on the Up Through and will not be stopping. September 1959.

<5017 THE GLOUCESTER REGIMENT 28th 61st READING WESTBURY JUNCTION WITH A DOWN PARCELS TRAIN SEPTEMBER 1959. Slide Box 16 Row 20052.jpg>

5069 At Plymouth

5043 At Tyseley
Tuesday 23rd December 2025

5043 At Birmingham Moor Street
Saturday 20th December

5043 At Widney Manor Sunday l21st December 2025