© Geoff’s Rail Diaries 2011 The world is going to end today, apparently. Having a ride behind an 8F over the Central Wales line could be as good a way as any to mark the event - and failing that, a drive out to see the train passing (if you’re reading this after 21 May 2011, it didn’t...). That’s three steam-hauled specials out this way in four weeks! I’d used this spot to see Nunney Castle, but I hadn’t pressed the button on the video camera hard enough (”Oh drat!”). So perhaps a revisit on a fine sunny morning, with video, would be a good idea. Whether it was a good idea will have to be judged by the viewer.  Sadly, the “sunny” bit of “fine sunny morning” didn’t last, but it was great to see 48151 clomping along in fine style, moments after a northbound freight (no, no photos of the latter, just video - which shows how, as the last wagons rolled out of sight on the reverse curves, the steam and smoke from the special came into view). I left the video camera running for some time after the train had passed - seemed a shame to switch it off while the loud exhaust was still echoing off the Shropshire hills.
37 706 runs light ahead of the special 175 102 head south 48151 approaches Rounding the curve Past the tree... ...towards the bridge and, a mile or two further on, the summit Video note for the impatient: 48151 makes its first real appearance just over 1 minute into the clip...