60009 – Union of South Africa nearing Stroud town

This morning I helped Helena set up her market stall before heading off to Capel's Mill viaduct to see the celebrated steam engine 60009 – Union of South Africa – passing through Stroud at the head of the 'Cathedrals' Express' en route for Worcester. 

I chose to view it from close to the site of the old Capel's Mill, above which a railway viaduct was constructed in the 1840s to carry the railway from one side of the valley to the other, crossing both the River Frome and the Thames and Severn canal.  In the background is Rodborough hill where an Iron Age camp was established.

The light was very poor under the overcast sky unlike yesterday’s bright warm sunshine. I’m not sure I chose the right lens. I thought I’d try to get the whole scene with the wider lens, but given the low light I now think a telephoto might have been more interesting. Ah well. It was good to see this venerable engine here, as it would never have been on this western region line when steam was the regular motive power. They seldom were al lowed to be used away from their respective regions. These A4 Pacifics were built for the long distance express trains between London and Scotland.

60009 was one of the same A4 class of engine as ‘Mallard’ – 60022 – the world's fastest steam locomotive, which set an unbeaten world record speed of 126mph near Grantham on the East Coast Main Line on 3 July 1938. Howewver it should be noted that at the time the world’s fastest regular steam train, the "Cheltenham Flyer" of the Great Western Railway would have travelled on this very line from Paddington station in London to Cheltenham. On June 6, 1932. this express covered the 77.3 miles between Swindon and Paddington in 56 min. 47 sec., at an average speed of 81.8 m.p.h.

I blipped this same engine passing through the station last November, which gives you a front on view of it.