It’s the most wonderful time of the year, so they say(!) well it’s no different for this years Christmas Steam compilation! With 9 tours and 5 locomotives captured over a 6 week period it’s been quite the intensive season!

Kicking off with what was ultimately the best outing of the year was RYTC’s “The Christmas Cheshireman” from Bristol Temple Meads to Chester & return to Chepstow via the Welsh Marches route on Saturday 19th November, with the outward leg being handled by 45596 ‘Bahamas’ for a memorable run, seen at sunrise on Filton Bank as her exhaust hangs across the city of Bristol, Tram Inn nr Hereford with a crisp light and full rake of maroons and exhust making this shot a particular winner, Moreton-On-Lugg & finally Ruabon taking on the gradient from Chirk
The return leg was now in the capable charge of 6233 ‘Duchess of Sutherland’ as she made a fantastic nocturnal run through Wales and the borders dodging the locals at Chirk, Church Stretton, Ludlow & Severn Tunnel Jc

3 days later on Tuesday 22nd November 6233 would head back to Wales once again with RYTC’s “Cardiff & Gloucester Christmas Express” from London Victoria to Gloucester & Cardiff, seen getting a shove from the rear gunner diesel at Purton on the outskirts of Swindon & Chepstow in view of the Severn Bridge on its heavily delayed outward journey owing to problems at the Challow water stop, the return is then seen at Caldicot which thankfully compensated for the disappointment of the outward runs performance

Saturday 26th November would see 3 tours run during ASELF rail strikes which didn’t affect charters running that day, of which I captured 2 which involved 34067 ‘Tangmere’ working UKRailtours “The Medway Valley Pullman” from London Victoria to Rochester & return, seen amungst the London skyline of Battersea at Wandsworth Town on the outward & Bromley South on the return
Later that evening would once again come 6233, this time returning RYTC’s “The York Yuletide Express” from York to Ealing Broadway via the Midland Mainline, seen arriving and departing my local at Bedford for a passenger drop off

Friday 2nd & Saturday 3rd December would see Lincoln once again be visited by steam charters for the annual Christmas Market both coming up from London, firstly comes 4498 ‘Sir Nigel Gresley’ returning Steam Dreams “Lincoln Christmas Market” tour to Ealing Broadway on Friday 2nd, seen departing Peterborough and passing Huntington
Saturday 3rd would now have the turn of 6233 with RYTC’s “The Lindum Fayre” returning to London Kings Cross, also seen departing Peterborough following a water stop, it’s early running of over 30 mins prevented any further captures as she headed south

Monday 5th December would see 4498 haul another Steam Dreams tour this time being the “Bath Christmas Market” excursion from London Victoria to Bath Spa & return, seen charging through at night at Bracknell on the delayed return run back to London, this was the last time ‘Sir Nigel Gresley’ would run as 4498 in LNER black prior to its repaint into the familiar and highly anticipated BR Express Blue

The weather over the next few days would improve into sunshine with frost with coincided on Saturday 10th December as 6233 would head up RTYC’s “The Bath & Bristol Christmas Market” from London Victoria to Bristol via Salisbury & Westbury, seen in frosty conditions at Oxford Rd Bridge nr Putney & storming the 1in165 climb at Grateley on its outward journey, the return leg seen in darkness at Keynsham, once again delayed by 40 mins which prevented any further chasing after that

The next week would see no charter trains run with RMT rail strikes held on several dates during the week, the axing of RYTCs remaining programs and the exceptionally cold weather bring chaos and havoc to serveral heritage railways, so we cut to the week after

Monday 19th & Wednesday 21st December would see 45231 ‘The Sherwood Forester’ take the head of Steam Dreams “The Christmas Steam Express” on evening intinaries of the Surrey Hills route starting and finishing at London Victoria, Monday 19th sees the 5 in fine form at Feltham & Merstham as she battles the rain, Wednesday 21st sees 45231 blasting through Syon Lane and to finish off this video and another year of steam crossed the M25 at Merstham on her way to the capital

It’s been an immense few weeks getting the cameras and myself out and about for all these outings and whilst many were cancelled the ones I captured were truly one of a kind!
A massive thank you to all those involved with the making of this video, including Xav Paine for his valuable assistance in Wales, Jack Pallister, Ed Hindell, Sam Warner, Thomas Shrimpton along with the support crews of all the locomotives featured that without thier work not one locomotive would even turn a mile, let along right cross the country!

Have a Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year!