Back in action on routes which Castles were all familier with, 5043 Earl of Mount Edgcumbe ran once more hauling the ''Berks & Hants Aquae Sulis'' a rather unusual titled train that ran from Solihull to Bristol via Oxford, Reading West, Westbury and Bath Spa, returning via Swindon a run ironically that she did in June not long back.
The term Aquae Sulis means "the waters of Sulis" in Roman Latin which was the early settlement of Bath in Somerset during the Roman period. Sulis is the name of a Celtic goddess meant to have been worshipped in Bath around that time. Quite interesting knowing these things considering they're not rail-related.
Starting off at Leamington Spa station at sunrise 5043 recreates a near timeless scene as she excelerates loudly in a cloud of thick white clag through a station which has been kept faithfull to its original bygone era. After Leamington down south we go to Didcot were Edgcumbe having departed Didcot Parkway is put onto the Main Line (fast line)
At Crofton Canal the weather continued to play its part although as you might expect a double chimney Castle to put on a show, at Crofton recently relaid ballast meant that Edgcumbe had to be shut off just before the curve to Savernake, much to my annoyance!
The last scene captures the brief Silhouette of a double chimney Castle at speed along Newton St Loe.
All credit goes to Vintage Trains, Tyseley and West Coast Railways