5043 Earl of Mount Edgcumbe brings Rail200 to a close! | The Birmingham Polar Express | 22/12/25

Today's video features the best of the lot, GWR Castle Class 4-6-0 5043 Earl of Mount Edgcumbe delivering the final piece of 2025 mainline steam for this channel hauling Vintage Trains' Birmingham Polar Express. The train is, as has been the case for many years, diesel hauled from Birmingham Moor Street to Dorridge, where a reversal allows the best bit to begin as the steam takes charge for the run back into Birmingham. Normally this duty would go to 7029 Clun Castle but she's currently beginning an overhaul so 5043 took the reins for today. The weather was mostly cloudy today.

We begin at Bentley Heath Crossing in Dorridge for the second run of the day, where 5043 is seen powering away from the stop in the goods loop, much to the awe of the many onlookers present. After that, the third run of the day is seen in the dying light at Tyseley, as the signallers mess about with which train gets sent through Small Heath South Junction first, 5043 ends up being given a green aspect, with a lovely sound reverberating across the area as the Castle picks up speed. After this, I took a local stopper to Birmingham Moor Street to witness 5043 simmering in the station, looking sparkling clean and attracting many viewers who were heading for their Christmas shopping. The fourth run of the day is featured at Tyseley again; here it was nice to meet ‪@blackcountrysteamvideos8021‬ ‪@WestCountrySteamVideos‬ and ‪@AndysTrainAdventures‬ for the shot of 5043 passing through, drawing the curtains for this special Rail200 year to a close! An end of year special will still be published toward the end of December, but until then Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year everyone!

Thank you to everyone who made this possible, thank you to everyone I met today and thank you to WMR for getting me about. Thanks to 5043, her crew and VT for making this possible and I hope you enjoy as I did!