70000 Britannia at full speed on the Great Western! Steam Dreams’ Southend to Cardiff tour | 16/4/25

Today’s film is of BR Standard 7 4-6-2 70000 Britannia hauling Steam Dreams’ Southend to Cardiff tour. The train left Shoeburyness this morning diesel hauled, travelling across North London to Southall, where the diesel was swapped for superior traction in the form of Britannia. She then took the train along the GWML via Reading, Didcot, Swindon, branching onto the South Wales Mainline at Wootton Bassett and continuing via Bristol Parkway through the Severn Tunnel, Newport and finally Cardiff where the train was turned and serviced. Although forecast to be showery, the day was far sunnier and hotter than I’d expected, though luckily the NR fire risk warning is no longer at red. Additionally, the presence of a Brit on the GWML with a set of carmine & cream Mk1s is quite accurate as quite a few Brits were allocated to Old Oak Common and Cardiff Canton during their careers with BR.

I started out from my local at 8:31, travelling via Banbury and Oxford to Didcot Parkway. I didn’t initially set up here, hoping to get a shot at Goring instead but when I had to abandon that for fear of losing out on Swindon due to 70000’s lateness of around 50 minutes, a hasty set up at Didcot was in order, meaning the shot is a bit rushed. Still, a fantastic performance! After that, I took the 11:38 to Swindon and set up on Platform 3, to be graced by the sight of 70000 absolutely giving it the beans through Swindon having been green lit all the way through! Following this, I followed 70000 towards South Wales. She was making up time, and I wasn’t sure I would make it to my planned location at Newport, so I had to follow her all the way to Cardiff, as she was now back to schedule. At Cardiff, she is seen simmering away in the platform although sadly no departure as I had to race off for a bonus shot of 5029 Nunney Castle, which is seen at Filton Abbey Wood sadly sandwiched by diesels but still shining in the sun.

After a break in Bristol, the chase of Britannia continued and I began at Patchway, not far from the top of the climb out of the Severn Tunnel. Here, 70000 is seen making a little noise up the incline bathed in golden sun. Then it was a brisk walk over to Bristol Parkway to chase all the way back to Goring & Streatley, via Swindon and Didcot! Despite a bit of worry on the way there that I wouldn’t make it and an extraordinarily high bowlage risk, 70000 came absolutely rocketing through at full speed, giving it the easy title of shot of the day. With that amazing finale, I headed back to Bristol.

Thanks to everyone who made today possible, including GWR, NR, everyone I met including ‪@adtrainvids9569‬ ‪@danielstrainsukofficial9133‬ ‪@southwalestrainspotting5090‬. Thanks also to LSL, 70000 are her crew for the fantastic performances today. Thanks also to my ‘secondary planner’ for her ongoing support. I hope you all enjoy as I did!