5043 Rousham 13 April 2013

Castle Class 4-6-0 5043 Earl of Mount Edgcumbe looks superb in the early morning sunshine, as it passes Rousham (between Banbury and Oxford) on 13 April 2013 with the Vintage Trains 1Z76 07:05 Solihull to Salisbury 'Moonraker' railtour. This was the second Saturday in a row that I had photographed this particular locomotive. Luckily the dry grass in the foreground was still intact after the passing of the train, unlike certain parts of the lineside on the previous tour, after 5043 had decided to do some fiery vegetation clearance! As this location is approximately a mile from the nearest road, I didn't expect many photographers to turn up, but even so I was slightly surprised when I found I was the only person standing in this field. This just proves what I have noticed on previous occasions, that a lot of steam photographers do not like to walk more than a few yards from their cars!