The Jubilee Roar! 45690 'Leander' Blasts up Sapperton at 58mph! - The Cotswold Venturer - 26/08/23

In a rare appearance away from her usual home shed at Carnforth, LMS Jubilee 45690 'Leander' was the motive power for 'The Cotswold Venturer' from Paddington to Gloucester. The train would run along the Great Western Mainline to Swindon and then take the Golden Valley line over Sapperton to reach Gloucester. It would retrace it's steps that afternoon back to London.

Starting at Pangbourne, 5½ miles west of Reading, 45690 would be seen making a smart getaway from the passenger pick up at Tilehurst. Having been pathed in front of a Paddington to Didcot stopper, the crew on the Jubilee were keen to keep out of its way. 'Leander' comes flying through the station at 54.4mph, striding along with the 10 coach train towards the next stop at Cholsey.

The train was next seen at Sapperton Tunnel, at the eastern end, near the summit of the Golden Valley line. Even with a clear line, the 10 coach train on the 1-in-93 gradient to the tunnel could've been tricky for the Jubilee. However, the crew managed to produce a magnificent performance, culminating in the characteristic Jubilee roar, sufficiently loud that the whistle was silent, and reaching the summit at 58.4mph unassisted!

For the return run, 'Leander' is seen once again at Sapperton Tunnel. The gradient heading east is stiffer than in the opposite direction and after an unscheduled stop at Stroud, it really would be a challenge for the crew to take the 10 coach train up the 1-in-74 to the tunnel. Once again though, 45690 roared up the bank, being heard long before she is seen thumping her way into the tunnel at 30.7mph.


Having not seen 'Leander' before this run, she certainly made an impression for being a strong and unbelievably noisy brute of an engine. First class!


Timestamps:

00:00 - Pangbourne
01:13 - Sapperton Westbound
02:14 - Sapperton Eastbound


Filmed on a Panasonic HC-X1500 with an AudioTechnica AT8024 microphone.


Enjoy.