Star performer of 2003 was the Mid Hants Railway’s Standard 5, 73096, which was the main stay of the Cathedrals Express and Daylight Limited services. Other highlights: Tangmere returned to the main line (several times!), Flying Scotsman was a regular performer on VSOE Pullman excursions, Princess Elizabeth returned to Euston, Nunney Castle enjoyed perfect weather in February, and 9600 bowed out of mainline work.Approx. running time: 85 minutes
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- GWR Castle class 4-6-0, 5029 Nunney Castle in perfect weather (for a change) with the “Exe-Tawe” tour from Newton Abbott to Swansea
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- GWR Hall class 4-6-0, 4965 Rood Ashton Hall, with a Vintage Trains excursion from Birmingham to Worcester and Stratford.
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- GWR 0-6-0 pannier tank no 9600 on its last main-line trip (before fitting of TPWS became mandatory) from Birmingham to Stratford and Leamington Spa.
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- LMS Princess Coronation class 4-6-2, 6233 Duchess of Sutherland, with the VSOE Northern Belle Pullmans.
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- LMS Princess Royal class 4-6-2, 6201 Princess Elizabeth, with a Friday evening train from Euston to Liverpool.
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- LNER A3 class 4-6-2, 4472 Flying Scotsman with the VSOE Pullman trains to Worcester and Bath.
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- LNER A4 class 4-6-2, 60009 Union of South Africa with The Chandlers Ford Phoenix and a Cathedrals Express to Worcester.
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- SR Battle of Britain class 4-6-2, 34067 Tangmere with the Excalibur Express from Derby to London, The Atlantic Coast Express from London to Exeter and Oakhampton, The Royal Wessex from Wareham to Waterloo, and a Christmas special from London to Salisbury and Southampton.
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- SR West Country class 4-6-2, 34027 Taw Valley (running as 34045 Ottery St Mary) with VSOE Pullman excursions to Worcester and Bournemouth.
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- SR West Country class 4-6-2, 34016 Bodmin with a Cathedrals Express train to Bath and Bristol.
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- BR Standard Class 4 2-6-0, 76079 with two tours in the West Country: The Mendip Branch Explorer and The Avon Branch Explorer.
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- BR Standard Class 5 4-6-0, 73096 with various Daylight Limited and Cathedrals Express trains… Definitely the most consistently impressive and reliable performer of 2003.
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- Front cover: 5029 at Dawlish; 4472 west of Andover; 73096 departing Didcot; 34027 at Bournemouth Central
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- Back cover: 9600 heading north from Leamington; 60009 near Salisbury; 5029 climbing Filton Bank, Bristol; 34067 leaving Crediton