Steam engine 34046 Braunton pulls the Welsh Marches Express past Stokesay Castle in Shropshire.

What a glorious sight - this was steam locomotive 34046 Braunton as it pulled the Welsh Marches Express past Stokesay Castle yesterday. However, the shot was very close to not working because of endless clouds casting big shadows across the landscape.

When I heard the whistle as the engine approached from the north, I checked the sky behind me and could see banks of cloud just moments away from blocking out the sun. Then, as Braunton came into view, shadows began creeping up the field in front of me and, before it had passed Stokesay, the carriages were already in shadow. I’ve had some close calls when photographing trains, but this was by far the closest yet!