David Shepherd on the footplate of Black Prince – you can meet him and his locomotive at Toddington on Thursday 20th August (Photograph Ian Crowder)  


Black Prince sporting the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation headboard (Photograph Ian Crowder)  


50th birthday thrill – the BBMS Lancaster, Spitfire and Hurrcane are scheduled to fly over Toddington at 12.10 on 20th August. (Photograph – Crown Copyright)

The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight are coming back to the sky over Toddington - and this time, it is in earnest.  After and fantastic fly-past of the lone Spitfire on an amazing day on 8th August, the Spitfire is coming back on Thursday 20th August - but this time, with a Hurricane fighter and Lancaster bomber.  And it's all to celebrate the 50^th Birthday of David Shepherd's 9F class 2-10-0 no. 92203, Black Prince.

But that's not all.  The day will see the official launch of an extraordinary N-gauge, limited-edition, working model of Black Prince during the morning, before the flypast takes place at 12.10 (subject to final confirmation and weather). And no birthday celebration will be complete without a birthday cake, and two huge cakes have been baked by David Shepherd's family - and no doubt, Black Prince will enjoy a slice on the shovel, too.

The locomotive will be in steam all day and will spend the morning at Toddington station where David, who has been described as Britain's greatest living artist, will be very happy to welcome visitors to the footplate.  He is also happy to sign any prints or books that you might have!  David Shepherd is well known as a painter of aircraft, steam locomotives and of course, wildlife subjects.  David is particularly passionate about the plight of many endangered species throughout the world and paints many pictures of, for example, tigers, rhinos, bears and elephants in aid of his charity, the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation.

Black Prince is then scheduled to take 14.30 departure to Cheltenham (the 10.30 and 12.15 services will be handled by 'Taffy' tank locomotive, Great Western 0-6-2T no. 5619. 

Special for 20^th August only:  The final service of the day is usually diesel-hauled and the rostered locomotive is 37215 which will, as usual, haul this train to Cheltenham - but with Black Prince, which weighs just over 140 tons, attached to the end of the train which will give the diesel something to do.  Roles will be reversed for the return journey when Black Prince hauls the train with the diesel, weighing well over 100 tons, attached to the rear.  With the climb through Bishops Cleeve and up to Gotherington will certainly make the locomotive 'chuff'.  This will be a rare, not-to-be-missed opportunity to see both diesel and steam working trains the equivalent of about 10 coaches - the usual load on the GWR is six.