Under the wires

The East Coast Mainline from London to Edinburgh was electrified years ago - but the now 100-year-old preserved express steam locomotive 'Flying Scotsman' still draws crowds whenever it turns out to run special charter trains. On this trip in September it took a train from York to Edinburgh. Most vantage points generally get over crowded with photographers but there's a high footbridge near where I live in Durham that rarely attracts the crowds There was only one other photographer on this morning. The bridge has a high parapet and I had to stretch to rest my K3+DA* 70-200m 2.8 lens on the top of it, first removing the lens hood in case it caught on the bridge and fell down to the track. The precise composition I was looking for was worked out in advance to avoid the cables spoiling the view of the engine but compacting the perspective at the point where the two slow lines form a junction with the fast tracks. Speed of the train was probably between between 65-75 mph. The camera was on drive and I just kept my finger on the button as it roared post.