Visitors to the GWR on Thursday 20^th August, when David Shepherd celebrated the birthday of his 9F class locomotive no. 92203 Black Prince, might well have seen a slightly serious-looking, curly-haired chap with a pair of headphones firmly clamped to his head and armed with a large, furry microphone.  This was Radio 5 Live's 'Up All Night' editor, Howard Benson, recording a programme for the 'Steamnight' series, which will be broadcast at the rather unseemly hour of 02.35 through to 03.30 on Friday morning.* 

Howard thrust his microphone in front of many visitors on this exceptionally busy day, as well as GWR staff.  But the star was David Shepherd who was on top form throughout the birthday celebrations. Black Prince had plenty to say for itself too, when Howard travelled on the footplate to catch the sound of the engine hard at work.

'This is fine for insomniacs!' you might very well say, but the programme will be available all week from BBC iPlayer.  After that, it will be on the BBC website, here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/fivelive/programmes/upallnight_steamnight.shtml  where you will find many other railway-themed broadcasts.  Tune in, they make for very good listening. Even if you can't stay 'up all night'!

Black Prince will be working throughout the Bank Holiday weekend, and David Shepherd will again be visiting the GWR on Monday 31st August.  For future steaming dates keep an eye on our Loco Roster.

*subject to there being no serious 'breaking news' which might topple the programme