Residents will be able to see steam power in action on the mainline this weekend as 'The William Shakespeare' travels through Warwickshire again.

The express will actually pass near Warwick four times as it makes the return journey from Birmingham Snow Hill to Stratford-upon-Avon twice.

On each southbound trip the train will pass through Henley-in-Arden and will return north through Hatton on both occasions.

The train will depart from Birmingham for the first time at 10am on Sunday 17 July and reach Henley at 10.45am to pick up passengers.

It will then return from Stratford at 12.52pm and pass through Hatton west junction at 1.09pm according to Real Time Trains.

Spotters who missed the first journey can arrive at Henley to see it pass again at 2.52pm before it makes its final pass through Hatton at 4.32pm.

Promoted by Vintage Trains, fares for the special start at £30.

The excursion, which will make three trips through Warwickshire this July, will be hauled by one of:

• 7029 Clun Castle
• 5043 Earl of Mount Edgcumbe
• 6233 Duchess of Sutherland

The next two Shakespeare Expresses will be run on July 24 and July 31.

The regular express is one of a number of steam specials that have travelled through Warwickshire this year, including a visit from Flying Scotsman in March.

Exact timings can be found here.

(Header image by Andrew via Flickr)