35028 Clan Line

46100 did use SVR from Crewe but 34052 went straight to light then loaded tests and 35028s situation probably resembles the latter more. Possibly the contractors will offer advice one way or the other.

 

I think MNLPS have had enough experience of overhauls and mainline running not to need any advice. There were good reasons why they landed the Belmond Pullman job

 

All very true but when you have paid a fortune to a contractor one or both parties might deem it prudent to have some proving trials. This is no disrespect to either by the way.
Plus the operational landscape or steam on the mainline has changed a wee bit since last time it was turned out.

 

An unassisted DBC run blast in the fells to reopen the S&C would be super, recalling an earlier era for 35028.

 

Throw Grayrigg and Shap into the mix and you're definitely onto a winner!

 

Very positive update and exciting plans.
Does not seem like the timeframes will allow any northerly jaunts other than the test runs before a return South?

 

Wouldn't mind a 'loaded' loaded test run in the north myself! However, there's probably an opportunity to snatch 35018 when its out and about.

 

Still hoping for Clan line taking on the devon banks, I'd book on that

 

Keep schtum and it might not happen! However, an MN in mixed-traffic lined black would look... different, and technically correct.

 

Technically correct?

 

i wonder what the odds are on both having their loaded test runs on the same day, and passing each other enroute, 2 mn's in the same place at the same time has that ever happened on the mainline since 1967?

 

They were originally termed mixed traffic locomotives to get built in the war, and did do some freight turns to prove the point, hence why technically correct.

 

Mixed traffic for the purposes of persuading the Ministry of Supply to sanction their building but designed as express passenger engines in every respect and BR agreed. They had freight turns as part of the passenger diagramming as did LNER Pacifics (266 down, The Scotch Goods). BR dark green is the only livery they ever carried and just wouldn't be right in anything else. It won't happen but I would like to see two at Waterloo at the same time.

 

Might get two Bulleids out and about on Southern metals at the same time if 35028 gets its outing on 8 July, as 34046 is assumed to be motive power to Weymouth.

 

I don't think rostering a MN on a freight turn was about "proving a point", it was about how you diagram locos in an efficient way. Plenty of pictures of Gresley A3/ A4s on freight turns, but I don't think anyone was trying to prove a possible point, just a combination of how the stars align for duty, capability and availability of traction. As for the MNs, they were never classified by BR as anything other than passenger locos, unlike their smaller brethren.



Tom