The Cornishman Express with Clan Line: 17/06/18

Sensational on the return - and we've only got to Liskeard.
Nicely away from Par up to 31 before dropping back to 24. Erupted after Lostwithiel slack to reach 61 max before Bodmin P in 14m 17s.

44 max after restart and held 40 all the way up to Largin, 44 at Doublebois. You can't make this up.

Bodmin P - Liskeard 14m 48s.

 

Liskeard - Plym 28m 07s. Checked in.

 

Something special indeed!
The following HST is timed as 24' Liskeard to Plymouth start to stop to give a comparison.

Cheers, Neil

 

Shame about the weather for Clan Line's trip to Cornwall.... but guess you can't have perfect weather all the time...



Entering Saltash having crossed the River Tamar in liquid sunshine....



Starting the climb of Hemerdon Bank in yet more drizzle on the return trip to Bristol.

 

PLY EXD 60m 45s.

Through Plympton at 63 but struggled with the mizzle, speed down to 15 at 239 3/4 but rallied to 23 at the overbridge at 239 1/2.

Solid to Wrangton thereafter, 33 minimum on Dainton.

 

Eaten a hyperbole pill have we?

 

Pure drama at Hemerdon, the conditions Clearly played apart. Volcanic getaway once over the 1/42 !

 

Not quite sub-hour, but approximately 13.5 minutes made on the schedule for that section. Excellent performance overall.

 

From the second pax coach definitely felt like we eased off towards the top of Hemerdon - can’t see why it should but it seemed to coincide with passing a signal showing one yellow. I know it might have already reverted from green but as I say in coach 3 including Mercator I was surprised to see it yellow - but it’s been superb including another superb sprint from EXD to the water stop

 

I only got to see the exit from Cornwall and then amongst the crowds at Hemerdon.

My video at link below - its not broadcast standard but may be of interest. The loco was blowing off approach the top of Hemerdon!!!

 

That is an unfair comment to make.

There was a competent dispatch staff member on platform 4 throughout the delay and other staff closing doors................

There were staff shortages indeed but the railway was run safely, the signal is given when the train running controllers and the signaller agree.

The overall delay was due to an over run and is still attributed to same-
XPM T3 ORUN WON 12 ITEM 128 07:00 IP advise that T3 item 128 has not yet handed back due to PICOP having difficulties in contact the signaller to co mplete the LCV & EPR removal. Possession is from Filton Jn to North Somerset and Bristol T emple Meads platforms 5,6, 9 &10 Access is still available to all other through platforms so should not affect stocks off SPM via the West. 07:20 Noted that 5C04 is waiting events at Bristol West for what appears to be its booked platform (Platform 6) which wi ll now create a late start to 1C04 (07:26 Bristol TM to Penzance)

So the new signalling arrangements at Bristol TM strike again.

 

I've also had a rummage round the fastest times data, and it looks as if today's westbound run beat the (now) runner up single headed run westbound by a whole 12 seconds - 62m 32s being recorded by Blue Peter on the Eastern Mayflower 02.07.2000. And again eastbound, today's run, despite the conditions, beat Blue Peter's return run on the Eastern Mayflower - the previous runner-up - by a whole 6 seconds. But the Eastern Mayflower was Load 9, so the proposition here is that Clan Line with 10 on achieves what an LNER Pacific achieves with 9 - almost identically.

There - that should please the Southern protagonists and purveyors of hyperbole no end !! While just noting in passing that nothing has come close to KE1's August 2002 eastbound performance with 9/ 314/ 350 at 58m 06s - in the most favourable conditions and operating circumstances imaginable.

So well done to Clan Line, its crews and the MNLPS - it certainly has "had its day in the sun" today, even without the sun

 

35028 Clan Line leaving Bodmin Parkway. Wonderful sound and scene

 

Two shots of Clan Line at a very wet Hemerdon and two at Pugham Farm just past Tiverton Parkway with Clan Line really going for the climb to Whiteball .

 

My grandad used to work the signal box at pugham

 

What an amazing day out chasing Clan Line.. Superb engine performing brilliantly all day.. Dispite the weather it was a fantastic day lineside..I managed to get 6 1/2 shots.. the half due to being bowled by a HST at Dinnaton near Ivybridge!!
Thanks to 92220 Evening Star for some amazing driving covering 310+ miles from Sherborne to Lostwitiel and back..
Filmed at Fordgate near Bridgewater,Langdon Bridge near Newton Abbot,Treboul and Lostwithiel. The return was filmed at Devonport( our planned shot was too overgrown to get anything so had to do this shot as I didnt know any other locations), Dinnaton near Ivybridge,and Burlescombe.

Thanks to all the crews,staff and support crew who made this happen. Wonderful loco..

 

I hesitate to comment as I am a very great fan of Merchant Navy pacifics and Clan Line in particular. Recent performance has been nothing short of amazing. BUT we simply cannot dismiss Tornado, or rather I cant. Just remember what she has achieved, those amazing heavy load climbs to Stoke as an example

 

I presume the diesel didn't do any pushing up the banks. With those amazing times, it must have given one hell of a shove.

 

If you look at the videos/photos of the trip you would see there was no diesel.

Dave B