Clan Line in 2020

Only ten years out, some people are so pedantic

 

In her present guise, wouldn't 1959 be more accurate?

 

Built 1948, butchered 1959.

 

Butchered? I think the word you are looking for is, improved

 

I think it's more like 1:32 than 1:132 ;-) And quite a tight curve too. 61306 went up there last year with a DL on the back.

 

No it isn’t.

 

Booked on the Pembroke Coast Express on the strength of it being St. David's Day. As suggested, a Bulleid to West Wales (Filton and Cockett as well as the run along the Towy estuary are three of the highlights), whilst the promised steam straight down the branch is an added rarity.

 

I considered last year's with Tornado but eventually decided I had too much else going on around that time. To make up for that I too have booked this year's. I think I've only ever been through the Severn Tunnel behind steam once, eastbound. Now we just have to hope for not too much hot dry weather.

 

A friend of mine estimates the grade is somewhere between 1:70 and 1:100. If so then, despite the curvature, it could be within the haulage abilities of 35028 and others

 

No could be about it

 

Not sure what the speed limit over the junction (reverse curve) at the bottom is. The Chiltern units go rather slowly there, although they're pulling away from Bicester Town station. It might be quite a test for the driver ;-)

 

During these troubling times, this is one of the more predictable messages. Amongst the raft of other charter cancellations, I can confirm that all Belmond operations are suspended until at least 30th April, and the Kings Cross to Norwich trip with UKR on 18th April is also cancelled.
See you on the other side - hopefully!

 

Pendant mode? I’ll just leave that comment dangling ...

Tom

 

There's surely a certain joy in being able to pick someone up on the spelling of 'pedant'!

 

Well, as some on here love railway acronyms - whilst others hate them - "the UKR trip from KX to Norwich on 18th April WNR".............. Will Not Run.

 

Indeed. There is a list of operators and their plans for the 'outbreak' at the head of the page on the 'Railway Herald' tours page. It includes 'Steam Dreams', who have postponed Sunday's jaunt and are reviewing April's trips. As with so many other organisations, they have not bothered to put up a banner statement giving people the update - I can't understand why this isn't a standard business protocol - it takes one person less than five minutes to type in a message and probably would stem no end of enquiries that are coming in at the moment.

 

It will come as no surprise whatsoever to those whose gaze wanders outside the railway fence that Clan Line's three trips off Bristol planned for July will not now run. We are working with Pathfinder tours to find dates for them to operate sometime in 2021. Additionally, the trip from London to Exeter that was mooted for this year with UK Railtours is now pencilled in for 24th April 2021.

 

I was so looking forward to seeing 35028 go past the office on Saturday, (I work right next to the railway in Cambridge) I've not seen a Merchant Navy or had one in action yet, when it gets to Norwich I want to know!