Clan Line in 2020

Totally agree John but I would say that the only exception is at night. I've filmed and photographed steam at Bristol Parkway and Swindon.
I'm a bit picky ....some would say OTT but IMHO the girders hardly notice at certain locations.

Unfortunately Bristol Parkway and Swindon won't be of any help for the Belmond tour on 12th December. <BJ>

 

As Big Al says, headways along with many other parameters will be checked by the train planner, even with the modern computer systems. ( I was taught to do that with a printed timetable and occasionally the WTT graphs.) I understand that MNLPS sometimes undertake a timing exercise for one off workings, to ensure they will have sufficient time for servicing and taking water and coal. For an explanation of the MNLPS planning process there is a detailed article in Southern Express 183.

Having read the drivers comments for the first BBP Stratford - Victoria in 2019, he was expecting to be turned in at Tilehurst, then Reading, Twyford West or Slough. There was a gap from Didcot E Jn on the Up Main with nothing following on the Up Main for about 15 minutes. Sometimes it's luck, sometime skill and sometimes a detailed memory of a timetable which allows train planners to find the gaps. Notorious through Reading? Allegedly GWR received a few comments that the whistle was loud and 35028 was going FAST.

The GWML Relief Lines are now seriously congested ( for the Western) with the TfL service to Maidenhead and Reading. I've seen class 6 (60mph) stone trains out on the Main Lines when there is a suitable gap because the Relief Lines are so congested. ( Railway traffic congestion out of Manchester Oxford Road, Liverpool St, Charing Cross or Waterloo is in a different league!) That is why the trip on 12th December is returning via the Windsor Lines.

Cheers, Neil

 

6.5 mins in front of an Oxford to Padd train, falling to 4.5 mins at Reading. Smart getaway from Parkway, clear run through Oxford, no delays at Didcot E, 75 down the main, Bob's your uncle.

 

According to the government restrictions:
"if you live in a tier 2 area, you must continue to follow tier 2 rules when you travel to a tier 1 area. Avoid travel to or overnight stays in tier 3 areas other than where necessary, such as for work, education, youth services, to receive medical treatment, or because of caring responsibilities.You can travel through a tier 3 area as a part of a longer journey"
On this basis, if the train is not stopping, picking up or setting down in a Tier 3 location, I presume the above regulation covers

 

Absolutely. And there’s a linked point that’s easily overlooked - the point is not just about not crossing tiers, but not moving between different areas at the same tier.


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Yes, already done that - my point was that if there is even minor disruption, or 35028 is a little late (for reasons which are nothing to do with reliability) having 35028 on the fast might be unhelpful. In a nutshell, fast line running is usually the first to be sacrificed in the event of things not running perfectly to plan. As I said much earlier, I hope I'm wrong. It really is simple, as you say.

 

Yes, IF all to goes to plan. My point was that very often that's not the case and I have witnessed many steam workings which have been put 'out of the way' onto the slow line at many different locations if there is a whiff of disruption. There's also the not-unusual wrong data source for RTT to use.

 

Thanks - I took "notorious" to imply something had been wrong. 'Noteworthy' perhaps? I was just curious if something untoward had happened. The same feeling occurs at Woking when steam hurtles through, despite there being several non-stop service trains.

 

Well, ten days to wait. It is a bit tight, I agree. But starting from a break at Oxford Parkway is an advantage. And they can hold it there up to another twenty minutes if they really need to. They have got options. Plans are just that ; if there are delays that day at Didcot, they will move to plan B if necessary. At least it seems to be running, thank goodness for that!!

 

Given that Clan Line has been inactive for some months, is a test run planned before the outing on Saturday 12th?

 

The loco may have been inactive but the volunteers who keep it running haven’t.

 

Nothing outside depot limits, but 35028 has undertaken a steam test and gentle shunting around Stewarts Lane in Early November.

Cheers, Neil

 

Good stuff - thanks. As you say, with 35028 looking factory-fresh anyway it'll be hard to tell what's been done. Hoping for a cold day to maximise visible exhaust (but cleaner than my avatar's!).

 

I was at Stewarts Lane yesterday, with its new coat of varnish and the new way of sprucing up the frames and wheels I’ve never seen it looking so good.
There are few calendars left if you want to support the loco, Thirteen classic shots in all weathers to suit the month, they even saw fit to use three of mine. A bargain available on the website

 

Seen the photos on Instagram of 35028 looking absolutely immaculate, you could eat a meal of the running plate! Real credit to those who do the hard yards in keeping a Swiss watch of a machine going.

 

Times for Saturday’s Belmond

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U55389/2020-12-12/detailed

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U55390/2020-12-12/detailed