Clan Line in 2021

Although on mainline tours, you are allowed to remove your mask to eat and drink, its surprising how long you are able to take to drink a cup of tea, then eat a snack etc. I know it is not fully embracing the spirit of mask wearing, but it makes a break from constantly wearing a mask for a whole trip, but for me, it makes it bearable.

 

Anyway, to get back on topic, hopefully Pathfinder and MNLPS can work some magic and come to an arrangement for later in the year. The trip had some track I've never done by steam before and it was a relatively unusual route so it would be good to see it re-scheduled rather than pulled completely.

 

Isn't that a bit unfair? They aren't operating any trains. That is their policy.

 

True. Listening to Parliament this afternoon the new normal could well be a form of Social Distancing for a long time. July 19th might just be another date on the calendar.

 

Not sure where the break even point is, but it certainly seems some firms are willing to hope for the best but prepare for the worst, and somehow still manage to run their trains. All power to their elbows if it can be sustained - it will nevertheless be interesting to see how these firms have dealt with the post-June 21 period; one hopes with the same degree of caution.

 

I don’t think the Pathfinder Tour will be the only one, post June 21st, costed and sold on the basis that there would be no restrictions. Others may well be pulled or postponed, watch this space.
The announcement was that the Margate trip was postponed, not cancelled. The only problem is that the destination is one for Summer and it’s no good running it after September so another date will have to be found before then.

 

Absolutely. Those operators / promoters who have adapted to enable them to run trips with social distancing in mind will be rewarded. Those who put faith in 'finger in the air' 'freedom days' - which look good on tomorrow's newsstands, but have no basis in science or reality, will I'm afraid continue to be disappointed.
It is concerning that Pathfinder appears to have all their eggs in one basket regards stock - never a good situation. They appear to be flexible when it comes to traction providers for motive power on diesel trips.

 

Are UK Railtours in the same boat? I thought they used Riviera stock too.

 

Yes, though Liz Morris (UKR's boss after the sad passing of her father) has posted on Facebook this evening that Riviera are fitting screens and sanitizers to their stock at present. Also the stock is being cosmetically repaired inside too.

 

I don't know about being worried but I bet Riviera are envious of the financial backing behind Saphos - if only they had that sort of money available to them.

Peter

 

Pathfinder have announced via email this afternoon that the Man of Kent outing has now been re-dated to Wednesday 15th September "when it will run with exactly the same format". So hopefully this will be good news to those prospective passengers who are not constrained by unavoidable weekday commitments.

 

I did know that and it’s about as far as it could be postponed, being sold as a summer day out at the seaside. I understand that Standard Class wasn’t selling too well so let’s hope the new date doesn’t become a problem

 

Clan Line's Surrey Hills Belmond, one of the 3 railtours in the south today, seen at Clapham Junction, Byfleet and New Haw and Rectory Ln, Betchworth.



And the photo from Clapham Junction where it looked like the forecasted rain was upon us. Turned to sun by the time she reached the Surrey Hills:

 

Email from RTC:

We are pleased to announce that our Cotswold Venturer on Saturday 21st August from London Paddington, Slough, Reading and Didcot to Worcester Shrub Hill is now scheduled to be hauled by Merchant Navy class steam locomotive no. 35028 Clan Line.


I wonder who will be the TOC? Extremely rare for 35028 to be operated by WCRC, and have RTC ever used DBC?

Anyway some extra and welcome mileage on less common routes for 35028.

 

According to a post on Instagram from the Clan Line group, it’s the first time 35028 has ran with WCR since 2010 when it stood in for 45305 on a trip with 44932 around Kent.

 

I am sure whoever operates it will follow MNLPS conventions

 

If you read it all on the FB page it tells you.