Clan Line in 2021

Man of Kent RT off Newport. Load 11 + Generator Car. 67005 up front. Unfortunately Standard's on front.

 

Thanks for the heads up. Planning to join at Reading but stuck at Ascot, person on track at Twickenham, everything delayed. May opt for Kenny O.

Edit: Predicted connection Reading now 3 mins a bit tight! Kenny O it will have to be. On train into London. Look forward to meeting up with a few faces later.

 

From standing start at Stroud, 44.8 into Sapperton Long Tunnel.

 

Despite the loco being a diesel and not to be mentioned too glowingly (!), that's a fairly good performance for a Bo-Bo on what may be damp rails on that climb.

 

RTT showed the special stuck behind a stone train after Maidenehead. Joined at Kenny O, left 39 mins late.

Clan Line got us away from Battersea loop 36 mins late, but routed via main line rather than Catford regained time to Bromley South. 32 mph on the 1:100 up to Penge Tunnel with 13 on, max 62 at Kent House.

Away from Bromley 17 late and accelerated to 31 on the 1:90 to Bickley. Cautious running until after Sole Street, 69 max coasting down the bank.

Checked at Rochester for up Thameslink then finally got going, 32 on the 1:100 thro Chatham and 33 at Gillingham.

Blasted through Sittingbourne at 71 with 75 max after. Brisk run along N Kent coast between the slacks and arrived Margate in 85m 06s from Bromley only 8 late.

P.S. Shireman in facing seat on down side, complaining he only saw 21 mileposts since Battersea...

 

I had considered going to Bickley for this but the rail-to-tram-to-rail connections were too tight on paper to inspire confidence. In the event the timing would have been ideal! 31 by Bickley is impressive.

 

Nearest I was going to get today out of the bedroom window over the Deal marshes. 'Erself goes into hospital next week for a long long delayed 'urgent' operation so we are taki9ng absolutely no chances on covid exposure.

Still good to see Clan Line at about three miles even if they did shut down the regulator as I was lining up the maximum range shot.

Not good as I don't have long lens gear but enjoy!

 

Away from Margate on time. Thro Broadstairs in 8m47s at 38 mph. Ramsgate in 13m 18s.

Caught up stopper, down to 2 mph before Deal, 15 thro station in 35m 53s then checked to 4 mph after.

Accelerated to 27 thro Walmer (41 33), min 18 then 33 thro Martin Mill (48m36s) and min 27 after. Dover in 60m 23s, 6 late.

 

Nice start from Dover and climb thro the Warren. Pass Folkestone East in 13m 10s @ 49 mph and Central in 14 25 at 50. Took it easy after as following all stations stopper. Brief 74 before Ashford, then many checks before Paddock Wood water stop in 63m 04s.

 

Paddock Wood to Bromley South in 37m 04s. Left 10 late, unit right behind, but clear road thro Tonbridge 10m 02s, 54 max after 50 slack.

Hildenboro 12m 58s at 49 mph, into Sevenoaks Tnl 47 mph. Thro Sevenoaks 19m 04s 57 mph, Dunton Green 20 32 @ 67. Into Polhill Tunnel 57, out 42. Orpington 28m 17s 48 mph. Via slow lines.

3 mins early at Bromley, now following stopper which checked climb thro Penge Tunnel.

Bromley to Kenny O 35m 28s, arrive right time.

 

Filmed at Seasalter and Martin Mill.

No diesel.

 

Two shots of Clan Line on todays trip to Margate, both on gradients, the first being at Bickley on the outward run, and Hildenborough on the return which caught the attention of the locals who ended up making the bridge very unstable to film on!!

 

Very nice to meet 'The Modster' yesterday evening at Hildenborough. My journey back collapsed horribly as the Redhill-Tonbridge line closed for the rest of the day after a signal failure, after I'd managed Hildenborough to Leigh station on my bike in 5.5 minutes for the (cancelled) 1821 train! I knew it was going too well. Still attached - video to follow.

 

And you!

 

Pictures from two locations yesterday. The first is Longfield Hill on Sole Street Bank and the other two are approaching Martin Mill using different lens settings. The train ran down the previous local service and nearly came to a stand at Deal so the sound of it on the climb to Martin Mill was memorable. Who said Bulleid Pacifics don't make much noise!

 

Almost joined you on that bridge at Martin Mill, but decided to film at the station instead.

 

Was that you I asked what the station shot was liked before you left?

 

Sorry, no. I left as soon as the train disappeared.
If you want to see the station shot, have a look at my video (Post #252).

 

Fantastic day out yesterday although I'm paying the price for it today at work. Falling asleep at my desk! Clan Line looked impeccable as usual and performed flawlessly.

Fun and games at Gloucester in the morning. 20 minute queue to use the single pay machine in the whole carpark meant I arrived on the platform just as the train arrived. One pay machine for the whole station carpark! There were five other people in the queue behind me, all going on the train. No idea whether they made it or not.

Then a signalling error meant we got given the Cheltenham road by mistake, necessitating a reversal back.