Clan Line in 2021

Been told that it will be Clan Line leading with Tornado and her support coach behind. The best version of this double header possible (in my opinion anyway) and they've picked a good time to do this with Tornado currently in BR Green.

 

It does say double headed in the PDF download under "Pulling Power".

 

Perhaps because Clan Line has now been classified as an A1 pacific!

 

''The Rail Aid Pullman will be hauled in style by two British Pacific steam locomotives of the finest pedigree. Bulleid ‘Merchant Navy’ class “Clan Line” and Peppercorn ‘A1′ class “Tornado” will double-head our train''.

Appears pretty clear-cut to me. <BJ>

 

I might have been tempted but for "Enjoy live music, recreating harmonies from the 30s and 40s, perfect for the era of rail you’ll be reliving on this trip." I like to choose the music that I listen to, not to have it inflicted on me, regardless of what style it is.

 

Not what it says under Pulling Power

 

It does for me Don. Are there 2 different internet versions of the promotion? Some folk appear to be reading one version and others another. <BJ>

 

I think this is the one you mean, Ralph. June 2013.

 

You were right first time as well - 6201 and 5043 double headed on 10th March 2013 to Carlisle, but Lizzie failed with a hot box so southbound over the S&C was the Castle on its own.

 

Oops - apologies. Never saw that one with 6201, waited at Ais Gill, and waited, and waited...

 

I think its partially because of how rare and exclusive this pairing is for a number of reasons:

•It's the most well looked after, most reliable performing steam locomotive in preservation, paired with the (current) newest mainline engine in Britain
•It's Clan Line double heading with another engine - a rare event in itself
•Tornado covered Clan Line's Belmond duties while Clan Line was in overhaul, and in 2017 they shared a Bristol Belmond taking a leg each, so have also shared a train

When you consider the last point especially, the fact they are now working a train together, on an event that's short notice, for charity, and not advertised all over the news (like Tornado and Scotsman 'sharing' trains) you can see the appeal.

The Belmond being double headed by steam is equally rare in itself - Does anyone know if/when this last happened?

 

Double-headed on the pdf download, but not on the web-page itself! On my phone anyway.

 

That's quite a statement......

 

That's a comment on those who comment on "wrong" combinations rather than the combinations themselves. There will be those who won't go out of their way travel on or photograph this "odd couple" but who won't bat an eyelid about a Jubilee in a close approximation to BR maroon. Maybe GWR and/or LMS fans are more vociferous than SR and/or LNER fans? What a good job we're all slightly different. Personally, I find such combinations interesting but I'm glad they're rare.

One of the strangest that I've recorded was Britannia (I think) piloting Bittern (in blue with valences) over the South Devon banks

It's an opinion, and one that's quite widely shared. Several locos have a similar record to Clan Line's. Few have significantly better.