Clan Line 2022

Or even travel behind one.

 

Here are the missing times for the middle part of the journey, a fair old ride round for the passengers going past Clapham Junction three times. I understand there will be a diesel on the back as the generator car is out of action. It will be interesting to see if Clan Line can get that lot up the bank from Herne Hill to Tulse Hill without any assistance.

 

Will the 'dead' generator car still be in the formation, I wonder? I have a mental picture of someone who has dived eagerly into their champagne and wine seeing CJ for the third time and doing a double-take!

 

I don't think so, there would be no point. Last time it went via Tulse Hill Clan Line had no trouble from Herne Hill, with no diesel so it will be interesting to see what happens this time. I will be on it but sadly not drinking champagne!

 

I think you missed the trip from Hounslow to Shalford:
I presume this is the link:

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U91173/2022-03-19/detailed

 

Bedded down for the night all ready for tomorrow

 

My feeling too but I wondered if shunting it off somewhere would be considered too much trouble.

 

RH has it listed now (on the day of operation), but with no times, and supposedly taking its usual route! 'UKSteam' wherefore art thou?

 

It normally comes off at the top of Grosvenor Bank except in leaf fall season, it’s on today as there’s no generator car. It will be interesting to see if Clan Line can do Tulse Hill hauling train and the diesel

 

A wonderful sound listening to the loco take the Pullmans and a Class 67 up from Herne Hill to Tulse Hill. No assistance from the rear as far as I could detect and none needed!

 

I asked the driver at Shalford water stop, no assistance up to Tulse Hill, that’s impressive. None up Gomshall Bank either.

 

Gomshall shouldn't need any but Tulse Hill is tricky if signal-checked. BTW, while waiting for 35028 today I was chatting to a neighbour of the railway at Brockham (between Dorking and Reigate) and she said that the BTP were at the AHB crossing yesterday to protect against trespass for 'Flying Scotsman' (which travelled on a different route via Redhill, about six miles away)!! It beggars belief. 35028 is seen at Raynes Park and Brockham. For those interested in slightly technical stuff, both these shots are frame extracts from 8K video, which produces around 40mb stills (then greatly reduced in size to post here).

 

Filmed at Weybridge:

 

A brilliant allbeit windy day chasing Clan Line today in the sunshine. 4 shots of the Pullman in 3 hours, don't think I'll do that again!

Seen at Barnes Bridge, Mortlake, Surbiton and Redhill.

 

A nice set - or you could have just waited at Clapham Junction and seen it three times!

 

I wonder if this is the first train ever to have run through Wandsworth Town, Wandsworth Road and Wandsworth Common? Certainly an interesting route. Great to see some steam on the LSW main line east of Byfleet Junc, but perhaps a pity it couldn't have run FL after Wimbledon - a real echo of the Bournemouth Belle that would have been. Still, lovely weather and a great spectacle. No complaints - after all, we have had two main line specials in the South of England in the space of three days both in wall-to-wall sunshine. That doesn't happen very often. I don't do videos but had the closest shave ever at Wandsworth Town. Thought I was going to be "bowled" but the final carriage of the unit which passed on front of 35028 on the SL cleared out of the way giving me probably no more than one second to compose the photo!

 

It was a day when I wanted to be in two places at once. As the first outing of the year this run couldn’t have been bettered and it was a privilege to be on it. For those interested in such things the climb to Tulse Hill was at 70% cut off so as near as dammit full gear

 

Indeed, but that's too simple!

A few mates of mine decided to do 'All the Wandsworths' today just because of that very fact. They too had a close shave at the town! This route allowed me to catch the train 4 times which was rare in itself so wanted to take advantage of it.
Ok sure, you can sometimes get 4 on the normal surrey hills trips but the 4th is usually back at Clapham Junction where it always coasts through on a single yellow - this was the first time you could get 4 all with the Merchant Navy working towards green signals