Clan Line 2022

Not so. The loop is in regular use. It's frequently used by freight trains waiting for passenger services to pass.
They then proceed westbound towards Temple Meads, cross the main line to Filton bank or head eastbound to Bath. <BJ>

 

It's a Merchant Navy but with more guns

 

Bit late, but here's a couple of clips of Wednesday's trip at Bourton and Thingley.

 

Looking ahead to something different, Clan Line to Stratford Upon Avon on 30th July.
https://www.railwaytouring.net/the-stratford-upon-avon-pullman

As the train is Belmond Pullmans, it is more expensive than many railtours, but better value for miles of steam haulage than the Golden Age of Travel lunchtime trips.

Also this tour manages a few unusual lengths of track -
New Kew Jn - Old Kew Jn - South Acton Jn
Acton Wells Jn - Neasden Jn - Neasden South Jn
Acton ML - Acton Wells Jn - Willesden South West Sdgs - Mitre Bridge Jn
Latchmere No 2 Jn to Longhedge Jn

Most of these have been covered by railtours in the last few years, but I can't recall Neasden to Neasden S Jn being used by a steam tour for some years.

Cheers, Neil

 

Much better value than a Surrey Hills as you get a destination and two Pullman meals.

 

When was the last time an RTC tour was always intended to be a DBC operation? The last 2 RTC tours that I know of that were DBC operations were both originally WCRC operations and only DBC operated due to the suspension of the operating license of WCRC.

 

Could this be the new lunchtime Pullman circuit which will replace the Surrey Hills?

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U66104/2022-06-11/detailed
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U66105/2022-06-11/detailed

If so, not a bad guess by me (see this earlier post when we were discussing a replacement route).....

....except that the water stop is at Dover Priory rather than Folkestone West.

Although the "Regulars" (myself included) will miss the spectacle of the climb up to Gomshall, there will be plenty of new photographic opportunities if this becomes the new route.

Is it too much to hope that as we're talking abut Bulleid + Pullmans in Kent, we might see Clan Line adorned with the Golden Arrow regalia for this run?

 

It could be.

 

Maybe, but more importantly for this working.
https://www.belmond.com/trains/euro...s=2&departureDate=2022-09-30&packageCode=PSGA

Cheers, Neil

 

Don’t remind me, one to record on camera but I’m away on holiday.

 

A word of warning for anyone going out to photograph Saturday's train, the M20/A20 is still closed eastbound and I understand as a result Dover can be a traffic nightmare so the A2 is probably best avoided, keep listening to traffic reports on the day, it might be better turning off the A2 at the Whitfield roundabout and entering the town via the A256.

 

And whilst a first glance the price may seem high, based on this afternoon when I went past the garages at Harmans Cross it is equivalent to 257 litres of unleaded, or about 5 full refills for my car. Put like that sounds great value.

 

That was this afternoon, it could be nearer 200 litres by now!!

 

Just posted on the Clan Line Facebook page that the FTR exam has been passed.

Cheers, Neil

 

British Pullman.
Filmed at Snowdown and Sandling.

 

Whistling away on the Dover seawall in some perfect sunshine:

 

Only thing that could've made it slightly better would've been Golden Arrow Regalia! But it was tributing the Platinum Jubilee which we may never see again so it's certainly acceptable.

Apparently, it isn't. It was just run today for the 61st Annivarsary of the last Steam Hauled golden arrow service. The Surrey hills is apparently still on the cards.