35028 Clan Line to Canterbury Saturday 23rd May

Times are up for this one:

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U63575/2015/05/23/advanced

and:

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U63576/2015/05/23/advanced

Steam comes on at Battersea Loop(very handy for Stewarts Lane) rather than Hanwell as originally planned.

MNLPS and DBS always put on a fantastic show with 35028 and I am sure this will be no exception.

 

Looking forward to this

 

Thanks for that Alistair, I'm a bit busy Saturday but may be able to get out and see it on the return.

But oh, that schedule in the morning along the racing stretch. Pass Tonbridge to pass Ashford, 26 miles in 34 minutes!

Yes, yes, using my own words, "19th century technology running in the 21st century". So we should be grateful for it, and no doubt it is following a service train.

I think I only ever timed steam in that direction once. January 1961. D1 4-4-0 31489 on just 7 cars. The famous 07.24 London Bridge, I think that train was the last scheduled turn for those wonderful 4-4-0s. D1, L1 and E1. Big brother Don will correct me if I'm wrong. 30mins start to stop, circa 70 max on 7 cars. Severe signal check outside Ashford, net time a little under 29 minutes.

My Brownie 127 couldn't cope with the murky January scene at Ashford that morning, but it did just a little bit better at Ramsgate on 15th April 1961 when Don took his little brother on the same train from Dover to Ramsgate when D1 4-4-0 31739, (of last day of the Westerham Branch fame), was at the front. Seen here at Ramsgate after arrival. Well it would be wouldn't it. Rather hard to have photographed it there before arrival! LOL! Not sure why/how we only got on board at Dover, unless we were staying at Martin Mill camp site, used by mum and dad for our family holidays back then.



Anyway, back to Clan Line. Lovely to know she is due back in rural Kent this coming weekend.

 

Some golden recollections there Bryan. Yes, great to think Clan Line is getting a run in rural Kent. Very tempting proposition, but I don't think I'll be able to make it. Will have to content myself with looking forward to 30th June, not that far away now.

 

I too will be visiting Kent on Saturday first of all to freeload the Clan Line run. Then go and support the
KESR for a couple of hours or so hopefully behind a terrier, before seeing CL return.
It's been quite a while since she has been down there, I'm sure the crews will have fitted the Golden Arrow
on the front.
Mike Melbourne

 

Yes I remember it well. We were obsessed with that train and managed a fair few shots.

May get to see Clank Line on Saturday

Don

 

I'm booked on this through from Bristol. It's a long time since I have travelled behind Clan Line.

Outward leg is due to follow this unit, which is also going via Catford
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/W28226/2015/05/23/advanced

Hopefully, we'll get a good climb up Knockholt if nothing else.

Return looks more promising for a sprint across the racing stretch, with incentive to get to Paddock Wood for a splash and dash before the following unit catches up!

Sean

 

All standard class seats now booked.

 

From the Clan Line twitter

 

Very strange . Cancelled or last minute change of motive power ?

 

The full statement:

“We regret to announce that at 15.00 hrs today, MNLPS has been advised that “Clan Line” is no longer required for the haulage of the “Golden Arrow” charter train tomorrow. We apologise for any disappointment our absence may cause, which is due to a decision in which MNLPS played no part. Our locomotive is now back at Stewarts Lane depot, after hauling a Belmond British Pullman “Surrey Hills” circular today, and is fit and ready for its next turn of duty, which will now be to haul the “Railway Children” charity fundraising special out of Waterloo International, on 4th June.”

 

That is a little bizarre. I could understand letting them know perhaps a week or so in advance but the day before the trip is bad form to be honest.
The MNLPS would have organized the support crew for tomorrow. The trip has also vanished completely from the Statesman rail website.
There will be a lot of disappointed people on the trip tomorrow who clearly booked it for haulage by 35028. The seats certainly started selling quickly when 35028 was announced as the motive power.

 

Surely West Coast have not taken over the running of this tour at this late stage?

 

Anything being warmed up at Southall ?

 

The train remains a DBS operation. I hear, from the same sources that told me of the original WCRC suspension, that David Smith won't let 35028 pull WCRC stock, and so DBS will have to use a diesel instead. This decision has apparently caused some embarresment at Carnforth.

 

If that's true. Then that is just bonkers.......

 

I'd be pleased to learn that it's not true, and that there's a much more reasonable explanation for the very late change. However, my friends are usually well-informed, and I know I'm not the only one who has heard this tale.

 

Who owned the Green Train that SD used? Clan Line was good enough for that.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

If WCRC refusal to allow Clan Line to haul the stock really is the reason we will suffer diesel haulage throughout tomorrow then quite frankly you don't deserve a licence to operate on the 'big railway'. Time to make friends and influence people. And you blew it. Can anyone from Statesman Rail confirm the position? Have absolutely no wish to get up for 06.20 dep from Temple Meads for nothing.

 

If that is true but then it shows that David Smith's attitude towards the industry as a whole has not changed in the slightest despite coming so close to losing everything, and still under incredible scrutiny. I'm sorry but if that's the case he should be be anywhere near running a modern railway service provider. Happy to withdraw these remarks if another more plausible reason is given but sadly this action follows an ever familiar pattern from Carnforth.