35028 - The King Alfred 10/02/18

NR are on the ball... 35028's first tour of 2018.

Outward: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U55480/2018/02/10/advanced

Return: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U55481/2018/02/10/advanced

James

 

Looking forward to it, trundle or no trundle.

Speaking as a photographer, does anyone know the number of the platform from which one can get a clear view across to the loco in Platform 2?

And any tips on accessing that platform?

Peter on a frosty night in Manchester
http://pjhtransportpix.zenfolio.com/

 

Platform 9, and a polite request to the staff on the gates at the entrance to it has always worked for me.

 

I believe this is taken from Platform 9 (train in Platform 2) and the guy on his own is on Platform 7. Big Al may still be right but as I used to have a London Freedom Pass I just used to swipe a gate and go down the platform so never bothered to look. I had a feeling it may not be possible now, although certainly used to be. Of course the Pullman is a long train, not sure how long the King Alfred will be so P7 could be a better bet on the day if it is just a shot before travelling on it.

 

Is there much to do in Haslemere

 

For 24 minutes? Watch the train get watered

 

Even with the shorter train P9 is still the place to be. Also the barrier staff on the Southern side of Victoria tend to be much more accommodating than those on the South Eastern side.

 

Clan Line's Facebook feed (@clanline35028) reports that the loco is fit and ready to go

 

I'm on this, and looking forward to it immensely. But please. Worplesdon? I'd like to do a real Pythonesque "Nudge-Nudge, Wink-Wink, Say No More" in response to this, tapping the side of my nose and nodding sagely. But the truth is I'm a comparative stranger to Southern metals and beyond locating Worplesdon and its station on a map, I must confess I haven't the faintest idea of what might be hinted at by this aside. Please explain!!

 

Many thanks for that - much appreciated. Beyond tomorrow, I will ponder and possibly get yet more depressed about future prospects for the two Kings on the mainline, wherever they might wish to roam. But tomorrow belongs to the Southern and to Merchant 28, and nothing, but nothing, is going to detract from that for the next 24 hours.

 

Worplesdon Up platform is almost straight (though not quite) but notwithstanding this we understand that there is one coping stone that has become a tad dislodged, hence the frustrating speed restriction. It apparently is 'on the NR list' to deal with, but seemingly not high priority. On a more general note, the speed restrictions that Big Al refers to - even for such a gauge-friendly loco as Clan Line - is another example of how the culture on the modern railway has changed in recent years. When 'computer says no' it really means "No" - or at best "very slowly"! We keep in close contact with the gauging people, who do their best to be helpful, but the days of a 'man with a measuring stick' going out to check are largely over. It's only occasionally a height issue nowadays; clearances through platforms have become the issue, even when neither the profile of the loco, or the platform, has changed in years.

 

As with Big Al's post, very grateful indeed for this - in terms of both the promptness and the insight that it offers. And in truth, it has been the latter factor that has drawn me to recent Clan Line outings, thus overcoming what has hitherto been a personal aversion to "All Things Southern". Great stuff!

 

Totally agree, we often hear complaints only in the press etc. I have found the staff really helpful at Victoria in particular, wheher it's because of the Belmond 'premium clientele' or not I couldn't comment, but friendly and helpful they certainly are, without exception (so far anyway).

 

Just one shot from me in the rain this morning:


RD16229. 35028 CLAN LINE passing Southwood between Farnborough and Fleet. by Ron Fisher, on Flickr

It was going well and made up a minute between Farnborough and Fleet.

 

How about some info on the train? Load? Some times/speeds??

 

According to Realtime Trains this one left Victoria 19 mins early! Really? Train must be half-empty!