35028 Clan Line to Exeter - now 10/08/19

Apparently both engine and coach got back to the Lane in a filthy state and we’ve had the call for as many of the working team as possible to get there this week. A lot of work with Autoglym and Brasso will see it in pristine condition again on Friday’s Belmond.

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Oh right, thank you!

 

There were some good climbs despite the conditions but Semley was my best since 1964. Conditions there enabled Wayne to use 230 lbs of steam. Merchant power from nothing special at Tisbury

 

I do remember tangmere being banked up to central by Braunton but forgot year

 

I’m happy to see Clan Line anywhere I was just pointing out some of the difficulties with a largely southern based group of volunteers. Any operations away from home would also have to be fitted in round the Belmond commitments. 6233 is based in the Midlands and from what I understand it’s support crews are fairly widely scattered geographically. I think Ian Riley can call on his employed staff if necessary. I don’t know how No 9 works or where most of its volunteers are based so can’t comment. I don’t know if 28 will ever venture north, Derby 2 is more qualified to comment on that.

 

Effortlesss indeed! Will do some horsepower calcs.

IIRC in 1988 8F 48151 blasted over Semley at 47 with 9 on. Rather more dramatic, if a little slower.
Non stop through Gillingham produced 71-72 in the dip before Templecombe. Only time I have seen support crew berate loco crew for going too fast, not too slow. The hors d'oevres for 34092 in the afternoon...

 

Its been said that the group have unfinished business with the Northern Fells , I suppose its a matter of logistics, and support , I suppose that 10a Would be the most likily base, or Crewe , have DBS, ever worked a charter out of 10 a?

 

No they haven’t

 

IIRC have travelled behind Clan Line to Holyhead, Sheffield and Lincoln. But no further north.

Would follow it to the end of the earth. Or Shap.

 

It's very much a case of "never say never" John. You are absolutely right that the biggest issue is provision of support crew. It's not for me to analyse how other engines go about it, but MNLPS would most certainly NOT try to do anything with just a skeleton crew, and we would always want someone with the engine whilst it's away, even when it's not in steam. Several nights away - either in hotels (at their own expense) or sleeping in the support coach - requires very high levels of dedication and devotion to the cause.

 

35028 oop north. Noooo...they’ve got there own plastic 3D printed version up there. Keep Clan Line for us Southern enthusiasts.

 

19 March 2016 was an interesting exception to the rule. DB crew with 46233 and WCRC coaching stock. Coal quality meant one of the slowest ascents of Shap I have yet experienced, but it was more than made up for by the ascent of Beattock.

 

I agree, but it’s a bit like comparing Gran’s Sunday-best crockery which only comes out on special occasions with the cup and saucer she uses the rest of the time.

 

Log of the outward run attached. Power output calcs for Brookwood and Worting rather meaningless as we were checked.

On Grateley I reckon say 1,490 edhp for the whole climb from Abbots Ann (ave 1:193) , and 1,730 edhp on the 1:165 through the station.

Semley saw Clan Line produce around 1,665 edhp for over 3 miles averaging 1:171 and the restart from Gillingham towards the tunnel all but 1,700 edhp on grades averaging 1:107.

The recovery from Templecombe mainly at 1:100 was taken gingerly at first and I calculate 1,245 edhp. Similarly, from the Yeovil Jn restart it took a while for Clan Line to get into its stride on the couple of miles or so averaging 1:157 past Sutton Bingham, say 1,360 edhp here.

The bridge slack at Kingswood has been relaxed to 50. This gave the opportunity to build up some impetus to charge the couple of miles through Crewkerne and beyond averaging 1:83, producing a power output similar to Semley at around 1,665 edhp.

The big bank is of course Honiton, starting just after post 146 1/4 with a section of 1:100 before easing to 1:300 through the former Seaton Junction station and steepening to 1:80 just after post 148 and further to 1:70 for half mile to Ivy Green. There's a brief easing to 1:250 before the 1:80 resumes all the way to the tunnel. This effectively averages out at 1:80 from post 148 into the tunnel, then eases to 1:132 through the tunnel to the summit at its west end.

For horsepower calcs I generally take the time and speed into the tunnel as usually rail conditions are worse in the tunnel than outside, and locos are usually eased on the less severe gradient. But not on this occasion!

For the 5.58 miles averaging 1:86 from Hampton Lane (immediately before post 147) into the Tunnel I get 1,240 edhp. For the 4.55 miles from Lexhayne (immediately after post 148) into the tunnel averaging virtually 1:80 I get 1,245 edhp. There were a couple of noticeable slips and no doubt a few twinges elsewhere, the driver reporting pressure in the steam chest was kept down to around 160 lb in view of the greasy rail conditions.

Return legs to follow.

 

What's wrong will some old rags soaked in paraffin ? A quick wipe down and get it out earning money...................

 

Oh Victor, Victor, Victor! You'll have the MNLPS mafia after you now!

 

Nothing wrong with that at all and if it’s that dirty paraffin rags will be the first stage then the Autoglym, wheels and frames rubbed down with duck oil. It’s why when Clan Line runs there is often comment on here about its presentation. It’s important with a prestige job like the Belmond, that little afternoon jaunt round Surrey costs the punters five quid light of £400.

 

One of my fondest memories was being asked by Gerry Daniels to accompany him (and others!) in an inspection saloon to run behind a class 33 on the up reversible with 34092 running in parallel on the down main from Templecombe to Yeovil Junction. I was given pole position to film the Bulleid from the back of the saloon. As we were going down towards Sherborne the 33 was accelerated to its maximum speed of 85 mph and CoW actually drew up beside us and overtook . . .