Clan Line in 2021

I think, from their recent posts and likes, the two initial protagonists of the debate moved on some time ago and we should let peace prevail. Posted with regret at adding to it!

 

Actually there were. The recovery away from the check at Winchester required very careful handling and sanders to get speed slowly up to 55 at Roundwood. Rail conditions were the worst all day. Excellent anyway with 530 tons

 

That’s what you think...

James

 

Yes it was good to see the back of him lol

 

Clan Line up Pompey! 6 November 2021

It is nearly 30 years since I celebrated my half century with a trip on what was then part of the Venice Simplon Orient Express experience. But after months of frustration whilst my trip to Norwich with No 35028 was repeatedly postponed and finally cancelled, I decided to lash out for the upgrade to the Hampshire Pullman, also with Clan Line.

Further drama was to follow when a sad accident occurred at Salisbury a week before: we were due to pass very close. But smart work by the promoters of the trip ensured we would have a clear run. After keeping to our timings out of London, we would turn left up the Portsmouth Direct (or Pompey) as far as Havant, then west through Cosham and Fareham to Eastleigh, where we would pick up our planned times for the return to London.

There was concern that it would be risky in the leaf fall season to take a heavy train up this hilly, wooded route without diesel assistance, but there was reassurance that our driver would be the redoubtable Wayne Thompson and the Railhead Treatment Train would be going over the line earlier that morning.

An hour before our departure time on this dull but dry day, Pullman liveried No 67021 brought our train into Platform 2 at London Victoria. Ten Pullmans, two service coaches and the POB amounted to well over 500 tons. As we boarded the sumptuous Pullmans we noted the train was not quite full: Covid was still dictating ‘bubbles’ so singletons had their own table.

We started away on time with the diesel giving us a good shove up the bank to Grosvenor Bridge before dropping off. We had an adverse signal just before Herne Hill so Wayne was on his own for the steep curving climb to Tulse Hill. We need not have worried: he blasted up to 14 mph through the station and kept on blasting to the top, speed not falling below 11 mph at any point.

We joined the south west main line at Wimbledon, ambling along the slow line to Surbiton where we switched to the down fast , and took advantage. 58 at Esher, 66 at Walton-on Thames, 69 at Weybridge and into the 70s with 74 at West Byfleet before slowing for Woking.

We took Woking Junction at 38 and ran down through Worplesdon at 61 and hit 65 before the short climb to Bellsfield reduced us to 57. After slowing through Guildford and Shalford we were up again to 56 at Farncombe and 61 at Godalming. The climb at 1 in 80 from Milford reduced us only to 50 at Witley, then we ran up to 55 on the next slope which reduced us to 38 before the brakes went on for our water stop at Haslemere. The dry conditions and expert driving had saved us six minutes on the schedule from Guildford – remarkable!

Refreshed, we rollicked down through Liphook at 62 and were soon well into the seventies for mile after mile past Liss until having to slow for Petersfield at 21. Then we accelerated up the steep grades to Buriton, going into the tunnel at 38. Over the top, there followed another downhill dash in the mid 70s, checked slightly to 55 at Rowlands Castle but still arriving two minutes early at Havant. We then turned west through Cosham, Fareham and Botley, arriving through the centre of the works site at Eastleigh where Clan Line was born.

Our progress back up the main line began as an amble but beyond Micheldever we were running in the mid 50s, and around Battledown and Worting came a short spell in the 60s before arriving at Basingstoke more or less on time for a water stop. The gricers amongst us were peeved that, this time, we were not let off the train for fear of disrupting the meal service.

We got away smartly up the fast line and reached 70 by Hook, continuing thus through Winchfield and Fleet with a peak at 75 through Farnborough and still 72 at Brookwood. We had to slow to 40 for Woking and finally reached 57 at West Byfleet before turning off to meander through the suburbs back to Victoria.

That gave us an hour or more to unwind and reflect on an excellent day. The food, wines and service had been exceptional, as had the performance of Clan Line and its crews throughout. I was impressed that senior people from both MNLPS and UK Railtours took time to come and collect passengers’ feedback on the day’s experience. Top marks all round.

12 pictures are at https://pjhtransportpix.zenfolio.com/f731739511

Peter on a grey but dry Manchester afternoon
https://pjhtransportpix.zenfolio.com

 

A fairly unusual place to pop the question!

https://www.facebook.com/183097122099283/posts/1208090946266557/?d=n

 

Any chance of the non-users of Faceache sharing the story?

Peter in Manchester

 

Pimples? Surely the four miles of 1 in 80 to Haslemere is the pimple, whereas the largely 1 in 100 from Settle Junction to Blea Moor is a proper 14 mile "long drag". One is a short sharp burst, the other is a continuous slog. Both exciting but in different ways.

Peter

 

https://railaid.co.uk/pullman/

Notice this is being advertised as clan line and tornado.

 

Advertised as a double header, that's some serious power up top. Might as well leave box on the back for extra weight.

 

It doesn’t actually state that, it will be a busy time for the Clam Line support crew as it’s on a Surrey Hills the day before, a lot of work cleaning and preparing.

 

And I quote direct from the website...

"The Rail Aid Pullman will be hauled in style by two British Pacific steam locomotives of the finest pedigree. Bulleid ‘Merchant Navy’ class “Clan Line” and Peppercorn ‘A1′ class “Tornado” will double-head our train, departing from London Victoria Station with all the romance and ceremony you would expect from such a fine pair of locomotives."

That sounds like double heading to me.

James

 

You’re thoroughly looking forward to this!

 

That’s not the wording that was on the link given above

 

Actually, it is. Scroll down to the bit headed "Pulling power". How are you viewing the site? I'm using Firefox under Windows 10. It may be a computer vs smart-phone thing.