Atlantic Coast Express: RTC/Clan Line - 2/07/22

Agreed. A great run arriving early at Bristol Temple Meads.

 

Andy Taylor will be pleased to have a loco with such power on such a light load.

 

And you will be pleased to have something noteworthy to put in your article Don!

 

Andy is always pleased when the punters get a good show, and we get in on time or better. Many thanks to Craig Stinchcombe for a generous supply of steam, and the MNLPS gang for letting me out on their pride and joy.

 

Indeed but I need a detailed log to do it. As it happens we could’ve gone but that’s the way things worked out.

 

On the climb to Upton Scudamore he had the needle on the red line all the way

 

Yatton this evening.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/16582147@N07/albums/72177720300265249

 

Approaching Brent Knoll. https://www.flickr.com/photos/79185888@N04/52187860082/in/dateposted-public/

 

The return train at speed through Farnborough Main:



Ron.

 

Have to say that today was an absolutely outstanding day. I think it was one of the most exhilarating main line steam trips I've travelled on.

Clan Line and her crews didn't seem to put a foot wrong. Lots of sustained running at the loco limit and gobbled up the banks like they were barely there, even in the drizzle.

Many thanks to the MNLPS, RTC and WCR for making it happen, and NR for having the faith to give us a decent path.

Hopefully it's shown that unassisted steam with a good path is still possible in the South, and we can get more like this in the future!

 

I would agree with all of that. A supurb day out with the best steam engine on the main line (but I am biased!)

 

A really good day with 35028, covering a distance that was almost equivalent to a trip from London to Edinburgh. The climbing was excellent on all the usual banks, and considering the conditions, Honiton was taken well within its stride.

For me the climb of Upton Scudamore, which on paper looks a formidable rampart to assail, really was top drawer, with plenty of noise at the front. I last did it with the same machine in 2009 in fairly wet weather conditions, a stop at Westbury and, I recall, a 67 at the back, so for a number of reasons, this was clearly the better run of the two.

Combined with the fast running, this was a really good itinerary for giving a sense of how a locomotive and its crews deal with different track conditions - from weaving through the suburban sprawls of London and Bristol, to eating up the miles and coping with the weather. Thanks go to the teams involved in making it run so smoothly.

 

I have to agree with you, one of the best day I’ve had too.

 

Looks like it was a great day out for all involved. 35028 and her crews on top of the job as always. Hopefully the RTC, WCRC and The MNLPS can operate a few trips a year with 35028 as a regular occurrence in the future.

Sent from my XQ-BT52 using Tapatalk

 

Pleased to hear everyone enjoyed it, but regarding what unassisted steam can do, remember that it was only nine plus support coach - a light load for 35028. The trouble is that longer trains are needed in general to create the required revenue, and unassisted steam is not to be expected to be allowed this sort of lightly-loaded performance path often.

 

I believe there is a limit to train length on Platform 19 at Waterloo

 

A token location from us at Tiverton Parkway though five angles capture the passage. Less said about the Brit later on at Burlescombe. I hope you enjoy.