35028 Clan Line returns: 27/04/24

https://www.ukrailtours.com/product/the-clan-line-50th-anniversary-pullman/

This seems to be a block booking on a normal Belmond trip rather than a UKR chartered trip which I guess accounts for the eye-watering fare of £585!

 

Indeed so: https://www.belmond.com/trains/euro...&departureDate=2024-04-27&packageCode=PCLAN50

Fingers crossed all goes well for the MLNPS on her return to the mainline, this will no doubt be a trip to remember for many reasons.

 

It's a while since the last steam-hauled Belmond run to Bath, particularly via Salisbury. I wonder if this is a one-off or may become a regular route?

 

It’s promoted by UK Railtours not Belmond so a one off as a celebration of 50 years on the mainline as far as I know. The last Belmond to Bath was with 6233 deputising for Clan Line in 2022.

 

from the UK Railtours website:

Please note that this is an excursion arranged and operated by Belmond British Pullman, on which UK Railtours have placed a group booking. Our usual terms and conditions apply to your booking.

As it has also been stated that due to driver redundancies DB are not taking on any new charter work, and I believe Belmond only work with DB, I guess this is the only way UKR could be involved with this?

 

No. UKR are acting as a booking agent on this charter having made a block booking to sell seats. Should UKR wish to hire the Belmond set, as they have done as recently as 28th October this year, then it would be subject to DB resourcing as usual.

Belmond are only largely unaffected by the DB resourcing situation because many of the routes are regular or even in the WTT which justifies driver competency.

 

Fabulous news that 35028 will soon be back on the main line.

Not such good news about the DB driver redundancies. Not just from the perspective of a steam loco enthusiast, but also considering the impact on those made redundant.

I just hope that us enthusiasts, a reasonable number of whom I know are MNLPS members, will still see Clan Line at the head of the sort of diesel free trains with 'regular accomodation' that has seen her perform so incredibly well in recent years. And of course with those cheery, familiar faces on the footplate, one of whom at least does post on Nat Pres from time to time.

 

I realise that now, I assumed it was UK Railtours as it was they who emailed me with the details

 

Just booked with Belmond - must be mad!

 

No i didn't, not like me!

Any gossip from the knowledgable ones on whether 35028 is on schedule to be ready and tested for this one?

She looks a long way off to the unknowledgable one here.

 

Surely all their steam-hauled runs ('Golden Age of Steam") were just that - to promote journeys owing to them being steam-hauled not diesel?

 

A-ha - thanks.

 

Looks like timings for this tour:
Outward: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U09120/2024-04-27/detailed
Return: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U09126/2024-04-27/detailed

 

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U09121/2024-04-27/detailed

Box path LE three minutes after departure?? frankly I'm amazed, but pleasantly surprised if no box on her first run in earnest.

 

There is likely to be a generator car in the consist, so the diesel would just be additional weight. The loco is doing several test runs prior to the tour so hopefully iron out any niggles. DB don't tend to take a diesel unless completely necessary and the light engine path is there in case of issues. Looks like a good solution for Clan Line's big day!

 

76 miles in 83 min Wimbledon to Salisbury including crossing to the main line at Wimbledon. Good path, not hanging about.