35028 "Clan Line" on a charge with the 'Atlantic Coast Express' 02/07/2022
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- Опубліковано 1 лип 2022
- With 2022 marking the 55th anniversary since the end of Southern steam, this was a sight for sore eyes.
Arguably the most prestigious of all the titled trains operated by the Southern Railway, the 'Atlantic Coast Express' served the SR's most westerly outposts, from Exteter to Bude and Padstow, as well as Ilfracombe and Torrington. The 'ACE' last ran under British Railways in 1964, a mere three years before the end of steam on BR's Southern Region. Thankfully, the spirit of the 'ACE' has been emulated on occassion in preservation; in this instance, by the Railway Touring Company. For their rendition of the service, traction would be provided solely by BR(S) Rebuilt 'Merchant Navy' Class - 35028 "Clan Line".
The majority of Railtours in the south that originate from London, start out of London Victoria rather than Waterloo, due to congestion in the capitals' terminus stations. However, this ACE would start out of Waterloo, with 35028 working the tour down the South West Mainline to Basingstoke where it joined the West of England Mainline bound for Exeter via Salisbury. The tour would then head north to Bristol and Bath. 35028 would then lead the tour along the Wessex Mainline back to Salisbury, rejoining the West of England Mainline back to Basingstoke, and then back to the capital to close proceedings.
With the tour starting out of Waterloo, it presented the rare opportunity to witness steam on the SWML in suburban London. This opportunity was snapped up at New Malden, with 35028 working on the down fast line through the station. Overtaking the tour during its stop at Salisbury, "Clan Line" would put on an enthusiastic performance as it climbed through Dinton. Moving further west, the Bulleid pacific battled tricky conditions as it faced the 1-in-80 gradient into Honiton tunnel, producing a powerful performance on the climb. Later in the afternoon, 35028 stretched its legs as it led the tour away from Exeter, working its way passed Pugham Farm as it headed for Bristol. Working back towards the capital, "Clan Line" would hammer its way up the 1-in-70 gradient through Upton Scudamore, as it headed for Salisbury. Finally, as the rain fell, the Bulleid pacific romped through Andover at speed, giving a long blast on the whistle, as it headed up the West of England Mainline.
This celebration of the 'ACE', took place on the 55th anniversary of "Clan Line" hauling the 'Farewell to Southern Steam No2' excursion between London Waterloo and Bournemouth Central.
All footage filmed on Saturday the 2nd of July 2022. - Авто та транспорт
Absolutely fantastic captures there. This loco never disappoints and is undoubtedly the standout mainline performer. That barnstorming pass through Andover at the end sums it up - outstanding!
Thanks very much! She's a real credit to the MNLPS; always immaculate, always in fine fettle. That shot through Andover was a true testament to the class.
That last shot. With no diesel assist, incredible machine
Brilliant shots and superb quality, many thanks for posting. It's great to see a Merchant Navy with correct disc headcode and headboard without the cumbersome box at the rear. Looks pretty fair on Honiton, always a problem to the original very heavy ACE. The last time I saw that train here was behind 35024 in original spamcan condition. This brings back great memories. Thanks again.
I am in Melbourne, c.17000km away (winter) so you've warmed the cockles of my heart with superb filming, The stack talk at 5:25: just great, and terrific to observe the tour without a diesel.
83mph in the final shot.... A Bullied Pacific just looks & sounds the business at speed. Can't wait to work one again later this year on the main line. Superb video 👍🏻
Glad you liked it. I'm sure it'll be worth the wait; what tour will you be working?
@@TheSouthernerYTChannel I'll be working for LSL all being well so 34046 Braunton will be my steed. Have to keep my certificate up to be a main line driver on steam.
That last shot at Andover is one of the best I've seen of steam in preservation
I think you might be right there, would have been amazing to have been there in person but I'll just have to settle for watching it on a loop :-)
Thanks so much for your filming outstanding performance of Clan Line those on board had a great trip
Glad you enjoyed both the video and the trip.
Enjoying watching this from Ilfracombe, sadly cut off from the rail network in 1970. We were lucky enough to travel here on holiday by diesel in 1969, but what a joy it must have been to travel here from Waterloo behind one of these locomotives.
I love the way these engines are run fast. I'm envious.
When I lived in SE London this magnificent locomotive regularly passed by where I lived. Also from Melbourne.
Fantastic film of a fantastic locomotive. I was on the train and between Exeter and Bristol the speed did not drop below 73 mph over 50 miles. Great footage of a memorable run!
Thanks very much, John!
Credit to the Merchant, that. And all the dedicated individuals that keep her in fine fettle.
Glad you enjoyed the video.
Magnificent.
Cheers
Your film are all so wonderfully shot, thank you so much for the time and effort you put into them! The 're-built' Merchant Navy really is a fabulous engine.
Thanks very much! The kind words are greatly appreciated. A fantastic design, and a locomotive well looked after by its owners.
The best sequence was the second to last approaching Upton Scudamore Summit, I was privileged to be on the footplate for that, I did give a wave. No sand used and no slipping jus the power of a Merchant Navy. The fireman had it on the red line all the way, you will notice the safety valves just feathering
My goodness Clan Line was really flying through that last station!
Wonderful, my earliest memories of mainline steam as a 5/6 yr old were of the ACE steaming through the cutting at the bottom of my uncle's garden in Andover!
Glad you enjoyed the video
The great sound of a 3-cylinder steam loco.
Fantastic footage best I’ve seen so far amazing you captured her in her full glory 👍👍
Thank you, the kind words are greatly appreciated
Wonderful record of her performance. She looks and sounds to be in fine fettle.
Thank you. She sure does; a credit to the group behind her.
Amazing video thank you.
Glad you enjoyed it
I usually try and find fast lines where they will pass for the most thrilling experiences.
I once saw a merchant navy class go past my school once and my friend said it looked like a London Underground train. Gave me permanent mental damage
Nice video! I’ve subscribed
Very great, thumbs up :)
Thank you
Never cured that smoking. 👍🏻🏴
I think we can safely say she made a good account of herself, despite gradients and weather. Cracking shot through the weeds at Andover, just how a MN should be portrayed. Hope you're all dried out, looked a bit grim out there!!👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
It was a breathtaking performance, with the old girl in fine fettle throughout the day; a real credit to the group behind her. On a personal note, one of the best days I've spent chasing a railtour.
The shot at Andover had us onlookers speechless. Thankfully dried out eventually.
Love your videos keep up the good work 👍🏻 will you be down the Romney Hythe and Dymchurch Railway some time.
Thanks very much, Jake! It's appreciated!
I hope so, but we'll see. Fuel costs and other things are putting pressure on frequent long distance trips.
excellent shot👍 that platform in the first shot looks a bit overgrown you would think they would do something about it 🤔
Thank you. As said, the island platform is now disused, though still counted in the platform numbers.
Nice scenes, including my former home town of New Malden. May I point out that your description says "sight OF sore eyes", when it should be 'FOR'.
Thank you
Duly corrected
A bit of a lightweight train for Clan Line. It must irritate West Coast Railways they can't stick one their tugs on the back of Clan Line. Great shot of it coming through Andover.
Why would it irritate West Coast to not have a diesel? They were operating the tour and could've happily put a diesel on the back if they wanted. The tour didn't require one, so why would they put one on?
Given the necessity for fast running out/in of London, and the steeper gradients out in the south-west, load 10 seemed a fair weight for the day.
Never quite understood the whole 'anti-diesel' rhetoric. In almost every circumstance where one is present, it's due to operational necessity be that insurance on a challenging steeply graded route, power to the coach set, heating/air-conditioning, or shunting/positioning manoeuvres. As such, their inclusion can be the deciding point over whether a tour runs at all. In this case, with no need for a reversal on the route, and load 10 being well within the capability of the Merchant, it simply wasn't required.
The shot at Andover was breathtaking, the clip doesn't quite do it justice. Glad you enjoyed it.
Utterly pointless comment. If you have nothing constructive to say, say nothing. As stated, why would it irritate WCRC? Apart from being just a tad provocative it takes away from some excellent captures of a memorable day. Thank you Southerner. Keep up the good work.
I’d have thought West Coast would be happy not to have to supply a diesel.
Less man hours and a huge fuel saving!