35028 'Clan Line' Whistling through Winchfield at 73mph with The 50th Anniversary Pullman - 27/04/24

Following nearly two years or for repairs to the thermic syphons in the firebox, Bulleid Merchant Navy Class No. 35028 'Clan Line' made her return to the mainline in late April 2024, just in time to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of her inaugural mainline run in preservation. The run of 27th April 1974 tran from Waterloo to Westbury, taking the South Western Mainline to Basingstoke, where the Class 74 Electro-Diesel was swapped for 'Clan Line'. The train then went on to Westbury and returned along the same route. This marked the first mainline running of a Merchant Navy Class in preservation. Due to BR's Steam Ban, the Bulleid was not able to work the tour from London, however privatisation made all routes to be traction neutral, allowing "The 50th Anniversary Pullman" to be worked by 35028 throughout.

Starting from Victoria, the train would negotiate the spider's web of lines to reach Wimbledon, where the route of the original tour would be traced to Westbury, then continuing on to Bath. The return run followed the same route back to Byfleet, where the train diverged from the mainline to go via Staines and Chiswick back to Victoria.

In a rare sequence of events, the train was pathed to run on the Down Fast Line from Wimbledon to Basingstoke and on the day, ended up taking the fast line to Worting Jn. This provided more than 40 miles of track for 'Clan Line' to stretch her legs. The tour is first seen at Winchfield where 35028 is seen producing an impressive trail of steam as she whistles towards the station. She comes racing under the bridge with more whistles at 73.7mph, rocketing the 12 coach train towards Basingstoke.

Following the water stop at Salisbury, the train is next caught climbing through Bapton in the Wylye Valley. After passing beneath the A303, the Bulleid speeds through the valley with some more tuneful toots from the crew. The 12 coach train is easily whisked along in the low 70s towards Warminster.

Next came the first shot of the return run and the 1-in-70 climb of Upton Scudamore. With 12 coaches behind the tender, no diesel to assist and a late departure from Bath, we hoped 35028 would be storming up the bank in a bid to recover some of the 7 minutes lost at Bath. We weren't disappointed! The regulator was through the roof as 'Clan Line' thundered up the bank, proving that a Bulleid isn't always quiet at the chimney! Romping up to the summit at 38.1mph the safety valves start roaring just before she passes beneath the bridge. A thunderous and highly memorable performance, we were all stunned!

Lastly, we catch up with the train after another Salisbury water stop, on the Up Fast Line at Basingstoke. Unfortunately a pair of Class 159s were stationary in the adjacent platform creating a bit of an audible riot, slightly spoiling the sound of the Merchant Navy flying through the station. 35028 is seen steaming around the curve from Worting Jn before some enthusiastic whistling signals her arrival into the station. The Bulleid smokes her way through at 71.3mph, racing along up the line towards the pathing stop at Woking. A fine finish to an excellent day!


Having not seen 'Clan Line' before today's run, it was definitely an exciting day with some cracking displays from the locomotive and crew. Over the past 50 years of mainline operation, 'Clan Line' has built up a reputation as a fast, powerful and consistently reliable performer. Given her output 50 years from the first run, she's still got plenty of years left in her. Bring on the next 50 years!


Timestamps:

00:00 - Winchfield
01:03 - Bapton
02:09 - Upton Scudamore
04:25 - Basingstoke


Filmed on a Panasonic HC-X1500 with an AudioTechnica AT8024 microphone.


Enjoy.