35028 "Clan Line" powers 'The Cotswold Venturer' 23/08/2025

‘The Cotswold Venturer’ has become the Railway Touring Company’s staple annual jaunt to Gloucester and the mid-west, with this year’s edition piloted by BR(S) Rebuilt 'Merchant Navy' Class - 35028 "Clan Line" with support provided by a West Coast Railways Class 47.

The tour started out of London Victoria with the MNLPS stalwart at the helm, traversing the fabric of railway lines across south-west London to work around to Reading where the tour would join the Great Western Mainline; travelling under the wires as far as Swindon. The tour would then travel up the Golden Valley line to Gloucester where 35028 would be relieved of duty for servicing, with the Class 47 leading the tour on to Worcester. The return working would retrace the outbound route.

The high fire risk would still be a prevalent factor in the operation of the tour, as evidenced at Egham where the Class 47 provided ample support to 35028, with the pair heading south for Virginia Water. By the time the tour reached Coates, and Sapperton Bank, “Clan Line” would be well within her stride as she powered up the base of the 1-in-100 gradient. After the interlude, the usual assembled mass of enthusiasts would congregate at Sapperton Tunnel. The performance would be somewhat stunted, with the Class 47 providing its fair share of power up the 1-in-60 gradient. Finally, after nightfall, the peace at Cholsey would be short-lived as the Bulleid pacific made its presence known, bursting out of the darkness with a decent turn of speed on the Up Fast Line.

“Clan Line” would be adorned by ‘Golden Arrow’ regalia during this tour, as well as its red nameplates, due to its scheduled appearance at Ashford Depot for the Southeastern open day the following day; necessitating the adornments be worn throughout the day prior, due to a tight schedule for servicing and preparation of the locomotive. As it happens, the locomotive arrived back at its Stewarts Lane base around midnight, and left around 7am after a quick scrub up and prep for its trip to Ashford.

00:00 - Egham
01:19 - Coates
02:18 - Sapperton Tunnel
03:39 - Cholsey

All footage filmed on Saturday the 23rd of August 2025.