Celebrating 50 years since its first mainline railtour on the 27th April 1974, Merchant Navy No.35028 'Clan Line' would retrace its steps of that tour.
Starting out from London Victoria, it would work its way to Wimbledon, where it join the LSWR mainline and run on the fast lines to Worting Junction.
We pick up the tour at Farnborough, as the Clan Line charges through on the reverse curves.
Next we catch the trip on the Salisbury - Westbury line at Bapton, as 28 speeds towards Warminster and Bath.
What happened next will become the stuff of legends, as we set up for the return at Upton Scudamore.
With 2½ miles of 1in70/75 we looking forward to Clan Line digging into the climb. We we didn't expect was the locomotive to throw off any notion of being a show pony, as we witnessed a Merchant Navy in full cry.
With over 500tons of train on the hook, Clan Line topped the bank at over 40mph, with the valves feathering. A true testament to the hard work, put in over the last few months to get the locomotive ready for the trip.
For one last shot, we headed to Andover.
With the area being heavily overgrown, I decided to go for a little snap shot of 28 roaring through, to the delight of many.
A very good day out for many and a welcome return to the mainline for 35028 Clan Line.
26 апр 2024
