Скачать или смотреть 35028 'Clan Line' | Powers 'Bath & Bristol Christmas Express' along Sussex coastline - 14th Dec 2024

#steam #train #christmas

Saturday 14th December would see the Railway Touring Company run another tour along its popular Sussex coastline route from Three Bridges to Bath and Bristol via Preston Park, Hove and Worthing. A route that used to see two or three trips a year had been missing from the calender for a while due to pathing issues returning again recently. This years winter edition would run under the title of 'Bath & Bristol Christmas Express' and would be hauled by MN no.35028 'Clan Line' who would be making her first visit to the West Coastway line in over 25 years.

Leaving Three Bridges early in the morning the tour would pick up at Haywards Heath and Preston Park, where water would be taken. The tour would then take the West Coastway route, picking up finally at Hove and Worthing then running via Havant, Fareham, Eastleigh and Salisbury - where 'Clan Line' would detach for servicing - before continuing diesel hauled onto Bath and Bristol. The tour would return to Salisbury diesel hauled for 'Clan Line' to be attached to the rear where the tour would traverse the Laverstock triangle for steam to lead the return as per the outward leg.

The rare sight of 'Clan Line' on the southern end of the Brighton Main Line and the West Coastway route was a tempting prospect, and when the timings were published as well as a 27 minute stop for water at Preston Park there was a 25 minute pathing stop at Hove to let a London Victoria to Littlehampton stopping service overtake, which created the prospect of chasing the tour by train to three locations.

So leaving Stevenage on the 05:32am Cambridge to Brighton service, I changed at Haywards Heath for a stopping service to Hassocks, hoping for a fast run through in the breaking morning light. Two cameras are set up at the end of the down platform as with 'Clan Line' leaving Haywards Heath 4 minutes late it was looking touch and go with a London Victoria stopper on the other side. Alas it proved to be so, and we see 'Clan Line' power through as the stopper arrives, spoiling the sound on my clip and worse for the many on the other side of the station completely blocking there efforts. Jumping on the 08.02am Bedford to Brighton following stopping service we arrive at Preston Park where a large crowd has gathered to admire 'Clan Line' as she takes water. Some detail scenes follow before 'Clan Line' departs and takes the Coastway West line to Hove. Onto the 08.50am London Victoria to Littlehampton service we draw into Platform 3 at Hove as 'Clan Line' waits for us to pass by in Platform 1. I head as far as West Worthing, theory being catching 'Clan Line' working away from the final passenger pick up at Worthing. A large crowd had gathered at every station along the Coastway West route, including at West Worthing, and they were treated to the sight of 'Clan Line' powering through with two cameras again set up to cpature the action.

So that ends my 20th and final video of 2024, all that remains is to wish all my subscibers and viewers a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. All being well we will be back in 2025 with more of the same, we should be at the Severn Valley Railway's 'Winter Steam Gala' the weekend of 4th and 5th January with trips planned to Bluebell Railway's 'Branch Line Gala', West Somerset Railway's 'Steam Spectacular', the Gloucstershire Warwickshire Railway's 'Cotswold Festival of Steam' and the Spa Valley Railway's 'Cuckoo Line Gala' in the first half of 2025 alongside the usual mix of main line steam and heritage railway visits.

Many thanks for watching

Ashley, Rebecca, Harry & Zack.

Photos...
https://www.flickr.com/photos/alts198...
https://www.flickr.com/photos/alts198...
https://www.flickr.com/photos/alts198...
https://www.flickr.com/photos/alts198...
https://www.flickr.com/photos/alts198...
https://www.flickr.com/photos/alts198...
https://www.flickr.com/photos/alts198...