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Clan Line - British Pullman - 3/8/13

Discussion in 'What's Going On' started by Big Al, Aug 1, 2013.

  1. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    The MNLPS says that Clan Line will be out on Saturday. This will, fittingly, be the last time that Don Clarke drives steam for DBS before his retirement. As he was a Nine Elms man there is only one engine that he would want to end his career with and that will happen for him at the weekend. There is a separate thread in the Steam Traction section for any comments about Don's career. See https://www.national-preservation.com/threads/retirement-of-don-clarke.100559/
     
  2. hatherton hall

    hatherton hall Well-Known Member

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    And what a fine gentleman he is! I am very sad to hear he is retiring - he looks like he has years on driving still in him! What a way to go - with Clan Line and not forgetting that just a few weeks ago, he drove the 90mph tour with Bittern.

    I guess it's down to mowing the lawns, tending the garden and painting the garage door?

    Good luck in the future Don.

    Nick
     
  3. RalphW

    RalphW Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Administrator Friend

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    He could always get a job with West Coast...
     
  4. hatherton hall

    hatherton hall Well-Known Member

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    It must be voluntary I guess, because new legislation means that your employer cannot insist on retirement if that person is capable of doing the job, and Don Clarke certainly fits that bill. I guess it has to have been his choice therefore.

    As for West Coast, you will be amazed at how few have done the DBS/EWS move over the years. When the likes of Rodney Tizzard of Eastleigh fame reached retirement age, the last thing he would ever have done, was to move to them. How do I know? Because he told me so at his retirement do at Eastleigh Railway Club!
     
  5. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    I think that the issue would have been the need to continue with the diesel part of the day job rather than the steam bit if he went beyond 65! Anyway, here's to a good day for Don on Saturday.
     
  6. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    How fitting. Father, (Don Clarke) and son (Jim) are in charge today and Clan Line is leaving her diesel banker behind on Grosvenor Bridge.
     
  7. KentYeti

    KentYeti Guest

    I do hope the photographers are out in good numbers today and send the results to Don afterwards.
     
  8. mrKnowwun

    mrKnowwun Part of the furniture

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    Video at Worplesdon, Clan Line easily canters up the grade into the station, kid on the platform so we get a good whistle. No diesel
    FF to 1:00 to miss the intro.
     
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  9. ian14

    ian14 Member

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  10. Spamcan55

    Spamcan55 New Member

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    Excellent shots!
     
  11. KentYeti

    KentYeti Guest

    If those photos can be got to Don, I would imagine he would very much appreciate them.

    But seeing your occupation and where you took them I imagine you already have that in hand! :)
     
  12. hatherton hall

    hatherton hall Well-Known Member

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    There were many well wishers on arrival at Victoria and it seemed they announced to the passengers on the VSOE that this was the driver's last run before retirement as dozens of them wanted to have a photo of the driver on arrival.

    Don was presented with a bottle of champagne on the footplate from someone in authority and it was a fitting end to a fantastic career.

    On being towed out of Victoria, I asked Don if he could give a last few blasts on the whistle (frowned upon by those in charge at Victoria because it upsets the pigeons!) and he came up trumps with several blasts!

    As a footnote, Don tells me that there is a chance he will come back as a traction inspector as some stage. He also said that he was booked to run the York to Kings Cross high speed run with Bittern which he was particularly looking forward to coming down Stoke bank, but the the tour was postponed to August. Don was asked to extend his retirement date so that he could drive the special and Don was happy to do this, only to realise that the new date clashed with his holiday in Spain which had long since been booked and what is more, paid for!! Nevertheless, he was extremely honoured to have been asked.

    I was informed that NR has lifted the steam fire-risk ban for the route that Clan Line ran today but I do not know if this covers all of the "Southern" region.
     
  13. D1002

    D1002 Resident of Nat Pres

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    Seconded. Wonderful shots.

    Dave
     
  14. David P

    David P New Member

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  15. hatherton hall

    hatherton hall Well-Known Member

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    Don Clarke said that the diesel pushing out of Victoria dropped off too soon, as can clearly be seen in the last photo. this meant Clan Line had to manage the remainder of the significant climb alone with a very heavy train. Needless to say, Don and Clan Line managed it with flying colours!
     
  16. mrKnowwun

    mrKnowwun Part of the furniture

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    Yeah, you can see the resultant exhaust from the extra effort required of Clan Line! It looks good, has a late 50's smoky feel about it when steam would have been working out of there. Like both those sets of photos, clearly not been over processed to within an inch of their lives by photoshop.
     
  17. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    Just so. For example, and please don't let's debate it, it helps to know the colour of Clan Line on a nice day as seen by the eye!
     
  18. David P

    David P New Member

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    I had a few slightly earlier "leaving Victoria" pics that weren't as nice. In none of them was the diesel pushing.
     
  19. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    An excellent record of the day is at


    The last part (from 5.15) - the climb of Gomshall bank - captures perfection: in both the locomotive and driver.
     
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  20. Dan Hill

    Dan Hill Part of the furniture

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    What time did it leave Victoria as there were quite a few a few people with Camera's at Clapham but this was about 13:00 and didn't see 35028 when I got to Victoria
     

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