British Pullman 2025

The BBC weather forecast this evening showed that Milford Haven has had 208% of its average rainfall in the month. Durham has received only 4% of its expected rainfall in the same period.
NR receive their own bespoke weather forecasts which are more detailed than ones which are broadcast.

Cheers, Neil

 

It’s confirmed by MNLPS that there is no diesel tomorrow

 

And so it was John!

Photted climbing past Bickley station and going well up the grade. Taken from Blackbrook Bridge where our (myself and @gricerdon ) hobby started many decades ago. When Dad and Mum drove their growing family down a lineside track opposite St Mary Cray Junction in an Austin 7, or had it become a Morris 8 by then? Not sure. The track down from the road was the side Clan Line is headed, but after passing under the bridge. I had planned to take a few early shots and then cross the road to get a side on shot of the train passing the now built on site of the old track. But the local bin men with two lorries and cars driving all over the place decided me to stay on the pavement my side of the road.

And then approaching Paddock Wood after the sun had come out. @gricerdon and family were on the train today which is why I chose the two locations in the photos - he used to live at Paddock Wood and did a lot of photting there.

Bryan aka Wedgie

 

Immaculate as ever. [BJ]

 

Powering out of Chatham tunnel and passing Dunton Green at speed:

 

It will be on Saturday too!

 

Thanks for the heads up on this. Well worth a drive to Folkestone Warren to see her. I hope @gricerdon enjoyed his trip, although it's hard to imagine he didn't; what's there not to like about a trip around Kent on a lovely spring day behind one of the real stars of main line steam? - not to mention the splendid food and drink!

 

British Pullman, 35028 Clan Line 24th April 2025
Filmed at Knockholt:

 

Does anyone know what the current fire risk is in Kent please? And if a diesel will be immediately behind Clan Line tomorrow - as they are if any use is planned.

Thanks in advance.

Bryan

 

It’s amber fire risk so diesel behind the loco I’m afraid, on the plus side it will have the red nameplates and possibly the Union flags on the front to commemorate VE Day

 

Has something changed since yesterday? 70000 went round Kent with the diesel on the back.

 

Believe that was because it wouldn't have been possible, with the loco change over at Hanwell having a support coach, to have a diesel tucked in behind the Brit. However, that was LSL's operation. The usual case with DB workings is if the diesel is required to do most of the work it goes behind Clan Line. Other operators, who normally have a diesel on the back anyway, usually use said diesel on the rear instead.

 

I thought the diesel was only coupled behind the locomotive for a red alert, or have I got that wrong.

 

A red alert means no steam at all.

 

Different TOC

 

I thought no steam at all only happened under a black alert?

 

No it doesn’t…..

Green - As Normal
Amber - Steam with some precautions/mitigation
Red - Steam with Diesel Assistance Mandatory
Black - No steam

With regard to the current it’s a mix of Amber/Red and I believe 35028 passes different coloured regions tomorrow

 

Thanks for the info, I’d not heard of the black.

 

Indeed. The seven spots of rain that fell on my windscreen when photting 70000 yesterday (it could have been as many as eight but I don't want to exaggerate) did little to ease the fire risk in Kent. Standing on the Murray Avenue road footbridge last night (Bromley South) waiting for 70000 to come back with the Golden Arrow, I pointed out a moderate mass of very dry, dead vegetation to a normal with whom I was enjoying a nice chat.

Looking at our Kent forcast for quite a while ahead I suspect full red and even black is not far away, rather sadly. Unless the storms forecast further west towards the end of the coming weekend decide to spend a day or more over this part of SE England.

Bryan

 

Wasn't originally planning to go out for the engine today given the fire risk, but the sunshine and the engine wearing the VE 80 discs and flags tempted me to at least go out and photo it. Clan Line captured passing through Shortlands: