35028 + British Pullman 2026

Tomorrow (Friday 13th March) will be Clan Line's first run of the year with the Pullmans round the Dover circuit. As no one else has created a thread for it, I thought I would.

Regrettably, it's not a particularly brilliant weather forecast for tomorrow. Hopefully some other runs will be blessed with some sunshine.

Anyway, I am attaching three pictures from runs in 2024 and 2025 when the sun did shine. I did mention in last year's Pullman thread that on two occasions, I went to Longfield on the LC&DR main line to photograph the train, yet in spite of it being pretty cold and a 1 in 100 gradient, Clan Line passed me without a whisp of visible exhaust. Thankfully, I did better at Paddock Wood, Folkestone Warren and Samphire Hoe.
Incidentally, for anyone wishing to give Samphire Hoe a go, it is a more challenging location than you would think from some of the images on-line. Between the lineside fencing and the actual track is a veritable forest of buddleia, which for the most part obscures the track if you stand close to it. It took me about half an hour of walking about and trial and error before I settled on a spot from where I took the third picture, which was much more of a "train in the landscape" shot than I had planned.

 

Good news from the MNLPS. Clan line has passed it's FTR exam and is ready to haul the Belmond Pullman tomorrow. [BJ]

''Mainline Update – 35028 Clan Line
We’re delighted to confirm that 35028 Clan Line has successfully passed its fitness to run and will be back in action tomorrow hauling the first steam-hauled Golden Age of Travel by Steam of the year around Kent.
A huge thank you goes to everyone who has played their part in preparing the locomotive following the work undertaken during the winter outage. The dedication and hard work of the team have ensured the locomotive is ready to return to the main line once again.
Tomorrow’s train departs London Victoria at 10:59, travelling through Kent to Dover Priory railway station, before returning at 13:52, returning into Victoria at 16:13.
You can follow the timings here:
• 10:59 departure from Victoria – https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/.../2026-03-13/detailed
• 13:52 return from Dover Priory – https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/.../2026-03-13/detailed
If you’re heading out to see the train, please take care and respect the railway environment. Always stay in safe public locations, do not trespass, and follow railway safety guidance.
We look forward to seeing Clan Line back doing what it does best''.

 

Good start to the season for the mighty merchant. Captured at Bromley, Aylesham & Hildenborough bank:

 

Great shots!

Interesting the support coach isn't in the consist. Wonder why it's not there.

 

Apparently having some work done to it that meant the Pullman Mk2 ran in its place today.

 

Clan Line has passed it's FTR exam snd is all set for it's run tomorrow. [BJ]

 

Swapping Mk2s with, and without, toplights...