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...

 

Clan Line seen out on today's run captured at Shortlands and providing a Doppler at Westenhanger:

 

Good to see someone else out for 35028's run yesterday. There was not one single post relating to the previous run, on 28th March, which suprised me. I opted for slower Bulleid action (among other things) at Swanage that day as the forecast was better for Dorset than Kent. Perhaps other would-be chasers did the same?

Even though it's always the same loco and same route, I'm still captivated by the sight of one of the best performers on the main line hauling these magnificent pullman cars unassisted. I was a few miles esats of @TheModster in Folkestone Warren (having explored two other potential locations in that area which turned out to be non-starters) and for anyone wishing to photograph this train in what must be one of the most dramatic locations in the the south east of England, I have some good news:- Network Rail has slashed back the buddleia between Martello Tunnel and the site of the old Warren staff halt. A stepladder is still desirable as the fencing is about 6-7ft high and I'd also recommend some secateurs as there are still a few rather vicious brambles embedded in the fencing, but as a result of NR's efforts, some good uncluttered views of the train are now possible in this iconic spot. I have no idea whether the buddleia clearance has continued to include the esction of line between Abbotscliff and Shakepeare Cliff tunnels (i.e., what is now Samphire Hoe) but if so, it would have a similar beneficial effect of the photographic opportunities there. (see my post #1 in this thread.)

 

Just reported on MNLPS facebook page that 35028 has passed her FTR.
Also 17096 has been returned to her rightful place in the train.

Cheers, Neil

 

Clan Line at the head end of today’s Belmond outing, with a Class 67 inbetween tender and Mercator due to Kent having a Red fire risk

 

If a diesel is required, and currently in drought stricken Kent there no doubt about that being 100% needed, then I think placing it behind the steam loco is the way to do it. Apart from the operational needs of that, for lineside photography I think it still gives the feel of an authentic train, rather than a train with something hanging on the back. Accepting that sometimes operational needs require the diesel to be on the back - reversals come to mind.

Bryan

 

Speaking of Celia, this was its first run behind 'Clan Line' since returning to traffic, (and the first for 'Mercactor' this year) so despite the fire risk an effort was made to see the consist today, firstly captured at Shortlands, and then again at Paddock Wood with a good turn of speed:

 

Nothing exiting with performance today but the whistles made the shots worthwhile, oh and a gleaming Clan Line too!

 

Did they remove the drivers cab from Celia?