British Pullman 2024

Impressive.
Have NR change the rules because the document someone uploaded some time back says 11 is the max for a MN in leaf fall ( which it states is 15/9 to 31/12) and I counted 12 coaches in that clip?

 

Superb

 

Its Clan Line so it can take any load! There is also a big difference between 12 coaches of MK1 or 2 stock and the Belmond stock of mainly Pullmans which I estimate to be about 473 tons tare as opposed to 395-435 tons tare. In that respect the NR loading book doesn’t mean much without qualification. The loading book was also ignored by WCRly when their Jubilees took 11 over Shap unaided on the CMEs producing some of the best steam performances I have ever timed especially Galatea

 

British Pullman, 35028 Clan Line, 10th October 2024.
Filmed at Paddock Wood:

 

Clan Line all set ready to go for it's Belmond Pullman train to Kent tomorrow. [BJ]

 

Well, the Met Office was in rather poor form today. I had planned to go to Dover to see Clan Line but the forecast was for only sporadic sunny intervals by mid-morning and cloud throughout the afternoon. Here in East Sussex, the cloud duly started to build soon after 9AM but unexpectedly, at lunch time, it started to break. Too late for Dover, but by 1.30PM, the sky was virtaully clear so I settled for a quick dash to Paddock Wood.

I had another photographer for company on the country end of Platform 1 - a very pleasant Irish enthusiast who was visiting relatives in the UK and who had decided to take a few pictures in Kent. He asked me if the train which was due to pass through was the Belmond Pullman. I told him it was. "67 on the front?" "Well, no, it's Clan Line!"

Sun was shining and a respectable exhaust as it passed through, so two happy bunnies - one perhaps happier than he had expected!

 

Powering over the Luton Arches at Chatham, and slogging through Penge East on the return:

 

News from the MNLPS. <BJ>

''Safely back at Victoria after todays tour around Kent with British Pullman.
We will be back out again next week with another Golden Age Of Travel tour''.

 

Just seen his resulting photo on Flickr: https://flic.kr/p/2qpRHGs

 

Today's path has been activated as has the diesel back to Stewart's Lane at same time so probably helping out of Victoria then going home?

 

Passing through Swanley this morning:

 

Clan Line passing Selling this morning

 

35028 Passing through Denmark Hill this morning on the outward to Dover, Enjoy

 

I just managed to get to Paddock Wood in time to see 35028; I was on my way to photo an after dark train on the Spa Valley Railway with 34053.

The Charing Cross train in front of Clan Line was late, and I think 35028 was just approaching the footbridge at the east end of that area when the up main signal at the west end of the station turned to green. Then, what looked to be a gentle tug on the regulator, produced just the right volume of steam to hide the rear vehicle on the train!

Bryan

 

Being watered at Dover Priory, only a phone picture I'm afraid as I was on an old BSA motorcycle, could not get far enough back.

Great atmosphere on the platform, Belmond even had a period dressed trio of lasses singing

 

All set for tomorrow:

 

Some of my very earliest train spotting, along with big brother @gricerdon was in Dover as we used to get taken there by our parents who had relatives living in the town. So today, continuing my quest to photograph 35028 on the Belmond Pullman at locations where some may agree there is added interest, I went to a road bridge over the line out of Dover Priory station between the two junctions that once served Dover Marine/Dover Western Docks station. On a very murky, misty day I decided to leave a shot available at the location with a distant Dover Castle in the background for another day.

The first shot below is Clan Line negotiating the curves at the site of Hawkesbury Street Junction, now a developing lorry park. I believe the old tower to the left of the train is from the LC & DR, Dover Harbour station that closed in circa 1927.

The second, going away shot, is Clan Line just about at the site of Archcliffe Junction, which is now a developed lorry park!

There is an emu risk at this location. Not because there is an unfenced zoo nearby, but due to 2R32, the 12.04 ex CX, being due into D Priory at 13.55, 4 minutes after the Pullman is due to have left. But a local told me the emu often meets the Pullman at/close to the Priory station.

Bryan B

 

Clan Line seen at South Darenth, Aylesham and Hildenborough today: