On the 50th anniversary of its debut mainline railtour, and fresh from an overhaul, 35028 "Clan Line" would make a storming return to public service as it hauled the '50th Anniversary Pullman' from London Victoria to Bath and back.
The 27th of April 1974. A conditional steam ban implemented by British Railways meant only select steam locomotives were permitted on their rails for working railtours, and only on select routes. Owned by the Merchant Navy Locomotive Preservation Society, BR(S) Rebuilt 'Merchant Navy' Class - 35028 "Clan Line" was one of these select few, and would make its railtour debut on this day as it hauled an excursion between Basingstoke and Westbury via Salisbury and return. In doing so, 35028 ended a 7 year drought of Bulleid pacifics on the mainline, and consequently became the first 'Merchant Navy' to operate on the national network in preservation. Over the following 50 years, "Clan Line" has cultivated a deserved reputation as a powerful, fast, and reliable performer on the mainline.
On the day of the 50th anniversary of the occasion, 35028 "Clan Line" would spearhead an excursion between London and Bath and back, covering the entirety of the original route between Basingstoke and Westbury. In 1974, due to the steam ban, "Clan Line" was not permitted to work out of the capital; thankfully, 50 years later that would not be a problem. 35028 would start out of London Victoria, navigating the fabric of railway lines in south London in order to join the South West Mainline at Wimbledon. It's not often steam works on the fast lines of the SWML, but from Wimbledon to Basingstoke, 35028 would be given free rein of the Down Fast Line before joining the West of England Mainline as far as Salisbury, and traversing onto the Wessex Mainline to Bath. The return leg would follow the same route as far as Woking, where it would take a diverted route back into London Victoria, meaning that 35028's run on the Up Fast Line would be curtailed at Woking.
With steam on SWML's fast lines being a rarity, the opportunity was snapped up at Weybridge, with 35028 flying on the Down Fast Line as it rounded the curves through the station. Moving west, the Bulleid pacific issued another turn of speed as it climbed through Bapton, working away from Salisbury. On the return working, the steep gradient of Upton Scudamore Bank would do little to stunt 35028's progress, as it erupted up the 1-in-70 gradient with a glorious symphonic display of Bulleid power. As the rain began to fall, there would be one final brush of speed, as 35028 battled the elements heading on the Up Fast Line at Potbridge.
00:00 - Weybridge
00:51 - Bapton
01:48 - Upton Scudamore
03:36 - Potbridge
All footage filmed on Saturday the 27th of April 2024.