CLAN LINE

[Chris Meredith]

Clan Line passed her FTR examination yesterday afternoon prior to today's 'British Pullman' Surrey Hills. Despite the recent rain the Network Rail imposed restrictions due to potential fire risk are still in force, this means that there will be a DL providing power as train engine with our loco performing the task of pilot as the whistle on the front!

[Chris Meredith]

The 10th August 'Surrey Hills' was a fairly uneventful, a slightly late start was recovered by Addlestone, water was not taken a Shalford as having diesel assistance the consumption was lower. The arrival back at Victoria was 6 minutes late as a result of pathing delays at South Croydon and Streatham Common. Much of the cleaning and prep work had already been carried out before the trip as this had already been done prior to the aborted trip to Kingswear on 29th July. Last Saturday work was started cleaning and preparing the loco for next weekends 'Torbay Express'. The loco will leaving Stewarts Lane at 08 15 next Saturday in light steam with a DL leading on route to SPM Bristol and returning from Bristol at 14 00 on Monday 20/08, the route will be via Hounslow, Ascot, Reading, Swindon and Bath in both directions. It is possible because of the recent rain in the West Country that DL assistance may not be required Sunday.

[Chris Meredith]

Clan Line has passed FTR and is spruced and ready for tomorrow's transfer to SPM Bristol for Sunday's 'Torbay Express'. I can confirm that Sunday's train will be diesel free.

[Chris Meredith]

A highly successful run on last Sunday's 'Torbay Express' to Kingswear, Bristol TM departure was 12 minutes late, however with some spirited running the train was 8 minutes early on arrival at Taunton, Whiteball summit was topped at 42 MPH. On the return departure from Kingswear was 7 late and 10 late from Paington, again with some superb running the arrival back at Bristol was 1 early. The max speed at Whiteball was 61 MPH.

[Chris Meredith]

The MNLPS has been approached to do the final Torbay this year to which we have agreed. As the loco will will not be available on 2 September the date of the trip this has now been moved to the following week, Sunday 9th.
Clan Line will be travelling to Bristol on the preceding Saturday and returning the following Monday.

[Chris Meredith]

Clan Line has passed the fitness to run examination and is all ready for tomorrow's 'Belmond British Pullman' to Bristol.

[Chris Meredith]

The past week has been very busy for Clan Line and her volunteers. On Wednesday 05/09 she hauled the Belmond Pullman to Bristol and return, the outwards train suffered a 46 min late state as a result of removing the generator coach which was deemed unfit to run due to bad flats, further delays were incurred in the Staines area due to track circuit failures at one stage before Reading the train was 82 mins late, however with some spirited running the arrival at Bristol TM was only 49 late. Because of the late arrival servicing and turning the loco was delayed this meant the return was 19 late leaving, all this was picked up en-route although the arrival back at Victoria was 2 late waiting platform.
On Sunday 09/09 the loco was back at Bristol heading the Torbay Express which the MNLPS had agreed to cover as a result of 60009 & 60163 being unavailable. We headed for SPM on Saturday morning in light steam hauled by a Class 66, on Sunday the train formed of 11 vehicles plus our support coach was 3 mins late start but again with spirited running was 7 early at Kingswear. The return was right time away and 3 late back at BTM as a result of late running GWR and X Country services. The loco headed back to Stewarts Lane on Monday PM.
The next outing will be a Surrey Hills Pullman on Sat 22/09.

[Chris Meredith]

FTR for Saturday's "Surrey Hills" passed without any problems.

[Chris Meredith]

Note there will be a class 67 on the rear throughout on today's Surrey Hills, NOT to provide assistance, this is a result of the generator coach still being out of commission having suffered flats prior to the recent Bristol trip. It will only be there for hotel purposes.

[Chris Meredith]

Clan Line performed faultlessly on Saturday's "Surrey Hills" with nearly 600 tons on the drawbar she surmounted the 1/96 Gomshall summit at 24 MPH from the water stop at Shalford in heavy rain with very greasy rail conditions superbly handled by Paul Major who was driving. The train was delayed at Guildford by 13 32 Reading to Gatwick which was running 12 minutes late and the arrival back at Victoria was some 10 minutes late waiting platform due a planning error having passed Clapham Jn 1 minute early after a very spirited run through the South London suburbs.