The "Clan Line" Farewell...

Hi all. Today, in the heat, a Southern giant was pacing the West Coast Main Line. Bullied Pacific No35028 "Clan Line", a member of the powerful Merchant Navy Class, was hauling her final railtour for the foreseeable future. No35028's ticket was almost up and today would be her last chance to show passengers, crew and bystanders what she could do. Built in 1948 with traditional Bullied refinements and air smoothed casing, the engine, like her sisters, was rebuilt by BR into the more conventional form we see today. In preservation, "Clan Line" is mainly known for hauling the VSOE British Pullman around London and Kent. Today however, for her final run, she was to tread new ground. Leaving London, the engine made her way up the WCML to Rugby before running via Coventry and Bedworth to reach the West Coast again on an unusual detour. The WCML would then take the engine to Crewe where she would continue to Chester. On the return run the engine would detach at Crewe for disposal and, in the near future, full overhaul at Crewe Works. We caught up with the engine at Bedworth and Nuneaton. My brother was filming whilst I attempted to catch a photograph in the hazy conditions...

35028 looked stunning as she strolled through a busy Bedworth station. The engine was then held for 25 minutes at Coton Junction for servicing. This would be the only area where the loco wouldn't be 'under the wires', allowing the support crew to pull coal down from atop the tender in safety. It was this servicing stop that allowed us to get ahead of "Clan Line" in order to capture her restarting through Nuneaton Station...

A capture of Merchant Navy Class No35028 "Clan Line"...

I was happy with the above shot as I didn't think I'd get anything in the dreadful glare of the sun. The engine rolled cautiously through Platform 1 at Nuneaton, against double-yellows. Soon enough, she got the away and accelerated sharply northward... 

These Merchant Navy's are big beasts and seem perfect for the main line. I'd never seen "Clan Line" in the flesh before and so was glad to today, despite it being her last run. As far as I know, until "P & O" is finished at Toddington later this year, there are currently no operational Merchant Navy Pacific's. Happily, out of a class of 30, there are 11 I believe in preservation, undergoing or awaiting restoration one way or another. These are not to be confused with the slightly smaller West Country and Battle of Britain types, designed to work over the routes where the heavy axle loading of the Merchant Navy's prevented them from wandering.  "Clan Line" was certainly on form today and looked lovely; a credit to those who look after her. Click here to see a video from Youtube of her on a high speed section. "Goodbye Clan Line, and Good Luck". Best Regards, Sam...