35028 "Clan Line" heads for Salisbury | 'Bath & Bristol Christmas Express' 14/12/2024

BR(S) Rebuilt 'Merchant Navy' Class - 35028 "Clan Line" would spearhead the final festive tour to the Bath and Bristol Christmas Markets, chartered by the Railway Touring Company, with a run across the south coast. Support would be provided by West Coast Railways Class 47 - 47848.
35028 started the 'Bath & Bristol Christmas Express' at Three Bridges, working down the Brighton Mainline through Haywards Heath to Preston Park, where the tour skirted Brighton to reach Hove. From here, 35028 led the tour along the West Coastway line to Fareham, deviating north to Eastleigh and onto the Wessex Mainline via Chandler's Ford. Once the consist reached Salisbury, “Clan Line” would be relieved from duty while the tour carried onto Bath and Bristol under diesel power. This was to allow the necessary time required for servicing 35028, ensuring the Bulleid pacific was in fine stead for the return leg. The return leg of the tour would retrace the same route.
Murky conditions would greet “Clan Line” just after sunrise on its approach to Wivelsfield, gliding over Bedelands foot crossing. There are very few suitable locations in the Hove area, due to an abundance of mesh fencing restricting views at most vantage points; therefore, damage limitation was in order. 35028 is seen passing beneath Burton Walk on the approach to Hove, with the camera wedged up to the mesh fencing. Once the Bulleid pacific reached the West Coastway line, it soon began to stretch its legs, with 35028 providing a spectacle at Barnham as it led the tour towards Fareham. 35028 made short work of its trip along the Wessex Mainline, issuing an assured performance at Lockerley.
00:00 - Wivelsfield
01:12 - Hove
02:18 - Barnham
03:41 - Lockerley
All footage filmed on Saturday the 14th of December 2024.

[@paulstevens6564]

Another excellent video mate. Beautiful loco.

[@TheSouthernerYTChannel]

@@paulstevens6564 Thank you

[@nigelstride6158]

Lovely to see 35028 again, finally in the sunshine at Lockerley. A good mix of locations - well done again on covering the mileage. Thanks for sharing !

[@TheSouthernerYTChannel]

Sunshine at Lockerley does seem to be a rarity. and for all the seasons we should get sun, who'd have thought it would be winter. Thanks very much, and glad you enjoyed it. Was a pleasure bumping into you again. Merry Christmas.

[@nickjh1968]

Fantastic as ever, wonderful engine, thank you for your sterling work catching these magnificent machines 🎉

[@TheSouthernerYTChannel]

Full credit to the MNLPS, they do an exemplary job in turning out '28. Thank you for the kind words!

[@odgeetv8515]

Awesome footage 💯

[@TheSouthernerYTChannel]

@@odgeetv8515 Thank you

[@petercook6383]

Brilliant video, you seem to be able to choose the best locations as always. I look forward to seeing your work each time. BTW in Bath at the moment for the weekend visiting the Christmas market, watching the timmings of Clan Line, she's on time!

[@rsilman73]

Do so like the panning shots you achieve. Brilliant.

[@TheSouthernerYTChannel]

Thanks very much

[@Matty_1843]

I love how they always seem to find just the right headcode for Clan Line's route, no matter how weird.

[@RB-hx7rd]

Brilliant work..

[@TheSouthernerYTChannel]

Thank you

[@SimonTog]

Good video :)

[@TheSouthernerYTChannel]

Thank you

[@IowaTrainGay]

So cool! I hope one day we can have steam trips like this in the US.

[@rsilman73]

Back when I was a support crew volunteer, during the run from Bath to Bristol it occurred to me that anyone driving on the A4 Keynsham by-pass could get a great tracking shot of the train, it being above the road on an open embankment

[@bobingram6912]

Glad you managed to get a good panning shot at Lockerley, B & H not very photogenic but the sound was good in the cutting!! Is that it for the year or are there anymore of your delights planned? Thanks Matthew👍👍👍

[@TheSouthernerYTChannel]

Thanks very much, Bob! We got very fortunate with the light at Lockerley, with the cloads breaking only a few minutes before '28 appeared. I've got one more video with new content to build and publish. After which, there are some compilations in the works, which may extend into January.

[@petercook6383]

Spoke too soon she's 6 minutes late at Eastleigh!