Merchant Navy power storms Bath | 35028 Clan Line on the British Pullman - 19.05.21

Hauling her first public duty in 15 months, 35028 Clan Line was back on the Belmond British Pullman, this excursion being a London Victoria to Bath and Bristol run. This video firstly sees the Merchant Navy accelerate away from Clapham Junction at Wandsworth Town, followed by a highlight of the day which saw the train on the fast line at Didcot Parkway, with the added bonus of a whistle contest from the Railway Centre's No. 1340 Trojan, as Clan Line storms past the station at her maxiumum permitted speed, into the sun which came out just as she passed through! Finally, Clan Line is seen accelerating away from Bath at Oldfield Park, with a huge crowd of people cheering the locomotive on at the bridge before the station, no doubt a thrilling sight to see after so long, which the crew reply to with some amazing whistling. We pause the chase of the tour here with some shots of the historic city, showing Bath in all its glory in the sunshine, captured from Bath Skyline. The return begins at Keynsham, with Clan Line whistling right past us and leaving our ears ringing! At this point the train was nearly half an hour down, so we were unable to go to our final planned location of Cholsey and instead found ourselves back at Didcot Parkway for the second time that day, as Clan Line accelerates away from her water stop with the signal changing to green just as she passed us. Because of this late running, we were able to (just!) get a bonus shot by catching a fast train to Reading, and then a Waterloo service to Wokingham. The Merchant Navy was signal checked from the level crossing, which saw driver Wayne Thompson opening the regulator as she came into view, and powering past us on the last leg of her journey home. A much needed day out which saw a brilliant performance from the Merchant Navy, and was good to pay a visit to Bath in some brilliant weather. •Photo:   / 1220878148348598   •Facebook:   / themodsterrailwayvideos