Created 7-Nov-21
Modified 18-Dec-22
Clan Line up Pompey! 6 November 2021
It is nearly 30 years since I celebrated my half century with a trip on what was then part of the Venice Simplon Orient Express experience. But after months of frustration whilst my trip to Norwich with No 35028 was repeatedly postponed and finally cancelled, I decided to lash out for the upgrade to the Hampshire Pullman, also with Clan Line.
Further drama was to follow when a sad accident occurred at Salisbury a week before: we were due to pass very close. But smart work by the promoters of the trip ensured we would have a clear run. After keeping to our timings out of London, we would turn left up the Portsmouth Direct (or Pompey) as far as Havant, then west through Cosham and Fareham to Eastleigh, where we would pick up our planned times for the return to London.
There was concern that it would be risky in the leaf fall season to take a heavy train up this hilly, wooded route without diesel assistance, but there was reassurance that our driver would be the redoubtable Wayne Thompson and the Railhead Treatment Train would be going over the line earlier that morning.
An hour before our departure time on this dull but dry day, Pullman liveried No 67021 brought our train into Platform 2 at London Victoria. Ten Pullmans, two service coaches and the POB amounted to well over 500 tons. As we boarded the sumptuous Pullmans we noted the train was not quite full: Covid was still dictating ‘bubbles’ so singletons had their own table.
We started away on time with the diesel giving us a good shove up the bank to Grosvenor Bridge before dropping off. We had an adverse signal just before Herne Hill so Wayne was on his own for the steep curving climb to Tulse Hill. We need not have worried: he blasted up to 14 mph through the station and kept on blasting to the top, speed not falling below 11 mph at any point.
We joined the south west main line at Wimbledon, ambling along the slow line to Surbiton where we switched to the down fast , and took advantage. 58 at Esher, 66 at Walton-on Thames, 69 at Weybridge and into the 70s with 74 at West Byfleet before slowing for Woking.
We took Woking Junction at 38 and ran down through Worplesdon at 61 and hit 65 before the short climb to Bellsfield reduced us to 57. After slowing through Guildford and Shalford we were up again to 56 at Farncombe and 61 at Godalming. The climb at 1 in 80 from Milford reduced us only to 50 at Witley, then we ran up to 55 on the next slope which reduced us to 38 before the brakes went on for our water stop at Haslemere. The dry conditions and expert driving had saved us six minutes on the schedule from Guildford – remarkable!
Refreshed, we rollicked down through Liphook at 62 and were soon well into the seventies for mile after mile past Liss until having to slow for Petersfield at 21. Then we accelerated up the steep grades to Buriton, going into the tunnel at 38. Over the top, there followed another downhill dash in the mid 70s, checked slightly to 55 at Rowlands Castle but still arriving two minutes early at Havant. We then turned west through Cosham, Fareham and Botley, arriving through the centre of the works site at Eastleigh where Clan Line was born.
Our progress back up the main line began as an amble but beyond Micheldever we were running in the mid 50s, and around Battledown and Worting came a short spell in the 60s before arriving at Basingstoke more or less on time for a water stop. The gricers amongst us were peeved that, this time, we were not let off the train for fear of disrupting the meal service.
We got away smartly up the fast line and reached 70 by Hook, continuing thus through Winchfield and Fleet with a peak at 75 through Farnborough and still 72 at Brookwood. We had to slow to 40 for Woking and finally reached 57 at West Byfleet before turning off to meander through the suburbs back to Victoria.
That gave us an hour or more to unwind and reflect on an excellent day. The food, wines and service had been exceptional, as had the performance of Clan Line and its crews throughout. I was impressed that senior people from both MNLPS and UK Railtours took time to come and collect passengers’ feedback on the day’s experience. Top marks all round.
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© Peter Hewitt's Transport Pictures