46 YEARS ON - REBUILT MERCHANT NAVY CLASS STEAM LOCOMOTIVE No. 35028 'CLAN LINE' TO FINALLY VISIT SWANAGE IN TRIUMPH - on Friday, 27 April, 2012

News Item from Andrew P.M. Wright - updated 24th April 2012
Official photographer & press officer, Swanage Railway.
Photographs are copyright as noted
To view a larger version of any photograph on this page, just click on the thumbnail photograph to view a full size version, and then click on CLOSE or 'x' on your keyboard to close it and return to this page.

The photos on this page can also be viewed as a slideshow - just click on any image and then click on the enlarged to continue scrolling through the photos - Next and Previous links on the right and left of the photos - or use the CLOSE link or 'x' on your keyboard to exit

Merchant Navy Class 35028 passing through Cosham Station at speed at 17:09 on 22 March 2008. Photo Stryderuk.

A mighty 1940s 'Orient Express' steam locomotive is to haul a prestigious excursion train from London to Corfe Castle and Swanage - 46 years after the massive engine was banned from running down to the Purbeck seaside resort.

Hauled by the 150-ton Southern Railway Merchant Navy class Bulleid Pacific No. 35028 'Clan Line' - built at Eastleigh in Hampshire during 1948 - the 11-coach 'Royal Wessex' departs London's Victoria station at 8.40am on Friday, 27 April, 2012.

LATEST TIMINGS: The 'Royal Wessex' is due to pass through Wareham at 12.58pm on Friday, 27 April, 2012, running into Corfe Castle at 1.37pm and arriving in Swanage at 1.53pm.

An impressive stallion of steam, 'Clan Line' usually hauls luxury Venice-Simplon 'Orient Express' Pullman dining trains to various destinations around the country.

Merchant Navy Class 35028 "Clan Line" reversing at Swindon on 27 July 1984 Photo PL Chadwick.

Forty-six years before, in 1966, 'Clan Line' hauled another excursion train from London bound for Corfe Castle and Swanage - but the massive locomotive could not travel further than Wareham because it was too heavy for the single branch line down to the Purbeck seaside resort.

Now, 46 years on, the mighty 'Clan Line' can haul UK Railtours' 'Royal Wessex' excursion train all the way to Corfe Castle and Swanage because under-bridges on the rebuilt Swanage Railway were strengthened during the early 1990s to carry 'Merchant Navy' class steam locomotives.

Swanage Railway commercial manager Martin Payne said: "It will be great to finally welcome 'Clan Line' to Corfe Castle and Swanage 46 years after it was prevented from running down the branch line from Wareham because of the British Railways locomotive weight restriction policy of the time.

"'Clan Line' is a really marvellous machine and is widely considered to be the greatest preserved Southern Railway steam locomotive of them all.

"Named after Merchant Navy shipping companies, locomotives like 'Clan Line' hauled heavy express trains from the capital to the coast so having 'Clan Line' haul a long 11-coach excursion train from London to Swanage is very fitting and has great historical resonance," explained Mr Payne.

The 'Royal Wessex' is due to pass at Wareham around 1pm on Friday, 27 April, 2012, and arrive at Swanage around 2pm. The train departs Swanage for the five-hour journey to London's Waterloo station around 5pm.

In May, 2009, UK Railtours' 'Royal Wessex' excursion train from London's Victoria station made history when it was the first steam-hauled train to run from London to Corfe Castle and Swanage since Sunday, 18 June, 1967.

Photo right: Merchant Navy Class 35028 Merchant Navy Class "Clan Line" 35028 hauls an excurion on the main line at Winchfield. Photo Keith Morgan.

Back to 1966: Locomotive Club of Great Britain's 'Dorset Belle' to Swanage on Sunday, 27 February, 1966

On Sunday, 27 February, 1966, when steam trains were on the way out and the nine-coach train named the 'Dorset Belle' for the occasion - organised by the Locomotive Club of Great Britain - was packed with several hundred railway enthusiasts.

'Dorset Belle' hauled by 35028 Clan Line at Wareham on 27th February, 1966. Photo Andrew P M Wright collection

While 'Clan Line' patiently waited in the south bay platform of Wareham station, two small Ivatt class tank steam locomotives - No. 41284 & No. 41301 - took over the train and hauled it down to Corfe Castle and Swanage.

Dorset Belle Ivatt tanks 41284 and 41301 at Wareham on 27th February, 1966. Photo Graham T V Stacey via Andrew P M Wright collection and Dorset Belle Ivatt tanks 41301 and 41284 at Swanage on 27th February, 1966. Photo Roy Panting via Andrew P M Wright collection

Back in 1966, the LCGB railway enthusiasts' railtour departed London's Waterloo station at 9am, arriving at Wareham at 12.17pm and Corfe Castle at 12.39pm before arriving at Swanage at 12.54pm.

The nine-coach 'Dorset Belle' train departed Swanage at 1.10pm, arriving at Corfe Castle at 1.22pm before running into Wareham station at 1.41pm from where 'Clan Line' took the train on down to Dorchester and Weymouth.

Dorset Belle Ivatt tanks 41301 and 41284 at Wareham on 27th February, 1966. Photo Graham T V Stacey via Andrew P M Wright collection

Withdrawn by British Railways in July, 1967, 'Clan Line' is a 'Pacific' class 4-6-2 wheel arrangement locomotive - designed during the Second World War by Oliver Bulleid - and now based at the Stewart's Lane railway depot in London.

It has been owned and maintained to main line standards by the Merchant Navy Locomotive Preservation Society since 1967.

Further details of the special 'Royal Wessex' excursion are available from www.ukrailtours.com here while Swanage Railway train service and special event details are available from the Swanage Railway on 01929 425800 - or by following the links in the index on the left of this page.

Downloadable conveniently-sized 27th April 2012 Charter timetable. Click here or on the image.

To view a larger version of any photograph on this page, just click on the thumbnail photograph to view a full size version, and then click on CLOSE or 'x' on your keyboard to close it and return to this page.

The photos on this page can also be viewed as a slideshow - just click on any image and then click on the enlarged to continue scrolling through the photos - Next and Previous links on the right and left of the photos - or use the CLOSE link or 'x' on your keyboard to exit