Thirty years ago on December 31st 1994, I found myself in Whitchurch, Hampshire awaiting the arrival of a very special train hauled by Southern Railway Merchant Navy Class 4-6-2 steam locomotive No. 35028 ‘Clan Line’; “The Auld Lang Syne” run by rail tour company Flying Scotsman Services.

“The Railway Magazine” dated October 1994 was of the opinion that this tour was part of the best ever programme of steam specials launched since the end of steam on British Rail 26 years previously. It’s amazing to see that steam, now complimented with heritage diesel and electric traction, is still very much in evidence on the main line in the UK.

Whitchurch was chosen for a scheduled stop on the “Auld Lang Syne” tour so that passengers could disembark the train and celebrate the New Year complete with piper on the station platform. I do remember getting lost on the drive to the station, so was pleased and relieved to get there in time to see the celebrations and record this video. There’s a lot of the piper here (who was excellent by the way) and not so much steam train action, but Happy New Year to everyone at home!

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