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 tour 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.

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