CLAN LINE’S ONE-OFF BLUEBELL TRAIN

Bogie derailment leads to short-notice sussex sojourn before main line return.

There was a surprise for visitors to the Bluebell Railway on August 27 as ‘Merchant Navy’ 4‑6‑2 Clan Line hauled its first – and so far only – train at the Sussex preserved railway.

The main line certified Bulleid ‘Pacific’ had travelled with its support coach to the preserved railway the previous week to make use of the wheeldrop at Sheffield Park.

Inspection of the locomotive was required following a derailment in the yard at Stewarts Lane on August 16 after it had hauled a ‘British Pullman’ charter for Belmond. In a statement, the Merchant Navy Locomotive Preservation Society (MNLPS) said: “On return to Stewarts Lane, poor railhead conditions caused Clan Line to lock its wheels and slide into the depot protection derailers.

“The front bogie axle was derailed, the guard irons badly bent, and the front sanders damaged.

“As is standard practice in these situations, we had Ultrasonic Axle Testing carried out on the following Monday, but this showed no problems. When a derailment of the bogie occurs there is always a possibility that the pin that holds the bogie gets damaged. We wanted to make sure that this hadn’t occurred in this case.

“The only way to do this is to drop the bogie on a wheeldrop and examine it.”

With the society’s usual go‑to wheeldrop shed at Ropley on the Mid‑Hants Railway severed from the national network by the ongoing replacement of Butts Bridge, it turned to the Bluebell, who were “only too happy to make it available to us, along with their expertise. Network Rail and DB Cargo pulled out all the stops to get us gauged and found a path for us. One week after the incident we were on our way to East Grinstead to join the Bluebell Railway.”

Having ascertained that no damage had been sustained, the opportunity was taken to allow public footplate access to No. 35028 in Sheffield Park yard.

With the ‘MN’ having passed a Fitness to Run examination on August 26, arrangements were made for a trial run, which doubled

up as a one-off rostered service train turn. The plan was “off the cuff”, according to Bluebell Operations Director Chris Knibbs, who added that even though Clan Line’s 2.30pm Sheffield Park-East Grinstead service was only advertised via social media a matter of hours beforehand, he was “surprised at the number of people who turned up for it.

“It was a thoroughly enjoyable experience,” he said.

The MNLPS added: “Perhaps we can do it again sometime, but under better circumstances, and with more notice.”