| Re: A Day Out Chasing Clan Line - aka A Day of Missed Connections and Opportunities Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 23:25, 26th September 2026 |     |
Many thanks for your illustrated post, PhilWakely.
This is no reflection on, nor blame attached to, our Coffee Shop forum member here, Clan Line - just to clarify.
CfN.
| A Day Out Chasing Clan Line - aka A Day of Missed Connections and Opportunities Posted by PhilWakely at 23:08, 26th September 2026 | |
I wanted to chase Clan Line to Kemble today (Saturday, 26th September 2026) as she was pulling the UK Railtours Worcester Pullman. The plan was......
06:33 Pinhoe to Exeter St David's;
07:00 Exeter St David's to Reading;
<hopefully phot Clan Line passing Reading at 09:48>
09:58 Reading to Kemble
<hopefully phot Clan Line from the train as we overtake her in the Thames Valley>
<phot Clan Line entering Kemble and during her 20 minute stopover>
12:49 Kemble to Swindon;
13:13 Swindon to Westbury;
13:58 Westbury to Exeter St David's.
FELL AT THE FIRST!
06:33 Pinhoe to Exeter St David's was 13 minutes late and arrived at St David's just as the 07:00 to Paddington was pulling out, so quick change of plan...
07:30 Exeter St David's to Didcot Parkway (Via Bristol TM)
<phot Clan Line passing Didcot Parkway>
<phot Clan Line from my passing train as she took on water just west of Didcot>
10:12 Didcot Parkway to Kemble;
FAILURE NUMBER 2 as Clan Line was running late and passed Didcot just as my train to Kemble was pulling out!
Oh well, all should be fine at Kemble as Clan Line was due a 20 minute stopover and should be clear of any Up services!
How wrong I was! FAILURE NUMBER 3 as the Up 11:49 Paddington service pulled into the platform 10 minutes late just as Clan Line was arriving! So, the planned platform level shot of Clan Line was sacrificed for a shot from the footbridge. Oh well, at least a shot from the top of the platform was on as Clan Line stopped for the planned 20 minutes - holding up a late running Down Cheltenham service that should have passed 12 minutes ahead of Clan Line!
I departed Kemble as planned at 12:49 to connect with the TransWilts service at 13:13.
FAILURE NUMBER 4 as the TransWilts was held at Swindon for 8 minutes to allow a late running Down Bristol service to pass, thus resulting in a Westbury arrival just as my Exeter St David's service was departing!
Oh well, a chance for a two hour kip in the Westbury waiting room!
