In photos: steam locomotive hauling a luxury Pullman train rumbles past Brixton

This was the delightful sight on Friday of a steam locomotive powering along the elevated tracks that run above Brixton.

The steam engine was the Merchant Navy Class 35028 locomotive named Clan Line, which was built 78 years ago.

Wikipedia has more details:

35028 was built at Eastleigh Works in 1948.

 

After a few weeks running in, it was allocated first to Dover and then to Stewarts Lane shed in London, from where it worked heavy trains on the trunk routes to the South East Channel ports, frequently working the prestige expresses, Golden Arrow and the Night Ferry.

 

After rebuilding in 1959, it was initially allocated to Nine Elms shed, from where it headed such trains as the Bournemouth Belle and the Atlantic Coast Express.

 

While working the latter in 1961, it was unofficially timed at 104 mph (167 km/h) passing Axminster. On 2 July 1967, Clan Line hauled a farewell special from London Waterloo to Bournemouth and back and thus ended its British Railways career.

We caught sight of the rail tour returning around the back of the Somerleyton estate later that afternoon.

Close up of the loco

Here’s photos of the locomotive at Victoria station in 2010 (top) and 2007 (below).

Brixton history

The above postcard shows a different loco travelling through Brixton in August 1949, with the Bon Marche building in the background.

More

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• The mystery of the 60 foot steam loco inside Brixton’s Bon Marche department store
• Explore Brixton’s railways past and present with this fantastic map
• A 55 year old Class 73 locomotive rests awhile on a bridge over Pope’s Road, Brixton
• A charming little Victorian steam locomotive called Brixton
• Reopen East Brixton railway station, says London news website