35028 Clan Line, SR Merchant Navy Class
A preserved SR Merchant Navy Class 4-6-2 Pacific, built at Eastleigh Works in 1948. Withdrawn on 9 July 1967 — the last day of steam on the Southern Region — after covering 794,391 miles. Purchased directly from British Railways by the Merchant Navy Locomotive Preservation Society for £3,850: the only Merchant Navy Pacific never to enter Woodham Brothers' scrapyard at Barry.
35028 Clan Line worked the Bournemouth Belle and Atlantic Coast Express from Nine Elms, unofficially timed at 104 mph in 1961. In preservation she ran the first Merchant Navy main-line excursion (Basingstoke–Westbury, April 1974), hauled the Belmond British Pullman through the 1990s, and in December 2018 hauled the Royal Train carrying the Prince of Wales to Cardiff Central.
Last recorded as based at Stewarts Lane, Battersea, owned by the Merchant Navy Locomotive Preservation Society. Operating status: Main-line certified. Current livery: BR Brunswick green.
Location, livery and operating status last confirmed pre-2024 and subject to change. Check with the owning organisation or heritage railway for current information.
Notable history
35028 Clan Line was built at Eastleigh Works in 1948 and spent much of her BR career at Nine Elms shed, working prestige Southern Region expresses including the Bournemouth Belle and Atlantic Coast Express — unofficially timed at 104 mph passing Axminster in 1961 on the latter. She hauled a farewell special from Waterloo to Bournemouth and back on 2 July 1967, and was formally withdrawn on 9 July 1967 — the final day of steam on the Southern Region — having covered 794,391 miles.
Purchased directly from British Railways by the Merchant Navy Locomotive Preservation Society for £3,850 one month after withdrawal — the Society had originally wanted classmate 35022 Holland America Line but that locomotive was sent to Barry before they could act, making Clan Line the only Merchant Navy never to pass through the scrapyard. She ran the first Merchant Navy main-line excursion in preservation in April 1974, was selected to haul the Belmond British Pullman in the 1990s, and in December 2018 hauled the Royal Train carrying the Prince of Wales to Cardiff.