The annual London to Sherborne trip was repeated this year with Clan Line running from London Victoria to Sherborne via Staines, Woking and Basingstoke. After arriving at Sherbourne, the train continued to Yeovil Junction where the Heritage Centre was used to service and turn 35028 for the return journey.
The final Railway Touring Company tour of the year with 35028 from Three Bridges to Bristol Temple Meads. The route followed the Brighton Main Line down to Hove and then across the South Coast to Eastleigh and Salisbury. At Salisbury, 35028 was left behind for servicing and 47848 took the train rest of the way to Bristol via Bath.
Eastleigh was the first place to see 35028. It would normally pass Eastleigh at speed, when on tours such as The End of Southern Steam, so a slow pass of the works where it was built is unusual.
Following the tour the long way round via Southampton Central meant arriving just as 47848 was getting ready to depart with the train for Bristol. 35028 had moved out to the signal at the far end of the train care depot and revered back into the former platform 5 alongside the train.
After walking from Platform 3 round to Platform 4, 35028 was just making its way out to the signal again to reverse into the other line that is alongside the former Platform 5. From this other line, 35028 shunted forward into a small yard where the train was serviced.
While the train was serviced, the Merchant Navy Locomotive Preservation Society had a sales stand at the end of Platform 4 selling many Clan Line related items. After servicing 35028 was brought out of the yard and shunted back into the former Platform 5 for photos and a queue quickly formed for visiting the footplate.
After a trip on the footplate, there was a good opportunity to have a closer look at Mercator, 35028's support coach, the details of the paintwork.
