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British Railways re-built Merchant Navy Class No: 35028 Clan Line heads North through West Brompton Station leading the Up Steam Dreams Cathedral's Express from London-Victoria to Cardiff-Central. It's Monday 20th August 2012 and the time was 08:58. Clan Line was about 4 minutes early so I got well-bowled by the 08:00 London Overground Metro service from Stratford to Clapham Junction sitting in Platform 3 where I was standing. Clan Line was following the 08:48 Southern metro service from Clapham Junction to Shepherd's Bush. Clan Line was running on the Up West London Line which, for the last 2-3 years has become a rare event. In 2009 Clan Line was a regular visitor on the West London Line with the VSOE specials running North to Willesden Junction then turning South on the Richmond line and joining the South-Western Hounslow Loop at Old Kew Junction. From West Brompton, Clan Line headed North on the West London Line until it got to the West Coast Main Line at Willesden Junction. There it turned South onto a freight line until Acton Wells Signal Box where it joined the London Overground Stratford to Richmond line. Just South of Acton Wells Clan Line swings West onto the Great Western Main Line joining it at Acton East Junction. Clan Line then heads West for its 1st pick-up at Slough, its 2nd pick-up at Twyford and its 3rd pick-up at Reading. At Reading Clan Line gently turns North-West passing Didcot and then stopping at Challow for water. After Challow Clan Line heads west calling at Swindon. Just after Swindon station is Swindon Junction where Clan Line turns North-West onto the Gloucester line which includes Sapperton Bank. Clan Line then turns North joining the Bristol-Birmingham main-line at Standish Junction then turns off the Birmingham line going North-West at Gloucester Yard Junction and then calls at Gloucester. Clan Line then crosses the River Severn and then heads South on the West bank of the Severn calling at Lydney. Clan Line continues South and then joins the Great Western South Wales main line at Severn Tunnel Junction. Clan Line runs West through Newport arriving at Cardiff-Central. Clan Line will head the return train later today. Trivia time. This was the 62nd Up main-line steam excursion of 2012 in the London area. By this stage last year there had been 68. The Olympic steam-ban has made a big difference in the numbers. This was the 18th Up main-line run of 2012 by Clan Line. At this stage last year Clan Line had made 17 Up runs and made its last run on 13-Aug-2011 as it underwent an Autumn overhaul. It's the 26th Up Steam Dreams steam special in the London area of 2012. By this stage in 2011 there had been 27. Today's train was the 7th Up steam special to run through West Brompton in 2012. At this stage last year there had been 8. West Brompton has 4 tracks served by 4 platforms. The most Eastern line is Track 1-Platform 1 and is the Down District Line. Regular Southbound District Line trains call here bound for Wimbledon. Track-2-Platform 2 faces the Up District Line. There are regular Northbound District Line trains calling here bound for Edgware Road and Mansion House/Tower Hill. Track-3/Platform 3, which is where I stood, at the Up end, serves the Down West London Line and has regular London Overground and Southern trains calling. All London Overground trains go to Clapham Junction. The Southern service goes to East Croydon or South Croydon. There are also shuttle trains run by Southern to Clapham Junction or Wandsworth Road. Track4-Platform 4, passed by Clan Line, is the Up West London Line. London Overground trains go to Stratford or Willesden Junction-High Level. The Southern trains though less frequent go to a variety of destinations. They go to Kensington-Olympia, Shepherd's Bush, Watford Junction or Milton Keynes-Central. On 2nd March 1863 the West London Extension Joint Railway opened its line from Kensington-Olympia to the London & South Western Windsor Lines at Clapham Junction. In 1866 the West London Extension Joint Railway opened West Brompton station There is one small trace of the 1866 West London Extension station. After Clan Line has passed my camera you can see an old brick wall opposite me under the station foot-bridge. That is the only part left of the original station. On 12th April 1869 the District Railway opened its South Kensington to West Brompton line and the old station still stands behind me. So, West Brompton became a 4-track, 4-Platform station. Hope you enjoy and please give me your feedback. Might film Clan Line later this evening at West Drayton as Clan Line is rare on the Greater London section of the Great Western. If Princess Elizabeth is hauling the Steam Dreams Worcester special on Thursday will definitely try to film its return at Feltham and might film its outward run at Barnes Bridge. Lizzie is rare in London so I might try for two bites of the cherry.