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!









 
 

 
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.