After a 3 month absence from filming in part due to the extreme dry weather conditions during the summer resulting in various steam bans, the camera was ready to shake off the cobwebs and get back into filming steam on the mainline, and what better way to come back than this one!

With the non availability of 35028 ‘Clan Line’ due to boiler problems, PRCLT’s 6233 ‘Duchess of Sutherland’ would take on a rare outing hauling the “Belmond British Pullman” from London Victoria to Bristol & return on Wednesday 14th September 2022, it’s first run with the Pullmans in over 16 years and operating with DBCargo for several years

This short video shows the Duchess with DBC’s Driver Jim Clarke on the regulator storming through Ashford, Surrey in the hours of darkness with the delayed return leg back to London

The title of ‘Pure Steam’ is perhaps something that isn’t always a common sight with mainline steam tours in this day and age, a 13 coach train with no diesel on the back and headboard free, makes it something rather special in the heritage of it all