No. 60163 Tornado’s main line programme 2017

Looks like tornado heading to Bodmin railway after cornishman tour for weekend when 59 takes train back

 

UKRT has just e-mailed me advertising these two and the "Easterling" on August Bank Holiday Monday. Hopefully we'll hear some more news about the 90mph running before too long. The ECML (or rather, sections thereof) would be a fairly suitable place to try it out first, but there are other suitable lines as well once the precedent has been set. Anyway, all will hopefully be revealed before too long

 

Details very thin on the ground in regards to tour from Birmingham. The tour page states 400 miles of steam mileage so that sounds like a steam start out of Brum !

 

Only one way to find out and that's to call UK Railtours on Monday. From looking at the website I can't decipher if Tornado comes on at the start for The Border Raider tour or at Crewe. Fingers crossed it's from the start!

 

Now listed on the A1ST website.

 

We have it on good authority that our good friends with Tornado are starting from a Birmingham station and the Railtour will be steam throughout.

 

That Newcastle trip looks mighty tempting, yes the Carlisle has more mileage, but frankly at this stage, Carlisle is like a second home I could walk round with my eyes shut.

 

click the link below about the trip
http://www.ukrailtours.com/product/the-border-raider/ and this is the first two lines,
Especially for our customers in the West Midlands and North West, here’s a cracking main line
steam tour featuring 60163 ‘Tornado’ throughout, on a 400 mile itinerary packed with excitement
mark

 

My thoughts exactly - booked Newcastle as soon as tickets went up for sale

 

Very tempted by the Border Raider itinerary. I presume that Bescot will be the operational base for it?

 

'The North Briton' and 'The Cornishman' are both sold out now, tours originating in the Midlands are filling fast and the two ECML trips are also getting booked up - I guess if you are thinking of travelling behind the big apple green machine you need to get your skates on (especially if it gets its 90mph derogation!)

Foxy

 

According to the Latest Heritage Railway Tornado will also haul the Torbay Express on the 10th September instead of Braunton.

 

Also from the latest HR :-

12th August Liverpool Street to Walton-on-the-Naze and return, and Walton-on-the-Naze - Colchester shuttles with class 67 see tornado150.co.uk

 

For rarity value (these days) of Liverpool Street and the Walton branch, even if steam only goes the one way (its not entirely clear on the website whether 60163 or the 67 does the return), I'm thinking of booking it.

*UPDATE: Oh, what the hell. There's a charity involved, it's rare track, and there's a triangle at Colchester Town, and a gap of about two hours in the middle of the day for potentially turning the train, so I've booked it. Might even book one of the Walton-Colchester Town shuttles to get the extra bit of track.

 

The www.tornado150.co.uk website is a bit ambigious, especially regarding the shuttles between Walton-on-the-Naze and Colchester Town. Clearly (to railway enthusiasts anyway), the shuttles will be top and tailed, and, unless a second steam locomotive is involved, a diesel will work one leg. My guess is that Tornado will lead into Walton in the morning, (big fanfare, crowds of onlookers, etc so no point it being on the back), and the diesel will work Walton-Colchester Town, with Tornado, Colchester Town to Walton, on the shuttles.
Is it really necassary to turn the train for the return to London?. Diesel Walton to Colchester Town, then Tornado, Colchester Town to London Liverpool St? (this also means that during the day it does both sides of the Colchester triangle). I see that there only seems to be standard class tickets available, will the ex-Anglia 'Plandamf' stock be used?, after all, Abellio Greater Anglia is one of the partners in this enterprise. In any event, some rare track, the trains benefit a local charity, and like Bulleid Pacific, I have also booked.

 

A possible downside is the very long time to kill if one doesn't fancy the beanfeast at Walton ("a day full of activities, fun and thrills by the Great British seaside"). If I decide to go I may spend a little while there but a good chunk of the day in Colchester.

 

When you try to book from Liverpool Street it gives the option of one way for the same price but and there is nothing to indicate if it includes for one way by service train.

 

Hence why it's best to grit teeth and book a return, do at least one shuttle, walk around town and find a pub that's vaguely bearable.

 

Anyway, there's a bit more in the local press:

http://www.clactonandfrintongazette...ugs_into_town_for_historic_anniversary_event/

Looks like its planned to be a non-stop run, so glad I booked it.