'Tornado': Paddington to Worcester. 14th Feb. 2016

5Z63 dep Southall 10:20 (58 late) to Padd. Not a good start.

No delays to any other services in the area <BJ>

 

ECS 58 late off Southall

 

The train has just left Southall 40 mins behind and on her way to Paddington.

 

5Z63 arr Padd 10:48 (39 late). <BJ>

 

60163 'Tornado' dep Paddington at 11:07 (37 late).

LE diesel dep Paddington 11:10 en route to Southall. <BJ>

 

Already pulled back 2 mins by Acton

edit spoke too soon back to 37 down at Southall

 

Pad to Slough 21m 16s 72 mph max on down main

 

It's a plot by WCR to sabotage Tornado and DBS

some will no doubt claim

 

Slough to Reading 20m 24s, 73 max.

 

Problem with the diesel, apparently.

 

I thought Tornado and DBS never used them?

 

Probably very limited scope to improve on the overall deficit however spirited the point-to-point running might be. It looks like a very fast sprint out to Slough, and then again to Reading, recovering 10 minutes cumulatively to this point. A fast turn-round at the Charlbury water stop might help, but the issue is really accessing the single line section of the North Cotswold line at Wolvercote Junction, where it now seems inevitable that Tornado will now miss its path pending the passage of a southbound service ex-Great Malvern at 12.44 (33L). And that would then mean in turn that Tornado would encounter the same issue once again further north at Evesham awaiting a path over the single line section to Norton Junction.

The Oxford Worcester route has been the scene of a couple of outstanding performances by Tornado in recent times – a March 2013 even-time run from Oxford to Worcester (can’t ever remember that before!) followed on its return by a near-even-time run back to Charlbury. For those whose interest is in “Pure Steam” performance (and this is only the second instance in 2016, after Tornado’s run with the BBP last weekend) I’m sure that the fascination today, as with other recent Tornado trips, is going to be in the slickness of the intermediate running rather than the overall performance against the WTT.

Whatever the outcome, I hope that everyone on board has a really great day out. I’m very envious.

 

Unfortunately I concur with your conclusion. Tornado will probably be held waiting for the Gt Malvern to clear the single line section Charlebury to Wolvercote

 

It'd be needed to move the stock and Tornado into Paddington wouldn't it?

Dave B

 

RDG to Charlbury 44m 38s. 16 Late. Max 71 at Cholsey, checked to 42 at Moreton, overtook Turbo, 73 max befire Kenn. Jn, 59 thro Oxford, 38 at Wolvercot Jn then 63 max before Charlbury.
Gt Malvern to Pad unit delayed by 15 mins. Watering done and whistling up to go.

 

So glad I was proved wrong on the earlier assumption about access to the single line at Wolvercote. Looks like a good day is turning into a truly brilliant one, and I think I will now upgrade from "very envious" to "very, very, seriously envious". Meanwhile, many thanks for the on-board updates.

 

Perhaps the next thread should be steam front and back. Wish I'd been able to go and watch.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

Through Kingham 12:58 - Motoring!

 

Departing Slough this morning: