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Tornado to Canterbury - 12/12/16

Discussion in 'What's Going On' started by 6026 King John, Dec 6, 2016.

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  1. Johnb

    Johnb Nat Pres stalwart

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    It is normal to assist up Grosvenor Bank, happened back in the day
     
    Johnb, Dec 12, 2016
    #41
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  2. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    What exactly were you expecting from Tornado? This is a locomotive that doesn't bark like a Class 5 because it doesn't need to. Just for the record, this was a train of around 500 tons gross climbing 1 in 70 at around 30 mph after picking up its feet a bit on the damp rail. The crew clearly had decided to let it find its own way up to Guston and that's what it did very competently.
     
    Big Al, Dec 12, 2016
    #42
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  3. RASDV

    RASDV Member

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    RASDV, Dec 12, 2016
    #43
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  4. Chris_Sav

    Chris_Sav Member

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    Nothing like stating the obvious is there!! Tornado was taking it in it's stride, I was hoping for a bit more of a struggle.
     
    Chris_Sav, Dec 12, 2016
    #44
  5. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    Just a short note about today that was another case of Tornado doing exactly what it says on the tin despite the hindrance of late running service trains. The outward run was not on the best of paths but we made it to Canterbury more or less on time after a late departure from Victoria. The climb out of Bromley South up to Bickley was very competent with a heavy train - around 500 tons gross. Coming home, Tornado took Martin Mill in its stride but cautiously. However the long pull up from Dover to Westenhanger was far more spirited and we had wound up to 57 by Sandling grabbing back about five minutes on the schedule in the process. However, the best was saved for last when we sustained the high forties up the 1 in 122 of Hildenborough Bank. Back into Victoria on time which is more than can be said for quite a lot of everything else at that station today.
     
    Big Al, Dec 12, 2016
    #45
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  6. Spamcan81

    Spamcan81 Nat Pres stalwart

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    Another 100 tons on the draw bar and you may have got your wish.
     
    Spamcan81, Dec 13, 2016
    #46
  7. Spamcan81

    Spamcan81 Nat Pres stalwart

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    With that double Kylchap it never will no matter how hard she has to work.
     
    Spamcan81, Dec 13, 2016
    #47
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  8. Where's Mazeppa?

    Where's Mazeppa? Member

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    So, something of the Curate's Egg about these runs? Nevertheless, (targetted question!) will we be lucky enough to get to see the good parts, if they are indeed good enough to make the final cut of HR224's "Full Regulator" column due for release in mid-January ??
     
    Where's Mazeppa?, Dec 13, 2016
    #48
  9. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    You are asking the wrong person there...probably! But anyway, here is an interesting postscript to the day.

    As we took water at a fairly busy Paddock Wood, someone boarded the train on the basis that:
    - this was a steam locomotive....."and when did I last see one of them?"
    - "Is it really only eight years old? That is younger than most of the stuff we travel on in Kent"
    - "So it's going to Victoria. I'm heading for Chelsea and that's nearer than Charing Cross, so can I travel with you"

    The rest of his journey was spent pouring over the A1ST literature and messaging all of his friends about what he was doing plus giving out his business cards so people could send him any images that they had taken of the day. And, of course, he was happy to part with money for the experience.

    So there really are people out there who don't know about Tornado and its history. They are also probably part of the future of steam on the main line so don't knock it when a trip seems a bit mundane and unimaginative. Sometimes we tend to forget that there is a main line steam equivalent to the Westminster Bubble of politics. The A1ST seems to be good at tapping into the wider market and long may it continue. (No, I am not a covenanter! :))
     
    Big Al, Dec 13, 2016
    #49
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  10. Where's Mazeppa?

    Where's Mazeppa? Member

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    Sorry about that!! I had inferred from Post #2 in this thread that maybe the author of the column in question might have been in attendance too, and that on reading this could possibly respond (hence "targetted"). Won't do it again.

    Lovely anecdote about the Paddock Wood passenger, too, and I agree with you 200% about all the things we shouldn't assume about what captivates the wider market. My whole investment of time and energy as an active volunteer in the summer months is directed to just this belief and exactly this principle.
     
    Where's Mazeppa?, Dec 13, 2016
    #50
  11. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    Not at all. You are completely on message but I'll let @gricerdon speak for himself or I may get into serious trouble!
     
    Big Al, Dec 13, 2016
    #51
  12. gricerdon

    gricerdon Guest


    Yes they were, on the boat trains but not on the normal Kent Coast services which generally left at 35 minutes past each hour. These were normally 8 or 9 coaches with a King Arthur or Class 5 in the 1950s so didn't normally need a banker. However the boat trains loaded to 10-12 coaches plus vans and so would normally be banked. Attached shot taken in October 1960 shows an H class tank on boat train ecs at Platform 2, the one used for charters today.

    H class 31550 Platform 2 at Victoria.jpg
     
    gricerdon, Dec 13, 2016
    #52
  13. gricerdon

    gricerdon Guest

    Thanks Al. Yes it was a good day spoilt only by a late running SE train preventing a sprint over the weald of Kent from Ashford to Paddock Wood after Tornado had recovered all of the 9 minutes late start from Canterbury. As usual Tornado was up to the task throughout, even with 515 tons. The climb of Hildenborough bank was absolutely top notch and as Al says the highlight of the day. Yes it will feature in HR 224 together with runs from about 10 and 54 years ago
     
    gricerdon, Dec 13, 2016
    #53
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  14. Sheff

    Sheff Resident of Nat Pres

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    Hmm - maybe need to switch from SR to HR. SR just not the same since Mike Notley's demise.
     
    Sheff, Dec 13, 2016
    #54
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  15. gricerdon

    gricerdon Guest

    I think Mike Hedderly is doing a great job with his column. We have different styles so why not buy both?
     
    gricerdon, Dec 13, 2016
    #55
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  16. 242A1

    242A1 Well-Known Member

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    You wait until the P2 turns up. You'll be even more disappointed in the "pursuit of struggle" stakes.
     
    242A1, Dec 13, 2016
    #56
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  17. alts1985

    alts1985 Well-Known Member

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    Really good day yesterday following Tornado around Kent, Knockholt, Wye, Canterbury, Sturry, Westenhanger and Dunton Green feature in my video. Sturry didn't go to plan but Dunton Green was a great end to the day, flew through from a standing start at Sevenoaks.



    https://www.flickr.com/photos/alts1985/30816357703/in/dateposted-public/
    https://www.flickr.com/photos/alts1985/30816318513/in/dateposted-public/
    https://www.flickr.com/photos/alts1985/31626794375/in/dateposted-public/
    https://www.flickr.com/photos/alts1985/31626736315/in/dateposted-public/
     
    alts1985, Dec 13, 2016
    #57
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  18. Chris_Sav

    Chris_Sav Member

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    Nah!!!! If I'm not pushing up daisies by the time that happens I'll be over the moon to try to listen to it, even if I have to turn up the hearing aid!
     
    Chris_Sav, Dec 13, 2016
    #58
  19. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    I hesitate to say this but there was one disappointment to yesterday's trip and that was the state of some of the rolling stock. Colour patches, faded colours and roof lines that looked as though it was touch and go whether they were still watertight. I also understand that one of the dining carriages was in darkness for part of the trip. Does all of that sound familiar?

    I do wonder whether the best thing that could happen to the stock when it returns to Eastleigh is for the whole set to disappear into a nearby carriage facility and be given a proper makeover. However, on the positive side, it was a warm train courtesy of the generator coach.
     
    Big Al, Dec 13, 2016
    #59
  20. 6026 King John

    6026 King John Well-Known Member

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    Good point Al although I'm not sure why you hesitate to say it. The mixture of UK Railtours, A1SLT and DBC is a recipe for a good railtour but the one thing that lets the show down is the stock. I wasn't unhappy with the interior condition of it on Monday - as you say we had heat and light in Standard class but the exterior looks very tatty, much worse than WCRC's stock generally does these days. Now here's the ironic thing - when my wife and I went on the Tornado trip to Bath we were in Non-Dining First, in the one smart looking coach in the rake (a blood & custard First Open) which had obviously been repainted recently. However the lights weren't working - not a problem on the outward journey as it was a bright sunny day and they assured us the problem would be fixed for the return journey. However, when the train arrived back at Bath we still had no lights and worse no heating on a very cold day! Wife was not impressed. While some seemed happy to sit in the cold and the dark we were not. I must say the UKRT stewards couldn't have been more helpful and offered us seats in the brake coach where the A1SLT guys very kindly offered us their compartment (they went to the support coach) so we ended up having a compartment to ourselves with heat (lots of it) and light! Wife was happy and so was I!

    The point is though, as my wife said, that you do not pay £150+ for First Class (let alone £225 for Dining) to sit in coaches with no heating or lighting. I know we enthusiasts tend to put up with all kinds of hardships to get our dose of steam but the general public may not. I understand that the stock in question belongs to "Riviera Trains" - I'm not quite clear who they are. Are they related to DBC at all? If they are serious about staying in the railtour business they really need to do better than this. There used to be 3 different Riviera sets (chocolate & cream, blood & custard and the famous "rainbow" set that Steam Dreams used at one time. Now I get the idea there is only one set, a motley collection of whatever is still fit to run. I noticed the smart FO was not in the rake on Monday so I guess it still hasn't been fixed!

    So don't hesitate to say it - it's a problem that needs addressing.
     
    6026 King John, Dec 14, 2016
    #60
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