Ebor Flyer - A1ST and Tornado: 14/04/18

I've added those times from Grantham. Scheduled arrival times at York just four minutes apart.

 

Not really an expert timer like young Mr Emmett is John. More interested in 'proper' climbs than the flatlands. The ECML is my least favourite main line for timing as I like to time to the actual quarter miles. Never sighted that many on it. The mileposts themselves are usually visible, on both sides on many stretches. Usually rely more on the GPS. Mine displays 0.25 miles for 100 miles. It's fun at speed and there's definitely not a lot of scribbling time after 80 mph when it's 'see; stop stopwatch; read time; scribble time down; scribble speed down; release stopwatch; look for next one' with only 11.25 secs between them at 80; 10.6 secs at 85 and if we get there, 10 secs at 90!!! Fun of a challenging variety. Will give it a go and no doubt a few of us will be calling speeds when they get interesting as we always do.

 

Load is 11 plus POB=12

 

You flatter me, I have neither the skill nor concentration to do "classical timing". I rely on a GPS set to record at (nominal) 0.1 mile increments and a few key times. I then analyse the GPX files. As the GPS correlates very well with track miles I feel confident that the speeds given are fairly accurate, but I would never claim that because the GPS recorded say 32.8 mph at Shap summit it was 32.8 but only around 32.8 (similar or identical speeds in the preceding 0.1 miles would reinforce the degree of confidence, and they invariably do). There will be some classical timers on board. Hope to meet you tomorrow.

 

We're with them on the left!!

 

Thanks for that.

Thanks also to MellishR for compiling the schedules - very helpful and saved me the bother. Similar chasing down applies on the return before Peterborough and Digswell.

Re Big Al - Talking about 18/11/10 - 77 from the (Grantham) Loop (to York). Yes I recorded 77m 06s.

Haved checked my records and on 16/08/2010 I recorded 74m 11s with Tornado, also on 13. That run was checked at Hougham, freight going into a loop, and was over 3 minutes adrift of the 18/11/00 run through Newark - but ran rather well after that. The 18/11/00 run suffered a bad check before Donny.

I gather there was another run around this time in under 74 minutes, suggesting 71 minutes is quite possible within a 75 mph limit, assuming a clear road throughout. So our 70 min schedule is not unreasonable.

80mph temporary speed restrictions don't usually affect steam specials, but there's an 80 TSR on the up at Barkston which may hamper the southbound climb to Stoke, although that may not be in the permitted 90 mph zone anyway.

 

When Bittern did its high speed runs on the ECML a few years ago, there were several additional speed restrictions over bridges due to hammer blow issues which did not apply to other traffic. I am not sure if similar restrictions will also apply to Tornado ?

 

I can't remember the precise figures but Tornado's hammer blow is significantly less than an A4 due to better balancing. If I remember correctly, I think the hammer blow from Tornado at 90mph is roughly equivalent to an A4 at 70mph, or something like that.

 

Tornado has passed her FTR.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Headboard on ready to go... (picture credit A1SLT off A1 Twitter Site)

 

Come to think of it, it'll be an easy 05:45 start tomorrow to make the 06:58 Streatham Common to Balham, then tube to KGX. Then five hours at my local in York supping Ruby Mild before drifting back to the train. Hopefully we'll be toasting something special after the outward run...

 

we usually visit the three legged mare hoping to get ruby mild

 

All it's got to do now is not fail on the day, as it did with the North Briton.

 

Up 0400 for 0516 up. Fingers crossed that all goes well tomorrow after so much work has gone into this trip. One 90 max will be enough for me and would be the first since 1967.

 

It looks as though Coach H will be hosting a real festival of old timers from this board. Almost makes me wish I hadn’t booked posh class. I am right at the other end, Coach A , seat 6B. Anyone else at my end? Otherwise I will have to come through the train at some point and join the fun!

Peter, already ensconced in a Room With A View at Kings Cross. There will be a lovely view of Tornado in the morning but I will be down on the platform!
http://pjhtransportpix.zenfolio.com/

 

I've settled on my two or three favourite pubs, and unfortunately, like the Last Drop, the 'Wonky Donkey' isn't one of them. However, I recommend the Golden Ball about five minutes from Micklegate. Another two are The Slip and The Swan near Bishopthorpe Road, about 15 minutes from the station. There's also Brew York on Walmgate, so spoilt for choice with the time available.

 

More detailed times are up on RTT

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U54629/2018/04/14/advanced

08:07 off KX, 10:01 into Grantham, whats that 105 miles more or less? Take off 3 mins at Potters Bar, 7 at Digswell, thats 1 hour 45 mins running time - 105 minutes. Even 60 mph average - on its initial supply of water

(thats if my maths and geography hold up)

 

wasnt there a site somewhere that listed TSrs?