Tornado Railtours - 2019

Surely no-one would inflict us with a diesel and show pony steam for the 50th celebration of the end of steam on BR; though there would be an irony in that!!!

 

If the alternative is setting fire to half the countryside then yes they would.

 

What's the chance that the Devonian will be her 1st passenger mainline run after returning ? The Canterbury trip looks far from certain.

 

And mine.

 

Wouldn't be surprised either. The longer range weather forecast is still basically dry hot with few proper rainy days. Surely they're going to have to take the big green machine to the Severn Valley to do some decent running in; and then there's the small matter of the mainline tests. Can't do them in show pony mode. Think the end of August is optimism in the extreme. love to be wrong.

 

Having been on both the ill-fated North Briton and the Ebor Flyer, then taking into account the summer weather, the need for running in, loaded test runs etc., I'm afraid my plans for future Tornado railtours are focussed on "beyond" rather than "2018".

 

Our regional forecaster for look North predicts dry and warm for the next two weeks. Looking back at UK Steam for 2013, the last hot summer, the fire risk season lasted from the first week of July to the first week of September (though that was not network-wide at least not the whole time). So maybe a realistic scenario if this weather continues is test running September, back in business October. I'm thinking about the Auld Reekie but not putting any money down at this point.

I was up in the Lake District today, Thirlmere is very low. Hosepipe ban for NW is not surprising. If anything the NW landscape looks even drier than the Dales. I did a walk famous for boggy ground, sphagnum moss completely dried out to a sponge.

 

Was planning on the Bard of Avon, but won't book until a replacement is confirmed. At that point, will take a chance on the MR ban.

 

Given the very verbose write-up still, as of now, on the Pathfinder website : http://www.pathfindertours.co.uk/in.../events/settle-carlisle-golden-express-i.html with it's frequent references to "magnificent Tornado over Shap" and talk of "soulless diesels", I really can't believe P/F would have the nerve to run this particular trip with show pony steam with different locomotive or totally diesel. Would they? By any standards that would be surely be selling under false pretences.

I'm aware of the arguments that people just want a nice day out and are not bothered what is on the front, but that really can't be said for this trip, which has been sold specifically to commemorate August 1968.

 

........ or 45231 paired with ....... ?

 

Who knows but these trips that are anniversary related and are more enthusiast (or at least those with some interest) based to appear to have far more justification for providing what was on the original blurb rather than say an average weekly S&C tour.
Of course as no A1 was around at the end of steam debatable what may be an acceptable replacement in this case (of course Class 47's were there but I jest!) And then do you cancel as you can not meet the date of what your are trying to commemorate, or postpone until your loco is available and run on some meanless date as just another tour?
I see RTC when unable to run the End Of Southern Steam Trip this year postponed it to 2019, which seems totally logical to me.

 

A postponement seems more logical than a diesel replacement given the occasion - I just hope it will be a suitable date, mid-week in the summer holidays worked well for me, mid-week when I'm at university 100 miles away less so!

 

Got an email from UK Railtours confirming that The Mad Hatter is cancelled, refunds on 26 July and confirming the intention to re-run next spring. I'm booked on the Golden Express on the 11th and on balance I think that with the uncertainty of the fire risk situation, the provision of a suitable alternative loco and the fact I booked the trip because it was Tornado, I would prefer postponement until a suitable later date rather than a diesel only or assisted steam. However, let's wait and see . . .

 

You mean diesel right ? ?

Same thing that rescued said New build kettle....

 

Of course, slip of the tongue...

 

Points pretty simple to grasp,
Not sure it needs explaining further.