Tornado Railtours - 2019

I am beginning to think that you wont see Tornado at the head of any rail tour much before December, or even newt year now, by the time she's had a running in programme and test runs on the Main line to prove her problems are behind her.

 

Just had a chat with UKRailtours as I was looking at booking onto The Talisman. Asked how likely it is that 60163 will haul the tour and was told the plan is to get Nunber Nine to haul the steam section, which works for me.

Was also told it is likely The Devonian (which I'm also booked on) is likely to be cancelled/postponed.

 

Thanks for that. If it is Nr 9 I will book. I have not been out of Kingscross behind nr 9.

 

If that proves to be the case, then that's a double dose of A4 action for me - I'm booked on The Cheshireman the week before as well as The Talisman!

And I honestly can't think of anything I'd like to do more than have a run on the ECML behind an A4...

I'm a bit confused though: I thought the tour was full (I only got my seat through a cancellation) or have loads of people cancelled?

 

I guess a load of people cancelled when it was re-dated as the website has been saying 'Bookings now open' for weeks.

 

That'd figure - my booking confirmation came through at the beginning of July and I had an e-mail from the A1SLT asking if I was happy to move to 15/9. As it's the day before my birthday I thought it a great way to spend the day!

I think you'll find they've already used UoSA to cover for Tornado on earlier trips (RAF100, tomorrow's S&C trip) whilst it's in the Peterborough Pacific Hospital. And let's be honest - I can't think of any person who'd complain about A4 haulage in the absence of an A1. In addition, Graeme Bunker-James has already ruled out any further 90 mph runs this year.

 

Technically the S&C trip is a Pathfinder tour, but your point remains. Remember, the north Wales trip in April had to be postponed because no other steam locomotive was available.

Al - I’m not sure that’s what happening, no, but that’s what I was told when I rang to book onto the trip and asked “what’ll happen if Tornado isn’t ready?”


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Devonian postponed until April 2019

 

While that wouldn’t surprise me, the UKRT website still has it listed in September and I haven’t been sent an email to say it has been postponed. Where are you getting that info from, please?


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From an impeccable source

 

Also told by impeccable sources that the Devonian wasn't running on the 8th Sept. Wasn't told about the revised date though. Bit surprised the Talisman is intended to run without 60163. Might have something to do with the group that own the Deltic being promised the tour.

 

Confirmation of Tornado's bookings now here:

https://www.a1steam.com/2018/08/11/repair-update-10th-august/

So, 60009 will be hauling The Talisman. I am, if you'll forgive the pun, chuffed! An A4 and a Deltic - what more could you want?!

It also confirms the postponement of The Devonian to Spring 2019.

I now wonder if Tornado will be taking part on the "Steam In Green" event on the NVR at the beginning of September along with 60009, 34081 and 61306?

 

No mention of the S&C Golden Express II on 3rd October.

 

Update on Tornado's repairs here.........https://www.a1steam.com/2018/08/11/repair-update-10th-august/

 

Yesterday I received the UK Railtours Autumn and Christmas 2018 Tour Guide.

Completely devoid of A1 Trust tours.

Another reason not to hold our breath!

Peter on a WET Manchester morning
https://pjhtransportpix.zenfolio.com/

 

Just mentioned it Al as the section in the update was headed: "The following alterations will now apply to Tornado’s diary for the remainder of 2018". No doubt Pathfinder will find something of some variety to run GEII with.

 

Someone will correct me if I’m wrong on any of this, but, IIRC, UKRT doesn’t normally mention A1SLT tours in its brochure as UKRT acts as the booking agent rather than promoter.

It’s a little confusing though, as UKRT does mention the A1 tours in its weekly(?) newsletter, plus the A1SLT has its own distribution list.

A1SLT obviously sends out its own brochures and these don’t tend to advertise ‘extras’ where Tornado has been hired either, such as the Pathfinder and Torbay Express jobs - this also explains why the update posted yesterday doesn’t mention the Pathfinder or SPRS tours (re)scheduled for later in the year.


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