Tornado Railtours - 2019

The tender tank is big at 6200 gallons. It's 107 miles from Appleby to York, but after Ais Gill nothing challenging. Back in the days of SD's Coronation off the Cross, we did KX-Grantham, 105 miles, with no water stop. Think we had 13 up if memory serves. Lots of running in the mid 70s and we topped Stoke Summit at 72ish. There was no rush to attach the water hoses in Grantham Yard. Yes, 6200 gallons is a lot of water provided everything goes well on the day and the tank is full leaving Appleby.

 

40-45 gallons per mile according to the Tornado website, suggesting 120 miles would be around the limit you could plan for with a decent safety margin.

 

As has been proved in the past, particularly with VT, extended periods of cruising, even at higher speeds, makes for better range. Obvious really - it's getting away from stops and low speed 'slacks' that really consume water. Another reason for the Tornado people to go for approved higher speeds, in order to fit better into traffic flows without having to be held for pathing.

 

Is this significant
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U09042/2018/11/02/advanced

 

Doubtful as it runs before Tornado reaches Belmont Yard.

This is more significant I think.
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U54612/2018/10/29/advanced
Carriages from Burton sidings for the loaded test run perhaps?

Then this for the test run?
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U54610/2018/10/29/advanced

Carriages then return to Burton.
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U54614/2018/10/30/advanced

The move to Scotland?
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U54640/2018/11/02/advanced

Dave B

 

I have a feeling you nailed it there!

 

Looks like Tornado is leaving NVR this evening: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U54616/2018/10/29/advanced

Edit: Oops, sorry. Already been posted!

 

Perhaps not:

 

Interesting. This path

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U54616/2018/10/29/advanced

was only activated at 1725 this afternoon

 

Suspect it was auto activated as it was exactly 2 hours before it was due to depart.

 

Ah. Didn't realise that happened. Thanks.

Hopefully it's nothing too serious though

 

Now showing as cancelled.

 

Tornado now withdrawn for rest of 2018, to allow repairs to be undertaken to the satisfaction of DB cargo. Statement on Facebook.

 

Withdrawn for the rest of 2018.
Tweeted by A1 Trust earlier:


Sent from my D6603 using Tapatalk

 

A case of hindsight here, but with the numerous cancellations since April, perhaps today's announcement of curtailment until 2019 may have been better decided several months ago with a basis that if No. 60163 did return sooner, it would likely find work anyway.

It's certainly a great shame for all those involved with 'Tornado', understandably this has not been the 10 year anniversary they hoped for. But even this week, with a move to Scotland being seen as a test run to then return to York with a full train only days later was a tall order for any engine that has been out of heavy action for long duration.

 

Damn, that's bad news for everyone.

 

I completely agree with you there. In (commendably) going for the opposite of the "It'll be ready when it's ready" policy, A1LST seem to have to have got stuck in a cycle of repeated over-optimistic return dates and successive cancellations, which must have tried relationships with Pathfinder, SRPS and particularly UKR to the limit, causing much extra work for them.

 

One of the NVR volunteers told me on Sunday that it was going nowhere when I queried it leaving on Monday... but for the sake of convenience, is it in a fit enough state to be towed to Darlington for repairs to be carried out there?