Tornado Railtours - 2019

I still have a feeling there’s a lot we are not being told. It all seems to go back to the incident on the Ebor Flyer.

 

There has been an especially resounding silence on the subject of 90 mph running. All that I can recall being said was that it wouldn't happen for a while. If the failure would have happened regardless of speed (as they claimed soon afterwards) then there is no obvious reason for very much delay in returning to 90 mph operation. As long as Tornado continues to be restricted to 75 mph, all the work to achieve approval for 90 mph seems to have been been wasted.

 

At a recent A1SLT roadshow I did ask the question whether Tornado is still authorised for 90mph running and the answer was "yes". Given all that has happened and the false starts, it seems sensible to complete a few more tours successfully before pushing the envelope again.

On a wider point, I was quite shocked when we learned about the various factors that had contributed to the Ebor Flyer failure. My take on the episode is that Tornado's erstwhile high standard of reliability had led to complacency and maintenance standards falling below what should have been. The 90mph bash brought matters to head a bit earlier than would otherwise have happened. Others have said that, recently, the TOC has been very vigorous about the standards adhered to during the repairs before allowing Tornado back onto the main line. Hopefully we now have a loco that is back in prime condition.

 

No quarrel with that: the question is just how many 75 mph tours before they go up to 90 again. Some of us are waiting for our promised first refusal on the next 90 mph public run. Meanwhile one of this year's runs with Tornado that I was considering doing has been cancelled and another now clashes with something else what I want to do.

 

Snap. And this time without some wag at work covering the '9' on my Tornado mug afterwards...

Realistically, I don't see it occurring this year; I have no tours planned this year anyway, money's needed for other things and work bookings (the joy of the 'gig' economy) aren't looking so good either.

 

According to Railway Herald website, this Saturday's North Briton - Tornado over the S&C and Tyne Valley line - has been cancelled? Can't see any information on any other sites though.

 

Yup. see various posts on the Tornado thread, avoiding the ones about 35A.

 

Already covered on Tornado thread.

Tornado post5683

Dave B

 

Now bookable via the trust's own website at https://www.a1steam.com/category/tours/

They no longer use UK Railtours as their booking agent.

A new tour announced today is a trip from Birmingham to the Blackpool illuminations on 2nd November, with a diesel between Preston and Blackpool due to the lack of turning facilities there.

 

Times for this Saturday's North Briton now on RTT.
Interestingly it shows as a WCRC and not DB operation, although the coaching stock would still seem to be Riviera Trains stock as there is a movement from Southall to Eastleigh the day before, and then to Acton Lane Sidings.

Eastleigh Arlington (Zg) 19/07/2019
STP 1255 Southall Wcr 0Z60 WR Terminates here
STP Starts here 5Z60 WR Acton Lane Reception Sdgs 1358

Acton Lane Reception Sdgs 20/07/2019
STP Starts here 5Z50 WR London Kings Cross 0537

London Kings Cross 20/07/2019
STP 0653 Acton Lane Reception Sdgs 1 5Z50 WR Terminates here
STP Starts here 1 1Z50 WR Carlisle 0816
STP 2324 Newcastle 1 1Z54 WR Terminates here

Carlisle 20/07/2019
STP Starts here 3 1Z52 WR Newcastle 1706

Newcastle 20/07/2019
STP Starts here 3 1Z54 WR London Kings Cross 1922

Dave B

 

And the bit in-between: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U55383/2019/07/20/advanced

 

Yes, missed it but added now, thanks. Tired eyes I guess

Also started thread for The North Briton.

Dave B

 

After an absence of any steam from the home counties to Ludlow and Shrewsbury for several years, we now have 2 on the same day - 23rd November.

The RTC trip with 60009 was advertised a while ago. Just announced today with Tornado is Pathfinders tour https://www.pathfindertours.co.uk/events/the-marches-severn-express-steam-hauled/ starting from Eastleigh with various pickups and steam coming on, and off, at Gloucester.

 

Just like the good old days when both Pathfinder and Steam Dreams ran on the same day.

 

Had letter today informing passengers that the Pathfinder Cumbrian Mountaineer on 14/9/19 has been cancelled due to a lack of bookings. Shame as it was going to be the only chance to 'do' 60163 northbound over Shap this year.

 

Great stuff. Late notice engineering work means there is no path available for the run through the Potteries on 2 November, a bit of rare track that was my reason for doing the trip.

It will be interesting to see whether it becomes a straightforward out and back via the WCML, or some route-related interest is injected by a run through or around Manchester. I doubt it at this short notice, although the Standedge leg of the 2017 Border Raider was arranged a few days before the off because of similar circumstances. C'est la vie.

 

Yes it's a shame about The Potteries, I've never done it by steam before. No timings on RTT yet but tickets went out today First Class apparently so should come tomorrow / Saturday.

 

And would that have been the first ever steam over the new flyover that avoids the Norton Bridge junction?

 

Speaking with a couple of timers on a recent (non Tornado) trip, the loco has 'stretched her legs' on a couple trips this year, so is clearly back in good health. Perhaps some higher speed runs maybe on offer next year.
In unrelated events I found myself booking on the Caledonian for next July - Steam north of Carlisle can not be ignored!