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Tornado Railtour Programme 2021

Discussion in 'What's Going On' started by Where's Mazeppa?, Oct 1, 2020.

  1. Where's Mazeppa?

    Where's Mazeppa? Member

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    The various pieces of the jigsaw that make up the 2021 Tornado Rail-tour programme now appear to be pretty much all in place, based on the plan as indicated in the superb 2020 Virtual Convention video, for around 25 operations next year. On this basis, and to offer a handy summary to introduce this thread, the make-up of the programme would appear to be

    5 postponed tours from 2020, including the Caledonian. Liverpool-York Jorvik Express, and 3 outings that feature the S&C as the main part of, or a principal part of the itinerary,

    7 Aberdonians, including one in April and the remainder through the July-September season,

    2 Valentines excursions on Saturday, 13th February originating from York (Blyth & Tyne Circular lunchtime/ Harrogate Circular evening),

    1 new S&C outing in March, originating from Hull,

    4 one-way trips (or 2 return trips, depending on how you count them) as part of a special in-tandem-with- Flying Scotsman return trip proposition over the S&C on 16th and 18th September (to be released initially to Covenanters/ Supporters from 1st October, but as announced in the Convention video, open to all from about a week later)

    4 new outings offered by the Railway Touring Company based on the programme currently posted on RTC’s website, including a 6th March one-way Victoria –York, a 28th March York-Edinburgh return, a Buxton Spa Express (Tornado from Leicester) on June 5th and a Euston-Chester return outing on 17th July.

    1 re-dated RTC excursion – the Easterling – resulting from the disappointing postponement earlier this week but now confirmed by RTC for 2nd October 2021.

    Not sure whether this will get added to by further dates as time progresses, for example in the event of any disruption to Tornado’s 7 outing pre-Christmas programme with RTC in November and December. But from what’s been released so far, an absolute stand-out of the programme is the simply unprecedented Gastronomic Treat that will be offered to Premier Dining customers on the Valentines Day excursions, which at provisional running times of 4hours 45 minutes lunchtime and 1 hour 45minutes evening still manage to offer both a Great British Breakfast and a four course dinner….according to the Blurb!! One for the Guinness Book of Records, methinks.;)
     
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  2. NathanP

    NathanP Member

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    The Flying Scotsman + Tornado trips are now available to book. I imagine early booking is recommended!
     
  3. Sam 60103

    Sam 60103 Member

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    I decided this week to take a chance and book the Flying Scotsman/Tornado excursion from York on 18th September next year. I have to say the chance of it being allowed to run at full capacity is incredibly small! Even if it were to be delayed a year and run on the same weekend the following year the chances of it running at full capacity would still be incredibly small. Even if a vaccine became available I’m afraid it can’t on its own end social distancing. There also seems to be confidence from Graeme Bunker that SRPS will operate trains hauled by Tornado in 2021 even though the SRPS have said that they can’t operate commercially with social distancing in place. I’m afraid I fear greatly for the future of the SRPS as I can’t see any way of them operating tours before the end of 2022. There are many years to go in this pandemic.
     
  4. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    I think that you have to understand that statements about 'not being able to operate commercially' may not mean 'can't operate at all'. Groups will work together to make things happen and where savings can be made they will.

    In that context, even if nobody from the SRPS chooses to post on here you really must take it on trust that they are planning for 2021, making adaptations and talking to loco owners as necessary.
     
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  5. steam_mad

    steam_mad Member

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    A load of hogwash I’m afraid Sam. There are advance plans for a number of SRPS Railtours next year, however, there is also a huge demand for the hire of our stock from multiple operators. I’m obviously not going to delve into commercially sensitive agreements but stock hire provides a steady (and potentially sizeable) income Stream with greatly reduced SRPS volunteer effort.

    Not to blow our own trumpets but I suspect the SRPS on a whole is one of the more financially secure preservation societies, hence why we have not rushed to open our doors this year until we are sure we can run a safe and commercially viable service at Bo’ness and on the mainline.

    Andrew
    SRPS Trustee / Director
     
  6. Sam 60103

    Sam 60103 Member

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    I would like to apologise for my earlier post and the inconvenience caused. I hope to be on an SRPS railtour again next year and hopefully with 60163 Tornado at the front in it’s fabulous new BR Green livery.
     
  7. Sam 60103

    Sam 60103 Member

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    Regretfully the Harrogate tour is a victim of the lockdown. Such a shame as it would have been great to see Tornado on the viaduct at Knaresborough over the river nidd. I pray and hope that things are better in the summer to enable Tornado's programme in Scotland to go ahead hopefully with tours operated by SRPS as well. When was the last time steam visited Harrogate?
     
  8. Swiss Toni

    Swiss Toni Well-Known Member

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    Probably SSE, circa 2009.
     
  9. 30567

    30567 Part of the furniture Friend

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    The Tall Ships 9/8/10 45690.
     
  10. Sam 60103

    Sam 60103 Member

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    With the tour from Hull to Carlisle on the 13th March in doubt can someone tell me when was the last time a steam train went to Hull? If I had to guess I would say Flying Scotsman with the Northern Belle in 2002 but I don’t know if there has been steam to Hull since then.
     
  11. 30567

    30567 Part of the furniture Friend

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    Hull Paragon, not sure. There have been some tours along the avoiding line by Anlaby Rd Jct to/from the Scarborough line. One was on 19/9/12 with 44932, my first main line steam tour.
     
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  12. and60007

    and60007 Member

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    The last steam hauled railtour from Hull Paragon was in 2007 when 48151 did a railtour to Cleethorpes and back
     
  13. pjhliners

    pjhliners Member Friend

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  14. free2grice

    free2grice Part of the furniture Friend

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    Details thanks to uksteam. How nice it was to visit the website once again. Uksteam, sadly missed. <BJ>

    THE HUMBER STEAMER


    Saturday 7 July 2007

    LMS Class 8F 2-8-0 no 48151

    Steam hauled: Hull-Cleethorpes-Hull
    1Z51 Hull dep 08.12
    1Z52 Hull arr 21.36
     
  15. Waterbuck

    Waterbuck Member

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    We 'skirted' Hull on the RTC 'East Yorkshireman' May 2015 with Leander
     
  16. Sam 60103

    Sam 60103 Member

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    But did that tour go into Hull paragon?
     
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  17. Waterbuck

    Waterbuck Member

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    No, we turned North curving around the Football ground (water stop) and 'skirted' Hull City Centre
     
  18. and60007

    and60007 Member

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    Like I said the 8F was the last steam loco departed and from Hull Paragon Station in 2007
     
  19. Waterbuck

    Waterbuck Member

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    As per one question above ' it went to Hull ', but ......
     
  20. Sam 60103

    Sam 60103 Member

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    What happens if a tour is fully booked at normal capacity but can't run at full capacity because of Covid? The reason I ask is because Premier Dining and First Class are fully booked on the Tornado/Flying Scotsman from Middlesbrough/York on September 18th.
     

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