Tornado

It’s more of an aspiration tbh! I’ll check our calendar, who knows, might be there as loco support

 

Spot on. Every trustee (and shadow trustee) needs to consider their position and number of them need to resign over this. Until those responsible for destroying trust in the organisation and trashing its hard won reputation have departed it will be impossible to move forward. Given the undoubtedly perilous financial position they are now in, this should happen sooner rather than later.

 

I don't think anyone is guilty of actively "trashing" the Trust's reputation, but it does seem that those in charge over the last few years have been out of their depth in managing the various aspects of the business: the overhaul, the design and installation of ETMS, the agreements for the loco to appear at the NVR (and elsewhere?), and communication with long-suffering supporters.

I should however add that I have had helpful replies when I have emailed them specific enquiries.

 

I would say that their action have significantly damaged their reputation. Of course no one would (hopefully) ever set out to do that, but the results of the decisions they have taken, the people they have recruited (or removed) and the way that has been communicated (or not!) has all played a part!

 

I don't think we're diagreeing. They have done a lot of damage, if only through being out of their depth and failing to bring more competent trustees on board.

 

1. Overcharge of air brake pipe is a stupid idea in the first place.
2. The “EP Valves” for AWS and ECTS surely only vent the control air pressure from the Brake Application Unit and Feed Cut off Valve? If it’s only come to light recently that the AWS/TPWS EP valve is not venting the Brake Application Unit and Feed Cut off Valve sufficiently quickly; who on earth approved the system in the first place?

 

It seems to work on other engines that are equipped to work air braked trains

 

I see the Pullman has been cancelled. I can’t remember how many times this has been rescheduled.

 

You would think that was the case wouldnt you? However some people like to come up with other ways of doing things.

 

It’s the 16th anniversary of Tornado’s first move in Darlington today. This is longer than the average of fifteen years in traffic for the original 49 A1s, being built in 1948/49 and the last withdrawn in Jan 1966.

Sadly, for the third year running, Tornado is still out of traffic.

 

British Railways Board MT/31 Specification of Brake Equipment for Air Braked & Dual Braked Main Line Locomotives July 1970

58 Automatic Warning System Performance
58.3.2 The AWS initial delay must be 2.5 - 3 seconds….

58.3.3 ….. the air brake pipe pressure must fall from 72.5 to 45 lb/in in 12 - 15 seconds.

 

I knew about the 21"Hg of vacuum for vac. brake systems but that's a figure I didn't know for air brake systems.

EDAS...

 

Tornado turned 16 yesterday, a quick guess suggests that shes been out on the rails and busy for 12 of those and brought a lot to to the table .
Lets hope to see her back in the game later this year....

 

Well, in less than three weeks it's due at the NVR for three days of driver experiences, all of which are sold out at £595 each.

 

I just hope this doesn't lead to yet, another cancellation, especially as people have paid out for it, and the NVR needs the money at what point does the trust lose whatever credibility it has left?

 

If I were a betting man (which I’m not) then based on the recent ‘track record’ I’d say its odds-on she won’t make it again, or the main tour in September. My heart goes out to the NVR and to all those customers who have been similarly let down over the last two years. I have next to no sympathy for those who created this mess, and perpetuate it with their continued obfuscation as to the reality of the situation. I gave what time I could during the original 6 month overhaul period, up to the point when tickets went on sale for tours only 2 months ahead, and all we had were a set of bare frames still in need of repair. At that point I walked rapidly away.

 

Or the WCRC mantra............expect it when you see it, no progress updates.

 

Yes, but the problem is that when you are spending other people's money, they want to see progress - especially when you want and need a lot more of it.
Tornado has for the last decade been the beacon of preservation achievement - the embodiment of what can happen when enthusiasm, engineering and good project management combine.
The trouble the A1st have is that they have now lost credibility and with that trustworthyness. It's a hard landing when you fall from the top..
How they have handled the latest issues certainly has not helped. It's no good shouting everything is fine, when everyone can see it is all imploding around you. It just makes you look completely detached from reality.
The loco is close to steaming, if it was me I would be concentrating on making that happen as soon as possible - a light engine run to Quorn and back would help considerably with all the jitters.
Then we need a period of honesty and self reflection, as well as some public recognition of what has gone wrong.
And I really hope the considerable amount of money has been well spent - the mainline needs a well turned out and reliable Tornado - I would imagine RTC (& Ian Riley!) would welcome her return!!

 

All well - if you are privately funded, and don't need to keep donors happy. A bit harder if those donors feel like they're being asked to give unquestioningly, but then being told less than the whole truth in return.