Tornado to Hit Didcot!

Taken from the Great Western Society web site http://www.didcotrailwaycentre.org.uk

At the moment I do not know what else will be running over the bank holiday but it will be shown on the website nearer the time.

 

Have you got the sandbags and shelters ready?

:smt003

 

As it so happens, yes See Octobers news here http://www.didcotrailwaycentre.org.uk/news/archive.html
We actually have 2 WW11 air raid shelters, and regulalry have air-raid warnings from one of them.

 

Oh good grief, I'm on the roster for bank holiday Monday. I hope the conversion to RH drive will be completed by then?!?

 

Think I'll go some time when the panniers are in use personally, but each to their own \/

 

Did someone just say "Tornado" and "Driver Experience courses"? =P~ =P~ [-o< [-o<

 

http://www.didcotrailwaycentre.org.uk/n ... tml#news01 has an e-mail link if you want to register your interest for driving experience,
but so far it only says "details will be available soon". Normally we do 8 people per day, so I would imagine that the number of days will depend on the interest and what can be negotiated.

 

Surely the missing cylinder will give more problems? #-o :-#

 

Someone is being pretty astute - taking Tornado around the various preserved lines is a win:win situation. The lines themselves get a headline act that will draw in punters who might not normally visit (thereby giving a chance to show them that a good day out can be had) and Tornado gets to be seen in the "steel" by lots more people in their local area which should make some of them potential customers for mainline runs. Clearly the "newest steam loco" tag will begin to lose its marketing shine after a while but maximising exposure and making lots of new friends while the interest is high is very sensible.

As for it being at Didcot, at least it will mean my son will get a look - we just missed at the WSR by going on holiday down there a fortnight too late, he'll miss it going through Bath tommorow as I have to be out of town, and strangely getting to Bristol to see it on the Torbay's even proves difficult as the service trains don't start in time! (At just 4 I don't think he's quite ready for a day out on the Torbay yet as he hasn't the attention span to just sit on a train that long - his time for railtours will come!) That said I don't think it will dislodge "the green engine that was blue" from his affections!

 

No probs....
1/. We've still got some GW green left over from 3650's re paint.
2/. My other half has some of that copper coloured wrapping paper, so once the flappy bits either side of the smoke box are gone and the lamp brackets have been turned the right way round, the front end won't look too bad.
3/. A man size Western shovel can flick coal anywhere!
4/. Rip out the comfy seats and trailing bogie and they'll have a job telling which one is their loco when they come to collect it. (maybe palm them off with 6998)
Now if only we could make it bark, and at 4 beats to the bar!!

Seriously though, as 6024KEI says, very astute move by the Tornado boys especially for a loco with such a current high profile. I'm just glad that Didcot will also get to share the benefits, and I would imagine there's more to come at other railways around the country between mainline stints.

 

Why would you want to give them something as meaty as 6998? \/ Only to deafen the poor eastern men!

 

I'll be visiting for this as I've yet to see Firefly in steam.

 

August steam dates for Tornado at Didcot can now be found here http://www.didcotrailwaycentre.org.uk/events/loco_roster.html (scroll down the page for the last four dates).
I believe there are likely to be two Driver experience days, and the chance to purchase footplate passes on some others. Details are nearly finalised.
The heavy freight mob would never forgive me if I didn't mention the "Black Python" real ale bar will also be open over the bank holiday weekend as well.

 

Tornado is now at Didcot, arrived yesterday at about 13:00hrs. As far as I am aware there are no changes to the published plans for steaming dates.

 

Looks like you are going to have to get used to the left-hand drive and your fireman is going to have to find the back corners with a tea-spoon through the letterbox!

 

Who left the gate open?
Came complete with people with strange accents!

 

I've had permission to post that the driver experience on Tornado is £550, and are starting to fill, (27th / 28th August). E-mail DRC or ring (01235 817200). Footplate passes on 26th, 29th, 30th & 31st will be £20.

 

Same here - Tornado is just a bonus (OK, a fairly big one, which helps persuade the wife it's worth coming too).

Richard

 

Tornado was moving around Didcot yesterday, and will be in use today along with pannier 3650. Over the weekend Tornado, Firefly and the GWR railcar will all be in use.

If you fancy a beer the 38 mob bar will have up to 10 different beers available over the weekend, with proceeds going to help restore 7202, you will find the bar near the turn-table.