THE PURBECK TORNADO - 16th June 2010

In the hope I've not overlooked an existing thread .....

With the loco now repaired (at Hither Green) UKRailtours are running 60163 "Tornado" from London to Swanage next Wednesday on a sold-out trip. The UKRailtours' site is showing confirmed departure times from London Victoria at 08:45 and Woking at 09:59. Although uksteam.info site does not show any NR times [yet] it indicates the departure is from Waterloo instead of Victoria. I wonder which terminus is to host this departure?
This will be the first visit of 60163 to the Swanage Railway and local interest is growing steadily as the great day approaches. Advance weather forecast seems to indicate sunny intervals with some cloud but, hopefully, dry and temp of around 67F.
As our turntable is only 50ft long DBS will haul the whole train back from Swanage to Southampton, with 60163 on the rear, and then "Tornado" resumes haulage back to Waterloo via Redbridge, Romsey, Andover and Basingstoke.
The Purbeck Tornado II, coping with UKRailtours' waiting list, runs on Wednesday 28th September. Not sure if there are any seats left on the 'relief' service.

 

Departure is definitely from VICTORIA return is into Waterloo.

 

Departs from Victoria, returns to Waterloo (ie my mistake !)

David

 

David,
No problem. I'm sure John Farrow's letter to his passengers is clear as to where they should travel - which is the important point. I've been having 'Senior Moments' for decades, I reckon, and have given up counting them. Goodness knows what'll happen when I reach 60 let alone 65!! I'm just glad I don't have your 'job' and trust NR's current problems [late provision of railtour timings] are sorted so you can go back to 'normal' working.
Believe 60163 might be arriving in Swanage around 12:30 - 13:10 ish but not sure of finalised departure time. Such is the enthusiasm to see "Tornado", during its first visit to the Swanage Railway, that it looks like we're going to be forced to 'lock' the station gates at Swanage keeping the platform clear of casual visitors. This is to ensure both our, and the railtour's, passengers have room to get off and on trains! Fortunately Gilbert Road runs parallel with the platform, at an elevated level to the railway, for non-travelling visitors to look and take photos.

 

http://www.swanagerailway.co.uk/news660.htm

 

Rumour heard that 60163 is scheduled for a test run on Monday. Does anyone know if this correct?
If it is - hope it's a success as we're looking forward to its first arrival at Swanage on Wednesday lunchtime.

 

Think you've heard an incorrect rumour there!

 

Thought I had reasonable hearing but must have mis-heard the point when it was mentioned specifically during a talk, by one of 60163's sales/publicity team, given in Swanage on Friday night.
Seemed to be a sensible move to me ensuring the firebox work is satisfactory under normal working conditions as well as on depot.
Perhaps all-welded boilers have different arrangements.

 

Tickets have arrived and my Dad is coming down and staying at a classy -3 star hotel in the Crystal Palace area for the trip out, looking forward to it as I've still not ridden behind Tornado. Should be a good run

 

Timings [with thanks as always David]:
http://www.uksteam.info/tours/t10/t0616a.htm

 

Does anyone know where the water stops are on the outward journey? There's no indication on UKSteam.

 

Northam Junction from a tanker.

 

Any chance of timing of positioning moves from Hither Green to Victoria? I am guessing it will be dragged on the back into Victoria, but sometimes there is a chance it is turned at Battersea... thanks in advance.

 

07.16 from Hither Green, arrive Victoria 08.13, no reversal. Stock comes up tonight from Eastleigh via Hounslow.

 

I would have thought about as possible as a shapely, young Bavarian Serving Wench knocking on my front door in a few minutes time and saying, "am I what you ordered Herr Bryan?".

Oh. Got to go, someone's at the front door........................

 

uksteam.info timings on http://www.uksteam.info/tours/t10/t0616a.htm shows St Denys 11.08 and Southampton Central 11.26 so can't be much time stationary at Northam Junction. Suppose this is "Tornado's" version of Formula 1's 'splash & dash' !
Local publicity from today's Bournemouth Echo:
http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/ne...m_locomotive_set_to_sweep_through_to_Swanage/

 

Enough time if the water stops I've seen recently with 44871 and 46201 are repeated. Although I imagine Tornado will want more water as it would have gone quite a distance, (and time), since it's last top up. 18 minutes in from St Denys to Southampton leaves circa ten minutes for taking water as in steam days the run in from St Denys to a stop in Southampton was usually less than 5 minutes unchecked.

 

Left Victoria on time

 

Down at top of Parkstone Bank at 1213 looking good! DH