60163 to haul Royal Train for a 3rd time - Monday 23 July 2012

Now that would be something special ! Having almost certainly been educated in the "we all got 10 GCSE A stars" era, that would be expecting a lot sadly.

 

Both forms are gramatically correct.

 

You could at least have described them as grammatically correct!

 

It was delibrerate :violin:

 

And here's a photo to go with it. Dulled over in Durham, did get a panoramic shot but I prefer this one for now :


Royal Tornado In Durham by JonathonAG, on Flickr

Uploaded via iphone hotspot on my way to Chester via Durham....handy stuff technology!

 

Brilliant, thank you for sharing.

 

Yep, great photo!

 

60163 Tornado failed on Royal Train and was pushed by the Class 67 north of York ?? Is this true??? or just a rumour ?

 

Great shot - thanks for sharing it

The classic Wharton Park location - it's difficult to decide if the view from there, or from the top of the cathedral, is the better one. Decisions, decisions...

 

well she still appears to be working in the earlier posts showing her at Durham, which last time I looked was north of York, so draw your own conclusions!

 

Could be someone confused about the 67 pushing when infact it was slightly under power to power the ETH/Air Con.

 

I am always somewhat suspicious about a brand new poster who makes a sensational claim, without any evidence (in fact the evidence already posted on here is directly opposite to the claim in his post.

 

60163 pulled out of Newcastle 10 late - oh dear! I didn't notice the the 67 above the wind on top of the castle keep so I don't think it was doing much work.

A shot taken in dull conditions (need I say that the sun held out until 5 mins before and reappeared 10 mins after?)

Den Anhang 5167 ansehen

 

Still a nice shot (my experience is that the sun comes out 10 seconds after the train).

Pleased to see Pete C just appears to be, at best a 'wind up merchant' or at worst the worst kind of sensationalist Troll.

 

Blimey, your getting about a bit campainr.

 

If she failed, how come she has arrived safely and on time in Edinburgh after 510 miles of Royal train haulage?

 

510? Not all in one day surely!

 

Started yesterday!

 

Tornado didnt fail today. Ran north of York and to Bishop Auckland. Watered at Thirsk and Bishop Auckland, and eventually at Berwick. Work was undertaken on what I think was the left cylinder drain cock valves as they were looking around that area, with spanners etc. But not enough to fail the engine. After the attention at 'Bishop', it went on to perform very well on the run north. It was dragged from Bishop to Darlington by the class 67 on the rear to have it leading out of Darlington northwards. Think he is either stirring, or just getting his facts wrong. My report of event will follow...

 

Hello all

48 Pictures today of Tornado on the Royal Train, conveying Prince Charles from Bishop Auckland, County Durham to Alnmouth in Northumberland.

Picture here: http://www.blackhatrailwaypictures.co.uk/p749350246

With a full report, below:

There are times when you think just about the impossible has happened when watching Railways. Today was one such day. Should someone have said 15 years ago, that the Royal Train might visit Bishop Auckland again then you might have believed them. Should it be steam hauled and youd think they were dreaming. Should it then be by a class of engine that was extinct and has since returned - well youd have been censured and laughed out the room!

But today, thats exactly what happened...

60163, which is no stranger to grabbing the headlines made a return to Royal Train duties, hauling the Prince of Wales to Bishop Auckland to view paintings and a Castle recently sold by the Church of England to a local benefactor. Its last turn was something simialr but taking the Prince of Wales on to York having named Tornado at the former main station of the North Eastern Railway (see here: http://www.blackhatrailwaypictures.co.uk/p430185612). It meant the Royal Train being hauled to Bishop Auckland, by steam, an event so rare that would have bankrupt Ladbrooks if a bet was placed a year ago. Tornado was watered and given some maintainance while there, before then being hauled by 67026 in Diamond Jubilee livery back to Darlington for the run north on the ECML.

This is not the easiest line to chase, it lends itself for the train to be able to run at speeds of 75mph at ease. Having been seen near Preston-le-Skerne (with some good company!) at speed, Tornado had a clear head start which took some catching up. The race was on and with seconds to spare it passed me on the approach to the King Edward Bridge as I was walking onto the Redheugh. There was no option but to sprint onto the Bridge, the drivers of traffic looking perplexed as to my need for expediency, unaware that they were about to drive over the bridge and miss the train as it came into view. Having run far enough, as still running would mean missing the approach shot, I clicked away to the best the vantage would give, yet it still brought good results.

It was time to stroll back to the car and head north once more. This time directions and my ususal good navigational skill deserted me, so much that I ambled around north of Morpeth trying to find the mainline. I stubled across Widdrington Station, when the barriers came down and you guessed it - a Peppercorn whistle blew in the distance. The shot was a right off, the angle useless, but you cant get it all right.

While Charles alighted at Alnmouth, it gave a chance to press northwards, and with Holy Island nearby I tried to find a vantage point that would get the sea and area in view. The road brought me to Beal, and having checked out nearby found that a vantage point for the ideal photo would be hard. So back to the crossing, the barriers came down and a 91 headed north, then they came down again, stayed down and given the warning it could be only one thing. The empty stock hove into view at speed, Tornado running well.

Sometimes the desire for that photo you want spurs you on to reach limits. Chasing it though Berwick brought nothing. The view obscured by angles and the knitting of the cables. The Scottish border seemed a good place to head for given I had come this far. I headed for somewhere I now know as Burnmouth, and planted myself in a field I saw someone else in too. Finally, the picture of the train, the steam and the sea.

Perhaps one of the longest chases that I have done. With some mixed results, some brilliant. But from a lad grown up in 51A area, that Royal Train chase started at Bishop - I still can't believe it!

Comments on the website and feedback are more than welcome!

Many thanks and hope you enjoy,

David
aka The Black Hat
NER Group Owner