Tornado to Exeter 25 August

Just had an email from UKR about this one:

http://www.ukrailtours.com/tourshow...on_trains&tourfile=140825_THE DEVON_BELLE.txt

Appears to be first class only but at £145 its still cheaper than SD's "black five and diesel" effort to Yeovil this weekend!

Am wondering if this could be a chance of getting an unassisted run over Honiton?

 

UKR advise Standard now available on this one at £89.50

 

Any thoughts on if it will have a box on back? Must be a long while since anything went over Honiton without?

 

YEs, That's my worry.I'm quite tempted to go on this one, but not if there will be any diesel on the back. Tornado shouldn't really need it, after all, the Merchant Navies used to take 14 pullmans unaided over this route when the "Devon Belle" ran over the line in the 1950s.

 

In the UK we have a rail system that runs the majority of it's trains in top 'n tail / DMU mode. From HSTs to Pendolinos, from class 67 passenger trains to freight/infrastructure trains. Gradually over the years many of our steam charters now run in this mode, a steam loco at one end with a diesel at the other. Wouldn't it be wonderful to run a heritage train in heritage mode. <BJ>

 

Clan Line took the Cathedrals Explorer unassisted over Honiton bank last year.

 

and Tornado has been over unassisted before in 2009.

 

Another consideration is if a diesel might be required for shunting at St Davids. My recollection from previous trips is that this is not the case.

 

Well, I guess the best thing to do is to send an e-mail to UK railtours and ask them. I'll let everyonew know if I get a reply and if so, what it says.

 

Less chance of one with 60163 as it will be a DBS operation, if paths over Honiton are as tight as we have been led to believe, not loading up to the loco's limit to get a bit more speed would be a bright idea to help avoid a tailgunner.

 

E-mailed UKR. No diesel planned in the formation. Very tempted to go on this one.

 

Tempted to book on this as well. It's my birthday that day, may as well treat myself!

 

Timings are up for this one:

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U55115/2014/08/25/advanced

and return:

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U55116/2014/08/25/advanced


Note, there are LE moves from Paddington to Acton in the morning and back in the evening also on RTT,so presumably bodes well for not having "assistance"?

 

Yes I was surprised to see that,possibly something to do with platform occupation at St Davids maybe?

Does anyone know when the last unassisted run over Honiton with any loco was?

 

The last one I saw was Clan Line on The Cathedrals Explorer in May 2013.

 

Interesting that the A1 Trust are still needing to market this train quite heavily, with seats at all prices still available. This follows their other two railtours this year having run with light loads and empty seats. The loss of the Steam Dreams work is clearly a blow, but unless the income from preserved railway visits is exceptional, the Trust's 2014 income must be seriously down.

If this is right, it leads to the question of whether it should be full steam ahead on the P2, if Tornado cannot wash its own face without continuing donation income.

Just the thoughts of a Tornado enthusiast (and covenantor), who is getting anxious about its future

Peter on a bright, blowy Manchester afternoon
http://pjhtransportpix.zenfolio.com/

 

I didn't see many empty seats on 'The Border Raider'? Walking up and down it was in fact quite busy!

Think Monday will be fairly similar!

 

And the P2 is going to be much more dependent on mainline work than the A1 as I can't see many of our preserved lines being able to make much use of it