Tornado

Its the smart move isn't it, get her back on her feet proper, takes the pressure off to remedy any other gremlins that may arise, get some money in the bank, plenty time to get all the paper work ducks in a row, and I'm sure the NVR will be delighted to have her as the star attraction over Christmas, a crucial cash raising season for the railway.

 

That's one way of interpreting the situation

 

Care to share your view, John?

 

I am a trust member but I've got an uneasy feeling we are not being told everything. They have announced a couple of times that she would be back in service soon, the last time all looked well for the train on November 3rd. The timings for the test run to York were on RTT but then suddenly cancelled presumably because of the scheduled work on the support coach and paper work. If it was scheduled then why was the run organised?
Something doesn't add up or am I reading too much into this?

 

The star attraction will be Santa. I doubt those wanting to visit him in his grotto will be too bothered as to the identity of the loco on the front.

 

Not necessarily, it's the parents who decide where to take their children to see Santa and Tornado has a very high public profile.

 

Don't forget Tornado's 'starring' role in Paddington 2! Ideal for a bit of clever marketing!

Steven

 

You'll have to fight your way past the boxes of Christmas crackers first!

 

And last year's Santas were a sell out with a "humble" 2MT and 34081 doing the honours. I'd argue that length of journey to a railway is just as an important consideration to the parents as the loco working the train. Would be interested to see a breakdown of where people come from to experience the NVR Santas. And remember, NVR advertised their Santas long before the A1 came in to the frame.

 

Which is surely the key point. If the events were advertised and selling before Tornado was in the frame, by definition the draw was sufficient as was - Tornado is maybe a bonus, but clearly not the draw.

Tom

 

NVR did have a Paddington event but sadly 60163 was broken so wasn't able to take its booked role in the event. The kids seemed unphased by this as there was a large bear interacting with them during the day, much to the delight of children young and old. Their current advertising is playing on Tornado's 100mph pedigree.

 

NVR usually have two locos to cover Santa workings. One working and one on standby each day. With 34081 the only based loco available, 78018 was hired in last year and I presume a similar hire would have been made this year. With 60163 already on site and available, the NVR will have saved on transport costs by not have to bring another loco in. On the face of it a logical move.

 

Is the pannier tank still coming?

 

The one from Llangollen that's been advertised as visiting from April to October? I would assume so.

 

I'll take that as a 'yes' then.

 

I’m not party to the NVR’s decision making process but I see no reason why the loco won’t arrive as announced.

 

According to this story on the Heritage Railway magazine website, Tornado's first railtour of 2019 will run between Kings Cross and Harrogate via the ECML on April 27.

Read the full story at: https://www.heritagerailway.co.uk/t...M8azVhc5CiyYf1kMBS3DOy_RZ5cPjNSJ_kVA2362id5nY

I hope it's of interest

 

I don't think it says that. I think it says Tornado is making its first visit to Harrogate. First steam loco on my local line since 2010 (Leander).

 

SATURDAY 13TH APRIL 2019 - 'THE BORDER RAIDER'

This train is 'The Christmas Border Raider' rescheduled from Saturday 1st December 2018 to Saturday 13th April 2019. Tornado will now join (and leave) the train at Crewe, and will be diesel hauled from the West Midlands to Crewe and Crewe to the West Midlands on the return.

We will set off from the West Midlands, picking up passengers at Tame Bridge Parkway, Birmingham New Street, Wolverhampton, Stafford and Crewe before heading north to the famous Settle & Carlisle Railway itself. The route is known as the ‘Long Drag’ because of the heavy gradients all the way to Ribblehead Viaduct and Blea Moor Tunnel.

We will soar over high viaducts and plunge through deep cuttings as we head through the wild landscape for Carlisle. Passengers have over two hours to enjoy Carlisle, where the station is close to the Cathedral and Carlisle Castle is easily accessible by foot. Tornado will then lead us back, taking the direct route along the edge of the Lake District via Shap Summit and on to Lancaster and Preston, with Tornado leaving the train at Crewe.

SATURDAY 27TH APRIL 2019 - 'THE WHITE ROSE'

Three attractive Yorkshire destinations in one trip. No. 60163 Tornado will be at home heading north from London King’s Cross along the East Coast Main Line (ECML). The train continues north through Grantham and Doncaster, the latter where the Peppercorn class A1s were designed and 26 of the original 49 constructed, before leaving the ECML at Hambleton Junction to head west. We climb Micklefield bank and then descend into Leeds where passengers can choose to alight for around five hours to visit the city. Tornado then leads our train north as we pass through the suburban scenery and out into the Yorkshire countryside as we head towards the spa town of Harrogate, a first visit for the locomotive, and where passengers have around four hours to explore. We then depart from Harrogate and head to York where you will have around three hours to visit the city as Tornado is turned and serviced for the return journey.

 

nice