Tornado

I think we are lucky that there are young(er) people who still have an idea on what genuine was / wasn't and have a desire to enlighten us despite the jeers and dismissals for ' rivet counting'

Might be they just didn't want to drill any more holes than strictly necessary.

If I recall correctly regarding Tornados boiler, dimensionally externally and internally - tubes etc it is very similar to the original A1's and any differences haven't been shown to be significantly different performance wise
There was something about Meiningens re interpretation of the steel firebox - size/ waterspaces/ etc that the Tornado people were not altogether happy with and the finished product was a 'Compromise'.
The resulting behaviour of the firebox/ stays /foundation ring in service have lead to repairs being made and alterations being proposed, which I expect have now been executed and may be one of the reasons why this overhaul was a little pricey and to re iterate my statement, these are not really regular overhaul costs
Nevertheless, with an impending order for another boiler to be placed the time to make and then evaluate these mods was undoubtedly right now.
Of greater interest to me is the problem with the roller bearings...and who paid for the repairs/replacement would give a hint as to the nature of that beast. There aren't that many roller bearing Locos out there but there are at least two new ones on the way for which this event has a 'bearing' (groan...)

 

I should also add - being SERIOUSLY finicky - that for a Darlington built locomotive, the tender lining out is actually wrong. All Darlington built A1s in apple green had the panelling a little different to the Doncaster ones.



You can see this in the photograph of 60136 Alcazar I was looking at when I was making a model of it. Unhappily I only noticed this difference this year (!) and it's one of my jobs for finishing off the conversion of 60163 to 60136 that I thought I had finished back in 2012...



I personally much prefer this format though as I say, I am always going to be in a minority. I can dream of Tornado appearing in this full incarnation though. That's allowed - surely?

Note that the use of the non extra curly "6" is correct for both Alcazar and Tornado mind!

 

Whilst I cannot speak for the A1slt, if you care to look back at their website at previous annual overhauls, all the boiler work is adequately explained there...

 

As someone who has been in the bearing distribution trade and technically capable, for over 35 years, I am sure you can appreciate my interest in any answers that may come from the A1SLT, also !

 

And if you're being really finicky, LNER Darlington locos had green cylinder covers!

 

Interesting report about the return of Tornado on the Daily Mail site (I can't put the link up with my phone). They report she has had a £400,000 upgrade :-/
Anyway, despite that there are some great pictures and a good video with the article. She looks absolutely stunning, like she was brand new again!

 

Was this the link green five ?
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/t...ght-months-action-thanks-400-000-upgrade.html


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

The way they have described it you would think it included a software update! Seriously good to see some mainstream coverage and some really good photographs there.

 

A bit inaccurate, unfortunately. The loaded test run up to Millerhill is scheduled for the 17th. This will only happen if all the tests, currently taking place at NRM Shildon, are OK.

 

Of course they have, goes without saying....

 

I recall that classes Raven A2, D49 and V2 might have done - but were any others? I'm unsure if the Gresley A1s potentially had this but I'm almost certain none of the A3s - bar Flying Scotsman in preservation - had them.

I don't think any of the Peppercorn or Thompson Pacifics built or overhauled at Darlington received green cylinders. Certainly Blue Peter has had them in preservation, like Flying Scotsman. But an A1? Stranger things have happened I guess, but I have never seen a photograph of one and if it had happened I am sure it would be well known. Someone would have modelled it by now!

Pretty much the form Alcazar is in, in the photograph above, is the form Tornado could appear in to be a fully accurate apple green A1. I'm not advocating that it does and it absolutely must, mind, just that it would be a nice touch, even if for only a short while. Probably a replacement smokebox door and smoke deflectors needed though...!

I'll clam up now by saying that whatever the livery, it is good to see Big T back in steam and hopefully very shortly on the mainline where she belongs once more.

 

SCOOP!
Here's the first test run of Tornado!

 

Thats a Typhoon?

 

Well spotted...just wanted to see who was awake

 

A lovely set of pictures of Tornado, during and after overhaul, may be found at http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/popular-steam-locomotive-tornado-back-9445733 - click on View Gallery.

Perhaps we will soon see some of her at Shildon or back on the main line?!

Peter on a Manchester morning (Summery? No)
http://pjhtransportpix.zenfolio.com/f731739511

 

Funny you should mention that! Taken on Monday, she was out of action as she required some attention.

Tornado by William Fisher-Jones, on Flickr

Tornado by William Fisher-Jones, on Flickr

The rest of the photos (including 13079 doing her best steam loco impression while hauling Tornado's support coach!) can be found here.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/williamfj2/sets/72157654740673115

 

It's like it hasn't been six years since her first mainline runs...turning the clock back in style.

 

Was it about this time 7 years ago it began running in? Where has the time gone? Always remember the program 'Absolutley chuffed, the men who built a steam engine' and the interview with one of the firemen who came to top up the tender. He said somthing like 'I knew they were building a new engine, but I just thought it was somthing like Thomas the tank engine, I didnt realise it was as big as this!'

 

I recall he said something along the lines of "something like loco 1, about the size of the mallard".

Great memories.

 

Either way I think he was impressed with the size of it, I must admit the first time I saw 60163 I had to keep telling myself 'It's new, it's brand new it's not a restoration' even now when I look at any photos of 60163 I get this lovely feeling inside of wow, did these people really do that? It really is an amazing thing that the A1 trust have done.