Tornado

It was grand to see - apparently the money has been pouring in since news of the steam test going ahead got out. Also got the impression that the works team were dead keen to get the engine back inside and get on with the job, before the next landmark of moving under her own steam is passed.

 

Just found a video of the occasion on youtube! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XqgifM60kTY

 

I can't wait to see Tornado out and about. It is great to see and a pride for all who have been involved. Well done.

What's next for you all?

 

According to the loco newspaper The Northern Echo, there was a problem during the boiler exam yesterday when a fall in local water pressure meant the fire brigade had to be called to pump more water into the boiler. Although the fire brigade spokesman (who I would imagine was the party which informed the apper) seems to have given the impression that they "saved the loco" (according to fronnt page headline) and also states that, without their action, Tornado could have blow up, the Trust spokesman is somewhat calmer and I would guess they would just have had to drop the fire if water level was getting low. I would imagine that keeping up water supply is always a challenge when steaming a boiler off the loco or with the loco incomplete (no steam injectors etc.). This isn't the first time I have seen quotes from emergency service spokesman that seem to talk up a story to make their actions seem more important or heroic than informed opinion might consider them to be - and that is just the cases where I have some idea of what they are talking about (i.e. to do with railways!)

 

How long have fusible plugs been around now ?, can't have been that long after Rocket presumably.

 

I very much doubt the fire brigade pumped water into the boiler! Probably just topped up the cold water storage tank (or the tender if it was being used) because of low supply pressure from the mains. Also it would be very unsafe practice to steam the boiler without working injectors (or maybe a Weir pump or equivalent).

 

Absolutley brilliant news - congrats to everyone on the A1 team.

You know, sometimes I despair of this forum. This has to be one of the most momentous events in the recent history of steam traction, and one which gives it a more secure future, yet we have 2 or 3 positive comments and 11 relating to the editorial policy of Steam Railway and some local newspaper nonsense.

Get a grip people ](*,)

Edit - these -ve posts now removed by SYM if you're wondering what I'm on about =D>

 

Just been down to see Tornado, back in its shed today, evidently 2 weeks and the tender tank will be on site.

Progressing niceley!!!!!!!!!!

 

will she move under her own steam at GCR then?, cant see much happening at darlington

 

I have tidied up some posts from here that somewhat detract from discussing the achievement of the A1 team.

Can we please confine discussion of SR to their section please and not every single thread on the forum!?

And please again, a polite request, try and make posts a little more tactful rather than blasting Danny's head off at point blank with every remark

 

This hasn't been released yet, but if I were them, I wouldn't be able to resist the temptation just to give it a run up and down the short length of track they have at Darlington, before despatching it to the GCR.

Well done to the A1SLT - a momentous event indeed =D> =D>

Regards,

Dan

 

They were old hat even by then. Another Trevithick invention, if I'm not mistaken.

But I 'spose it made a change from getting cats out of trees.

 

The situation was exactly as gwr4090 says...

 

Well done A1 Trust!!!

 

Thank you for all of the supportive comments. The A1 team is absolutely over the moon after the successful steam test on Friday. And yes the fire brigade visit was exactly as stated above. They even had time to be interviewed by the BBC and pose for photos!

As for first moves, they will be in Darlington before we move Tornado down to the GCR. Watch this space for announcements.

 

One thing I have noticed about the A1 trust (and I actually think is a good thing) is they haven't booked it up on tours all over the place straight away (unlike a couple of other big pacifics returning last year and this year, I'll leave you to fill the gaps), they're making sure it's right first presumably which is absolutely the best way to go in my opinion, prevents disappointment

 

As one child of Darlington, to the god parents of another, My heartiest best wishes for the future and congratulations on the success so far.

 

I notice it steamed 42 years after the last A1 was scrapped, clearly Douglas Adams had it right!

Many congratulations to the A1 crew, still £800,000 to raise though, so no time to get complacent. Hopefully Tornado will appear somewhere in the South West so I can have a look myself, maybe the WSR will hire her?

 

Big celebration for the A1 Trust in the next issue and I will be calling the Echo on Monday to ask why they took that angle on what should have been a momentusly positive story for us as enthusiasts, Darlington as a town and in fact, for British engineering - what's left of it (and I know the boiler is a German item).

 

I'd like to add my personal congratulations here to everyone who's supporting the building of Britain's new A1.

My brother and I went to Darlington on Saturday Jan 12th, following the successful steam-test, to get a look at her in the flesh and we were really very impressed with the quality of the build (it was nice and warm in the shed too!). Everyone we spoke to, which included a number of the Board members, was very positive, helpful and enthusiastic.

I've posted a few photos here, if anyone would like to see.

With luck and careful negotiations let's hope she gets cleared to 90mph. After all, she's brand new, built to modern standards with new materials and tested, I believe, more rigorously than her sisters were back in the 1950s when they ran daily at that speed. Hopefully Network Rail's safety watchdogs will take an interest while (successful!) running-in & testing is completed at the GCR.

Regards,
Ian