Tornado

its even been on the news down here in deepest Sussex arriva trains mk3 's ?? but i bet most didnt mind, so When are other toc's going to follow northerns lead so what other timetabled services are ,or might be suitable for this sort of operation ?

 

Stourbridge Town/ Stourbridge junction with a 14xx and auto coach?! Tongue very firmly in cheek!

 

East Grinstead to Clapham Junction with C class, Mets and Victorian 4 wheelers would suit me - they are already gauged for that route as well

(Tongue also firmly in cheek ...)

Tom

 

I was thinking more along the lines of some of the welsh lines , superb scenery low line speed so it does not impact on the timetable, do arriva still run loco hauled trains on some of its welsh routes?

 

Romsey - Southampton - Eastleigh - Romsey ... extending to Salisbury or even to Westbury. (both have triangles)

 

As I've said before maybe something could be done on the Wherry Lines? Lowestoft and Yarmouth both have loops for run round, ok you would have to tweak the timetable slightly, or you could go Top and Tail. Another thought maybe is how about something like Snow Hill Worcester? Maybe using 5043, 4965 and maybe 7029? Loco A takes train to Worcester, loco B already there is ready to back on to return to Snow Hill, and then Loco C is ready at Snow Hill to take the train back to Worcester. I know this is a bit WIBN but it could work certainly as I believe the next franchisee for the West Mids has to do somthing to either work or promote heritage services? My memory is a bit hazy on what it is exactly.

 

Now that would be a great way to celibrate the last scheduled passinger service on Southern region 50 years ago by running on one bank holiday weekend in 2018 now some scheduled services between eastleigh and Salisbury using 35028 and 34046 DBS have stock based on Eastleigh ,and do it the same way as Northern have, SWT advertise it and dbs under contract to SWT operate it, be a good way to train up DBS crews also have it so that you book via SWT ,normal fares etc.

 

Derby - Rowsley with connecting buses to Chatsworth, Haddon and Bakewell. Maybe with a BR 4MTT from MR?

 

I would love to see the Bluebell's O1 run on the Sidcup line with some matching coaches. Just because. Not possible. But would be lovely.

It's the only surviving South Eastern Railway locomotive, albeit in its SECR form, and would be entirely appropriate for the ex-SER line.

 

But if we move the desire to have this in one's own manor to one side, the thought occurs that it might be possible elsewhere - the Sheerness branch (with tender first running) comes to mind as potential SECR territory as a short route; the Medway Valley or Ashford - Hastings if a longer route were viable.

 

i do think that northern have to be praised for being open minded enough to do this, what would normally be a 2 car dmu service must have had many many more passengers ,i wonder with steam tours becoming very expensive ( not everyone wants first class dining) may this be a new way foreward where a TOC hires a loco and stock and crew for a few days mid week at prices people can afford no dining etc, and use it as a good will measure, running in the place of a timetabled service .

 

The Northern guy interviewed on BBC said it had only been possible due to a lot of cooperation from people charging "mate's rates" so maybe future events would be more expensive to stage. Hope it happens though.

 

i wonder what is the break even point,An 8 coach rake full on most trips times the number of days must reach break even at least , but what price to you put on the good will, the publicity etc?

 

If it were not for the bridge at Ore, Ashford to Hastings would be ideal, and i can think of the right loco for it An Ashford Mogol , and you can make use of the hastings demu also so you have a choice steam or heritage hastings unit, ( Dungerness branch trips with the dmu?) it would need underwriting by Southern though, so it most likiley wouldnt happen.

 

A big well done to all those involved from Northern, A1SLT, and BTP for ensuring brilliance went smoothly.

 

When the MHR operated Daylight Railtours there were plans to operate the Ivatt Tank 41312 on services along the Lymington Branch from Brockenhurst. I can't remember why they didn't happen though.

 

Difficult enough to run round at Brockenhurst using the main Bournemouth line, but nowhere at all to run round at Lymington. might have been back then though. Push pull or nothing.

 

One remembers the trips to train crews using a 4MT tank and the west Highland line MK1s in the past on the s&c. Now if this had been say 46441 and 5 mk 1s doing a stopping train I'd of been excited. Much as I like tornado my view on the runs is like using a rolls Royce as a milk float. It has however shown the way.

 

How about the Esk valley Line, Battersby to Whitby, with 61264 and a train of teak coaches? We're not far off being able to do that just need the cost of upgrading the coaches.

 

You sir are a poet, a dreamer of beautiful dreams.