The Magna Carta A1SLT/ UKRT 8th October

'The Magna Carta', seen at Langford (Biggs.), Peterborough and St Neots

 

60163 'Tornado' on "The Magna Carta" railtour today, seen at St Neots (x2), Ivatts Way and Peterborough

 

Despite the late departure, we arrived back at KX about 7 min ahead of schedule.

Despite the incident at Spalding it was still a great day out with plenty of pure steam mileage.
Credit to everyone involved, especially sorting out the diversion and extra shunting required at Lincoln.

 

Yet another good day out with Tornado. Still, wouldn't have swapped it for the superb day out we had with 5043. Pity 'proper steam' tours like this clash.

 

Got some photos of Tornado at KGX while passing through on the way to the GCR yesterday

More at https://railwaygalleries.smugmug.com/MainlineSteam/Steam-Tours-in-2016/

 

I just thought that I'd say that I did spot the black humour.

 

Still plenty of Tornado action to look forward to, beyond the pre-Xmas excursions, with the just-announced (via the UK Railtours website) outings in 11th February to Shrewsbury from Victoria via the WCML (The Red Rose), and to Cardiff on 1st March from Paddington via the GWML (The Saint David).

The former appears to be a change from the previous indication of an outing to Leeds ("The White Rose") on that day. RAF Cosford and the Blists Hill Museum at Ironbridge are billed as the big, and very worthy, sideshows of the day for those not going through to the Shrewsbury destination. Interestingly, the outward trip is planned to be routed via Rugby/ Coventry, whereas the return is indicated to be via Walsall/ Water Orton/ Nuneaton. So Tornado returns to the WCML. Wonder what kind of path NR might come up with for this.

Then 1st March. Outward is advertised as being direct/ via Severn Tunnel. But return is billed as via Gloucester/ Sapperton. What's not to like? Only, I guess, that at that day/ date time the GMT sunset time is going to significantly impinge on the ability to establish visual reference points for timing purposes. So I suppose GPS devices will be the order of the day to get the really meaningful stuff out of Tornado's east-bound assault on Sapperton, which should, in itself, be worth the whole entrance fee all by itself.

Sadly, a long time to wait for these trips. In the meantime, anything more to add on Tornado's outing with the Magna Carta? My impression was that, like the Curate's Egg, it was certainly good in parts and whenever/ wherever it could be. 273 unadulterated steam miles and just over 100 miles of that total at speeds befitting an East Coast thoroughbred probably speaks for itself. Despite the unplanned issues of the day, and their consequences/ complications, so much to give thanks for with this outcome, methinks.