Tornado to haul certain timetabled trains on S&C: Feb 14-16

Indeed. I think the claim should actually be more like this: "First timetabled steam operation proposed by a magazine editor and taken seriously since 1968." Don't get me wrong, I think it's great and, so long as Northern can cope sensitively with the likely over-crowding (the reports on BBC news programmes today made it sound like anyone could turn up and buy a normal return ticket to ride behind Tornado), it should be a great success for all concerned. Just beware the hype, especially where N. Harris is involved. ;-)

 

Assuming that the 9L departure was not due to the referee having to reset the scrum, then no I assume.

 

I noticed on BBC Breakfast that SR didn't get a mention but Mr Harris's publication did, I assume he was stood behind the camera waving a placard for the interviewee to read!

 

There was certainly mention of SR when Nick Brodrick was interviewed on the service train, although it may just have been in the caption that popped up to identify him.

 

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/feb/14/settle-carlisle-railway-service-steam-train-tornado

 

Big item on the BBC 1pm news, Hopefully the positive PR it seems to be attracting will make Northern and indeed other TOC's take note.

 

And for those who might wish to mither about the authenticity of the claims about this run being a "first", its worth pointing out that Danny Savage. the BBC's reporter on the One O'clock news item, did quite specifically and quite accurately state "in England" in his piece as per The LairdofNetherMoor's suggestion in Post 459.

 

As far as I can remember all of the BR promoted 'regular' steam hauled trains ( 1978/9 Cumbrian Coast, 1980s Harrogate circle/ Scarborough Spa, 1989 - 91 North Wales Coast and from 1984 Fort Willaim to Mallaig ) appeared in the public timetable and I don't recall any of them having to be pre-booked it being possible to turn up and pay on the day which I certainly did with the SSE and NWCE.
I can't remember the fare structure for each of them but I've just looked out my ticket for the SSE on 19/08/82 for which a supplementary one whole pound was charged for travel on the steam service so I assume the fare was otherwise the same as usual. These days that seems an absolute bargain.

Jonathan is definitely right in saying the first plandampf was the Mallaig line in 2001 ( a miserable damp day indeed ) but if central locking is now a requirement for service trains I doubt if we'll see it repeated.


It's all good publicity for the S&C , Northern Rail and Steam , a little journalistic licence isn't too much to worry about.

 

Footage at Birkett common tender first and finally a windy Blea Moor .

 

I could well be wrong, but back in March 1995 a series of shuttles were organised by Woking Borough Council to celebrate the town's centenary.
I recall that there was a morning trip with 35028 from Woking and a return trip in the evening which were ordinary timetabled trains for commuters.
I watched the evening departure and seem to remember business type people with briefcases joining the train.
Maybe someone can remember more details

 

Overcast conditions this morning as LNE A1 Class 4-6-2 No. 60163 'Tornado' heads 2Z53 over Sheriffs Brow en-route to Appleby



Overcast conditions this morning as LNE A1 Class 4-6-2 No. 60163 'Tornado' heads 2Z53 over Little Sheriff Brow en-route to Appleby

 

Here is Joseph's (Monopodman) video of it at Selside. Superb performance. Glad we were there to witness it.

regards Mark

 

A couple of shots of the first trip this morning - a nothing happening shot at Bell Busk and then a bit more action on the return at Stainforth:

 

Daily Mail report states that Tornado cannot carry enough fuel to pull the train both ways so the diesel is there to push it back. Where do these muppets get their stories????
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/t...ne-Tornado-hauls-service-Settle-Carlisle.html

 

See also the photo caption "The driver carefully steers the locomotive into Skipton Station underneath modern electric power cables"

(and now, having visited the Mail's website I will have to cleanse my hard drive with fire )

 

Obviously been speaking with Richard Branson then....

 

Maybe a figment of my memory, but I have a mental image of a standard 2-6-4T working a timetabled service on the S & C during the preservation era.

Doesn't detract in any way from the current situation, and lets hope other TOCs running over secondary lines take up the challenge!

46118

 

Quite a novelty for "modern traction" to be operating on this Northern route. Usually DMUs built between 1986 and 1992. Today we have a 21st Century steam locomotive completed in 2008.

 

Be interesting to hear from some passengers regarding how busy they actually were after the earlier concerns and also whether northern undertook any survey work regarding who travelled, where they came from etc?

 

Also running roughly to time, northern won't know whats hit them!