Tornado to Walton-on-the-Naze - 12/08/17

Might as well start a new thread for this, as its a little lost in the Tornado 2017 programme thread. Anyway, there's 196 seats left on the positioning move from London Liverpool Street to Walton, and the shuttles themselves have sold like hotcakes. They started off with what I believe to have been 1,500 places, and they are now down to two remaining journeys and around 102 seats left. In fact, two have sold since I purchased mine in a panic 20 minutes ago!

It seems the description of the ex-Liverpool Street trip has been revised so that you can only purchase a return, which stands to reason. So all in all, it looks to be building into a successful day out for 60163, and there's a healthy 3 months to clear the 196 seats. Looking on UKSteaminfo, I think its safe to say that steam hasn't been to Walton in preservation (Clacton was done by PTR a long while ago), and I don't think steam has visited Colchester Town, either. It doesn't seem particularly likely that it will again, either, apart from maybe turning on the triangle.

The website is here: https://tornado150.co.uk/

 

Booked on the 16:45 shuttle earlier after finding 2 had sold out.

Link to website https://tornado150.co.uk/

 

They'll all be gone by the end of Friday at the rate they're going! Might see you on it or should see you on the platform.

 

Only 3 shuttle tickets left. 186 tickets left on the positioning move.

 

I think the last steam hauled trip into Colchester Town was 4/11/2001 with Canadian Pacific on the Alresford Adventurer. I seem to recall it was an adventure too with the return severely delayed and we got back to Alresford (Hampshire) in the early hours of the following morning!

 

Still, once in 16 years makes it a must do.

 

Already booked the lot, and I did grit my teeth when I submitted my PayPal details. But it's about seizing opportunities while they are there, today's Panniers through Coalville being an example. It might not run this way again for a few years.

 

Considered the positioning move but 10 hours in Walton no thanks. Will drive up photo the first 2 of the shuttles, and travel on the fourth.

 

35005 went to Walton in 2001. The tour was supposed to be hauled by 34016 on the 21st October to Clacton rather than Walton but was postponed, the tour instead took place on the 4th November with 35005, I seem to remember hearing engineering works meant Clacton was no longer an option on the alternative date so Walton was chosen instead.

 

Oh, well. Still, I haven't done it by steam, and once in 16 years makes it pretty rare.

Just spotted it on the 2001 page, missed the fact that it went to Walton. Quite like the fact that it linked Alresford with Alresford- the joys of Daylight Railtours as was, although I was a bit too young and too far away to indulge! However, if an MN can get to Sudbury...

 

Hmm. Indeed, it's very much a 'let's get you off this bit of the network ASAP' sort of time.

As it would have made an even more interesting drive south in the wee hours, I've decided to book a room in Stevenage for Friday night, so at least I can get some kip before getting up for 5AM and catching a service train into KGX and sorting out a transfer to LST; the combination of not wanting to abuse my mate's hospitality and the Southern overtime ban has dictated my approach to the logistics of getting to the start point. Might even dart about on the service train to Colchester as I wait for my shuttle. The things we all do for this sort of thing!

 

Those times are really unfriendly for all concerned apart from, presumably, NR. I did consider this trip and I'm now glad I decided against it.

 

Yes, someone is indeed not getting into the spirit of the occasion. Just checked that I can get back to Stevenage from LST, and thankfully, there are a few trains advertised- whether they run is another matter. I might definitely try to spend some time away from Walton, maybe head to Thorpe le Soken for a few beers, or even get to Colchester for a long lunch.

 

Are there run round loops at Walton and Colchester Town?
The return trip seems to pause at Colchester Town for a couple of minutes which suggests a diesel from Walton to enable the train to be turned and Tornado face London.

 

I don't believe so (though could be wrong) and would expect a diesel to be part of the consist all day.

 

No run around at either station