Tornado

Tornado's tender was the last outstanding item to be paid for, that was in august. Impossible to build up "reserves" since then with the loco out of action. See https://www.a1steam.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/TTT-96.pdf and scroll down to the August edition for details.

 

You don't need to look at accounts to notice the blatantly obvious. If Tornado was an example how much it costs to run an express engine on the main line, then the Duchess, Clan Line, Gresley, etc would have all gone bust by now!

 

Now now, don't think anyone is calling foul, and the majority of Tornado supporters actually appreciate the things that the trust spends some of its money on that others don't; Roadshows, AGM's, Allsinginganddancing support coach,. Plus some of its staff are salaried, and others will definitely have ' expenses,' it has its own premises, a locomotive manager, an engineer/fitter, and an engineer/designer at Darlo. These things aren't strictly necessary to build and maintain a steam loco, but to build one, half build another and think about building a third at the speed they have I think it would be nigh on impossible without...

 

Plus a few other things they've done which it's easy to forget. The 100mph test run alone cost £30,000.

 

If you don't 'look at the accounts', how do you know what Tornado costs to run? (OK, you probably don't from the published accounts either!) What do you base your judgement on? 'There's lots of covenanter cash coming in so it must be costing a lot?' The loco cost £2.8 million (per the accounts), expenditure is forging ahead on the P2, there were loans to complete the A1 which have been repaid and cash balances accumulated to cover future overhauls and the tender purchase. The level of Income is quite unlike any other mainline loco, the whole set up and operation is quite unlike any other mainline loco and the detail in any filed accounts can leave some-one with plenty of experience in the area making at best educated guesses at the whole picture behind the 'headline' figures.

So, where does your insight come from - expertise, inside information - or dislike of particular locos?

Steven

(Class corrected - thanks @Sheff and @Duty Druid!)

 

Steven - clearly you meant A1, not A2.

 

Ahem, its a A1!

Very much doubt JH needs £2.8m to bring 60532 back to life!

 

I think the views expressed speak for themselves.

I’ve provided a source for data and it is up to others to interpret the data as they see fit.

At the end of the day an objective analysis is possible and I would always encourage that rather than any obvious partisanship.

We’re all adults here, I hope. You never know who you’re going to be working with in future.

Making unsubstantiated claims without sources is always unwise.

 

Just looking at the projected future plans and requirements for the trust shows the need for substantial funding to cover - amongst other things, a train, carriage shed, workshops and a main line connection. All of this requires focused financial planning and budgeting, any "extras" will of course need to be catered for, what I see now is one of those "extras". Yes, this railway preservation business is expensive, very expensive.........

Cheerz,

Alan

 

And the same can be said for many other loco owning groups. No matter how much the loco earns in steaming fees/hire charges, it's seldom enough.

 

I would say that almost everything is expensive in our times.......(at least if you consider to buy it!)

Knut

 

The old saying of how do you make a small fortune from running a steam loco comes to mind.

 

Yeh! Start with a large fortune!
Ray.

 

Looks like Tornado is going to be staying at NVR for a while longer - now announced that she will be hauling some Santas and Winter Warmer mince pie specials as well as some more Driver Experiences...

https://www.facebook.com/NeneValleyRailway/

 

Well, if it's going to be loitering around making the yard look untidy it may as well earn its keep...

However - how nice to have two Pacifics in 1948 livery together in one location. I still have fond memories of the J15 at the re-opening of Whitemoor decorated as 65462(?) in the same livery. Be great to get something like that at the NVR too - At Last The 1948 Show for railway enthusiasts

 

From A1SLT website today:

"The further delays are due to additional administrative and audit tasks and delays to scheduled repair works on support coach 21249 that were planned to already be completed. Our engineering team are working as swiftly as possible to address these issues.

Whilst the Trust works with DB Cargo to re-certify the locomotive and support coach before undertaking the required main line test run, the Trustees have decided to take the opportunity for Tornado to haul its first Santa Steam Specials on a heritage railway since it was completed in 2008."

"Due to the proximity of the Christmas holidays, it is anticipated that Tornado’s main line test run will not now take place until late in December or early in the New Year. However, with Tornado now back in steam and in service on the Nene Valley Railway, the Trust is confident that the locomotive will pick up its exciting 2019 programme with the first of the ‘The North Briton’ series of trains UK Railtours)."

So looks like the delay is paperwork rather than repairs to the loco.

 

Repairs to the loo?

I'd actually heard it was 'paperwork' that was the issue from one of the volunteers the other day.

 

See also repairs and recertification of the support coach.

 

The full transcript of the latest update from the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust:

https://www.a1steam.com/2018/11/07/tornado-update-4/