Tornado Railtours - 2019

Nothing on RTT yet; I assume the change of route has had something to do with that. The times on the letter show a Blackpool arrival just before 4pm and a departure just before 7pm, so 3pm at Preston sounds about right.

 

Times now on RTT. Operated by WCR. Water stop at Stafford on outward journey and Crewe on return.

Outward: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U10919/2019-11-02/detailed
Return: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U10922/2019-11-02/detailed

Tornado's light engine movements around Preston: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U10921/2019-11-02/detailed

 

Pretty standard route as suspected following the loss of Stoke. Oh, well. Bail out at Crewe on return if possible.

 

Do you have any idea how the water stop at Stafford is arranged? I see from RTT that it is due into platform 6, and it clearly has to be a public platform rather than the old postal platform as it is a pick up point. So will a tanker supply be possible, or is there a hydrant available?

 

Possibly a possession on the old postal platform line and a pipe across to Tornado.

 

Yes, that sounds feasible, I'd not thought about a possession.

 

It has been done that way on the down at Hellifield.

 

All going to the revised plan so far. Some nice fast running through Warrington to compensate for the loss of Stoke.

 

Looked good near Madeley, south of Crewe, racing (but losing to!) a Pendolino. A good job I was on the down side, or I'd have been cursing Richard Branson

Will upload a video of it later today.

 

Footage of the outbound run shot near Madeley, Staffs...

 

In full dull and light drizzle Tornado crosses the 1837 built grade 2 listed viaduct at Penkridge in the early stages of its run Blackpool.

 

In the dark during the Stafford set down on the return.

 

Fantastic day out yesterday, and it was great to meet @Mick45305 and @Bulleid Pacific. Here are a couple of quick shots taken at Stafford and Crewe, during the water stops.

 

Great to meet you, too. It was a pretty good day out in the end, despite the loss of Stoke and the slow progress into Crewe.