Pennine Explorer 22/05/21 60163 Tornado

"The Pennine Explorer", 22/05/21

 

It was full bore through Kirkby Stephen and Birkitt Common from the so called quiet engine. Big thanks to the crew for the thrash and whistles !

 

So 89 mins from Carlisle to Settle Jn. With no stop at Appleby I guess it doesn't qualify for @iancawthorne Blue Riband but that looks like a mighty fast time up to Ais Gill.

Early candidate for run of the year.

 

60163 Tyne Valley & S&C lines 22 May 2021

 

Looks like you got some sun at Armathwaite.

 

Sun then cloud was the norm for a little while, but the sun held firm for about 5 minutes before the charter was due. (For once!)

 

A1SLT Peppercorn A1 class 4-6-2 No. 60163 Tornado storms up the gradient towards the Settle & Carlisle line's summit at Ais Gill while heading the southbound Pennine Explorer from Carlisle to Leicester on 22nd May 2021.

 

Working through Long Preston after a signal check.

 

NO. 60163 'Tornado' storming through Garsdale with the return leg of 'The Pennine Explorer' with Mick Kelly driving and Danny Davin on the shovel

 

Its been a great day out today chasing Tornado around northern England. Nothing special photographically, the light has been fairly flat all day but Tornado worked well before its incredible performance up to Ais Gill.
Stood at the summit we first heard a rumble and then a roar from several miles away. From the drone I coud see the train had not come round the corner at Mallerstang but yet we could hear it working hard. All the way along past Angerholm the roar was just increasing and when she came into sight the speed was remarkable. I have seen many climbs of Ais Gill, but the sheer brutal power as she swept past the summit was probably the most impressive sight on the mainline I have seen in many years.

It's a shame the light was poor at the top of Ais Gill but the sound and feeling will live with me for some time.


60163 Tornado at Newton Aycliffe by Inspiring Images, on Flickr


60163 Tornado at Riding Mill. by Phoenix Images, on Flickr


England's greatest steam tour climb? by Phoenix Images, on Flickr


60163 Tornado at Moralee. by Inspiring Images, on Flickr


Phoenix Images England's greatest steam tour climb? England's greatest steam tour climb? by Inspiring Images, on Flickr

 

Good news! Don’t know what was going on on RTT, looked to be losing more and more time at each timing point going up the bank, then suddenly gained 11 minutes after Garsdale.


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Great pictures.

Judging from the videos appearing on YouTube it seems that this was a very impressive run from 60163 and her crews. The speed over Ais Gill summit is quite something. The video below shows the astonishing performance and noise from the mighty A1:


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Wow! What a spectacular noise 'Tornado' made this evening climbing to Ais Gill Summit.

A few video clips from today featuring 'Tornado' at High Ackworth, Shipton, Wylam, Gilsland and Ais Gill Summit.

Video Available Here

 

It's going to be very interesting to see what the Ormside to Ais Gill time was. Certainly seems like it was punching very high.

 

Not much 'chuff-chuff' going on there. Tornado is sprinting!

 

Tornado Storms over Birkett Common, music in motion.

 

A slightly challenging day for photography with little in the way of 'inspiring' light, till it was all over..... Seen at Preston-le-Skerne, Gilsland and Greengate where it was flying!









Richard

 

Looks and sounds like a loco in fine fettle driven and fired with real skill and enthusiasm. Very little sound of an exhaust beat, just a seamless roar of power from boiler to exhaust.

 

Have it on good authority a bit of raw data is that 60163 blasted through Appleby at 57 and passed the summit board at 55. We had hoped that 35018 would have been able to start from Carlisle with a completely full tender tank and do the same on the CME for us; but not to be.