Tyne Tornado 12th March 2009

Times now available on UKSteam (by the way, wrong date on the timings page David).
These appear to be the same timings as Tornado's first outing to Newcastle and don't show the set down/pick up at Durham which Pathfinder were advertising. Can anyone confirm that there won't be a Durham stop?

 

Date now corrected (Thanks). The times could yet change !

David

 

Answering my own original question...
Pathfinder's web site now shows this train setting down at Newcastle only.

 

A lady with a lovely voice at Pathfinder told me today that this was due to NR's pathing or something. Given the North Briton had late availability I thought I would chance my arm at a ticket today, no such luck, it;s a complete sell out.

Can anyone confirm my belief that this will be going at full pelt through Chester-le-Street?

 

On the 2 ocassions i have seen her travelling north through chester le street, yep, she will be probably doing 75mph. Tyne Yard is only 2.5 - 3 miles away, but the brake application does not normally happen until after ouston junction.

Southbound is even better as she is working against grade, whilst gaining speed, either direction, good viewing.

 

Through Chester le Street southbound, on time with skip 67001 on the rear.

Goin' like a good un!!!!

 

Minute early at Durham this evening.

 

Saw her today at Durham going north whilst on "business in the area". Caught me out by being early through the station, so chased on the following train to Newcastle. Photo taken as the train was dragged out to Tyne Yard for servicing.

 

Looks empty there!

 

Ah, cropped the picture slightly on the left hand side to remove an elbow. It definately wasn't empty, though nothing like the crowds of the other recent trips. Guess the fact it was a weekday reduced the crowds.

The train was full.

 

My dad was on this one (Kenilworth) and here are his photos: http://mark-walker.fotopic.net/c1666443.html

Cheers,
Mark

 

Felt sorry for the standard class passengers - who are probably the real gricers anyway.

The whole train was turned so they never got the full benefit

 

Yes, noticed that too. Saw it leave York with standard at the back but thought, well at least they'll be at the right end coming back (probably the best way for noise anyway) and then saw that they were still at the back going south.
I suppose I should have realised as it was obvious that would happen from the timings.
Perhaps 'dinner sat the front' is why out of 13 coaches only 2 plus the buffet were standard, the other 9, first and dinners, is obviously where the money is coming from that keeps these running so maybe they are the ones to keep happy even if many don't fully appreciate the performance. As I've said elsewhere, things seem to have have changed since Bernard could fill a 13 coach train (brake at each end for taping!) with enthusiasts.
Was most impressed when I saw it just south of Durham; considering the load, 13 coaches plus a dead 67, it was going very well indeed.
Just wish that the Durham stop that Pathfinder had wanted had been put in for them - the noise would have been even better!

 

Yes,it was a shame that the standard class passengers didn't get the chance to be at the "sharp end" on the way back,however,this wasn't such a surprise having had a similar experience on the inaguaral Tornado trip on 31st January,when the train was hauled out to Tyne Yard and completed the same manoeuvre.
Having said that,the tour was an enjoyable one and I believe 60163 was hauling the equivalent of 16 coaches on the return with the dead Class 67 hanging on the back,quite an achievement.No doubt the passengers who had travelled all the way from South Wales will be rather weary this morning,I joined at York and watched Tornado run back through the station after 20.00 and was back at home an hour later,quite early for me!.

 

Yes, that wouldn't be far from it; a Class 67 weighs about 90 tons, coaches about 35 but you can add a bit for the 67 having much more rolling resistance than a coach. All up it must have been equivalent to 550 tons behind the tender.
Did anyone get the speeds going up to Relly Mill?

 

There were several people recording the speeds in my coach,they seemed quite good all the way to Darlington as I believe we had a service train about 10mins behind us,Mike Notley was also on board so no doubt the figures will appear in due course.After Northallerton the speeds were slower as we were routed via the slow line.

 

It's the first run with zero press publicity that I could see. Makes a big difference.

 

Be interested to see them, I am sure it was at full speed through Chester le Street. Obviously slower on the way back, but still very fast!

I am unsure what role Royal Sovereign played in all the day's activities, I didn't notice it following or preceding the train up (I would have missed it though if not very close behind/in front), but it double headed with the the other EWS to tow the train down to Tyne yard, and was left there as the train went back to Newcastle with the EWS on the back. It presumablyt slipped out of Tyne yard on the down exit, as it ran through CLS about ten minutes ahead of Tornado.

 

After some debate yesterday as to whether or not to go see the tour, we decided in the end to go see it yesterday evening and get some evening shots of her at York Station, she arrived bang on time but the station staff weren't letting anyone know what platform she was coming in on ](*,).
There were very few people about which was my main reason to why i said we'd go in the first place, and was a rather enjoyable evening.

Footage is now on line and available via the link below.

Footage Available Here

 

The Angel looks over two A1s
http://henrysgallery.fotopic.net/