Tornado

Meanwhile, Transport Scotland has declared that they have no intention of ECTS being installed in Scotland.

 

They can declare what they like, but unless they're going to design future signalling & control systems in-house, sooner or later this will be all that the supply chain can supply, at least economically.

 

By the by, I’m just returning from the Dresden Steam Fest. One of the locos bringing a tour in was a Class 41 (2-8-2 iirc).
We just happened to catch sight of it the station before it departed, and I noticed two, maybe three VDUs in front of the driver, and a range of electronic gubbins in the cab roof.
Anyone know the function of these?

 

The Nene Valley Railway have announced on Facebook that 60163 will be returning to the railway and will be hauling 4 round trips on Sunday 4th May as part of the VE 80th weekend.

60163 is due to haul The Great Britain XVII from Newcastle to Peterborough the previous day, where the locomotive will then run onto NVR rails at Fletton Junction.

https://www.facebook.com/NeneValley...Jq7cf7Hg5NYmbp1KvMKAJG9Nw2YeSMWMRt1Ya4qJFmz4l

 

Brilliant initiative.

 

I suppose it makes sense, as the engine once it's done that leg of the GBXVII, won't be required for a couple of days, it might as well be earning money, for the trust, and its going to be close by,

 

Think they own the Nene Valley a few favours as well....

 

…… more than a few ….

 

As I type this, I'm sat with one of the Trustees...

 

…… well that could be an interesting conversation ?

 

It has been. The presentation was most interesting and candid.

 

As long as they acknowledge that mistakes have been made, and that they will learn from it, and put systems in place to ensure that in future there is better guidance and control of manufacturing processes, and machining, with staged inspections by suitably qualified people, perhaps the future might not look so dire.

 

Maybe a bit more optimism should be the order of the day. I say it will run (main line) and it will be reliable. It was a magnificent achievement by the men at Darlington, it's not going to be left to die and grow rust in some dead end siding.

 

Already is running on the main line - on the GB XVII from Newcastle to Peterborough on the 3rd of May. However, I wouldn't state outright that "it will be reliable" - that's a foolish thing to say about anything mechanical. It was pointed out yesterday that it's now survived longer than any of the prototypes did.

On to the NVR: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U48828/2025-05-03/detailed

No departure date found as yet.

 

But the mileages cannot come close surely?

 

Not even remotely: I believe the target mileage for an A1 between major overhauls was 118,000 miles. However, if you count the period in existence, it exceeds the typical 16 years of the prototypes.