Tornado

The first bit: do we know that to be a fact?
The last bit: yes please.

Mention was also made upthread of Eastern Rail Services and their carriages - do they have any other vehicles than the aircon Mk. 2s I saw at Derby on Sunday?

 

Mk3s.

 

NYMR have confirmed that 60163 will be visiting them later this month.

 

With its support coach already arrived there for a wheel set swap.

 

Mr D calling in a favour ?

 

For what?

 

Like i would know ?

 

So are they looking to run her on the Whitbys?

 

I would be surprised if they did - it's a bit curvy for Pacifics between Grosmont & Whitby. I still think that a trick has been missed though - there are no raised checkrails, to my knowledge, on the Esk Valley line. An ideal loco for running the Whitbys would be the 9F. A derogation could be sought, and what a potential draw it could be for those who miss the presence of 92220 and 92203 on the main line. We know that 92220 did get to Whitby in the past, and without issue, so it would be possible. However, with the NYMR struggling, perhaps it's just another "Wouldn't it be nice..."

Mark

 

Are NYMR licenced as a TOC for the Grosmont to Whitby trains - or do they covered by another (like WCR)?

 

60007 went down to Whitby once, the agreement afterwards, was never again!!!!

 

NYMR is a TOC between Grosmont and Whitby

 

Personally, I think use of Eastern Rail Services stock with DB as a TOC is a workable solution for both the A1 and A3, but likely only for a limited number of tours initially. It is also provides an 'alternative' to the 10A monopoly which has led to this mess.

The best solution though is both parties get off the playground and kiss & make up - that is the only solution that provides the volume both organisations need.

 

Just between Pickering and Grosmont.

 

Sacrilege! Can't possibly make money! Isn't everything dependent on running to Whitby nowadays, that's what people really want?

 

It cannot be a monopoly with LSL & Vintage in existence.
Mk3's on SD lasted one short Surrey Hills circuit I seem to remember before being pulled.

 

It is a monopoly as far as third party steam tour promotors are concerned, as neither LSL nor VT are interested in running tours for others when they have their own tour businesses.
The rolling stock on offer from Eastern Rail Services is no different to that on offer from West Coast currently.

 

Wasn't there an aspiration from the A1 folk to have a train formed of their own stock (I seem to think there was even the suggestion of it being vinyl wrapped in the style of teaks?) at one point- I'm assuming that's gone by the wayside?

Chris

 

Yes there was, back in the Mark Allatt days. Iirc there were to be video screens showing ‘live’ feeds from the loco too. I assume there’d need to be some delay though, in case of anything untoward happening up front.