Tornado

QI - I’ve not come across this steam loco database website before, found it from a link on another thread regarding Black 5 spares. Anyway, out of curiosity I searched for Tornado, and there’s a pretty much complete record of the Trust’s press releases. I’ve screenshot these from the time she was withdrawn for overhaul in January 2022.

As these appear to be copied from the Trust’s official news bulletins there’s no mention of some if the more serious hiccups, such as the three sets of tubes for the boiler, or its distortion and consequential turning down of the drivers etc. But they do catalogue the numerous postponements and no-shows over the 3 years of the protracted 6 month overhaul period.

(link so you can browse at your own leisure too ……. https://www.steamlocomotive.info/vlocomotive.cfm?Display=6444)

 

Article in Rail Engineer regarding the fitment of ETCS to Tornado ….

https://www.railengineer.co.uk/a-ne...locomotives-through-pioneering-collaboration/

 

By the sound of it, ETCS will revolutionise steam on the main line, It just as well, could see the ending of steam on the main line because of the various needs for auxiliary power, air feeds, or vacuum adaptions for controlling the brakes, some operators could just decide, they are not going to do it, either because of cost, or because they don't wish to comply with the regulations, LSL, and Riley's I would say, are most likily to fit the new system, Clan line, also, because the bulk of their business is on the mainline, but some, will make the decision that its no longer worth their time, and effort and take their engines off the main line,

 

The cost is down to Network Rail but they have now made the decision that it won’t be fitted to anymore heritage traction. That’s not a problem as it’s likely to take decades to be operational on the secondary routes used by most steam operators

 

There's also another incentive to install ETCS for operators which is to bring the return of steam railtours on the Cambrian Line, the likes of the Fives, Mayflower and a few others would be light enough to travel the whole route. I'm pretty sure Tornado can only run as far as Newtown.

The Cambrian used to be a very popular mainline steam route, if that came back I'm sure it would be popular.

 

I'm hoping that's just a temporary restriction due to the fact it's not required quite yet and even when it is, it's just the East Coast mainline Kings Cross to Grantham affected. So are probably just trying to roll it out on locos slowly so it's not burning through money all at once. It'll likely be a few years before the next steam locomotive gets it.

 

Do facilities still exist to handle loco hauled trains at either end of the Cambrian coastal route, i.e. run round loops? Otherwise an awful lot of topping and tailing.

 

There might also be issues of pathing - there are more trains now than there used to be.

 

With the newer versions of ETCS then pathing should be less of a problem in theory. As there wouldn't be any signal sections, you could send two trains along, one after another, kept a safe distance apart by ETCS. Whether that's an option with the current Cambrian version, I don't know, but it's definitely been trialled on the ECML.

 

The most recent Network Rail Charter Train Conference was held in Edinburgh back in February.
There was an item about ECTS; where the Transport Scotland Team, including NR Scotland, made it clear that they have no interest in ECTS, will continue to resignal with conventional equipment, and prefer to spend money on electrification.

So Scotland should remain ECTS free for a few years.

 

Yes.

 

Whenever I've been in Wales at the Talyllyn or Fairbourne railways it's always been two hours between trains on that section of the Cambrian line. Seems like the best place to run steam where it won't get in the way.

 

There seems to be concern locally that the service has deteriorated e.g. https://www.denbighshirefreepress.c...oast-railway-line-fears-aired-public-meeting/

 

I assume NR have been paying as this is classed as a network change. However it is an interesting debate as to if our taxes should be used to keep a few rail enthusiasts happy and to give those that can afford it a day out behind heritage traction. It is not like we are talking about people moving public services. It is also not a health issue as the retention tanks issue was.
I suspect in the current economic climate the jury may still be out if the government will allow NR to fund more.

 

Thought the endgame was a hand held unit, that was transferrable???

 

I may have misunderstood (or misremembered) but I believe that NRs liability is for 'first in class' fitting. Once the kit is installed and commissioned it becomes the pattern for the operators to copy at their own expense.
Pat

 

That would certainly make most sence, , or even a portable unit, that could be attached with pre fitted plugs, and all the necessary connections to arials etc, sensors, to engines, with a way to calibrate, update it each time it was swopped between engines, I know that things are becoming smaller, but , I doubt if an hand held devise could incorporate all the functions needed, unless it was just a signalling aspect, that enabled the controller to monitor the engine in real time,

 

So that's A1s done, just a black five, Castle, Merchant Navy, Jubilee, etc. etc..... to go

 

Might have trouble fitting the kit to an A1X, kits probably larger than the actual cab

 

According to Steam Railway that's not a formal decision, more a cost saving aspiration by a manager and could be challenged legally if they did try to formalise by altering Network change regulations (NR are still compensating West Coast for removing access to the Cambrian Coast by fitting ETCS 15 years ago).
What the Tornado project has shown is that it is technically possible to fit the equipment to a Steam Loco and subsequent fitments should be a lot cheaper than initial Pathfinder projects.
This is a huge moment that really should be celebrated.