Tornado

You misunderstand, the clipped siding was always in location, but out of use, what you have seen is track being run to that point.

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I suspect, when thought was taken to the mainline connection in the 2000's, and prices quoted, it may have then had a consideration in a redundant siding connection over the road being used instead.
If long term planning was to use the new site, because of the low cost mainline connection re-activation, that makes complete sense, and what you saw.
Remember that connection was to a lifted 500m siding, and that could provide stabling and servicing for a mainline rake, a milepost in the successful council grant application.
So for the trust another milestone passed, box ticked, and potential funder, no doubt happy, as they host an event for S&D200.
On that point alone they deserve praise.

 

I believe the Trust’s annual Covenantors’ Convention took place last weekend?

I was away on holiday, but haven’t been several years now.

Did anyone on here attend, and if so what transpired?

 

There was a lot of travelling down memory lane about the early years of the Trust. ECTS and the new mainline connection received a lot of attention.
Good news is that Tornado is now fighting fit and next year will be undertaking a mixture of activities that bring in revenue: visits to heritage railways; further work on development of ETCS; mainline tours - with VT and also hoping to do some with their own 21st Century Steam. It was pointed out that mainline work causes a lot more wear on the loco than the other activities, and is therefore not necessarily the best way to maximise finances. I felt a bit uneasy about what this might mean for the future, since I thought the raison d'etre of Tornado is mainline operations.
It was admitted that the track connection and Tornado's expensive overhaul had left little scope for work on the P2 - see my entry on P2 thread - but that the new loco will receive much more input from now on and significant progress is forecast for next year.

 

Good grief, no sh*t Sherlock ? …….
I thought this is why we had all funded her in the first place …… and more recently undergone the pain of the protracted ETCS work?

 

And to think that it's not been all that long since the Trust's focus was on 90mph mainline running. What a difference a few years makes.

 

"It was pointed out that mainline work causes a lot more wear on the loco than the other activities, and is therefore not necessarily the best way to maximise finances. "
Which seems to be the same conclusion as drawn by the NRM with Flying Scotsman.

As stated above somewhat hard on the covenanters who paid for the early funding.

The problem with the A1SLT model is that the moment your money leaves your wallet, your influence goes.

The only way to have any future influence over what your previously-given money is used for, is to promise more money and withhold.

Have they actually used the new kit in revenue-earning serivce yet?

 

Unlikely as unless the loco pulls a train on the Cambrian or in Europe there are no UK mainline railways equipped with ETCS yet…

 

I think reality put a stop to that!

 

Poor engineering practice put a stop to that. But we were told lessons had been learned.

 

Drayton Park to Moorgate and the Thameslink core through London are equipped, but I don't think either are really practical for mainline steam!

 

So nothing to do with the two biggest operators on the mainline not working with them…

 

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U64267/2025-10-15/detailed

Move to Bluebell

 

How long has thjs been scheduled? There’s nothing on the A1 FB page ….

 

Do you mean “how long has the move been activated in Real time trains?” (answer: I don’t know) or “how long has it been known it was going to the Bluebell?” (answer: months).

Tom

 

The Bluebell had Tornado listed in January for their October gala. I seem to recall it being mentioned in either the Tornado Telegraph, Communication Cord or one of the Trust emails.

Dave B

 

I would suggest the completion of the mainline connection and home for Tornado, is seen by the Council funders, as a milestone, and box ticked.
Basing her there between work, and doing maintenance on her would be another box ticked.
I would also assume that running into Darlington, or Shildon, or Newcastle, would be another, as the money invested, brings tourists to the area.
Or Vice Versa, tours going out to benefit locals, and experience her on the mainline, or go out to see her.
Just stopping or reducing mainline work, due to outside influences wont cut it, from a funders point of view.

 

Somewhere within this I suppose lie hints about the reasons for the dramatic fall-out with WCR back in July. One gets the impression that WCR were intent on using Tornado as a workhorse to cover gaps in their steam locomotive availability, at the time mostly in the south, and with little or no letup in sight. The A1 Trust obviously had and have a different vision.

 

I meant the latter, her trip to your neck of the woods. It must have been so long ago that it’s slipped my memory. I’d still have thought it was worth publicising on their socials though?

 

It’s all over ours

Giants of Steam has a new-build theme: so “Tornado”, “Betton Grange”, “Lady of Legend” and “Beachy Head”.

Oh, and Fenchurch as well …

https://www.bluebell-railway.com/special/giants-of-steam/

Tom