The Waverley, 3rd and 4th October.

5 pics from Todays Run, starting with Coniston Cold http://philmetcalfe.fotopic.net/p61383340.html

 

Cracking set of photos Phil.

Here's a couple more of Tornado from today at Bingley heading North, and in Skipton station tonight.

 

Two from me,

Outward.

Return.

 

To add to everybody's great photos and video here she is at Ribblehead today (Sunday) on the outward leg :-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_UUGZrNovw

Chris

 

I also saw her at Ribblehead this afternoon, looked & sounded fabulous... Video is in the pipeline...

Also incidentally saw her arrive into York this evening whilst waiting for my train back up to Uni so got a few piccies on the phone... Shall upload tomorrow.

 

How is "Grand Central" by the way?

 

I've never used them yet... None of the trains they run seem to fit in with my schedule :|

 

Hi Ralph,

Excellent video!

I was on board yesterday and can confirm that over the stretch you filmed, Tornado accelerated from 29 mph approaching Helwith Bridge to 38 mph before Horton. She made it up to 41 after Horton. A magnificent performance, but I am glad to note that she has more to prove before beating the LMS!

Peter, on a sunny Manchester morning

"RalphW said

I have just looked at 4 clips from the same place and taken the time between the two bridges that the line crosses.
Scots Guardsman with 11 on took 40 seconds.
Leander with 10 took 39 seconds.
Tornado with 13 on took 37 seconds.
6201 with 11 on took 32 seconds.

Draw your own conclusions... "

 

Sheff asked

"B-T-W any news as to what the problem was on yesterday's run?"

I was at Appleby on Saturday evening when Tornado was late arriving after reported slow running, and set forth very gingerly up towards the dairy after a slip. After getting through the 'no electrics' area around Bingley after trees on the line and wires down, she was very late back to York.

I travelled behind Tornado on the Sunday, and word was that the rail was extremely slippery after the rain and wind, hence the slow running. The only reported fault with the engine itself was a blown gasket on the air pump. Since Tornado (uniquely amongst British steam locos) has a second pump, it was apparently a simple matter to switch.

My report of the running on Sunday will be up later, with a link to some photos

Peter on a sunny Manchester morning
http://pjhrailpics.fotopic.net

 

Brilliant clip Ralph! And what a performance from Tornado and her crew.

 

Just drifting somewhat off topic here but on the subject of record runs; has anything yet beaten 16 minutes 10 seconds from Settle Jc. to Blea Moor box which I believe is the fastest time for that section in the preservation era?
That was 60009 with a 12 coach train on 28th April 1984, the infamous 'fiery' performance. Anyone who was on it will know what I mean by fiery!

Nice video, Ralph!

 

Oh yes I remember that well, I was recording from the first coach and going through Blea Moor tunnel was like passing through a meteor storm!!

John Cameron leaped out of the cab at Garsdale shouting 'We've got the record' but all the SLOA guys had gloomy faces as they knew there would be repercussions.

 

Yeah,i remember that one,seem to think we were at Long Preston!

Had a cracking day yesterday,Tornado sounding brilliant up to Blea Moor going north!! Reportedly poor track conditions had a lot to do with Saturdays poor run,and in fact i believe they were out of sand?

It struggled a little leaving Carlisle and climbing to Scotby yesterday but once over there it did ok,seemed to be faster towards the summit as the weather improved.

Photos now up and a vid to come:


http://mark-walker.fotopic.net/c1764415.html

Cheers,
Mark

 

I was chasing number 9 that day, after a late start all I saw was a burning lineside....

A pic from Yesterday to prove I can still blag - from the fireman's window at Appelby...



They filled up the sandboxes at Appleby on the way back.

 

The Waverley - Tornado's first runs over the S&C 3 - 4 October 2009

This weekend, the A1 Locomotive Trust took Tornado over the Settle and Carlisle line for the first time, running two return York - Carlisle trips entitled The Waverley. The Saturday run took place in gale force winds and when I saw her at Appleby she was already late and struggling, as she left, to keep her feet on the greasy rail. What with this and a falling tree having brought down the overhead near Bingley, she was very late back into York.

The Sunday dawned bright and sunny and Tornado was early off the National Railway Museum to pick up her train in York station. The running via Leeds and Skipton was disappointing but sufficient to keep to the schedule. Then, after the water stop at Long Preston, she stormed away, reaching Settle Junction at 55 mph and hitting the bottom of the bank at 56. She had dropped to 33 after Settle and 29 at Helwith Bridge, but then charged across the level stretch to reach 38 by Horton and 41 just after. Speed stayed in the high thirties until slowing for Ribblehead Viaduct, and she had a fast run across the tops, reaching 60 after Garsdale. A smart run downhill brought us to the outskirts of Carlisle over 10 minutes ahead of schedule.

The return run was gingerly as far as Appleby, but a smart departure brought us up to 54 at Great Ormside and 44 at Smardale. From there to Ais Gill she was in her thirties almost all the way, and went over the top at 34 mph. A lot of her downhill running was at or near line speed, and then after a slow run from Skipton to Leeds, she really made the sparks fly on the home run into York. An excellent day out and another triumph for this fine machine.

12 photos are at http://pjhrailpics.fotopic.net/

Peter, on a sunny Manchester afternoon
http://pjhrailpics.fotopic.net/

 

You weren't the only one! \\/

 

There was some slipping in the Micklefield area on the outward run as well. Plenty of sand on Sunday saw them filling up at York. A good day out enjoyed it.
Highest speed was on the return after Micklefield GPS 75.4mph

Brian

 

Well my clip is now online from Sunday at Ribblehead, I did intend on doing Birkett common for the return but felt it was a bit risky to get back home for my train back up to Sunderland.

Footage Available Here

 

A picture taken across the valley from Rathmell to Long Preston on Saturday and in the gloom at Gargrave on Sunday. I can't believe the blue sky at Bingley only a few miles away!