The Caledonian Tornado 21st September 2011

Caledonian Tornado 21 September 2011

Tornado's long-awaited assault on the northbound climb to Beattock materialised today when HF Railtours promoted an epic journey from Crewe to Glasgow, with a scenic tour of Greater Manchester on the outward leg.

I opted to join at Preston, and we got smartly away with 67 mph reached at Broughton, 70 at Barton and continuing in the seventies alongside the M6 until slowing for our final pickup at Lancaster. Another brisk start saw us pass Carnforth at 72 (making a point) and soon we reached our pathing stop at Oxenholme.

The mist and damp had intensified, to add to the challenge of lifting our 13 coaches, for over 500 tons gross, over Grayrigg, Shap and Beattock. The risk of our 6ft 8in drivers slipping led to caution on the climb, with our speed of 39 at Docker falling to 34 at Grayrigg. Downhill and on the level run through the Lune Gorge, we just touched 70 before beginning the climb to Shap. With all that was stacked against us, speed fell to 50 at Greenholme, 39 at Scout Green and a minimum of 29 in the last stages of the climb. Over the top, Tornado really showed her mettle with a sustained run in the high seventies right down to Carlisle.

We had a lively run across the Scottish lowlands but for some reason were only doing 60 as we passed through Beattock station at the foot of the ten mile climb. The weather was worse than ever and our speed fell away quickly in the first few miles of the climb but then we dug into the climb and slogged our way up to the summit in the mid twenties. Once again we showed greyhound speed down the beautiful twists and turns of the Clyde valley to our next stop at Carstairs.

Having followed closely the three climbs and the subsequent spurts downhill, I did little further detailed recording, but overall the day was excellent: high mileage, high speed, sturdy if unspectacular climbing, good destination and a high level of on-train service. I am sure my fellow punters will all wish Hayden good fortune in promoting further original, high-quality tours of this kind.

See 17 photos at http://pjhtransportpix.zenfolio.com/p445765475

Peter, on a bright Friday lunchtime in Manchester
http://pjhtransportpix.zenfolio.com/
Tip: Use Slideshow button to see photos at full screen size

 

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Makes at least TWO actually Frank. Posted my compliments an hour after your photos went up. Excellent work and keep going...

 

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Firstly, I also think it is a superb shot and I thank you for sharing.

Secondly, Pro Cast should have asked for your permission before posting your photo on their website or Facebook page.. By failing to so do they have breached your intellectual property rights and you could claim against them. Probably you would not wish to do so but in any case it remains very bad manners for them just to appropriate your photo.

 

Read the new terms on Flickr - Users copyright is severely compromised and other Flickr users are given fairly wide rights to duplicate.

 

Welcome to the internet..................watermark anyone? :lol:

 

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Hi Ralph,

See post 52, next to last para.

Ignore TBirdFrank at your peril!

We wondered what was happening at Lancaster, but were told that the driver had pulled gently into the platform road, then got a green and accelerated away, overlooking the fact it was a booked stop with passengers waiting to get off! The guard was not in his van but a steward pulled the cord and there were enough coaches still in the platform to effect disembarkation. Cost us 15 mins though!

Peter, on a grey Manchester afternoon
http://pjhtransportpix.zenfolio.com

 

But one must never criticise the wonderful Network Rail on here - eh???

They ain't God and they ain't perfect - I have the scars!

How could a diagram be issued that contradicts the planned train movement???

 

Perhaps there was an erratum notice to the NR timings sheet we haven't seen? Still I'd imagine the driver was just eager to get home at that time!

 

originally posted by campainr :

Still I'd imagine the driver was just eager to get home at that time!

Should have learned his lesson at Carlisle then; arrived 30 minutes early and forced to wait right time for departure in order not to delay 20:10 Glasgpow Central - Crewe Voyager trainset.

 

The TOC usually supply their crews with their own timings - I've had endless arguments with freight drivers over timings in the last few years that contradict what has been on TRUST.

 

The joined up disaggregated railway eh! Fred Karno's doesn't touch it!

 

Just back from Italy and missed this one. So a big thanks to all who posted such great shots given the atrocious conditions up north. Looks like she was handled very sensibly under the circumstances, with steam to spare as per usual!

 

Better late than never - 60163 tearing through Penrith last wednesday evening: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6boedOqMtIY