Tornado

The choice of Ropley for this maintenance might just have been because they offered a good price or easy access after the Dec 30th trip, but suggests to me something that needs the wheel-drop, such as a spring change.

 

I don't think it's just that.

The A1 trust has had a good relationship with Ropley since Tornado first steamed really. Ropley's reputation for top notch work preceeds it and together with the existing relationship and of course the advantage of a wheeldrop facility if required, made sense I suppose. Plus its an easy path to Southall from Alton I would have thought should she be needed on any trains once repairs are complete, I confess I havent looked at her schedule.

 

According to uksteam... 1st trip in 2012 is March 10th from Paddington double headed with 71000.

 

MHR has a good stable of locos and i would expect that it is not cheap to have Tornado in steam on regular services

 

There's no suggestion at the moment that Tornado will work MHR services during her stay. However, since the period includes the February half-term, I wouldn't rule it out, provided she's not in pieces in the wheel-drop shed at the time.

 

She might come in handy as both 850 and 45379 will be away on hire in February. How many loco's will they need as they are only running steam services this year? 34007, 31806 and 92212 will be available.

 

IIRC 92212 is off to the Bluebell for the season.

 

92212 won't be leaving the MHR until late March/early April. If she does run on the MHR this will be her first time she would run smoke box out of Alton.

 

I hadn't realised that 850 was going visiting. Where's she off to, then?

 

She is off to the East Lancs for a while to take part in their Gala(s) although their website only has her listed for one event now here:Steam Weekends | The East Lancashire Railway

 

60163 was shunted into the wheel-drop shed at Ropley on Sunday afternoon. Apparently, there's quite a list of things to do, including attention to springs and a routine boiler inspection.

 

She certainly is - just been announced - Ride behind Tornado on 18 & 19 February! | Watercress Line isn't that half term?

 

Jesus Christ! The kids have only just gone back to school after their extended Christmas holidays, now we are on about half term. Whilst we are on about it, I see valentine cards & chocolate mini-eggs are already in the shops. Be fireworks next week.

 

The wife bought some in tesco's between Xmas & New Year :shocked:

Still back to Tornado - it makes perfect economic sense for both parties, especially for the trust if any niggles come to light before her mainline double header with the Duke.

 

That's great news.

 

I guess that means the engineers have had a good look at everything on the to-do list and decided it can all be put back together in time. They wouldn't have wanted to advertise special workings until that had been done.

 

Tornado and Duke of Gloucester, on one train. Now that combination will get through a LOT of water!

 

Even so, it looked superb when they did it on the ELR
60163 'Tornado' Pilots 71000 'Duke of Gloucester' Towards Ewood Bridge, East Lancashire Railway - YouTube

 

Cant imagine itll sound anything special though, both have soft exhausts and (unless they take it in turns) between them neither will have to work hard especially hard...

 

Depends on just how much bank-flattening they want to do. Trouble is they'll probably be hampered by yellows from a wheezing HST in front!