60163: Paddington - Hereford. 24th November.

60163: Paddington - Hereford. 24th November.

Is there a question mark hanging over this tour/loco allocation? <BJ>

From the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust (dated Wed. 14th Nov.2012): ''Subject to confirmation of final details within the next 24 hours, Peppercorn A1 60163 Tornado will be moved to Didcot Railway Centre on Sunday, 25th November 2012 in order to allow Covenantors a first opportunity to see the locomotive in her new livery''.

 

I don't see why the two events should be mutually exclusive? There's a Coventantors day provisionally planned for the Sunday, hopefully we'll have that confirmed in the next 24 hrs, is the way I read it.

 

This tour is still listed on the A1ST "Travel with Tornado" page updated 9th November, just 5 days before the announcement of the Covenantors meeting

 

Well the latest communication from Steam Dreams, which accompanied their new brochure states that the 24 November tour will be the first opportunity to see 60163 in it's new livery of BR Express Blue. If that's true, I wouldn't have thought the Covenantors meeting is intended to be the first EVER opportunity to see it in blue, just the first for Covenantors, who presumably will be able to enjoy a level of access at Didcot beyond that which would be possible on a railtour.

I do not read this news as meaning 60163 won't be available for the railtour, at all.

 

Tornado WILL be doing the tour AND appearing at Didcot the next day. As I understand it the 25th was the earliest date when the loco was available for Covenantors to get "up close and personal" with her in her new clothes. There are not too many main line connected venues within easy striking range of Southall and it looks like Didcot have very kindly agreed to host this event at fairly short notice - full marks to them!

I just feel sorry for the support crew who will have to do their best to make her presentable on Sunday morning after a busy day the day before.... at least the paint will be dry!

Foxy

 

Steam Dreams's website shows that Tornado is the rostered locomotive for this run on Saturday.

Steam Dreams - operators of The Cathedrals Express steam train trips

 

Excellent news. I'm looking forward to seeing Tornado and Britannia both hauling railtours in Bristol this weekend. <BJ>

 

Am wondering if the weather will cause additional problems given that there has been flooding near Bristol Parkway. There is a forecast for heavy rain tonight.

 

Is it an error in the title saying Hereford ? UK steam timings have it through to Shrewsbury and as a class 1 rather than ECS.

 

Yes, it's an error. Steam hauled Paddington - Shrewsbury throughout, AFAIK.

 

Heavy rain this evening in the Bristol area. A respite tomorrow before more rain on Saturday.

Present rail travel situation between Swindon and Bristol Parkway as of 22:48 22/11/2012. <BJ>

''Because of flooding (Chipping Sodbury tunnel), trains between Swindon and Bristol Parkway are being delayed by up to 60 minutes. This disruption is likely to continue throughout Friday 23 November''.

 

If in the event that Chipping Sodbury Tunnel is closed, will the tours be diverted via Box & Filton bank or be caped ?.

 

Would be tricky to get new schedules sorted in such a short time span. Such a shame as their would have been two steamers in Shrewsbury together as there were last year.

EDIT: Steam Dreams tweeted a few hours ago to advise passengers that Ludlow Christmas Fayre will be damp! - so they thought then at least the tour was still on.

 

I'm sure alternative plans are already being considered. It's sometimes amazing how the railway industry can come up with solutions at really short notice (e.g. GB3 diverted via the Lickey due to signallers dispute, Black 5s routed from Manchhester to Sheffield due to derailment on the Hope Valley etc). So don't assume the tours will be caped just yet.

 

The only railtour that could be affected by the flooding at Chipping Sodbury is the Tornado train from Paddington. Pathfinder's Britannia railtour starts at Bristol T.M. and runs via Filton bank and Patchway. If the Severn tunnel floods both tours will be in serious trouble. <BJ>

 

Delays to services booked to run via Chipping Sodbury being reported on London radio station LBC at Midday so quite likely alternative arrangments will be necessary for the CE. I guess this has to mean running via Bath Spa, which could be achieved via Swindon or Newbury, though if the latter is used, (more capacity available that way possibly ?), a stop at Bath would have to be arranged, and anyone due to join at Swindon would have to get to Bath and join there instead.

Not aware of any issues with the Severn Tunnel yet, but there's a lot more rain forecast for the next 24 hours unfortunately so it all depends whether the powers that be want to take the risk I guess.

 

I thought the Pathfinder tour started at Reading ?(was Eastleigh but caped south of Reading now) and Britannia was bolted on at Bristol ?, the tour still has to reach Bristol first, though it might have a slightly easier time if routed via Box anyway.

 

Not quite. Yes, Britannia joins the train at BTM, but the train originates at Reading (vice Eastleigh, see the other thread) diesel-hauled, thence Didcot, Swindon and Bath. If service trains are bing diverted from the Badminton route to the Bath route, then that means a higher risk of delays for charter trains, e.g. extra loop stops to allow service trains to overtake.

I don't think diverting Tornado via Newbury is practicable. It would involve considerable extra mileage and running time, at least one extra stop, and would severly reduce the time available in Ludlow/Shrewsbury. As much as anything, I think there would be insufficient time to turn and service the loco at Shrewsbury. Even diverting via Bath would be marginal. I remember, a year or two back, when Tornado was booked for a similar trip but not available (first spate of firebox problems), no other loco was able to work the diagram in the time available, even Bittern, with her second tender.

 

After speaking to SD earlier to check availability, they seemed confident the train would run as booked, including route, even when I advised them of the situation with FGW services today.

My reading of the situation is they may be ok on the way out, but coming back could pose difficulties as rain is forecast to start around 9/10am, and then fall relentlessly all day. By the time they get back to the areas with problems today, there could be no lines open back to the South East !

Could be an interesting day for those travelling, (and out photographing if anyone is brave enough !)

 

If Tornado is diverted via Bath the planned water stop at Bristol Parkway will have to be rearranged.
Bristol East depot is a possibility. <BJ>