'Tornado' to Salisbury. 19th September

No, for DBS maybe but not mainline steam in general. Again, another reason why SD have more than likely reverted back to WCR.

Such a shame as 60163 is a decent machine, let's hope things can be sorted so WCR can operate Tornado in the near future.

 

It's a shame what's happening with DBS they have some fine crews who take a pride in their work with steam.

Brian

 

Indeed they do. A case of a good workforce but bad management. It's also rather ironic that more
DBS steam drivers have been passed out recently despite the company losing business to WCRC. <BJ>

 

Does anyone know for sure that the diesel pilot today was due to a crewing problem?

 

Double fail. Oh well ;-)

 

Sorry Matt, couldn't help liking that! Was going to go to Salisbury station to watch her come in, but it was raining hard and both of the smalls fell asleep in the buggy about twenty minutes before arrival, so in the end gave it a miss. But your video has given me a good flavour of the trip

Tom

 

60163 seen passing Chertsey this evening.http://stephenleek.smugmug.com/Railwayphotos-1/Mainline-Steam-2013/i-73K9bsX

 

Not my finest hour when it comes to film-making, Tom ;-) Nevermind eh?

 

Reason given by Marcus when I asked him, which is reasonable, was that the original intention was to diesel pilot as far as Deal (which was the published plan last time) and lose the diesel in the loop/siding there. Unfortunately Deal now has the Javelin high speed service in the morning and that removed the slot for manoeuvring at Deal. Problem was Tornado could not carry enough fuel to do the lot under load.

Great day out today, was slightly tarnished by the unpublicised use of the diesel in Kent in both directions. Tornado blasted through Andover Station outward bound at 78 - 79 mph (I won't tell!) and sounded great from within the carriage.

Chris

 

Many thanks for that Chris. Nice to get the facts right. Shame DBS had to bear the brunt of the blame by a few here.

 

Sadly it was the final Steam Dreams/DBS tour (due to the previous DBS cancellations) so it was also the last Steam Dreams trip with Tornado as Tornado is not on WCRC's books.

A great shame!

Chris-

 

It's good to know that DBS has one supporter. Steam Dreams and Pathfinder customers may think otherwise. <BJ>

 

My footage from yesterday's run. Seen at Brookwood, Salisbury and whistling like a good'un through Grateley.

 

Was the ECS double headed with 60163 and the diesel? And then the plan was to lose the 66 at Deal and 60163 continued on the loop round the coast for the train to be the right way round at Canterbury? I was quite confused when I first read your post as other tours starting at Canterbury have gone ECS with steam and diesel top and tailing, with the diesel staying on the back. All this does beg the question, why have 60163 being towed round Kent all morning when she could have been added at Willesden? I should think that passengers boarding in Kent were none too pleased to not be steam hauled on their 'patch'.

 

Yes, me! Based on a few SD July 9th trips, on which I was a customer, one of which at least was DBS.

 

It seems that this is the last ever Steam Dreams tour with DBS and in the future it will be West Coast and that means Tornado will be taken off the mainline and will spend the rest of its 30 years working on the NYMR during the winter and on the South Devon Railway in the Summer.

I feel I want to cry - goodness knows what the A1 Trust custodians of Tornado are thinking tonight. A visit to the local and a liberal supply of local beers may help to ease their distress.

Nick

 

The final DBS Steam Dreams trip with 60163 is on Saturday 23 November .

 

Don't believe everything you read, it could change!!

That directly contradicts what the passengers were told on the trip last Thursday by Marcus Robertson and the thanks he gave to the DBS on-board staff for past services. Also the salutes given by Tornado on the chime as we departed behind the diesel sounded fairly final to me.

Chris

 

Pinged Steam Dreams an email and they say the steam hauled portions of 23rd November WILL be Tornado hauled! very strange after all the announcements on board on Thursday!

Watch this space?

Chris