1306 sold?

It's a shame about the revised weight limit on the Cromer branch, which will prevent Tornado visiting the NNR again unless 2 bridges are strengthened (IIRC) because the B12 is also apple green.

 

When you think about it, the A1 trust , have an A1, B1, so working down the alphabet , whats next, K1? O1, Q1

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GNR_Class_C1_(large_boiler)

 

And whats more shes an LNER engine, have the A1 trust been in touch with Antony yet

 

According to that Wikipedia entry, the C1 is at Barrowhill. Tornado is visiting Barrowhill before this winter's maintenance, isn't she? Is there an opportunity for the B1 to visit as well? A1 / B1 / C1 side-by-side around the turntable?

 

I think the C1 is back at Shildon. I'm sure Athony Coulls mentioned it was being posed outside the museum alongside the Stirling Single.

 

When Tornado next visits Shilton, Antony had better keep an eye on them, , when they leave, he might find himself a loco short she was after all built at Doncaster , prehaps, the A1 trust could forget about doing the P2 for now and retube the C1 instead

 

So what tweaks can the A1SLT boys do with this loco then , Air brakes, steam turbo generators, tender Dynamo, Control panels lights here there and everywhere
reconfigured tender capacities, roller bearings, a single Kyllchap.... they might even paint it blue....

 

Any changes to the loco will be of the owners own decision. The A1 trust don't own her. They are managers for the loco.

 

Of course, but if those we're the kind of things you we're open to who would you ask to manage your loco

 

It is already fitted with a steam turbo generator and leccy lights.

 

surely the loco for the a1 trust would be 60532.....?

 

If some sort of restoration and operating agreement could be reached, I think it would be mutually beneficial for all sides. To have two Pacifics, the B1 and the P2 under one roof and in one livery would, I dare say, be something of a coup…

But 60532 is not for sale at any price and I suspect the A1 Trust have their hands a bit more full at the minute, building one, overhauling one and operating the third.

 

Have I missed something ?.

Sticking Dual Brakes on 61306 might be a good idea, a 75MPH rated class 5 capable of working with either TOC could be a handy machine.

 

That is the intention I believe - overhaul 60163 once her tours this year are complete? There has been some publicity around this, it's the intermediate overhaul.

 

slow down..

61306 is yet to haul anything ? or did I miss something post WCRC test run ?

Indeed 61264 has hardly done much.

Is there mileage in London-Cambridge sunday trips ?

 

She's put in a lot of mileage on the NYMR including the Whitby run.

 

For some there is no mileage but main line mileage! Personally, I'm glad that 61264 continues to clock up prodigeous quantities of miles between Pickering and Whitby (and occasionally Battersby - and further afield). It's right at home and looks the part and is enjoyed by far more people than it ever would be running on the main line - and is earning good money towards its next overhaul.

 

Im also glad that 61264 is doing sterling work for the NYMR at the moment. Its been a fantastic performer in recent years, especially after its last overhaul.

With regards 61306, Im sure that the new owner wants best for his engine, but Tornados track record has not been as successful as they would have liked. While both sides in the A1ST vs WCRC have reasons to take their positions the former would have been close to have gone bust by now were it not for covenentors still paying for the engine. No doubt Im going to get shot down by the mob for that.

Its been a fantastic achievement to have built Tornado, and the marketing the group does is a lesson for preservation. I think Tornados operation, even since the debacle with WCRC shows that Tornado could have done things differently and better, such as conforming to the desires of WCRC given the time passed if it matters that much. While 61306 has worked for WCRC in the past with different owners, that does not mean that the situation is likely to improve. I would think that actually, 61306 is now less likely to run with WCRC.

 

The point though is that they do have the convenators - having a different business model to everyone else means making comparisons to everyone else and applying the same logic doesn't necessarily work.

Tornado has been remarkably successful in her first five years of operation, moreso than some locomotives have managed in the same twenty year period since the first metal was cut. Granted this year has not been as busy but it's been nice to catch up with her on preserved railways for a change.

I really am going to miss that blue paint though. She looks fantastic in it. The apple green's return will be welcome though.