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2023 Aberdonian: Substitute motive power for Tornado

Discussion in 'What's Going On' started by Alexbrown123, Jun 14, 2023.

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  1. steam_mad

    steam_mad Member

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    I can only speak as a volunteer (having retired from the SRPS board at the end of 2022) but our mk1 stock is unlikely to run on the mainline this year. Vehicles are costing more and taking considerably longer to overhaul than anticipated. This wasn’t helped financially by our own 2022 programme of tours being severely curtailed by rail strike action and the cancellation of every job booked by the A1 Trust from July 22 to March 23 leaving a significant 6 figure gap in last year’s income.
     
    steam_mad, Jun 25, 2023
    #21
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  2. Sam 60103

    Sam 60103 Member

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    Sorry to hear this. Fingers crossed for a bright future.
     
    Sam 60103, Jun 25, 2023
    #22
  3. pete12000

    pete12000 Member

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    Are the coach toilets and door locking being upgraded as part of the overhaul?
     
    pete12000, Jun 26, 2023
    #23
  4. John Merry

    John Merry New Member

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    Not harsh at all, you wouldn't think so if you knew the full story, which by the way I am not at liberty to divulge here.
    Enough to say a bit of honesty is sadly lacking.
    We transferred our booking for a third time. Won't be a fourth.
     
    John Merry, Jun 27, 2023
    #24
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  5. Sheff

    Sheff Resident of Nat Pres

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    We ended up having to get a refund on a thrice rebooked Glasgow tour. About time a few pairs of rose-tinted specs were removed …..


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    Sheff, Jun 27, 2023
    #25
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  6. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    Enough to say that Tornado is not the only locomotive on overhaul and unlike other set-ups where they seem to be saying what WC allegedly always says - i.e. "It'll be ready when it's ready" - the A1ST has dug a hole for itself.
     
    Big Al, Jun 27, 2023
    #26
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  7. Mick45305

    Mick45305 Member

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    Mick45305, Jul 14, 2023
    #27
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  8. TheModster

    TheModster Member

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    21st Century Steam Website now also stating that the July tours will not be hauled by Tornado, implying they hope for the loco to be ready for the trips in August and Leander is only doing the two in July.
     
    TheModster, Jul 14, 2023
    #28
  9. Sheff

    Sheff Resident of Nat Pres

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    It was just the 27th that was asterisked last week. So the 29th has gone too? I’d be amazed if it hauled any of them myself.


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    Sheff, Jul 14, 2023
    #29
  10. MellishR

    MellishR Resident of Nat Pres Friend

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    I was booked on 19th August Aberdonian and they notified me in June that that one was cancelled.
     
    MellishR, Jul 14, 2023
    #30
  11. John Merry

    John Merry New Member

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    Not a chance, the frames aren't wheeled yet, the boiler is being lagged and cladded in Darlington before being shipped to Loughborough. Be lucky if there is a rolling chassis with boiler mounted by September!
     
    John Merry, Jul 17, 2023
    #31
  12. Sean Emmett

    Sean Emmett Member

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    From telecon with A1 Trust, sorry 21st Century Steam, yesterday I'm expecting Leander and diesel shovage. Class 6 loco on a class 8 schedule, etc. We'll see.
     
    Sean Emmett, Jul 21, 2023
    #32
  13. TheModster

    TheModster Member

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    Just seen the timings on RTT and notice they are giving the same warning they have done on trains 60103 has done. Has Leander (or, as planned, Tornado) earned the popularity of such? ;)
     
    TheModster, Jul 21, 2023
    #33
  14. Sheff

    Sheff Resident of Nat Pres

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    In light of the WRCR prohibition on the Jacobite’s, I’ve ask this question on A1 fb ….

    “Following the ORR’s prohibition of West Coast operating the Jacobite due to un-manned doors, how will this affect the Aberdeens, which I believe will use stock from the same company? Will there be enough stewards to ensure compliance? TIA”

    Scotland not the easiest place to rustle up enough stewards to man all the vestibules I imagine.


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    Sheff, Jul 23, 2023
    #34
  15. 5944

    5944 Resident of Nat Pres

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    Isn't the problem with the Jacobite more that WCRC don't use any stewards? Certainly when I've been there before it's been a few catering staff and a guard on board, very few other staff. Hence why it's only that operation that's affected and not other WCRC or third party railtours.
     
    5944, Jul 23, 2023
    #35
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  16. Sheff

    Sheff Resident of Nat Pres

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    I’ve never travelled on it, but the censure was for having doors unattended. I don’t know what the loading is on the Jacobite, but I’d guess 6 or 7 bogies? The Aberdeens are likely to be 12 or 13, so the number of stewards required will be greater still.


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    Sheff, Jul 23, 2023
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  17. torgormaig

    torgormaig Part of the furniture Friend

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    As it is a train chartered by the A1 people they will provide their own stewards just as they have done in the past. Similarly the likes of RTC and others provide stewards for the trains that they charter.

    Peter
     
    torgormaig, Jul 23, 2023
    #37
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  18. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    An interesting thought. So the tour operator takes responsibility for the on-bozrd safety of passengers and not the TOC except when the TOC and the operator are the same company...as in the Jacobite.

    That must be a reassuring thought for all other WCRC charters under the RTC or A1ST banner and focuses attention specifically on WC.
     
    Big Al, Jul 24, 2023
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  19. steam_mad

    steam_mad Member

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    The Aberdonians have previously run with SRPS stock, for which the SRPS supplied appropriately trained door stewards under our risk assessment, training and competence management scheme. Not sure what the A1 Trust’s plan is this year.
     
    steam_mad, Jul 24, 2023
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  20. Sheff

    Sheff Resident of Nat Pres

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    Tomorrow sees the first run of Tornado-less Aberdonians. Anyone on this?


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    Sheff, Jul 26, 2023
    #40
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