Aberdonian 2022, with Tornado

Just notified the Aberdonian trips in July and August are cancelled. Boiler not due back from Germany until mid-July.

 

Just had emails from A1 Trust advising the July and Aug Aberdonians & Clyde Aberdonians cancelled, as loco won't be ready.

Will try to re-book on the Sep tours.

 

Sad news. Let’s hope for good news come September.

 

I originally booked one of the 2020 dates which were cancelled because of Covid. My booking was changed to 2021 but for a combination of reasons I changed it again to this year. I am now trying to decide whether to move my booking yet again or accept the refund that they are offering.

Their tours page https://www.a1steam.com/a1-rail-tours/dates-destinations currently appears blank, not showing any dates this year or next.

 

Had the email too, said there was no need to contact them as refunds will be processed and sent. Have accommodation booked in Edinburgh to make it a mini break which is non refundable, unfortunate but there you go.
Looking at dates for 2023.

 

I too have accommodation booked in Edinburgh, intending to take in some of the Fringe, but in my case the accommodation is cancellable if I choose. I'm contemplating having a day out somewhere when I would have been on the Aberdonian.

 

Sorry to hear you have lost the money John, but I would suggest a non refundable hotel for any railtour is really taking a risk. There are just far too many variables these days other than just the availability of the loco.

 

Far worse places to have accommodation booked than Edinburgh!

 

Could suggest a trip to Bo'ness where running trains and an interesting museum should prove an adequate substitute.

 

The website structure changed recently when they rebranded themselves. Try going to https://www.a1steam.com/a1-rail-tours/home and then using the "Dates & Destinations" drop-down menu at the top.

 

Have an email now with outline dates for next year. Details of the trips to follow in a few days.
Will certainly explore Edinburgh and Bo'ness railway. Have friends in Cowdenbeath so will be meeting up with them too.

 

Hmm! That still shows the July and August 2022 dates (as well as September's).
I did mention to them that https://www.a1steam.com/a1-rail-tours/dates-destinations is blank.

 

That's exactly what they told us by email. It's just a pity that they're being slow in updating the website, and especially that it seems to have more than one page with different information about forthcoming trips.

Never mind, we're none of us perfect.

 

I'm booked on the 15th September from Glasgow and wouldn't be surprised if Tornado wasn't ready. Curious as to whether an alternative steam loco could be used especially if these trains would be fully booked.

 

Sadly if Tornado weren’t ready all the strikes mean that an alternative steam loco is unlikely and I’m sure the A1 Trust said that when the trains in July and August were cancelled. If it weren’t ready that would be hugely disappointing.

 

What's available though? Not a lot at the moment. Duchess at a push, but would it fit? 60103, though it's at the Bluebell until the week before. 34067 or 35018 a very, very slim possibility. And that's about it!

 

Duchess wrong end of the country as it works to Par on the 11th and to Plymouth on the 18th. No chance for either 60103 or 34067 with 46115 being the most realistic option but personally if Tornado isn’t ready I suspect that the unpredictability of the rail strike situation will probably see the train cancelled.

 

The Clyde Aberdonian is as expected not running. Now 4th May next year. I will transfer my booking accordingly. As an enthusiastic supporter of the P2 I look forward to the day when both locomotives are on the main line and available and these sort of cancellations become a lot less likely.

 

I wouldn’t like to hazard a guess when we’ll see the P2 grace the rails now.


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