The Caledonian Tornado 21st September 2011

I had forgotten i had booked on this last year until i received a flyer a couple of weeks ago. Now the train is formed of MK 1 stock and is steam hauled throughout thus offering 500 miles of steam haulage. Being September we should get Shap and Beattock in daylight on the return. I travelled with HF Railtours last year and had a good run around the Cumbrian Coast. Any one else travelling on this ?

 

I did the Cumbrian Coast trip last year too and am booked on this.

Dave B

 

I was just wondering, could anybody please tell me what is the most miles covered by a steam hauled excursion in one day. Thank you.

 

I believe that the longest steam hauled unassisted tours have been the various KX- Darlington trips.The distance from KX to Darlo is roughly 232 miles,so the answer would be 464 miles.There was an attempt on a KX-Newcastle last year but that came unstuck with bad coal.Two engines were involved but the train was diesel back from Newcastle.30/09/2010 was the date.

 

I am on this also - twice over both Shap and Beattock with Tornado in one day must be unbeatable as an experience!

Hope they attract enough of us punters to make it happen.

Peter, on a soaking wet Manchester morning
http://pjhtransportpix.zenfolio.com/

 

While on the platform at Chester today for the visit of Tornado on the Cathedrals Express, I enquired as to the likelihood of the Caledonian Tornado running on 21st September. The 'word on the streets' was that it had been booking well and should run as planned.

Hope this is true - any other whispers?

Tickets etc should arrive next week if all is well

Peter, after a lovely sunny afternoon in Chester - pictures tomorrow
http://pjhtransportpix.zenfolio.com/

 

.....

 

Speaking with HF yesterday, its definitely running,and there are a few seats still available in each class.

 

Hi Peter - any confirmation yet so we can talk liners during the day???

 

Hi Frank,

Rang Pathfinder on Wednesday - it's definitely running and they were awaiting final timings before writing out. (This could be ominous - will we be departing / arriving home at stupid o'clock?)

They took the money off my card on Monday 12th, which is another positive sign.

My pictures of QM2 in Liverpool yesterday will be going up later - glorious sunshine, much better than for QE last week. And I found on YouTube that our colleague ACW71000 does a mean liner video as well as steam trains - well done Austin!

Peter, on a cold grey Manchester afternoon
http://pjhtransportpix.zenfolio.com/f731739511

 

I'd be pretty surprised if an out and back Crewe to Glasgow with steam doesn't involve a stupid o'clock arrival / departure.

 

Confirmed timings now on HF Railttors website

http://www.hf-railtours.co.uk/railtours/the-caledonian-tornado/

Surprise, surprise! It's not going via Piccadilly. In fact it's not going via Manchester at all on the return. Still a good tour, but pity we have to endure a coach on the way home.

 

Why over half an hour in Preston at that time? - water??? 01.08 at Crewe - not for me matey!

 

2324 to 2354 water stop at Preston.

 

More fool them Ralph, and I will only concede you a minority in the barmy world of gricerdom - the general tourist market laughs at this sort of thing and won't go near it with a barge pole.

I take my leisure seriously, and only in bite size chunks - so I'm looking to board and bale north of Manchester now. I don't regard out of bed at 04.00 and back in at 02.30 as a day out and never have. Watching the QM2 leave the Mersey last night at 22.00 is my sort of late night entertainment - five course multi choice dinner - fireworks - a G & T or two then walk along the companionway to your bedroom - £699 a week all in. Why haven't I been back since the QE2 left, I really don't know - because she is the only liner we have left? Will have to put that right - are you watching Mr Leyland?

Bolton looks favourite now - free car park - around a thirty minute drive home, as against twenty minutes from Stockport, and no penalty for staying after Midnight which passengers boarding at Stockport will get hit for - from experience.

Once again it looks like NR have promised one thing and delivered another - and another reason why the standards group must come into play before much longer -they are a flaming disgrace. At least the operators are delivering everything else they promised, so no complaints there.

I want to go to Boulby the week after - but even a 10.00 departure from York means 05xx out of bed if you use public transport - thank goodness for the mile eater! more like 08xx and plenty of time.

 

Wednesday's Loch's and Glen's napier was 04:20 off Crewe and back at 00:10(?). Was 11 coaches full in the main of enthusiasts but with many "normals" on board too.

Although I have to say I didn't bother with any sleep at as I knew I wouldn't be able to wake up if had of gone to bed........to complete the madness a friend of ours from Sleaford was up at...wait for it.......23:45!!!! (and that was after a full days work!)

Having said that I will be up at 3am again tomorrow morning to head to Newbury. Why do we do it...................!

 

Looking at the timings I will be able to see it at Bolton on the outward run before work.

Neil.

 

Tickets arrived this morning, with timings slightly different from those on the HF Railtours website yesterday. Most just rounding to the nearest 5 minutes, but the sheet received today emphasises the change of Manchester station on the outward run, viz Victoria not Piccadilly - photters in the Manchester area will need to note this. Preston dep is 0843 on the website and 0910 on today's letter (water stop?). I will board at Preston after a quick flip up the M61, and avoid coaches and water stop delays on the return.

The biggest discrepancies were in the departure time from Glasgow Central - 1623 on the website yesterday and 1820 in the letter. Today the website gives 1823 - four hours is a more useful time in Glasgow than two hours.

Nothing on UK steam yet.

Looking forward to it. Now all we need is some decent weather.

Peter, in a spot of sunshine on this Saturday afternoon in Manchester
http://pjhtransportpix.zenfolio.com/f731739511