Tornado Railtours - 2019

And you can add me to the list, even though I'm on the significantly cooler East Coast!

 

Tornado needs a main line test run to satisfy their VAB, DBC &NR. This cannot take place on the NVR as it will require a sustained period of running at 75 mph and with no rain forecast gaining permission for this at present could be problematic.

 

Ah, thanks for clarifying but as I understood, eastern England currently has no issue with the weather?

 

I should start this by stressing that I've got no insider knowledge, or had any discussions about this. However, the NVR runs through plenty of arable land and most of the cereals are just ripening. Services over the past couple of weeks have been subjected to a couple of small lineside fires. I'm not sure the local farmers would be too grateful of hanging as many coaches or additional weight off the draw hook and giving the loco a good work out...

 

Realistically everywhere is dry and potentially subject to fire risk bans at any moment.

 

Took this photo yesterday. Grass fires yesterday on Otterburn military range and still burning- started by sparks from bullets according to the army. They are letting it burn itself out because of risk to firefighters from unexploded ordnance. It's dry all over.

 

And as I suspected would happen, the railway have now announced its diesel substitute this weekend with steam only doing the small journey to Yarwell and back... I suspect the chances of steam across the whole line are limited until either the crops are harvested or the weather turns...

 

Mmmm..... a 31 on Sunday. I might just partake Nothing like the sound of a 31 starting from rest.

 

The Talisman is now postponed until Saturday 15th September. Email states Tornado's repairs are complete but the hot weather and fire risk means it would be irresponsible to run her and she can not be tested in time as a result.

I have transferred my booking to the Christmas S+C train, hopefully shouldn't be fire risk then - probably be snow instead!

 

Not surprised they cannot have a loaded test run in these conditions.

 

Presume these times on RTT are for RAF 100. If so it looks like 60009 (+ diesel) on outbound to KX and diesel hauled return fromVictoria.
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U55083/2018/07/10/advanced
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U55086/2018/07/10/advanced

 

News of the Centenary Celebrations. <BJ>
https://www.raf.mod.uk/raf100/news/10-july-centenary-celebrations/

 

Picture of 60009 prepped and ready to go for tomorrow's special RAF 100 train posted on the 60163 Twitter feed earlier:

Sent from my D6603 using Tapatalk

 

Due to depart Lincoln @ 07:17...@ 09:30 no sign of movement on RTT!

 

It has moved on RTT

 

Through Gosberton at 08.10. Nice plume of steam from 60009, both locos very quiet.

 

Through St. James Deeping about 08:26. Both locos quiet (apart from chime whistle action!) and a very red DBC 66 behind 60009!

To my annoyance, just prior I missed double-headed 70s on a goods train heading north. I'd have liked to snapped that, given that so many 70s are now in storage...

 

One of the RAF's colours!!!

 

Sandy North. Photo here too: https://www.flickr.com/photos/127835924@N08/42600656924/in/dateposted/