Tornado : 'The Ribblehead Rambler: 29/06/24

Just received a email advertising this as Tornado's 1st mainline tour
https://www.a1steam.com/ribbleheadrambler#/?id=9048f9e6-0595-40a9-b20d-e165f84f42d1

wonder which carriages they are using?

 

It tells you in the email, Vintage Trains carriages.

Dave B

 

Ooops!! sorry missed that, anyway i have booked it

 

Mrs W and I are on it. (Oswald's birthday treat from Mrs W, bacon butties included - life doesn't get much better!)

 

Not being treated to premier dining then?

Dave B

 

A useful new revenue stream for Vintage Trains. As the stock is vacuum brake only, will there be a diesel in the consist for “resilience”?
I assume this is the same stock that will be used on the Shakespeare Express from Worcester the following day.

 

I’m much more a bacon butty person, premier dining would be wasted on me.

 

GPS in one hand, spoon in the other, timing list in the soup.......

Any news on whether the trip is to be unassisted (eg from/to Hellifield) gratefully received.

 

Presumably if VT are the TOC it’s their call?


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I was assuming VT were just providing the stock as I doubt they are in a position to act as the TOC with an unfamiliar locomotive over an unfamiliar route.

 

The S&C is certainly not an "unfamiliar route" for VT, they have run to Carlisle on several occasions including a few weeks ago.

 

On enquiry, train will have a tail gunner, they hope this will become a shadow Skipton - Carlisle return.


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The trip a few weeks ago (16th March?) was out and back via Shap. I think there have been some VT trips which joined the S&C at Hellifield, but I’m not aware they have ever run anything on the Leeds to Hellifield section.

 

I'd have thought Vintage would be the only TOC with the necessary permissions to operate with those coaches in current circumstances. Maybe with a pilotman or two?

 

Having spoken to both Alastair and Kev at Carlisle with 5043 2 weeks ago, Kev confirmed to me that a route conductor would be necessary on the S&C but not on Shap as both he and Alastair sign Shap. Driving Tornado is very different to a Castle and I would imagine there would be a test run for the crews to get to know Tornado.

 

When the overhaul is completed, (crystal ball is obscured as to when that might be) and running in begins. Then that would be an opportunity for VT crews to do familiarization runs.

Dave B

 

Where does Tornado join/leave the train?

 

Tornado is supposed to be on for the whole of the tour from and back to Leicester, I have no idea where it will be attached/detached before and after.

Dave B

 

I think those suggesting that nobody at VT signs the S&C forget route learning is possible!

And also 7029 went up the S&C last April, so it’s possible for them to go up there

 

Just out of interest, how long would it take to learn the route from Rotherham to Doncaster to Hambleton to Leeds to Shipley and return? I would have thought that's the challenging bit.