Tornado

I was in Darlington today and Tornado looks fabulous. All the outside motion is fitted and the smokebox has been bolted on. Congratulations to the A1 Trust... but we can't be complacent. They still need £66,000 to complete the job. There is still time to contribute and be part of the story. More information in the next issue.

With so many main line problems this year, it is good to celebrate an out and out success story. Champagne is on ice, it will only be drunk if we put another tenner in the tin.

 

I had a letter from Audi today to say they are due to launch their A1 in 2008 . . . . how about a LNER limited edition to celebrate A1 Tornado's entry to service! ;-)

Chris

 

Apple Green Audi... mmm nice. Although the Germans have done lurid greens and oranges on their cars in the past. Audi UK - you listening?

 

How about the "Moose Test"

 

I can see it now on top gear - a race between car and steam engine - both in apple green - London to Darlington

 

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=211506&nseq=1

 

Made me think of an article I read a couple of days ago, a review of an American HO scale model 4-6-4 and referring to the actual loco - "4,400hp & could accelerate from 0 to 80mph in just 12 minutes". No doubt that time was with a full load! Not sure what the figures would be for the A1 "if" it was allowed to reach 80?? but the sort of thing Top Gear would report on.

 

Tornado should be allowed to do at least 80.

 

I think TopGear might be able to provide some decent publicity on Britains New Steam Locomotive

 

Send them the idea. They might just use it.........................

 

Im interested to ask why people think Tornado will be allowed to more than 75mph, after all its all about steam and its effect on the P.Way and wheel size not the age of the loco. I would really like to be wrong and see a steam loco doing 80+ out on the mainline, however I cant really see it happening personaly.

JR

 

You never know. It's not going to be some 80 plus year old steam engine it'll be fresh and new and all shiny. It would be a shame for it to go at a steady rate when this class was designed to go so much faster. But rules being rules it will more than likely never show what it really can do.

 

#-o Even though age isn't the primary concern I thought it was accounted for, hence the speed limits. Hence it is suspected 60163 will be permitted to work with a higher limit, which looking at Danny's post seems to have been achieved?

 

Sorry, but its another example of the negative attitudes and mindset s many in preservation have.

Oh Tornado won't be able to do 80mph
No but it's a fantastic achievement and so what? Is the speed really that important? The fact is it runs.

Oh Truro's not going on the mainline
No, but it would get no work anyway, and it's far better doing thr rounds of the preserved line where average joe can go and see it properly.

4771s never going to steam again
It's a shame, but look at all these nice new toys we have to play with. Galatea, Royal Scot, Cromwell, Tornado, Scotsman, Bittern etc.

I've never known so many people complain about things as they do in our movement, when we really have no cause to complain whatsoever!

 

And how do you come to that conclusion?

 

For the reasons we discussed earlier, it couldn't take a decent enough length train and would require regular watering stops

 

9466

 

And how much use is that likely to see? And how often will it stray outside the immediate Birmingham area? And besides as 3440 is a National Collection engine it's better it tours the country on preserved lines than shunts to and fro accross the second city, the owner of 9466 can do whatever he wants with it

 

Took the number right out of my mouth.

 

It only has to to do enough tours to cover itself. Why oh why do some people think that it's either one or the other; just because it can run on the mainline does not mean it is exempted from visiting preserved lines. I really can't see what the issue is.

This is probably the last ever chance we will have to see this engine at speed, and it's just being wasted away.