Tornado

I just had a thought, will tornado be the first loco ever to run on a heritage line rather than mainline first?

 

How fab that would be!!! \/ But unfortunatly she is going mainline as that was what she was rebuilt for! And what a build she has been!!!

 

Yes, but the first time she hauls a train will be on a preserved line, the GCR. Also, she ain't no rebuilt loco!!

 

In answer to the original question there have been other replicas which would no doubt have run initially on heritage (or more likely museum) line first.

Not many would have gone on to run on the mainline though. Eg Locomotion, Rocket etc. Most of any mainline running would have been limited to various exhibitions e.g. Shildon, Rainhill etc.

 

Yeah as Sheff said, so that does mean then it's the first ever loco designed for mainline work but its first running in from new will be on a preserved line whereas the replicas weren't ever planned to go mainline.

 

Are the planned first moves this weekend still on.

Its gone a bit quiet.

Hope no problems are holding the project up.

 

Yep its all still happening as scheduled.

 

Forgive my ignorance and inhability to read the entire thread, but what moves and where to??

Is this to the GCR?

 

Tornado (GR4s) slated to take over from Harriers in Kandahar in the next few months or so.

 

According to the news in SR it's it's first moves out of it's shed under it's own power. So from what i understand it is a mini test run back and forth to test everything work and show the world they now have a full operational A1. Then it can go to the GCR for proper running.

 

This saturday and sunday Tornado is due to run over a specially installed section of track outside the workshop it has been built at. The track section is about 200 yards long maximum.

If it happens then expect mass media coverage.

 

There is plastic sheeting alongside the road at Hopetown to hide what is going on from the public, so that only coventantors and guests can see what is going on.

 

Oh dear, what spoilsports and they have been pleading with us to support them.
There'll be a few helicopters about then, or is there a no fly zone over the area as well?

 

Firstly i would like to congratulate the A1 Trust for all har work they have put in over the last decade and for the amazing progress they've made to get 60163 from a sheet of steel to a more or less finish mainline steam express engine. Amazing!.

But.............

Once the engine is finished they still have more or less 800k to raise to fund loans and bonds taken out on the engine, plus the purchuse of a MK1 support vehicle approx 60k.

Then you have 5 and 10 yr overhauls and any running repairs in between.

Once the inital ore rubs off around 3/4yrs down the line can the project or the engine really suport such as large level of debt? Before any overhaul costs are factored in.

Havent they had problems get new people to commit money since the boiler has been in place, as people felt it was a done deal and their money wasnt needed anymore?

Will it still be the case once the engine is running that even more people will feel like that.

37422.

 

Some interesting questions 37422, ones that I have pondered myself.

I think that the A1 Trust will see a brief surge in donations and revenue once the locomotive starts running caused by the new level of interest in the working locomotive, rather than a static engineering model. But I doubt that this will be sustainable, people will take interest initially about the locomotive until something else turns up to grab the headlines (how will the A1 Trust maintain their high-profile media coverage once the locomotive is completed? The uniqueness of the project may begin to fade).

The £800,000 question is the one that interests me. I think they will be hoping that many who took out bonds will be willing to forfeit them which will help reduce the overall level of debt. The problem may arise if they can't do this and can't raise the money to maintain and overhaul the locomotive (remember that its probable the locomotive will never be elible for HLF or similar grant funding).

Their business case would make interesting reading.

 

To be honest, im not too bothered by the debt - this isnt the same as the whiole Flying Scotsman debacle, people donated the money to get the loco built at the end of the day and that is what has been achieved. if it has to be sold to a wealthy enthusiast a few years down the line then so be it. The most important thing is that it exists and will hopefully be one of the best recognised steam engines in the world if they get the publicity right.

Chris

 

Didn't the K&ESR go down this road, by issuing Bearer Bonds for one of their extensions in the past and, if I remember correctly, found that not too many people did come back for their money?[/quote:3dl09oma]

I believe the Ffestiniog also had a similar problem once-upon-a-time.

 

The only way the project can be viable is if bond holders do walk away from their entitlement.

The problem may be if "Super Bondholder" appears like the guy who tried to take over the Paignton Line.

Bonds are sellable.