Tornado

I also heard this, but why? We've seen the livery now and everyone just wants blue to be put on her now! Not wanting to sound rude to the group, just struggling to see the point as all.
Matt

 

Once Tornado has been Blue.. what then ? Pink, Orange ?
The livery only has a finite selling point.. give everybody everything at once then the value of livery is lost. Better to spread it out.
Of course some owners make us wait longer than others before giving in to demand.

 

For me, far more important than the livery issue, and Tornado's unique selling point (apart from being the first standard gauge new-build) was always the plan for 90mph running. I'm not just saying this because I would like to travel at 90mph behind steam, but also it would enable a few minutes to be shaved off its main line outings, which in my opinion have become rather on the long side. Sadly this particular issue has rather gone quiet. I hope it hasn't been abandoned. Are the A1 trust perhaps keeping it up their sleeve for when the initial interest in the loco was dropped off?

 

I heard the whole issue of speed is currently up for debate.. not just Tornado.

The UK seems rather unique in europe in putting artificial limits on steam, Germany, Poland for example permit line speed.
I wouldn't imagine every operator would want his loco doing 90mph on every trip, but for example having Black 5's limited to 60mph is a bit pedestrian, and for larger engines if pathing issues at 75mph caused an issue, if the locomotive could increase to say 85mph for a short duration.. it may solve a lot of problems.
I'd imagine it comes down to safety, maintenance and cost.

 

To my knowledge this hasn't been dropped at all, but it's a complex issue and has obvious implications for other main line locos too. There's an awful lot goes on behind the scenes with something like this, and mountains of paperwork too. I'm sure that if and when the A1 Trust have dotted all the i's and crossed all the t's then, and only then, an announcement will be made. They haven't got to where they are today by going off half cock, I'm sure you'll agree.

 

Where did you look? Here's the lsiting from the A1 website as at 8th Feb Where to travel not exactly idle, but a few slots still available.

 

Good one!

 

I looked at the a1 trust site and also noticed that she wasn't in a summer pool.
example(30777, 34067, 60019, 70000) all of which are in that pool
Steam Dreams have lots of openings for their summer season so I wouldn't be surprised if Tornado is to pull more of these.

 

It was briefly mentioned at the 2011 convention according to the Autumn 'Communication Cord' - "Wrapping up, he touched on the subject of 90mph running, noting that revision of the Group Standard, GO/RT3440, which must have been devised by a GWR man, requires a lot of additional, new, data."

Chris

 

Love to know the reasoning behind that, why devise a rule that lets a county do 75 but limits a hall to 60... nonsense
Gwr locos do have a long piston stroke, their piston speeds would be faster than everyone elses so at least that would have been a good starting point.
My rule of thumb formula for max permitted speed would be Driving wheel dia inches - (Piston stroke inches/ no of cylinders +1) x 1.1....

 

Please explain?

 

I believe this was done with input by a well known GWR man who may frequent these directories... as Jeremy Clarkson would put it.. "some people say... he prefereth a Hall over a Black 5.."
Whatever... it's a debate thats years old.

 

Don't forget Tornado will be running at the MHR this coming weekend and is smoke box out of Alton for the first time. The other loco on duty this weekend should be 31806.

 

I hope that the brake blocks have been done:

Chris:

 

You can be assured that the loco will be fit for service, or not in service.

 

Taken from the MHR web site

Ropley 22nd Feb, where

 

It's now been confirmed on the MHR site that 60163 is in use this weekend:Tornado returns this weekend! | Watercress Line

 

For those that may turn up to photograph 60163 a word of warning the farmer at Chawton Woods has put the sheep back in the field that many seem to wander accross next to the main shot on the bank.
He is not happy with photographers in this field at the best of times and with the sheep in there you will be chased off !!! Ive seen it happen three times .
So Please Do Not Trespass in this field or try to access a shot through it ...
I know no one will take a blind bit of notice but you have been warned !

 

I can fully understand this farmers viewpoint, what arrogance to wander about on a farmers land without permission.
In the same situation I would throw people off my land.
But, if you came and had the courtesy to ask, well that's a different matter.
My experience has been that if you ask politely you may well be granted permission subject to your being careful and abiding by any requests a farmer might make.
That's been my experience for what it's worth.

Cheers Dave

 

Unfortunately not all farmers are as accommodating as in your experience but even so I have come across some very obliging ones in the past. It's those who tell you to eff off when you're keeping to footpaths who bug me.