Tornado's 09 Tour Programme

Experience shows that what Gresleyman says is usually spot on!

 

Fair enough, i just don't recall it being mentioned anywhere.

 

That must be the first time anyones said that eh chris :smt043 \/

 

Thats what i was thinking - after all, WCRC are down for the Coronation which will has Tornado doing York-KX on the last day.

Chris

 

If loadings for the first couple of months are poor, a great way of attracting customers could be to try and request it.

Tornado being used in the Kids school holidays would undoubtably encourage joe public to ride behind her, and undoubtably Scarborough's shopkeepers would be delighted.

It has the highest profile of ANY current locomotive, and is instantly recognisable, and would make selling of any excursion a piece of cake.

Is "Mr West Coast"'s nose out of joint as he was not used for the trial runs and recent runs that have followed????

 

first couple of months ?

 

Most?
Trips one and two were steam out and back, as were trips four and five. So out of her first six trips only two have been steam one way.

 

Should have put it better, if advertised for the school holidays, both West Coast and A1ST could both make a packet.

Remember Tornado has more than a passing resemblance to 4472, to joe public that is, and it was her that restarted the Scarborough Flyer.

Tornado is based at York, so no lengthy placing runs are needed, and being local to Darlington, engineering expertise and support are not very far away.

Bearing in mind the A1ST ability to get publicity, you would think it was a marraige made in heaven.

I see the point that WC have just overhuled scots guardsman, and they have a fleet of engines to call on, however a full train, is better than a half full one pulled by a WC loco.

Just thinking out loud.

 

For all the Trust's publicity skills, I bet even they can't persuade people Scarbrough is a nicer place to go compared to Edinburgh or the West Country :lol:

In all seriousness, I would imagine it is simply a case that others are offering more for the use of Tornado at the moment. And if WCR own/have a financial stake in their own loco fleet, it doesn't make sense for them not to use them, even if they don;t run full. Having said that though, considering the proximity of York, a special appearance or two when she's here shouldn't be difficult, esp. if transferring the WCR crews and helpers. Nothing announced for where she will be in August....

 

Not sure this is the case.... surely a certain red ex gwr locomotive that west coast happen to operate is far better known, not just in the u.k but most of the world??!! And a ride on the hogwarts express would be far more of an attraction to the general public??

Have all the trains with tornado been sell outs then?

 

It's been quite a while since Olton Hall (im not calling it by it's fake name) has been rostered for an excursion open to the public however, well known ? yes, easy to see and travle behind ? less so.

 

Would not like to comment on everything being a sell out, however, when was the last time anybody saw hogwarts express do a mainline run.

Is it mainline certified, what is its current condition????

Was everything run last year a sell out, from what i remember, it all started very slowly.

At this moment in time Tornado is making headline news wherever it goes, due to a professional marketing job being done on it, something every other operator could learn from.

In the School holidays, from York, with a good catchment area, running to the seaside, using a loco with the silouette of 4472, marketed correctly, and in plenty of time it has to be a winner.

Personally i would like to see them go back to 2 return trips, and cut out the harogate circle, it then gives people on holiday in scarborough the opportunity to travel into york by steam for the day.

If joe public had the choice of 4 locos throughout the holidays, i think we all know which one would generate the most income.

Its doing the preservation movement a lot of favours with its high profile, allowing joe public to turn up and take a trip behind her, would be good for the rest of the locos on the roster.

 

I'm pretty sure it was overhauled last year and was ready for the Carnforth Open Day, but I am not sure whether it is currently main line certified.

Regards,

Dan

 

At a quick calculation the top of a W10 profile container is 12'9" above rail level.
(9'6" container plus 3'3" deck height wagon.) The restriction on containers is how far the top corners protrude beyond passenger stock or freight W7 profile. Yes Ipswich tunnel is cleared for W10 container traffic. It's the route acrosst the fens and the ECML which are being upgraded over the next few years.

Certainly 6024 has run in and out of Paddington under the 25kV overhead.

Cheers, Neil

 

Unfortunately nobody has a mainline registered Jinty or other suitable 0-6-0 side tank painted blue with a number 1 on the side. To joe public that has to be the most recognisable and well known steam loco and i'm sure if you had one and could deal with the issues of running such a loco on the mainline you'd outsell Tornado every time.

I agree the A1 trust marketing guys have done a good job putting it in the public eye but to joe public it is still just another steam loco and they all look the same to them.

 

Peraphs, And you are quite correct, if only every loco could get as much publicity as this one.....
But the fact remains that there were more people traveling on the train in kings cross with 70013 than there were with tornado! There was also far less disruption to network rail infrastructure due to high levels of tresspass caused by uncontrolled 'professional marketing'... Which certainly isn't doing the preservation movement any favours at all within network rail!!

 

Quote from Mr Legend

There was also far less disruption to network rail infrastructure due to high levels of tresspass caused by uncontrolled 'professional marketing'... Which certainly isn't doing the preservation movement any favours at all within network rail!!

With the greatest of respect "Mr Legend", im not going to get drawn into another conversation about trespass. The last discussion ended up becoming rather bitter.

If you want a conversation about trespass, feel free to email me.

Back on Topic Please.

 

With the greatest of respect "Mr Legend", im not going to get drawn into another conversation about trespass. The last discussion ended up becoming rather bitter.

If you want a conversation about trespass, feel free to email me.

Back on Topic Please.[/quote]

I believe 'Mr. Legend's' comments are valid in the context of Tornado's 09 tour programme.
At least one of the runs in that programme has caused serious problems with trespass.
The comment in Steam Railway about Tornado being the victim of it's own success is very true,
but more than that the whole future of steam on the mainline could be a victim of Tornado's success, or rather the victim of the A1 trusts PR success. Dare I go as far as to say one group profitting at the expense of everyone

 

Hmmm. These posts remind me of 1990s British Rail. How do we stop overcrowding on the trains? Put the fares up! How do we stop trespass on the railway? Don't tell anyone about Tornado! Ridiculous.

 

There is one glaring omission from the tour programme........when will we see her having a go at a certain bank in the West Midlands?