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Tornado Paddington/Penzance 29/05/17

Discussion in 'What's Going On' started by alastair, Nov 11, 2016.

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  1. Where's Mazeppa?

    Where's Mazeppa? Member

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    I think you might like to rethink your calculation of the Pathfinder price in terms of ppm, because you divide the price (9900 pence) by the miles (530), not the other way round. And that works out at a shade under £0.19 ppm. Still slightly below the ppm for the A1 SLT outing (£0.23 ppm including the steam leg), but clearly this would be the wrong tour for you if the only appeal would be the Western haulage leg of the overall package.

    So you might know what the best option is, but its probably best to fuel the knowledge of your own preferences and what makes "financial sense" with at least some kind of realistic view of the price that you would be paying for the privilege.

    BTW if you know anywhere, and I mean anywhere, in this kingdom of ours that is offering any kind of deal for any kind of rail-tour at a price of £0.05 ppm, I'd sure like to know!!!!
     
    Where's Mazeppa?, Nov 14, 2016
    #21
  2. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

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    Surely if you are afraid of the height when you reach Mr Spamcan's level, it rather implies he is at a somewhat loftier level than you, so you need to ascend from your current base position, rather than stooping, to reach such level?

    Just saying ...

    Tom
     
    Jamessquared, Nov 14, 2016
    #22
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  3. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    Just taking a reality check on this trip. It clearly is one for the enthusiasts as a day on a train with what may turn out to be a short break at Penzance, which isn't exactly the destination of choice, does have its limitations, even if you factor in the Eden Project by leaving at Par. It is, nevertheless an adventurous offering. So presumably DBC has come to terms with its previous difficulty in operating steam into Cornwall?
     
    Big Al, Nov 14, 2016
    #23
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  4. Spamcan81

    Spamcan81 Nat Pres stalwart

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    Seriously considering doing this as a) never gone beyond Par with steam and b) haven't had Western haulage for over 40 years. Perfection would have been a Deltic on the return leg but you can't have everything. :)
    A long day out but a "proper" rail tour in my book.
     
    Spamcan81, Nov 14, 2016
    #24
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  5. MellishR

    MellishR Resident of Nat Pres Friend

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    I have no wish to take any side in any of the arguments, but I do find it somewhat intriguing that 34098 would have some interest in a ride behind a Western diesel if the price were right but has no interest whatsoever in a ride behind an A1 because it is a "northern" loco. Is that because Westerns were normal traction on that route at one time whereas A1s never were? A railtour nowadays is a significantly different experience from ordinary travel years ago in various respects, so why is it important to reproduce one of them?
     
    MellishR, Nov 14, 2016
    #25
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  6. Spamcan81

    Spamcan81 Nat Pres stalwart

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    Whilst I can see the attraction of being hauled by classic motive power over the routes it used to work, it's been a long tradition with rail tours to take locos well off their normal stamping ground. How else would we have seen rebuilt MNs in Carlisle and A4s in Weymouth (other examples are available) in BR days? A "mismatch" of loco and route has never stopped me from booking.
     
    Spamcan81, Nov 14, 2016
    #26
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  7. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    I agree completely. It's always nice to see a steam loco where it used to be but in 2016/2017, it's actually nice to see a steam loco anywhere! As for Penzance, I suggest that only a locomotive like Tornado with its gauge friendliness and its water capacity would be capable of the run in anything approaching a sensible time. It's 300 or so miles and that will need three water stops I would guess - say, Newbury, Taunton, Plymouth. Can't see the journey being done in less than about 7 hours at best, so you won't be at Penzance till well after lunch. But with the right path (and by that I mean less than 45 minutes to Reading, for example!) plus one other pick up at Newbury, there is a real possibility of a decent schedule, simply because it'll need to be good to get there! I think that DBC/A1ST will be up for sorting out something good. I wish them well.
     
    Big Al, Nov 14, 2016
    #27
  8. 1020 Shireman

    1020 Shireman Part of the furniture Friend

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    Back in 2013 we had an 806 departure off Pad and didn't get to Plymouth until 1420 with water stops at Newbury Station and Tiverton Loop. So around 1600/1630 arrival based on that I guess with a Plymouth water stop to take into account. With time in Penzance as indicated, the return won't be until 1830 or thereabouts. Wonder how quickly a Western can bring 9 back to Pad???
     
    1020 Shireman, Nov 14, 2016
    #28
  9. banana patch

    banana patch Member

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    It's also a brave decision to go so far in a day and rely on a 50+year loco to get you back on time!
     
    banana patch, Nov 14, 2016
    #29
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  10. Spamcan81

    Spamcan81 Nat Pres stalwart

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    All joking aside, the hydraulic could be the Achille's Heel of this tour but hopefully not and I don't think 1015 has disgraced itself of late.
     
    Spamcan81, Nov 14, 2016
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  11. 1020 Shireman

    1020 Shireman Part of the furniture Friend

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    Odds are we'll bail at Taunton for Bristol if there's a setdown.
     
    1020 Shireman, Nov 14, 2016
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  12. John Stewart

    John Stewart Part of the furniture

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    You should have been at the 1948 trials; a WC to Inverness!:)
     
    John Stewart, Nov 14, 2016
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  13. 30567

    30567 Part of the furniture Friend

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    Sorry, off topic. With a Johnston's Press voucher you can do Leeds- Carlisle-Whitehaven-Carnforth-Leeds for £10 which I reckon is about 3.3 pence per mile. Admittedly there's a bus involved and admittedly it's a touch dark coming back from Carnforth. That's the bargain basement end of the day out market. Lovely trip on a nice day.
     
    30567, Nov 14, 2016
    #33
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  14. Jason Cottage

    Jason Cottage New Member

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    In 1948 the newly formed British Railways held trials between the former railway company’s locomotives. No. 34004 Yeovil was chosen to work over the Highland main line between Perth and Inverness, with a LMS 4,000 gallon tender to provide water pick-up.

    No 34004 Yeovil at Blair Atholl, Scotland, on 15 July 1948 - before the rebuild.
     

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    Jason Cottage, Nov 14, 2016
    #34
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  15. Spamcan81

    Spamcan81 Nat Pres stalwart

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    And what a magnificent performance that was. Driver Swann and fireman Hooker wasn't it?
     
    Spamcan81, Nov 14, 2016
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  16. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    Swain actually. And Bert Hooker was the man at the regulator of 35023 when we hit 102 just before Andover on that magical trip in Oct 1966. Who can say what the maximum permitted for Tornado will be by the time we get to May 2017?
     
    Big Al, Nov 14, 2016
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  17. 1020 Shireman

    1020 Shireman Part of the furniture Friend

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    I know it's nice to reminisce but that was 50 years ago and in very different times. Thought this was a Tornado to Penzance thread????
     
    1020 Shireman, Nov 14, 2016
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  18. Spamcan81

    Spamcan81 Nat Pres stalwart

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    That's it. I had doubts when I typed Swann.
     
    Spamcan81, Nov 14, 2016
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  19. Steamage

    Steamage Part of the furniture

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    What's Tornado doing after her run to Penzance? Visiting Bodmin / SDR / P&D? Returning on another charter a week (or 3) later?
     
    Steamage, Nov 14, 2016
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  20. Bulleid Pacific

    Bulleid Pacific Part of the furniture

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    Can't be worse than the 45 minutes flat we had when RTC ran 'Royal Duchy' positioning moves to PZ before the GBs around 2009-2010. Remember having Western haulage then, too. Visited three pubs and had a half in each, including the infamous Blue Anchor Spingo Ale.
     
    Bulleid Pacific, Nov 14, 2016
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