Tornado

Sections of the North East Corridor in New Jersey are currently being upgraded to 160 mph, so that's about the only likely place for any attempt to be made. Whether Amtrak would agree to such a stunt is another matter though.......

 

https://www.a1steam.com/tornado/new...n-a-three-year-agreement-with-db-cargo-signed

 

Read the latest edition of Steam Railway Magazine and Graeme Bunker-James said this: “Say a third-party tour promoter rings up and says, “We’d like to go from Kings Cross to York for a nice day out. Can we use your loco?” and it isn’t a DB operation that’s still exactly the same as now, then yes that will be perfectly plausible provided the diary can accommodate it”.

 

Where does it say they won’t continue to operate with West Coast?

 

Steam Railway Magazine article makes clear that they WILL continue with West Coast presumably on tours with RTC. I think it also hints at possible operations with LSL and Steam Dreams.

 

I was told in April that West Coast now have only two drivers passed for Aberdeen ( used to be four), Peter Walker and Steve Chipperfield.

 

That might explain it then. I must say I never knew Steve Chipperfield was passed to go all the way to Aberdeen and only ever known Peter Walker being passed north of Dundee. I know that Mick Kelly has driven Aberdonians as far as Perth in the past but never beyond.

 

As someone who lives on the route of the Aberdonian it has been incredibly frustrating that both 2020 and now 2022 have seen no steam to Aberdeen. The hope now is that DBC will fix that with at least 3 drivers passed to drive the Aberdeen route with the potential for more drivers if they want to do it. This will also help SRPS out and may see DBC take over some SRPS operations with SRPS being one of the few tour promoters registered with 2 different operating companies. I also hope that Inverness will be reached next year as DBC had to cancel the SRPS trip last year due to not being able to provide crews. Now that issue will be sorted and hopefully Tornado will run over Drumochter and Slochd after a number of runs in 2012-15 which produced really good performances especially in 2013 with I believe 12 coaches unassisted.

 

This is a really good news story and keeps DB firmly in the steam business where they could easily have wondered if it was worth their while continuing. Instead we are now seeing investment in new blood plus guaranteed income for SRPS who have had a very difficult couple of years.
It would also seemingly open the door for more steam on other Scottish routes.
Much to celebrate here.

 

August update:

https://www.a1steam.com/tornado/news/tornado-details/overhaul-progress-at-lms-august-1

 

Could this also be a consequence of ScotRail now being under Scotland-based management hence more attuned to local interests ?

 

Unlikely given that this deal has been in negotiation pre-Scotrail public ownership.

Indeed - I think 2020, 2021 and 2022 have been the worst years on record for our railtour operations - hopefully a brighter future ahead.

 

This year has been deeply frustrating but especially so after the last 2 years. Hopefully 2023 marks the start of a much better future for SRPS with hopefully a number of steam tours featuring Tornado (Prince of Wales too when it’s built) as well as others from time to time.

 

Can’t see how that has had any significant impact. SRPS stock was used on the Scotrail steam operations in 2015 and 2016 which were also DB Cargo operated. Other than that I can’t think of any significant collaboration between the SRPS and Scotrail.

 

Up in your part of the world it should be running as Duke of Rothesay, Sam.

 

I never ever refer to the current holder by that name but strictly speaking you are correct.