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Tornado

Discussion in 'Steam Traction' started by Leander's Shovel, Oct 20, 2007.

  1. MellishR

    MellishR Resident of Nat Pres Friend

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    The original schedule had Tornado hauling trains again by now (including Aberdonians). There have been delays with the new boilers and hence a decision to overhaul the existing one instead, all of which is understandable; but that update suggests a lot of other work is still not finished. Do we know why?
     
  2. Fezwig

    Fezwig New Member

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    DBC, in so far as I know have no steam drivers passed for the Aberdeen route, in fact only have 3 steam drivers based north of London who haven't had any steam work since before Covid. the cost of providing conductor drivers makes it a loss for DBC plus trying to cover 6 drivers jobs whilst these men are doing the steam jobs or releasing them from booked work to route learn make it almost impossible for DBC to even consider running them.
     
  3. MellishR

    MellishR Resident of Nat Pres Friend

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    The fact that DBC have agreed the new contract implies that it cannot possibly be as bad as that.
     
  4. Sam 60103

    Sam 60103 Member

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    The Steam Railway Magazine article makes it clear that at least 3 DBC drivers will learn the Aberdeen route and hopefully more including one who isn’t yet fully passed out on steam. DBC have had only one tour AFAIK since Covid north of London. The alternative for DBC was pulling the plug on steam all together. I’m pleased they have decided to put their hands in their pocket and invest in steam operations with Scotland being the big benefit which is interesting given you can count the number of times they have operated north of the Central Belt in the last 10-15 years on one hand.
     
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  5. Sam 60103

    Sam 60103 Member

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    DBC have agreed to INVEST in steam operations presumably with newer members of staff passed out as fireman initially.
     
  6. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    For as long as I can remember DBC has always been behind the curve in ensuring that they have enough steam crews. You just need one of them to be sick to see how 'knife edge' it can become.

    But I think that is more to do with the fact that all DBC employees have a day job and steam is something that slots in. (The fact that some crews only remain with DBC because of the steam may be lost on them!). But on the Aberdeen business there is clearly a known amount of work coming up. It can be planned for and DBC will presumably train up people to do it.
     
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  7. Sam 60103

    Sam 60103 Member

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    It is enormously pleasing to here that DBC will have crews learn the Aberdeen route. I must say I’ve been disappointed seeing DBC’s steam operations dwindle from an already small number. It will also hopefully benefit steam on other Scottish routes although I don’t know if other locos that weren’t mentioned in the Steam Railway Magazine article could occasionally be DBC operated.
     
  8. D1002

    D1002 Resident of Nat Pres

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  9. D1002

    D1002 Resident of Nat Pres

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    Ahead of the boiler’s return all of the boiler cladding screws have been cleaned and sorted:
    CFEB0536-A801-43B9-947A-A285A1BE21D5.png
     
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  10. ruddingtonrsh56

    ruddingtonrsh56 Member

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    Looks like the kind of job they'd give to the intern...
     
  11. The Green Howards

    The Green Howards Nat Pres stalwart

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    Rather like polishing all the brass jack plugs in an old telephone exchange...
     
  12. D1002

    D1002 Resident of Nat Pres

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    Quote from The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust:

    “Little” jobs like this can take the team of volunteers a long time but are a huge help to our Engineers!
     
  13. Enterprise

    Enterprise Part of the furniture

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    Not so long ago when renovating a vintage motorcycle, I would strip as quickly as possible and throw all the fasteners and larger bits together into the one box as I was confident I would know where they all went. Nowadays I have to carefully bag and label them all. I can't imagine how a team working on a locomotive such as Tornado could manage without meticulous record keeping and care.
     
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  14. D1002

    D1002 Resident of Nat Pres

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    Tornado’s new home is coming along nicely:
    EFAAC968-80C2-4471-8B1A-4FDD5C7C2B22.png
     
  15. ianh

    ianh Member

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    Whats the loco or cab in frount of the hopetown works?
     
  16. ruddingtonrsh56

    ruddingtonrsh56 Member

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    Looks like a 37 to me
     
  17. Paul Grant

    Paul Grant Well-Known Member

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    D6898. Ex Network Rail cosmetically restored but I think its little more than a shell.
     
  18. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

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    D6898.

    Took a photo in the summer but the forum is preventing me from uploading it ...

    Tom
     
  19. 5944

    5944 Resident of Nat Pres

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    D6898/37198, the last loco built by RSH in Darlington.
     
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  20. Matt37401

    Matt37401 Nat Pres stalwart

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    Is that the one that got a little too friendly with the TPO set at the GC?
     

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