21st Century Steam Ltd Tours (Tornado Rail Tours)

"The White Rose" with Tornado to York and Harrogate was advertised for 27-4-2019, but (so I understood) cancelled because of limited bridge clearance between Leeds and Harrogate. A new trip to York and Harrogate , now as "The Yorkshire Pullman", was to have run in July this year but was postponed to 1 April next year. I've now had a mailshot from Tornado Railtours (as they are now called) promoting it.

The website says that the train will return to York for servicing. It doesn't say whether that will be by reversing, with a diesel on the other end, or by looping round via Leeds. But anyway the return is shown as picking up at York, then Harrogate, and then running via Leeds to get back to the ECML.

Where was the bridge clearance in 2019? How is that being avoided now?

 

The bridge which the Duchess touched around 2010 is leaving Harrogate on the way to Hornbeam Park ( just under Waitrose I believe). If NR clear the train to run ( and Bramhope Tunnel has been completely relined as well * so gauging is not just a matter of computer says no) it will be the first steam on my local line for over ten years. I used to stand on Headingley bank in the 80s and at Horsforth in the 00s--- locos I recall are 777, 34092, 92220,60800 and 45231 from the 80s and 60009,70013, 34027 the Riley 5s and 45690 from the 00s.

* edit--- the Bramhope Tunnel job was done in 2003 so that should be OK. Feels like only yesterday!

 

Ah happy days, before moving to Shropshire in 85 and depending on the shift, I used to be able to see all the weekday SSEs either before or after work.
5305 was a regular too of the early 80s, and the highlight for me of 84 (I think) was an evening circuit behind 46229 with a fantastic climb out of Leeds.

 

Two new tours announced:
23rd March: Worcester-Kingswear
26th March: Bristol-Falmouth
Interestingly the later is down for steam haulage throughout which surprises me but does that mean that the Par turntable could be in use again soon or are there other turning facilities it can use? Anyway good to see a hint of Tornado’s 2023 programme unveiled.

 

It's actually Bristol-Newquay, not Falmouth. Either way, your point about the turntable is still valid. The guy who did Barrow Hill is renovating it, but I've not heard whether it will be ready for next year.

 

I thought it was Falmouth but I now realise my mistake. Talking about the turntable RTC are still showing diesel haulage west of Plymouth on the outward journey of each Royal Duchy. Let’s hope the turntable is fixed and back in use just like the one at Ferryhill in Aberdeen which was brought back to use after many years of not being used and in need of repairs. Perhaps once the turntable is complete RTC may run to Par more often during the summer although I suspect loco availability has played just as big a factor in the reduction of steam to Par.

 

You might be able to manage it on a Sunday as line uses 1 train as opposed to the weekday 2, but that opens up a whole host of other problems dodging engineering works. Get a trip to tie into the shanty festival?

 

I think there may be a bit of wishful thinking here.
Both the Falmouth and Newquay branches (Beyond Goonbarrow Jn) are RA6 and 60163 is RA9.

Until the proposed loop is installed ( St Columb Road?) I think there will be pathing issues on the branch plus there is only one platform at Newquay.
I suspect the tour will be diesel from Plymouth to Newquay and return.

Cheers, Neil

 

What is the Far North Line then? Reason I ask is that Tornado went to Brora in 2015 although I doubt it will again.

 

Sorry, I can't answer that as the Scottish Sectional Appendix does not show Route Availability in the was Southern, Western and Anglia do.

Cheers, Neil

 

Both the tours announced last weekend are now available to book on the website. Interestingly there is a note on the website for the Cornishman tour that they hope to use the turntable at St Blazey but if it is not ready the return leg from Par to Plymouth will be diesel hauled. The leg from Newquay to Par is by service train. Also the South Devon Express is diesel hauled on the return journey from Bristol to Worcester.

 

Judging by the descriptions on the website the suggestion is that the tours will use the SRPS stock as the First Class is in compartments.

 

Have booked on the South Devon Express. A trip with Tornado starting from my local station is just too good to miss.

 

As I've been expecting for a few weeks now, I've just had confirmation that the South Devon Express trip to Kingswear has been cancelled. This was scheduled for earlier this year when I first booked it, then re-scheduled to September, and now cancelled outright. I must admit, the A1 Trust's willingness to promote and advertise a tour whilst their locomotive is still in pieces across Europe has left a bit of a sour taste in my mouth. I probably won't book on another one with them until Tornado is back in action again. That being said, I do appreciate the 25% discount that has been given.

Below is the email they have sent.

Good Afternoon
It is with deepest regret that we write to you today to advise that we are cancelling our ‘South Devon Express’ train due to run this September. All passengers will automatically receive a full refund in the next 7 to 10 days. Please contact us at your earliest convenience if the card that you paid with is no longer valid.
We have worked tirelessly to provide a replacement for our flagship locomotive Tornado, which is still undergoing overhaul. Unfortunately, it is not just that challenge that we have faced as we have endeavoured to resource carriages, a Train Operating Company to provide not only the advanced planning, but crucially drivers, fireman and guards for the dates, and catering staff and supplies as well. We have tried every avenue, but this has proved to be too big a challenge to overcome, and we are beyond disappointed to need to cancel. Not only does it hit the income that we rely on as a charity, but it is heartbreaking to let our valued passengers down.
We recognise that our offer is not inexpensive, with some passengers booking for special birthdays and anniversaries, and all on board for a special day out; we understand that this news must be terribly disappointing and upsetting for all who planned to travel with us this autumn. When passengers book with us, it is our intention to provide a gold standard of service from the moment you book, through the journey and beyond. We accept that we haven’t been able to meet that standard on this occasion, with many having already moved their original booking to new dates. By way of an apology, we would like to offer all 2023 passengers a 25% discount on a future booking. We do hope that you will consider booking again with us in future, so we can show you how it should be done!
If you would like to respond, please can we request that you do so by return email, and a member of the team will get back to you as soon as possible.
Our sincerest apologies for any inconvenience caused.
Yours faithfully

Graeme Bunker-James

Commercial Director
21st Century Steam Ltd

 

I accept that many will be disappointed but to paraphrase your words did you not book knowing the loco was in pieces across Europe?
How many loco overhauls (of any level) keep to the timescales first suggested?

 

No surprises about this news. At least some of the Aberdonains have managed to run bringing some income from Railtours to the A1SLT after a turbulent last few years.

 

Like others have said this doesn't come as a surprise. Feel for the passengers booked on the tours that have straight up been cancelled with no new date.

 

Several years ago I was going to do an Aberdonian trip while in Edinburgh for a few days of the Fringe. Each year, for one reason or another, it hasn't happened. But the 25% discount offer for a future trip (any future trip?) seems generous.

 

Having been involved it the overhaul during mid-2022, about the time the loco was due to return to service, it was apparent this was an awful long way off, even under Plan A. Then the new boilers were sidelined, the wheels were claimed to be causing delay and the ETMS was said to be experiencing endless unforeseen complications.

At the same time tickets were being sold for tours in Sept 2022. IMHO it was impossible for the loco to be completed that year, and probably 2023 either. The spin coming out of the Trust now bore no resemblance to the situation in the workshops and I lost any remaining confidence in the management. At that point my conscience would no longer countenance my involvement and I withdrew.


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