VT: The Great Northern with Tornado - 26/09/26

New tour with Tornado - "The Great Northern" on Saturday 26th September. Includes S&C, Tyne Valley and ECML.

 

I wonder if @Michael Whitehouse could tell us-- does that mean with diesel or without from Birmingham to Darlington ? The old Hadrian trip is very attractive.

 

I see there are engineering works between Newcastle and Edinburgh on 26 Sept so no doubt there will be LNER diversions via the Tyne Valley Line. Just wondering whether there will be a slot available for Vintage or whether there might have to be some rerouteing.

 

I sincerely hope not, that’s the one bit of track I need for steam. Neil

 

Darlington has a Premier Inn close to the station, a nice town centre and had some decent pubs nearby when I stayed there some years ago.
For those who do not want a marathon day a good option .

 

We stayed at the Central Darlington Premier Inn for the S&D events and it was very good, though pricey.
Re Birmingham, I was there yesterday and noticed a Premier Inn entrance straight off the ramp from New Street station to New Street itself.

 

Or, if your budget runs to something posher, there's what was the Midland Hotel, built by the Midland Railway, now the Burlington Hotel, just across Stephenson Street from the north exit from the station.

 

Some timings for The Great Northern: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/se...6/0000-2359?stp=WVS&show=all&order=wtt&toc=TY

 

Not captured on this link is another light loco move from Tyseley to Darlington, presumably to head up the train back to Birmingham.
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/se...6/0000-2359?stp=WVS&show=all&order=wtt&toc=TY

The timings suggest that the tour is planned to be unassisted between Hellifield and Carlisle (with the diesel following behind light), however it's not clear whether the second diesel going to Darlington is just to save having to run round a diesel from the back, or if Tornado will actually be unassisted along the Tyne Valley too (there's no light engine path from Carlisle back south).

Fingers crossed the fire risk allows unassisted steam (or steam at all) by then!

 

I think someone at Vintage trains was a bit optimistic with the Wakefield Times!!! 10:30 on their website, but actually on RTT 08:35!!

 

I think that has got to been a typo with that provisional time on their website. All the others are OK. I can't see how the provisional times would have deliberately expected two and a half hours from Derby to Wakefield.

 

I can't find the outward journey on RTT.

 

It seems to have since vanished.

 

Looks like it's back again: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U02164/2026-09-26/detailed

 

They're back but not as we knew them. Tour no longer routed via Barnsley and Wakefield Kirkgate?

 

Seems to be missing Wakefield Kirkgate [WKK] on the way out.
It's there on the return leg though.

 

So where does that leave passengers who have booked from Wakefield Kirkgate?
Vintage trains website still has Wakefield Kirkgate as 10:20 am!!

 

Presumably service train or other alternative transport to Normanton, where the timings show a booked stop.

 

Board at Normanton, I guess. A pity, as I booked it because I suspected it would go via Barnsley-Horbury, which is required track, so was rather pleased with the gamble when the timings originally emerged. Consequently, talk about snatching defeat from the jaws of victory! Guess gauging as it last went that way in 2019.