Tornado

Isn’t Bahamas doing the circuit at the mo?

 

It'd be nice if it was Bananas again - as mentioned before, it was very popular last time and a Midland Region engine on what was finally a LMR line seems apt. Whether it's coming or not is another matter. As it stands, hopefully the Danish tank will bring extra interest that no other line can offer.

 

I know Tornado is down to run trains on the NVR from 24th Aug, I had actually forgotten it is down for driver experience trips from 20th Aug. Bearing in mind it will have to be transported by road from Loughborough, I'd expect it would need to be at the NVR by the 18th Aug at the latest, which is just 25 days away. Let's hope they make it.

Dave B

 

Volunteer announcement:


Dear All,

As we make final preparations to return Tornado back into traffic, we would like to let you know that Richard Pearson has left the A1 Trust having volunteered for redundancy. The additional costs incurred by the extended overhaul and the associated lack of income meant that we have had to find ways to reduce our engineering support costs, whilst also tailoring our team for the duties ahead. That has included a need for staff to work remotely from Darlington and to that extent the Locomotive Standards Engineer role will be replaced by a second Steam Locomotive Fitter post alongside Ian Greenan. Richard did not feel able to fulfil that role due to his other commitments. Richard has made a great contribution during his time with A1SLT and has organized and led volunteers in the Darlington workshops and during the re-work of the boiler on its return from Germany, as well as on operations before that.

We wish him well in the future and thank him for his work.

Sent on behalf of the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust Council.

 

By email today ……


Dear Supporter

I wanted to write to update you on progress with Tornado at the Great Central Railway.

After some delays we now have a working brake system. The delays have centred around the 'overcharge' element of the air brake system, which after a thorough investigation has now been resolved, and with the electro-pneumatic (EP) valves that activate when the TPWS or ETCS systems apply the brakes. The current design, updated to accommodate ETCS, is not braking as swiftly as is legally required, with a modification to the design needed. In simple terms this is likely to be a larger EP valve to enable a reduction in the time taken to apply the brakes. A confirmation of the change to design is close at hand and then the installation will be planned in.

The good news is Tornado is now able to work on preserved lines, and once the above change is made the brake system will be certified for use on the main line. It is of course frustrating to find that the design needs changing, but this is perhaps to be expected with a Pathfinder project accommodating such a comprehensive change to incorporate ETCS.

We are now on the final straight in preparation for the testing of the steam system, dynamic testing and running in. The locomotive will be ready for that phase to commence this week but we also need to complete the weighing. This is scheduled for next week, using the equipment from the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, and as soon as that is completed a warming fire will be lit. There will then be a period of static testing, including some ETCS tests, before the locomotive undertakes running in on the GCR.

We have kept a close liaison with the Nene Valley Railway and arrangements are in hand to arrive at Wansford at the end of the second week in August ready for the planned visit. Tornado will then need a washout and any final activities before undertaking main line test runs. To that end, due to the delays caused by the brake issue, we are amending the main line diary affecting activities in Scotland, The Caledonian and the Pullman tour to Chatsworth. This is very frustrating but unavoidable following the delays caused by the brake system issue.

I will of course keep you updated with a further communication following the successful weighing of the locomotive in the very near future.

Yours faithfully,



Steve Davies MBE
Chairman
A1 Steam Locomotive Trust

 

Probably a move to suit Richard as he has this week started work on the NYMR as Planning & Project Engineer.

 

Now... has NR moved the goalposts here, was this only found under testing or did someone not spot it?

Whichever, bloody frustrating but at least I now know there'll be crowds at Wansford. It's the Peterborough Beer Festival in the run-up to the BH weekend as well.

 

I wouldn’t be too quick to count your chickens there, still not steamed and moved yet ….

 

I’m more certain about the beer festival taking place than I am Tornado appearing on time. See you in the beer tent.

 

Not even a hint of apology or contrition to covenantors, passengers or other supporters and stakeholders.

 

See you there

 

Aye, will do....

 

I know we live in an era where its fashionable and politically correct to make utterly pointless and meaningless apologies for things that are quite out of control of the organisation required to make the facile and insincere apology, but one would hope most here would understand that sometimes s*** happens. I do of course apologise for any distress or any upset that this comment might cause...

 

“To lose one parent, Mr. Worthing, may be regarded as a misfortune; to lose both looks like carelessness.”

 

A standards engineer replaced by a fitter. How does that make sense? Who ensures correct application of standards?

 

I guess you’re not in customer services then?

For me, selling tour tickets to the general public (not just us rosey-eyed nutters) for almost two years now, when you knew absolutely that the loco would not be ready to haul them, is rather more than “s*** happens”.

 

Of course **** happens in an environment like overhauling a locomotive. But it is one thing for a project to be delayed, and another thing entirely to make commitments to customers for hire of a loco when it is likely that the commitment can't be met. (See also the saga of entry into service of Betton Grange).

If you were being harsh you could probably claim a degree of culpability on those from other organisations basing plans around a loco that hasn't run - maybe they should have done more due diligence. But I think you have some kind of expectation that a supplier is being candid about delivery time scales. In any case, from the supplier perspective, you can imagine that this could have a longer-term impact of people being more cautious about future hires.

From a software background, I'm sure you'll be familiar with the concept of vapourware - software that meets all the customer requirements perfectly, except for the fact that it hasn't actually been written ...

Tom

 

Having no skin in the game here, I think the biggest issue is the information vacuum. The problems with ETRMS, when set out, are understandable. It seems pretty clear there are (less forgiveable) boiler issues that may or may not be concurrent. Staffing problems are a thing too. So to delay for these is something for which an apology for other than inconvenience caused may not be owed.

But silence followed by sailing through multiple self-generated deadlines without anything to say is pretty poor.

I suspect a spot of humble pie and learning from the patriot team might be in order. I think futher that the previous communication was a very unapologetic apology. The attempt to say that everyone is trying to get steam running comes with an implicit suggestion that those asking questions are not trying to get steam running, which on the third missed self-imposed deadline, starts to rankle.

 

The A1 trust needs to regain the supporters trust, and the first step has to be honest, with the supporters and say what's gone wrong, and why, Some people at the top need to consider their role in this, and resign, if their getting in the way of regaining trust, It, IMHO, was ill advised to keep on promissing when it clearly was not going to be possible, and should have from the outset, adopted a policy of it will be ready, when its ready, and then announced a program of visits, but only once its been tested and run in,

 

Which day will you be going?