Tornado

I think that depends a bit on your funding model. For WCRC, who essentially (as far as I can see) fund all their operations from the revenue generation of the business operating paid-for services, that is an entirely acceptable stance. For a charity such as the A1 Trust which depends in part on public donations for its continued existence, perhaps less so.

(Bear in mind for a charity, they explicitly exist "for the public benefit", so you do have to consider how they deliver that benefit. Obviously allowing public access to their assets is a major way to do that, but in the absence of such access, some degree of public engagement would seem worthwhile).

In short, I don't think you can readily compare the stance taken by WCRC and say because it works for a private company, it is therefore correct for a public charity.

Tom

 

That is very unfair, as @Sheff has more knowledge of the situation, having being involved in its build, and mainline operation.
He left as he was discouraged by the timescales for return to the mainline, and internal issues, that is his perogative.
Yes it has run on a preserved railway at 25mph, without passengers and any of its new mainline safety items activated.
When it has run without issues for a couple of years, on this boiler, at least, then you can take the high ground.
IMHO there is a long way to go yet....

 

But West Coast don't ask anyone for money/donations, do they?

 

There's a lot of people who dip their hands in their pockets in the interests of building & preserving steam locomotives who may wish to wholly disagree with your views here @Big Al :-(

 

I've commented before that I took my then 3 year old son on one of the first public trips before rushing to get him to nursery school. He's now a 2nd year university student. That's a decent length of time

 

You asked why the loco had slipped from view, I’m stating facts.

There’s been plenty going on, regarding the overhaul and recommissioning, but it appears the Trust would rather their supporters didn’t know, so we have to live off whatever scraps we can glean for those on the inside who are prepared to ‘risk all’.

Many people have invested 5 figure sums in the two locos, several even more and some have contacted the Trust directly seeking enlightenment but have been ignored. I hear that press requests for interviews have been similarly rebuffed and they now appear to be reduced to printing only whatever statements the Trust chose to hand down.

 

You've got to remember that WCR are the Kevin Bacon of NP, no thread is more than 6 posts from someone shoehorning them into it (although to be fair it little different on WNXX).

 

A good subject for a magazine investigation then.
Who's up for it........no-one?
Thought so...

 

Is there any magazines left that do any more than just rehash press releases spoon fed to them these days?

 

Proper research costs money... not enough people buy magazines.

 

And then wonder why they get ridiculed....

 

<holds hand up>

 

Actually yes. I know of one that has been trying to get an interview for sometime, otherwise I wouldn’t have stated that.

 

Just to give you a few figures ….

IIRC the covenant scheme to fund the construction of Tornado launched around 1994. So @ £10/mth those who joined up back then will have contributed at least £3600 each by now.
Then there were all the many ‘clubs’ to fund other items, plus the boiler fund, support coach fund etc etc. most of these would relieve you of say £500 give or take.

Then the P2 was launched c. 2014, to cost £5m (cf A1 @ 3m) with a 7 year build programme so I dived in as a Founder as did over 350 others (another grand). I turned 60 the following year, and as the construction was very much on target, I treated myself by sponsoring the double chimney (another grand). There is also a Covenantor scheme for this too.

So without really noticing it soon mounts up, and I very much doubt I’m even in the top few hundred contributors by a long chalk. (ps don’t tell my management!)

Of course there are many who spend far more than this patronising tours, e.g. the GB etc. - each to their own.

 

Quite - my most expensive 'purchase' along those lines was the steam stand (£1,250 IIRC). The cheapest (I think) was a mould for a buffer cowl!

 

Just landed in my inbox:

TORNADO UPDATE

Dear Supporter

I write to you today to update you on the latest on Tornado’s return to traffic.

You may have seen last week that the A1 completed five round trips on the Nene Valley Railway following final snagging work and the installation of a new grate. The locomotive showed itself to be performing satisfactorily, and we are pleased to be in receipt of all necessary certification to return to the national network. We now have the main line test run hurdles to overcome before the locomotive gets its clean bill of health, and this must take priority over everything else so that we can start productive main line operations again.

After much effort by very many people from different organisations, it is planned that Tornado will return to the main line tomorrow, Friday 7^th March. The locomotive will conduct its light engine test run (with the support coach), operated by West Coast Railway Company (WCR), running to its base at Carnforth from the Nene Valley Railway. This is a major, positive step, and follows the registration documentation and certification being completed at the end of February. On arrival at Carnforth the locomotive will be fully examined and if all is well it will be prepared for its loaded test run. Clearly this is subject to a successful light engine test run and completion of appropriate audit and acceptance activities with WCR. Considering this timeline and the potential risk involved, we have agreed with the East Lancashire Railway (ELR) to postpone the visit scheduled for this month. This is not something we do lightly, especially after such a long time out of operation, but it is important
that we ensure Tornado is properly tested and available for the 2025 season and is operated with confidence. We are making arrangements with the ELR to agree the dates for a visit as early as is practical, and we hope to announce the new dates soon.

When looking to the future operations in 2025 and beyond, I am pleased to announce that we have reached agreement with Railway Touring Company and West Coast Railway Company to provide Tornado to them for a significant number of tours each year during the current certification that covers us to 2028. This agreement will allow the locomotive to be seen on the main line, working with the UK’s biggest promoter and largest charter company, operating Railway Touring Company tours and hauling the Northern Belle from time to time. As part of this arrangement, we have agreed to enable the locomotive to appear in late 1950s condition to align with the appearance of these express trains, recreating the last decade of regular steam in the UK.

We know that there will be disappointment that we will not be operating public trains at the ELR this month but be assured that Tornado is now moving towards a much-awaited re-emergence onto the national network and a busy programme of railtours across the UK, plus visits to preserved lines too.

Yours faithfully,

Steve Davies MBE
Chairman
A1 Steam Locomotive Trust

 

That’s partially because they don’t do anything to promote it!

 

So finally it has come to pass, as some have long predicted.

Effectively the Trust had sold out to WCRC and let down yet another heritage line in the process.

Loco to be repainted into boring BR green, as dictated at Smith’s behest.

Zero notice to the long suffering supporters, never mind sounding out our opinion.

They have brought the equivalent of the USA / Ukraine relationship into the heritage field.

Disgusted.