The Towey Tornado 25th july

ok then, who's on this one? i was hopeing to see it arrive at carmarthan but wont be able to now as im now firing the train for the passangers at the Gwili \/ maybe see some of you tomorrow in hopefully sunny south wales.

regards James

 

Me and my Dad will be on this one, should be a good trip. Also heading to the Gwili, haven't been there for years! Any ideas what engine will be on our train at the Gwili?!
Matt

 

Incidentally, does anyone know what time 60163 arrives at Carmarthen please?

Cheers in advance!

 

Arrival 13.11 Depart 16.47

 

Tornado at Barton Hill this evening being prepared for tomorrow's tour to Carmarthen.
Oliver Cromwell facing in opposite direction being prepared for the Devon banks. <BJ>

 

Through Bridgend / Stormy bank on time 10.53ish. V.impressive.

 

Just a quick note bout the climb of cockett! We Had a couple of slips near the bottom around swansea loop west jn. This made the climb difficult from the outset! We got up to the first shorter tunnel fine but the track appeared v wet in there. We got into cocketttunnelbeforeanasty slip brought us to a stand. Fred then set back about 10 Metres,presumably sanding the track? After this he did a superb job and got the train over the summit. Well done fred lewis!
Cheers,
Mark

 

Running 14 late at Llanelli and you have 2 services behind you...

 

Now ahead of booked times at Bridgend...

 

I was up at Cockett Tunnel Portal and Tornado crept up at about 10mph. You must have lost a lot of speed and momentum with the slips at the base of the climb. Just before the tunnel under an overbridge the tracks were obviously wet and she slipped badly to a halt. By this time the engine was just in the tunnel. It seemed to take about 10 minuites and a few attempts to get her going again.

you can see two of my photos on the bank here :

http://www.flickr.com/photos/taffytank/3760888641/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/taffytank/3761715932/

Pete Brabham

 

I think that this was the first ever westbound ascent of Cockett bank by a pacific in preservation, unless someone can tell me otherwise ? The climb is made very difficult by the severe speed restriction aound the avoiding line at Landore and over the crossover at Swansea Loop West Jc at the start of the climb, from which Tornado never really managed to accelerate much. I gather that the sand had run out before it reached the tunnel.

David

 

I gather that the sand had run out before it reached the tunnel.

David[/quote]

Wouldn't the sand boxes be filled at the start of the day ? dont know how much they hold though.

Brian

 

Wouldn't it be the second visit by Tornado this year, after the Pembroke Dock Express on 28th June?

 

The Pembroke Coast Express on 28th June was hauled by 70013.

 

Wouldn't the sand boxes be filled at the start of the day ? dont know how much they hold though.

Brian[/quote]
I may be wrong but if the sand boxes are filled at the start of the day and then the sanders are used during the day, it is up to the crew to check to see if they need refilling at any opportune time.
Mind you it just goes to prove that as in the real world, not everything is perfect in Tornado Land. ;-)
I fully expect to be taken to task for this post as criticism of anything to do with the A1 is frowned upon by the powers that be. :-#

 

The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust are always on the lookout for cracking photographs of Tornado out and about on the main line. If anyone is interested in donating their photographs of the Towy Tornado to the Trust's photographic library then please feel free to contact me at photos@a1steam.com.

Best wishes,

Neil.

 

I may be wrong but if the sand boxes are filled at the start of the day and then the sanders are used during the day, it is up to the crew to check to see if they need refilling at any opportune time.
Mind you it just goes to prove that as in the real world, not everything is perfect in Tornado Land. ;-)
I fully expect to be taken to task for this post as criticism of anything to do with the A1 is frowned upon by the powers that be. :-# [/quote]

A mate of mine was down at Bristol some days ago working on 60163's sanding gear as it had been playing up. Maybe the problem has arisen again.

 

Going back many years all westbound South Wales mainline specials to Carmarthen and beyond to my knowledge have used the Swansea District line which avoids Cockett bank and has a less severe straight climb up from Neath to Felindre.

I remember back in September 1985 and September 1987 there were a few weekends of Swansea to Carmathen specials with KGV and Clun Castle which included spectacular climbs of Cockett Bank from Swansea station including the tight curve at llandore Depot. One particularly spectacular climb allegedly set fire to a wood stockpile adjacent to the line.

I dont know how many manline specials have climbed the bank since then but it cant be that many if any.

Taffytank
(Penarth)

 

I have been up there with 5029 and 6024 did 5051 only attack cockett eastbound? I know we went westbound via the district.

 

I can recall westbound ascents behind 5029, 5051 (once in 1985), 6000 (several times in 1987), 6024 (quite a few times), 6960 (twice in 1985), 7029 (several times in 1987) and 44767.

David