Tornado

The original A1's had a stovepipe chimney, then Doncaster set out to prove they could design a decent one. Therefore the stovepipe is only correct for the original apple green, in later life (and later liveries) all the A1s had lipped chimneys.

 

For Tornado and Top Gear fans. Top Gear Challenges 4 DVD is out on June 7th and features the London to Edinburgh race. It also has deleted scenes (though I'm not sure if there'll be any from race).

 

60163 Failed at Canterbury West, on way back to London via Faversham?? with support coach as 5Z30 (16:58).

No idea of what is problem.

Alan

 

See here .... http://railways.national-preservati...morrows-31st.-Canterbury-Tornado-anyone/page2

 

It seems like a bad time for main line steam with another loco failing?

 

After initial inspection it has been identified that repairs cannot be completed in time for Tornado to haul 'The Cathedrals Express' on Thursday 3rd June 2010. This Steam Dreams promoted tour has therefore been postponed until Monday 16th August 2010.

From the a1slt website

 

The Canterbury Tornado 3 which was booked for the 12th has been cancelled and will be rescheduled. Keep an eye on the A1ST site.

 

Reading Railway mag today I see 60163 will be visiting the MHR again Oct 2011 one to look forward too.

 

Latest now up on the A1 site ... http://www.a1steam.com/index.php?op...-status-update&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=123 . Good news ....
"Following investigations in partnership with Dampflokwork Meinengen (Tornado's boiler manufacturers), the Trust's VAB and insurers, repairs to Tornado have been put in hand with a view to a steam test within the next few days.

It is planned that Tornado will recommence her programme of main line tours and heritage railway visits with 'The Purbeck Tornado' from London Waterloo to Swanage and return on Wednesday 16th June, promoted by UK Railtours."

 

Every confidence that the repairs will be completed quickly and I look forward to seeing 60163 storming along the main line again in the very near future. I had a very enjoyable trip behind her on the 'Cumbrian Coast Tornado' back in April, and was impressed by the apparently effortless performance.

Video of the trip can be found here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vutyLvahKVk

 

The new "Top Gear The challenges : Volume 4" is out tommorrow on DVD and features approx. 3 minutes of extra footage of Tornado in the extras section. I got mine in the post on Friday and must say some of the aerial footage of Tornado is stunning. Also, the actual race is the first section on the main DVD and the DVD menu features an interesting use of one of Tornado's driving wheels!

 

Thanks mines been dispatched and should come tomorrow I hope. So the extra 3 minutes are in the deleted scenes.

Shame about the locos recent failure and hope they can get it back up and running again ASAP.

 

From the A1SLT website:

 

Hi everyone, watching videos of 60163, has anyone else noticed that ever since her chime whistle was repositioned, late last year, the sound of it has changed pitch/key? Does anyone why this has happened, or why it was moved?

 

It does seem to sound a bit different doesn't it?

 

Having seen it close to for the first time, after its arrival at Swanage, the wait has been well worth it.
What a wonderful 'machine'! All credit to the A1 team.
Certainly looking forward to seeing it again on Wednesday 29th September.

 

The news of Mallard's Tornado powered move is on the BBC, how can something that is 20 years old be new? http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/wear/10387107.stm

 

The report didn't say 60163 was twenty years old, it said it had been built over a period of 20 years - a slight difference.

 

I stand corrected, my brain simply won't work at the moment! Sorry to jump to conclusions

 

Blame the hot weather. It's enough to addle anyone's brain at the moment.