21st Century Steam Ltd Tours (Tornado Rail Tours)

Looks like the ribblehead rambler has secretly been moved to 21st September according to the booking page. As tornado hasn't moved a while yet

 

Did it specify a year? (Disgruntled of Darwen - 2 seats booked for a June birthday treat!)

 

I've just had an email back from them apparently it was an error so they've changed it back to August 31st this year. (If it runs that means still in the shed at GC)

 

I'll give it a go if you want . . . I thought not!

 

It's not just that one trip is it. There are also the four Scottish trips and the Chatsworth trip scheduled for the first three weeks of September.

 

Still showing as at the NVR for the August Bank Holiday. Here's hoping.

 

Just had an email from the A1 trust.

There's going to be an update sent out tomorrow to people on the ribblehead rambler tour in August

 

Oh dear, sounds ominous, I am booked on it

 

Well... we won't know until the e-mail lands, will we.

 

You must be lucky then as I haven't had an email regarding an update. Anyone else not had that email either?

Dave B

 

I actually emailed them about the overhaul was going saying I was concerned that haven't heard anything since beginning of june

 

Okay, that makes more sense being a reply to an email you sent them. Maybe your earlier post regarding the date being moved to 21st Sept could well be true after all, even though they said it was a mistake.
I await the update, could be the straw that breaks the camels back in respect of my and a relatives financial contributions.

Dave B

 

hopefully not moved to 21st September as that’s the SVR steam gala weekend, accommodation booked for this event so Tornado’s tour will have to get a refund

 

Email just received Caledonian trip cancelled, full refunds on way.

 

Nothing received yet about Ribblehead Rambler

 

Oh dear. There's going to be a lot of refunds then for these tours if they are cancelling them all

 

Today by email …..

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

 

Have just looked on 21st Century website and the booking page for the Ribblehead Rambler says no tours available.
The Chatsworth Pullman and Caledonian still say call the booking office to join the waiting list.
The update email I received from the A1 Trust today is more about the locomotive and that the main line diary is being altered especially the Scottish tours, Caledonian and Chatsworth Pullman with no mention of the Ribblehead Rambler. No doubt there could be an email about that sometime today I guess.

Edit: I see @Sheff has put the email up as I was writing.

Dave B

 

I’m a bit confused, I thought the overcharge was used when coupling up to bleed the system in case the previous loco was using a different train pipe pressure, the same as pulling the strings on the rolling stock.