Tornado Kent Circulars 21/12/09

Most people want to travel when they can see something.A trip that is all in the dark does not appeal, particulary for those who have already travelled behind Tornado.

The daytime train was full, except for a couple seats in Pullman, according to the website.

 

Any further updates on tonights trip? Should be somewhere just to the south east of Swanley if it is running to time.

Regards,

Dan

 

If the loadings last night looked low I would not be surprised. How would all those booked on it have reliably got to and from London? There have been BBC reports of people fighting to get on trains at London Bridge yesterday afternoon/evening. Presumably because of the limited service running.

Now what it needs is some WC and BB class locos, plus a few Schools and Arthurs to get the service running again. And on the lighter off peak trains a handful of D1s and L1s.

And for Eurostar I reckon some German 01.10 oil fired pacifics would do the trick! Running to their original 150 km/h design speed of course.

I can dream can't I?

 

You sure can! While I don't think thats going to happen, I'm sure they could use steam on snowploughs, extra de-icing power!

 

I did hear something on the radio this morning of a steam train picking up some passengers in Kent last night, assume that Tornado was involved?

 

Yes it is in today's Daily Mail, a 100 stranded passengers at London Victoria, were offered a lift home by steam train. Graeme Bunker said 'We were delighted to help them out as there was plenty of space'

 

Here is the link:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...w-catches-forecasters-commuters-surprise.html

You have to scroll down the page a bit though (under the penguin picture).

 

Here is my offering from Barming, not great as the camera didn't want to focus but a great sound!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfNoMcG9dzk

 

Was the evening train mainly intended as a diner special, so bookings were maybe not expected in non-dining?

Steven

 

I do love the bit about steam locos melting all the snow on the line, not much good if you haven't passed the frozen set of points yet.....

 

Dear National Rail

You subsidise the building of half a dozen next-in-class 4-6-0s or 4-6-2s - to your preferred design but choose a class that doesn't have gauging issues - and you can have first call on them to act as Thunderbirds in weather-hit regions of the country.

Oh yes, and there's also that little matter of allowing 90 mph running for new builds.

 

Is there any finer publicity machine than the guys behind Tornado, they never miss a trick to get her in the papers.

 

Steven

I do not know the make up of yesterdays train, but tickets were offered for sale in Standard, First, Premier dining and Pullman. The make of the train is adjusted to suit demand.
For example the York trip on the 27th November( excluding non fare paying coaches) was 3S, 2F, 3PD and 2P, while the trip to Ely was 4S, 2F, 2PD & 2P, and the Worcester trip was 3S, 2F, 2PD and 1P. The standard includes a Buffet coach.

I expect the make up of the train would most likely be similar the York trip, so half the train would have been dining.

Paul

 

From the Daily Mail piece linked above:

..."Steam trains can keep going because the steam melts most of the snow along the lines, but mainly because they do not have the electrical components of modern trains which stop working when they get wet"...

No further comment necessary!!

 

As long as the Dail Mail is on steam side thats all what matters.

Well done to Tornado and steam dreams for helping out the other night, this has given steam much needed public support.

Jim S

 

Although it is possible to hook up a steam lance to clear the points --if you could find one laying around somewhere !

 

Well its good enough for me and seems its good enough to make it onto the BBC website!! Hope they asked your permission??
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/8428097.stm

 

Mr Allatt knows how to bring in the publicity and lets hope that continues.

 

I doubt if steam lancing frozen points for Network Rail in a third rail electrified area would be particularly condusive to the health of said support crew! Still, it is an interesting thought.