If you register, you can do a lot more. And become an active part of our growing community. You'll have access to hidden forums, and enjoy the ability of replying and starting conversations.

Tornado

Discussion in 'Steam Traction' started by Leander's Shovel, Oct 20, 2007.

  1. MellishR

    MellishR Resident of Nat Pres Friend

    Joined:
    Apr 16, 2009
    Messages:
    8,545
    Likes Received:
    5,546
    The original schedule had Tornado hauling trains again by now (including Aberdonians). There have been delays with the new boilers and hence a decision to overhaul the existing one instead, all of which is understandable; but that update suggests a lot of other work is still not finished. Do we know why?
     
  2. Fezwig

    Fezwig New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 4, 2008
    Messages:
    66
    Likes Received:
    57
    DBC, in so far as I know have no steam drivers passed for the Aberdeen route, in fact only have 3 steam drivers based north of London who haven't had any steam work since before Covid. the cost of providing conductor drivers makes it a loss for DBC plus trying to cover 6 drivers jobs whilst these men are doing the steam jobs or releasing them from booked work to route learn make it almost impossible for DBC to even consider running them.
     
  3. MellishR

    MellishR Resident of Nat Pres Friend

    Joined:
    Apr 16, 2009
    Messages:
    8,545
    Likes Received:
    5,546
    The fact that DBC have agreed the new contract implies that it cannot possibly be as bad as that.
     
  4. Sam 60103

    Sam 60103 Member

    Joined:
    Mar 9, 2019
    Messages:
    953
    Likes Received:
    367
    Location:
    Kirkcaldy
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    The Steam Railway Magazine article makes it clear that at least 3 DBC drivers will learn the Aberdeen route and hopefully more including one who isn’t yet fully passed out on steam. DBC have had only one tour AFAIK since Covid north of London. The alternative for DBC was pulling the plug on steam all together. I’m pleased they have decided to put their hands in their pocket and invest in steam operations with Scotland being the big benefit which is interesting given you can count the number of times they have operated north of the Central Belt in the last 10-15 years on one hand.
     
    acorb likes this.
  5. Sam 60103

    Sam 60103 Member

    Joined:
    Mar 9, 2019
    Messages:
    953
    Likes Received:
    367
    Location:
    Kirkcaldy
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    DBC have agreed to INVEST in steam operations presumably with newer members of staff passed out as fireman initially.
     
  6. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

    Joined:
    May 30, 2009
    Messages:
    21,939
    Likes Received:
    21,970
    Location:
    1016
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    For as long as I can remember DBC has always been behind the curve in ensuring that they have enough steam crews. You just need one of them to be sick to see how 'knife edge' it can become.

    But I think that is more to do with the fact that all DBC employees have a day job and steam is something that slots in. (The fact that some crews only remain with DBC because of the steam may be lost on them!). But on the Aberdeen business there is clearly a known amount of work coming up. It can be planned for and DBC will presumably train up people to do it.
     
    Sam 60103 likes this.
  7. Sam 60103

    Sam 60103 Member

    Joined:
    Mar 9, 2019
    Messages:
    953
    Likes Received:
    367
    Location:
    Kirkcaldy
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    It is enormously pleasing to here that DBC will have crews learn the Aberdeen route. I must say I’ve been disappointed seeing DBC’s steam operations dwindle from an already small number. It will also hopefully benefit steam on other Scottish routes although I don’t know if other locos that weren’t mentioned in the Steam Railway Magazine article could occasionally be DBC operated.
     
  8. D1002

    D1002 Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Apr 25, 2011
    Messages:
    9,233
    Likes Received:
    7,105
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Enfield
  9. D1002

    D1002 Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Apr 25, 2011
    Messages:
    9,233
    Likes Received:
    7,105
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Enfield
    Ahead of the boiler’s return all of the boiler cladding screws have been cleaned and sorted:
    CFEB0536-A801-43B9-947A-A285A1BE21D5.png
     
    240P15, clinker, Bluenosejohn and 4 others like this.
  10. ruddingtonrsh56

    ruddingtonrsh56 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 14, 2009
    Messages:
    1,072
    Likes Received:
    1,660
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Nottinghamshire
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Looks like the kind of job they'd give to the intern...
     
  11. The Green Howards

    The Green Howards Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Feb 20, 2016
    Messages:
    14,568
    Likes Received:
    8,135
    Occupation:
    Layabout
    Location:
    Naughty step
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Rather like polishing all the brass jack plugs in an old telephone exchange...
     
  12. D1002

    D1002 Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Apr 25, 2011
    Messages:
    9,233
    Likes Received:
    7,105
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Enfield
    Quote from The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust:

    “Little” jobs like this can take the team of volunteers a long time but are a huge help to our Engineers!
     
  13. Enterprise

    Enterprise Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Sep 9, 2005
    Messages:
    5,367
    Likes Received:
    3,176
    Not so long ago when renovating a vintage motorcycle, I would strip as quickly as possible and throw all the fasteners and larger bits together into the one box as I was confident I would know where they all went. Nowadays I have to carefully bag and label them all. I can't imagine how a team working on a locomotive such as Tornado could manage without meticulous record keeping and care.
     
    Chris86 and Richard Roper like this.
  14. D1002

    D1002 Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Apr 25, 2011
    Messages:
    9,233
    Likes Received:
    7,105
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Enfield
    Tornado’s new home is coming along nicely:
    EFAAC968-80C2-4471-8B1A-4FDD5C7C2B22.png
     
  15. ianh

    ianh Member

    Joined:
    May 10, 2006
    Messages:
    326
    Likes Received:
    187
    Occupation:
    Farmer -
    Location:
    Brecon In Wettest Wales
    Whats the loco or cab in frount of the hopetown works?
     
  16. ruddingtonrsh56

    ruddingtonrsh56 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 14, 2009
    Messages:
    1,072
    Likes Received:
    1,660
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Nottinghamshire
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Looks like a 37 to me
     
  17. Paul Grant

    Paul Grant Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 6, 2010
    Messages:
    1,392
    Likes Received:
    1,081
    Location:
    Fife
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    D6898. Ex Network Rail cosmetically restored but I think its little more than a shell.
     
  18. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2008
    Messages:
    26,891
    Likes Received:
    60,504
    Location:
    LBSC 215
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    D6898.

    Took a photo in the summer but the forum is preventing me from uploading it ...

    Tom
     
  19. 5944

    5944 Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Jan 14, 2006
    Messages:
    8,513
    Likes Received:
    8,473
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Train Maintainer for GTR at Hornsey
    Location:
    Letchworth
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    D6898/37198, the last loco built by RSH in Darlington.
     
    Sheff and ianh like this.
  20. Matt37401

    Matt37401 Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Jun 8, 2014
    Messages:
    15,517
    Likes Received:
    11,875
    Location:
    Wnxx
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Is that the one that got a little too friendly with the TPO set at the GC?
     

Share This Page