Tornado

Any news from the GCR ? Has the loco been steamed and moved yet?

 

It tested the TPWS in Loughborough yard last week. But no major running yet i don't think.

 

AFAIK she was moved by the yard shunter?

 

Although not directly involving Tornado, the following video from the UP Steam Shop's Ed Dickens, gives a useful insight into how they operate a steel boiler in the USA.

Union Pacific Steam Shop Update (youtube.com)

 

Here we go again as predicted!


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TORNADO UPDATE
Dear Supporter

I write to you with a further update on Tornado’s return to the rails. The team have worked hard to have the engine ready in time for planned trains this summer, however it is now clear that Tornado will not be complete in time. The recommissioning of the locomotive systems after the significant works undertaken, including the world’s first fitment of ETCS, and the certification process has taken longer than forecast. We have also had to undertake further activities in support of Office of Rail and Road accreditation which were only identified very recently.

We are working to reschedule ‘The Ribblehead Rambler’ to Saturday 31st August, and ‘The Caledonian Express’ to the first week of September. We regrettably also need to cancel a number of Aberdonian trains leaving The Clyde Aberdonian on 7th September, and the Edinburgh starts on 12th and 14th September. This is made more complex by changes in the supply chain around coaching stock which we are now addressing.

As a charity, these postponements and cancellations come as a big blow as it further delays our return to the earnings on which we rely but, more than that, we are heartbroken to let down our keen supporters and passengers who have put their faith in us. We sometimes get asked why we advertise a train if there is a chance it won't run as planned. It takes around six months to establish and sell a train, and unfortunately a lot can change in that time. In the last few months alone, the overhaul has been impacted by the scarcity of skilled welders which has had a knock-on effect on the alreadybooked resources for final commissioning, testing and certification.

It is important that you, as Supporters, get access to Tornado in steam. We are planning to have a Supporters’ event whilst the locomotive is at the Great Central Railway (GCR), enabling those who wish to have a chance to ride behind the locomotive, and also the opportunity to speak to the team and understand more about the overhaul and ETCS fitments. The dates will be communicated to you as soon as possible, and we are in close discussion with the GCR team.

We built Tornado with the primary purpose of running on the main line for the delight of our passengers and supporters, such as yourselves, and we will return as soon as possible.

Yours faithfully,




Steve Davies MBE
Chairman
A1 Steam Locomotive Trust

No one taking responsibility. No one held accountable. Same lame excuses. Time for a change at the top.

 

How would you recruit someone better? What skills or experience would they have, bearing in mind the previous achievements of the Tornado project.

Major one-off engineering projects are always going to hit snags, not always things they can anticipate or control.

 

The same as any other successful engineering project management organisation. Technical specialists in the relevant disciplines, planners, QA, finance and legal. Plus in this particular case proven PR and fund raising specialists. The above to be headed up by a leader who takes responsibility for team performance and encourages openness and honesty both within the team, and in communications with the Covenantors and customers. How’s that sound?

 

Where does this leave the Nene Valley? It's supposed to be running there over the August Bank Holiday.

 

That's the weekend before the first tour. So that should still go as planned

 

There are plenty of qualified covenantors and past volunteers who would be willing to step up. But not with the current incompetent, autocratic and failing regime in place.

 

Something clearly is not right, the reputation of the A1 Trust can only go downhill with every postponement, and It is very hard to win back support once you have lost it, You have to feel sorry for the people who are the ones trying to finish the work, why promise the loco when it's not even turned a wheel, or even been tested I hate to say this, but this can only impact not just on Tornado, but also on the P2,

 

The A1 Steam Trust is not a heritage organisation, it is a business.

 

It’s a failing organisation with an out of touch, deluded and incompetent leadership.

 

It’s tragic for all of its covenantors, volunteers, passengers and other supporters. The impact on the P2 is apparent for all to see. The project is moribund and years, maybe even a decade, from completion.

 

On the 21st Century Steam Ltd Tours 2023 (Tornado Rail Tours) thread

That is fair comment: even though the Trust has not had to find the actual financial cost of ERTMS, they have had to find the staff and/or volunteer time. From the limited info that they have released it is not clear whether the boiler would have been sorted any sooner, and therefore Tornado have been ready for service sooner, if they had not been working on ERTMS at the same time. Anyway they seem now in something of an eating-an-elephant situation, needing to sort out a TOC and some rolling stock as well as finishing off the loco itself. And then there is presumably still the ERTMS testing on the Cambrian to be fitted in some time. Will that now be deferred until the winter?

And BTW what happened about the boiler fitting problem? Having found that the firebox cladding was too close to one of the coupled wheels, didn't they first say something about turning down the tyres and then instead fit new thicker ones?

 

Wonderful, Good luck finding all those specialist people that are willing to put in the immense effort required for little or no remuneration!

 

There are plenty of covenantors and former volunteers keen to get stuck in but not until there has been regime change.

 

Well, the Trust had them all previously, didn't they.

 

Indeed it did!

From their own website - words the same as in the original prospectus when David Champion was chairman:


From the start, three vital decisions were made. Funding would be a priority; trustees would be professionals in relevant fields so that their work for the Trust would be to the highest standard; and, because of reasons of certification and the nature of the work being undertaken, the overwhelming majority of the manufacture of the locomotive would be undertaken by the engineering industry.

The organisation was based around four principles:

1. It would have to be run using the best business practices by people experienced in the appropriate areas.
2. The funding method would have to be simple, and capable of being understood and afforded by virtually anyone.
3. Because of the enormity of the task, there would have to be a single aim to focus on, the project’s mission statement – “The building and operation of an A1” – against which all proposed actions would be judged.
4. The rules of the organisation would prohibit cliques and any form of élitism. Everyone would achieve recognition based on effort rather than size of cheque book. This would enable all efforts to go into the building of the ‘A1’.

A nationwide management team was put together who freely give considerable amounts of time and expertise. The Trust has secured a reputation for being supported by a wide range of specialists, experts and enthusiasts from all walks of life. It is this team and the principles established constructing Tornado that are behind the building of No. 2007 Prince of Wales.

None of these principles being followed by the current regime… one of the many reasons it is failing.