Tornado

I Just can't but think this is a disaster waiting to happen, high tech equipment in a hostile environment, does it actually need to be under the footplate, why can't it be mounted under the tender, or in lockers on the tender with quick release connectors between engine and tender, or even in the PO brake again with connectors for the sensors that are needed to be on the engine.

 

There is stuff on the front and underneath the tender already. It only seems to be pipework and cable conduit under the cab floor, which should be relatively easy to keep clean and dry. The equipment under the cab seats will be boxed in and I assume pretty much sealed shut, so dirt and moisture shouldn't be an issue.

If you look at a modern EMU, all those equipment cases underneath and packed full of electronics. They stay dry despite being subjected to the weather and carriage wash plants. Some them get absolutely battered by ballast being flicked up and the equipment survives. Fabric filters are fitted if they need clean ventilation.

There's absolutely no chance of fitting any of the equipment away from the loco, it all has to be on the loco itself. The loco can run without a support coach. On certain tours the support coach stays on one end the train the whole time - Torbays, Shakespeares, or perhaps more importantly, Aberdeen trips. Yes, ETCS is unlikely on those routes at present, but in the future, who knows.

So long as it's been designed properly, there should be little chance of the electronics getting damaged on 60163. More of a concern is how long it's going to take to get them to work in the first place!

 

It could be worse, my old college had all the wiring in the concrete walls to keep it safe, corrosion effects were not considered...

 

Well, I guess we just have to ask ourselves, did they miss the blindingly obvious and go ahead with an installation which is certain to fail, or is there perhaps a bit more than meets the eye of the casual and inexpert observer?

 

I’m somewhat puzzled by your comment “to try and rationalise the pipework compared to what was there before”.

As this is the first such installation on any steam loco , there was no ETMS pipework there before. So are you saying it was installed once, then ripped out and redone? That would explain some of the delay I guess.

I agree all that small bore copper looks a bit vulnerable. It’s close to the drag box area, somewhere noted for corrosion on locos. I wonder if design includes a means to easily revert to non ETMS operation should it fail, given most of the network (and all of the heritage sector) doesn’t require it?

 

Traditionally, a lot of the air brake equipment gets fitted under the cab floor of steam locos that have had air brake retro-fitted. It is generally a large space with fairly easy access to the brake valves mounted under there. That photo shows a very tightly packed space with, no doubt, a few additional ECTS bits thrown in. I feel for the ones invited along to inspect the installation and carry out brake tests with it. Oh wait.........

 

Exactly as Doningtonphil explained. IIRC, the previous underfloor cab pipework was for the air systems that have been on the engine since the day it was built.

 

Okay I'm acquainted with the previous system, but surely the pipework hasn't been 'rationalised', but rather made more complex?

 

I do wonder if it will actually be of significant use in the long run. I don’t know of any immediate plans for signalling upgrades on large proportions of our routes, and the percentage of tours that run over the current section being upgraded isn’t exactly large.

That being said if Tornado is the only loco fitted for some time to come, it may become a really useful engine (In the words of the fat controller) to a lot of operators

 

I note that it is now 2 months since the loco was moved to the GCR.

I recall at the time it was predicted that there would be another 2 weeks required to finish off the overhaul before the loco was steamed and commenced running in.

AFAIK the loco hasn’t steamed yet?

 

You must begin to think what else needs more attention, or reworking, That the engine appears not to have been steamed yet, does give cause for concern,

 

No it hasn't yet. Still in shed according to someone who works at Loughborough.

Dave B

 

Floor was still up on Sunday.

 

I think the installation of this ETCS is proving more troublesome than anyone maybe anticipated. I feel sorry for the NVR who are maybe wondering if Tornado's visit in a months time maybe cancelled again.

Dave B

 

Given the NVR's finances, they need it to come as it does draw the crowds - but right now I'd be thinking "three strikes and you're out" if it's a no-show and looking elsewhere - other locomotives are available after all. One of Mr. Riley's Black 5's was very popular not so long ago, or another 'Spamcan' to keep 92 Squadron Company?

Nene Valley Railway Back on Track Appeal
Currently they've raised just shy of GBP50,000 out of a target of GBP300,000.

 

Just had an email from A1 trust

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

 

Reading between the lines, we can all guess what that's going to be, personally talking, I don't think we will see 60163 at the head on any railtours until at least winter this year, if at all, i would imagine any tours will be postponed now until 2025, but lets see?

 

It's looking likely as last time I checked it hadn't turned a wheel under its own power