Tornado does the ton

Good news for fans of Kettles!

A couple of Eye co-respondents (sic) have sent through some images of last night's Tornado test run and PR coup.

Tornado clocked up speeds of 100mph on the ECML between Raskelf and Alne, north of York, as can be seen here...

From Newcastle back to York the loco carried the ‘Matey’ headboard, in memory of Ray Towell whom we sadly lost just over a year ago.

And here is a picture of the test run team (and guests) safely back at York, following the 100mph triumph.

Good effort!

Meanwhile, Eye is unsure what Northern passengers must make of this, as traction across their franchise is both older and slower.

No matter!

Rumours that Tornado is now on Thunderbird duties, to drag VTEC services through crappy OHLE at Retford, have been denied...

May a thousand plandampfs bloom!

This from Lella Lombardi...

Great news for petrolheads as Transport Minister Andrew Jones announces plans to allow motor racing on urban streets.

Imagine the delight as every High Steet, Acacia Avenue, and Station Road hosts its own Formula One race, filling the air with the joyous sounds of roaring engines, screeching tyres and whoops of delight from residents. Not to mention the fumes.

But why stop there?  

Shouldn't we also allow every community it's own Railway Steam Gala and Diesel Haulage Weekend?  

One for DfT's summer Rail Strategy perhaps?

Beardie Rail (East) plays trains

This from Virgin Trains East Coast...

"Four trains spanning four generations will travel side by side, in the same direction, along the East Coast Main Line on April 23 2017.

"This will be a once in a lifetime opportunity to see the world famous Flying Scotsman travel alongside two trains from Virgin Trains’ revitalised fleet - an HST (Class 43), an intercity225 (Class 91) - and the rail operator’s brand new train, the Virgin Azuma (Class 800) which is being built by Hitachi in the North East, and will come into service in 2018.

"The four trains will travel together for several miles north of York to showcase the past, present and future of rail travel."

A nice of bit Beardie Rail PR that should look stunning from the air.

The event is being supported by Welcome to Yorkshire, Network Rail and the National Railway Museum.

Does Eye detect the hand of Stanton?

Mallard 126mph - unbroken for 75 years

Okay!

It would be churlish not to mention the 75th anniversary of the LNER's 126mph kettle triumph today.



But only because Sir Nigel was brought up in Derbyshire and served his apprenticeship on the LNWR (therefore, de facto, an LMS man!).

That is all. 

UPDATE: This from the late Col H F Stephens...

With speed in mind might I congratulate Lord Mandelson of Foy in the County of Herefordshire and of Hartlepool in the County of Durham, for his intervention against HS2.

As I proved, the hoi polloi are quite happy travelling very slowly, with chickens, sheep and goats if necessary.

Meanwhile terribly grand people can continue to 'monetise' their time by taking private jets to their terribly important meetings across the globe.

Kettle alert...

Railtex this week so mostly busy.

Here something to delight, or not...


 
Ooops!

New Steam operator enters market

Exciting news for fans of kettles!

Devon and Cornwall Railway have operated their first steam train on the national network and completely failed to get the railway on fire!



Eye understands that despite desperate last minute interventions from others, the move went smoothly and the railway remained intact.

And a jolly good thing too, what ho?

In war and peace, we serve.

Dear Great Western, London North Eastern and Southern...

This!

Okay, built in Crewe rather than Derby.

None the less ...

Good effort NR, kettle operators and the Railway Family!

Devon & Cornwall up the heat on Kettle moves

Good news for Kettle fans!

There is now a third operator able to move steam locos around the network.

Today Devon & Cornwall Railways moved Tornado from the Nene Valley to Barrow Hill, for this weekend's Fab Four gala.

Despite some confusion about the non-passenger move, by those not selected for the job, Eye understands all went well and as per licence conditions.

No doubt Berlin, and of course Carnforth, welcome the competition?

Circle line boosts T-Cup with kettle - Shocker

This from Eye's Man 'Neath the Streets of London...


Sarah Siddons and Beattie well tank pictured at Baker Street this morning.

New trains - an historical perspective

On the 801st day without an order for new trains.

This with a bowler tip to British Railways.tv...

It's all 'elf and safety gone mad!

Two groups battle to recreate LNER P2

Telegrammed by Our International Correspondent
Exciting news from the kettle fraternity!

You wait for ages and then two come long at once - rival schemes are apparently competing to build a replica of the lost LNER P2 Class loco "Cock O The North".

In the Darlington corner is the A1 Steam Trust, successful builders of the £2.8 million Tornado replica that has recently returned to service after a boiler embarrassment.

Meanwhile, batting for Doncaster is the new P2 Trust, who hope to raise an eye-watering £10 million to make their retro steam dream come true.

Eye wonders if there is a danger that too many cocks may spoil the broth?

UPDATE: This from Chief Superintendent Rand (retired - thank God)...

The story about the two Cocks of the North reminds me of my early days as a constable in the dear old City of Bradford Police.

Police officers then as now wore numbers on their shoulders and that number was also used in correspondence and when identifying oneself in court. Thus, I was PC 45 Rand.

When a lad named Cox joined the force some wag in the Chief Constable's Office allocated him the number 2...

Heritage railway grows up?

This from the RMT...

RMT MEMBERS at the North Yorkshire Moors Railway are to impose an overtime ban and work-to-rule from a minute after midnight on Friday, June 10, in a dispute with the heritage line over allowances for carriage- and wagon-fitters.

Good to see that the NYMR is even able to recreate the 1960's industrial relations scene.

Pointless signs - National Railway Museum

Mallard comes second!

This from Steve...

I was doing a bit of delving for rail orientated stuff via the NMSI site and found the following on the home page.


Look closely on the left under "popular objects" to see what trumps Mallard in the popularity stakes.


Perhaps this is what is meant by the phrase "prize length"?

A bird in the hand is worth many in the burning bush

Oh dear. Are West Toast Railway up to their old tricks?

According to yesterday's Press and Journal...

An extensive hill fire on an internationally-important Sutherland nature reserve yesterday was last night blamed on sparks from a passing steam train.

A helicopter was brought in to help firefighters by water-bombing the outbreak which was still raging as darkness fell.

Units from Helmsdale, Thurso, Bettyhill and Tongue joined RSPB staff in fighting the peatland blaze which had a three-mile front at its height.

The bird charity was very concerned about the potential impact on the reserve’s rare bird life as it coincides with the start of the breeding season.

The outbreak was found just before lunchtime on the 20,000-hectare reserve based in the tiny community of Forsinard.

It was reported minutes after a steam train, on a charter run, pulled out of the village station.

What a shame the wind didn't blow the sparks the other way.

But of course Wet Coat are averse to high winds and apparently Tornadoes in particular.

Heritage Rail leads the way in DDA compliance

This from Only2misters...

Whilst mulling over the innate difficulties of DDA compliance on heritage lines, I was pleased to see this effective and sturdy, yet Value for Money solution, deployed by Cumbria's Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway.


Clearly the National Rail network has much to learn from our heritage friends.

Royal Mail uses kettles to show off new technology

This is cool.

It combines new technology, kettles and Bernard Cribbins!

Can it get any better?



Well of course it can, if you don't do new technology.

So for those that don't here is a picture of one of Royal Mail's recently launched stamps celebrating kettles.



Nice!

Now Royal Mail, as Eye has given you a gratuitous puff piece perhaps time to reintroduce TPOs?

Pointless signs - Normal in Norfolk

Deltics rescue Scotsman - Official

This from Litchurch Lad...

Much excitement in Derby on Monday when this appeared in the local rag.


Has Captain Deltic taken a subs job at the Derby Evening Telegraph?

UPDATE: This from Leo Pink...

Isn't the curly headed moppet in white (back to camera centre) the young Captain?

Steam Dreams spins a rescue story...

Telegrammed by Our international Correspondent
Publicity hungry railtour operator Steam Dreams got itself into The Thunderer this morning, with this offer of help to air travellers becalmed by Icelandic volcanic ash:

Additional capacity was made available on alternative transport from Scotland to London, including an extra 7,000 seats on Virgin Trains. The tourist firm Steam Dreams, which runs steam train trips for enthusiasts between Edinburgh and London, also offered an extra 50 seats to passengers who were unable to fly this morning.

Steam Dreams Chairman Marcus Robertson is himself no slouch as a spin doctor and has a reputation for attending the opening of an envelope.

But a big bowler raspberry to Times hackette Joanna Sugden for not enquiring more deeply into what Marcus was peddling her.

The Steam Dreams train, 1Z31, was booked to leave Edinburgh at 09.34, and after two lengthy water stops and a change of kettles in York, arrives at Kings Cross at a convenient 20.00 tonight.

A lugubrious 10 hrs 26 mins for 394 miles, an average speed somewhere south of 40 mph - pretty much in line with Eurostar's special Christmas timings and rather worse than the booked time in 1938 of 7hrs 20 mins offered by the pre-war LNER. Even a National Express coach promises to do the trip in 10hrs 5 mins.

The 1955 Modernisation Plan? What's that, then?

UPDATE: This from Gresley the Younger...

Love the comment on the SD story about ash clouds, was on R5 Live too!

But factually incorrect, the 1938 timing for Edinburgh to London steam hauled was 6 hours.

Of course, that was at 90mph without all these electric new fangled thingys to get in your way, hence the ten hours schedule today, and no water troughs as the track-circuits don't like them!

Fastest in preservation was eight hours (April 2009) but that was Clarkson powered, snigger!