6 061061633 TTOORRNNADOADO THE NewNew Steam Steam forfor thethe Main Main Lin Le ine COMMUNICATION CORD No. 46 Spring 2017 Robin Coombes / Mandy Grant TORNADO! TON UP by Graeme Bunker - James Around 04:00hrs on 12th April 2017 Tornado to facilitate better pathing on busy routes. comes from a need to show that at 10% added another major milestone to the The original view was that simply proving above the certified speed the locomotive record books; the first steam locomotive to the locomotive was up to the task (which is still operating safely. This gives a margin achieve 100mph in the U.K. for 50 years. the original design had already proved when running at 90mph, and is in common The build up to the night’s events has before 1965) would not be sufficient. Many with other traction types. Safety was the been long in the making. It has always been hurdles were to be overcome before trials first priority, gaining data and experience the intention of the Trust that Tornado would be authorised. The decision that the of the locomotive above 75mph being the would be passed for 90mph operations locomotive would be trialled at 100mph objective. ➤ 1 Rob Morland Rob Morland then Driver Hanczar set the locomotive to it down the grade from the summit. For CONTENTS the next 16 miles speed never dropped PAGE 1 below 80mph and a maximum of 97mph Ton up Tornado! was recorded south of Bradbury but the PAGE 5 ‘ton’ still eluded us. The locomotive ran Editorial Walton-on -the-Naze 150th at or over 90mph for seven miles on this Railway celebration section, providing valuable data. PAGE 6 From Darlington to Thirsk a number Three days on the Settle & of restrictions limited higher speeds, but Carlisle Railway useful performance data was gathered. PAGE 7 After a 50mph speed restriction for ‘The Easterling’ PAGE 8 relaying works at Thirsk and a 75mph Settle & Carlisle ‘Plandampf’ restriction near Sessay the footplate PAGE 9 crew set to work and speed rose rapidly ‘The Border Raider’ on the gentle gradients. By Pilmoor the PAGE 10 Tornado on Tour locomotive was running above 90mph ‘The Saint David / Y Dewi Sant’ again and acceleration continued. Five PAGE 12 miles further on and Tornado was running Tornado on Tour at 98mph, with speed increasing. We were Nene Valley Railway now on level track and so Driver Hanczar PAGE 13 pushed a little further. With a magnificent Tornado on Tour firing effort from Dave Proctor, and under ‘The North Briton’ PAGE 14 the watchful eye of Jim Smith, Tornado was In a darkened compartment of the support coach, synchronised Tornado on Tour asked for more and for around 1.3 miles speedometers record 100mph. ‘The Heart of Midlothian’ Tornado is readied to depart from Newcastle with the return run to York. 100mph was achieved north of the village PAGE 16 of Alne. As well as the three figure speed, Langer Graham Tornado on Tour The test route was set from Doncaster to miles for the bearing and surrounding metal Tornado had been running above 95mph ‘The Talisman’ Newcastle (and return) as it would be a fair to reach full working temperature. PAGE 17 for some ten miles. The objectives of the A1 engineering report assessment. It was felt that running down The load for the test consisted of seven test, to gather data and experience of PAGE 18 Stoke Bank would not prove the locomotive Mk2 coaches, two Mk1s (one being our running the locomotive at higher speed, Tornado preparation in a realistic situation. Speed would be support coach) and a DBC Class 67. The had been achieved. At York Station the PAGE 19 swiftly gained on the bank but would that northbound run on the night was delivered hero’s welcome for the footplate crew, Keeping Tornado on the tracks demonstrate the all-round performance with absolute professionalism by the DB and plenty of cups of tea, made it a magical Tornado Tour diary 2017 needed for 90mph certification? It was Cargo crew of Traction Inspector Jim PAGE 20 moment likely never to be repeated. The big picture felt it wouldn’t. The selected route would Smith, Driver Steve Hanczar and Fireman However, the job was not done. There PAGE 22 make for a more demanding trial, and in Tony Jones. Speed was raised gradually, followed more inspections and a top up of ‘Shed Notices’ reality push Tornado. As it was a test, that with Tornado cruising at 82/83mph south of water, courtesy of Ian Buxton, and off to PAGE 23 is the correct approach; the locomotive York at 15% cut off. With no issues found Doncaster. The locomotive was worked up Annual Convention prize draw will not be pushed as hard in service. There at our water stop in York station we set to 90mph near Temple Hirst and a then a 2017 would also be no hiding place. Cameras off again. North of York the gradients were final full brake test undertaken; with this PAGE 24 A1 Profile - No. 60117 Bois were fitted across the locomotive and Jez slightly against us but once clear of a brake last piece of important data gathered it Roussel Yarnall and his DATS team, working with test at Thirsk and the curves at Aycliffe the was then onto Doncaster and the end of PAGE 26 Owen Evans of Resonate Ltd, had fitted locomotive picked up speed well. North of the run. The locomotive had performed P2 engineering update a vast array of accelerometers and other Tursdale the first 90mph of the night was superbly and once safely back on shed it PAGE 29 equipment to the locomotive and tender. achieved - so far so good, as the locomotive was time for tired heads to sleep, although P2 Fundraising PAGE 30 Every aspect of the locomotive’s dynamic led its train into the servicing point at there were one or two media duties to The Boiler Club ride would be recorded. In a first, an Tyne Yard. attend to first. There was also the small PAGE 31 electronic temperature sensor was fitted to All was well with the locomotive and matter of de-rigging the locomotive of all P2 Roadshows the inside big end bearing to guard against the measuring equipment so we made the the cameras and measuring devices which Mikado Club badges the failure that occurred on Mallard’s record movements towards Gateshead to reverse took a good few hours. P2 Dedicated Donations update run in 1938. Although Tornado has a much the train (diesel hauled) into Newcastle We are indebted to many people in Boiler Club badges PAGE 32 improved design of middle big end, it is Central - the Class 67 had been in the multiple organisations for their assistance. ‘Workshop Notes’ something that needs monitoring. Therefore consist heading north. As the locomotive Space does not permit them all to be PAGE 33 the original stink bomb housing was fitted had proven its haulage capabilities, the 67 mentioned but it would be wrong not Meanwhile Mark Allatt watches as the same figure appears on the Breaking new ground (again!) with an electronic temperature sensor was removed from the train here, with to single out a few. DB Cargo have been digital readout on the train. PAGE 34 designed by Steve Sims of Ziconix assisted which driver Joe Wray would shadow totally behind the trial-running, bringing Darlington Locomotive Works PAGE 36 by our own Rob Morland and David Elliott. Tornado to Doncaster. Dave Proctor had their expertise and experience from Shaw. Their structures’ engineers at York the night Chris Gee’s team at York helped P2 Profile – No. 2004 Mons Meg The sensor would transmit a signal via also relieved Tony Jones and taken on the running No. 4464 Bittern at 90mph in 2013 reviewed the test route and confirmed ensure we had the railway available to us PAGE 38 Bluetooth to a mobile phone which would firing duties. The departure from Newcastle to bear. Richard Corser, Nic Edwards, that Tornado could run at the necessary and green signals on the relevant stretches. Profile- Gordon Best log the data and display the temperature was phenomenal. We rarely get to see what Quentin Hedderly, Sean Levell and Keith higher speeds for testing. Embankment Our notified body Ricardo Rail, and in PAGE 39 (see the separate article by Rob Morland). No. 60163 can do on a light train, although Jackson all put in many hours of work to specialists, track engineers, gauging particular Eddie Draper, provided valuable From the archives It works very much like a hands free system 315 tonnes is a fair bit more than the ‘Silver plan and deliver the test. engineers and many others also confirmed assistance and expertise including final PAGE 40 Sponsors and contact in your motor car. This worked brilliantly Jubilee’ or ‘Coronation’ of the 1930s, but Network Rail has provided much their agreement. Particular thanks must inspections of the locomotive and support information on the night and much useful data was Tornado absolutely flew. We were restricted assistance, particularly in the engineering go to Sam De’Ath, Harrinson Mattinson, in obtaining the necessary authority for collected. It also showed it takes around 25 to 75mph max until passing Reilly Mill, but disciplines under Chief Engineer John Peter Cushing and Steve Valentine. On the test. Alan Haywood of the Cass ➤ 2 3 Right: The team Langer Graham responsible, by Graham Langer including members editorial of the A1SLT support crew, Given the blanket coverage by the national As well as a busy diary working for Belmond, Torbay Express engineers and and international media I am sure everyone and others, our own tours are selling well with loadings up representatives of now knows that in the early hours of 12th 15% compared to last year.