A1 Tornado - I've driven her !!!
Discussion
Well Monday was the day, the day little old me got to drive Britains newest main line steam locomotive, Tornado! All 170 Tons of her!
This wonderful day took place up at Barrow Hill Roundhouse near Chesterfield.
Although I didnt have to be there until 9am I got up at 4.45 in the morning and arrived at 8am, well ahead of the rush hour. And also in time to walk into the roundhouse to find Tornado on the centre of the roundhouse Turntable, with an N7 tank engine in front of her also being brought into life for the day.
Firstly I took the extra hour to take some atmostpheric photo's in and around the roundhouse itself, far too many in fact to post up here!!.
At 9am and after a couple more of the days drivers arrived a full english breakfast was enjoyed at the Roundhouse's cafe, just the thing to set you up for a full day on the Footplate!
After breakfast was scoffed down it was time to head out for a bit of shunting!!
Barrow Hill is still a working Diesel Depot and a couple of Loco's had to be released into traffic and some coaches moved about on site. So for myself and one of the others it was up onto Tornado's footplate and a chance to watch and learn whilst one of the their drivers used her for moving a rake of 13 Coaches to enable the N7 to pull out the Loco's.
Once this was complate and we were all back on the platform it was time to get aboard the N7 Tank engine and use it to learn the track.
The track length of Barrow hill is fairly short so any high speed running is out of the question but enough to give a really good experience.
The N7 was coupled to three full size coaches and a deisel on the back so it was good experience of driving a loaded train. Tornado was only driven light engine due to the more complex braking system.
Then it was onto the highlight of the day, to get onto the drivers seat of Tornado and take her up the track.
The first thing that strikes you is the amount of space up in Tornado's cab, more than enough room for four people.
Secondly you do most of the driving sitting down rather than standing up as per most steam loco's. Being a completely new engine the controls are still very stiff in operation and as such the reverser and regulator needed a very firm hand.
In spite of the heavy controls (as they should be really on a loco this size!) she is a very easy engine to drive. Once you select full forward on the reverser, sound the wonderful chime whistle, release the air brake and just open the regulator a touch you get a huge cloud of steam from the front drain cocks and the engine moves gently forward.
Once in motion though just a fraction more on the regulator means a strong pull from the engine and the most wonderful noise from the exhaust up front.
With the length of track available and the points that had to be negotiated I never really got above 25mph but it was more than enough to appreciate what a wonderful locomotive this is. The amount of attention it gets is unreal though from the reaction of the others visitors to Barrow Hill.
Then after the first session of driving it was off for lunch, a hearty meal to prepare us for the afternoon's driving session.
Straight from lunch it was back on Tornado for another few runs up and down the line. Then whilst the others drivers were taking their turns it was time to go back to the N7 for a bit.
Finally it was back onto Tornado again for the final session of the day. After another couple of runs up and down the line my turns were finally at an end. In all honesty even though it was a short track I could have remained in the drivers seat all day. Driving her was so much fun leaving you wanting for more and more.
At the end of the day there was a chance to watch Tornado being coaled for the next day and to watch some movements in the roundhouse itself with the turntable in use to shift some diesels around. As you can see from one of the photo's they are dirty great things chucking clouds of horrible white deisel fumes into the air!! Bring back the smell of coal, oil and water anyday!!
Anyways enough of my prattling on, here are some of my photo's from the day. Please excuse the particularly rubbish photo's of me. The one photo i'm waiting for is one taken from the lineside whilst I was driving Tornado. If and when it arrives by e mail i will post it as well.
On with the photo's!!
This wonderful day took place up at Barrow Hill Roundhouse near Chesterfield.
Although I didnt have to be there until 9am I got up at 4.45 in the morning and arrived at 8am, well ahead of the rush hour. And also in time to walk into the roundhouse to find Tornado on the centre of the roundhouse Turntable, with an N7 tank engine in front of her also being brought into life for the day.
Firstly I took the extra hour to take some atmostpheric photo's in and around the roundhouse itself, far too many in fact to post up here!!.
At 9am and after a couple more of the days drivers arrived a full english breakfast was enjoyed at the Roundhouse's cafe, just the thing to set you up for a full day on the Footplate!
After breakfast was scoffed down it was time to head out for a bit of shunting!!
Barrow Hill is still a working Diesel Depot and a couple of Loco's had to be released into traffic and some coaches moved about on site. So for myself and one of the others it was up onto Tornado's footplate and a chance to watch and learn whilst one of the their drivers used her for moving a rake of 13 Coaches to enable the N7 to pull out the Loco's.
Once this was complate and we were all back on the platform it was time to get aboard the N7 Tank engine and use it to learn the track.
The track length of Barrow hill is fairly short so any high speed running is out of the question but enough to give a really good experience.
The N7 was coupled to three full size coaches and a deisel on the back so it was good experience of driving a loaded train. Tornado was only driven light engine due to the more complex braking system.
Then it was onto the highlight of the day, to get onto the drivers seat of Tornado and take her up the track.
The first thing that strikes you is the amount of space up in Tornado's cab, more than enough room for four people.
Secondly you do most of the driving sitting down rather than standing up as per most steam loco's. Being a completely new engine the controls are still very stiff in operation and as such the reverser and regulator needed a very firm hand.
In spite of the heavy controls (as they should be really on a loco this size!) she is a very easy engine to drive. Once you select full forward on the reverser, sound the wonderful chime whistle, release the air brake and just open the regulator a touch you get a huge cloud of steam from the front drain cocks and the engine moves gently forward.
Once in motion though just a fraction more on the regulator means a strong pull from the engine and the most wonderful noise from the exhaust up front.
With the length of track available and the points that had to be negotiated I never really got above 25mph but it was more than enough to appreciate what a wonderful locomotive this is. The amount of attention it gets is unreal though from the reaction of the others visitors to Barrow Hill.
Then after the first session of driving it was off for lunch, a hearty meal to prepare us for the afternoon's driving session.
Straight from lunch it was back on Tornado for another few runs up and down the line. Then whilst the others drivers were taking their turns it was time to go back to the N7 for a bit.
Finally it was back onto Tornado again for the final session of the day. After another couple of runs up and down the line my turns were finally at an end. In all honesty even though it was a short track I could have remained in the drivers seat all day. Driving her was so much fun leaving you wanting for more and more.
At the end of the day there was a chance to watch Tornado being coaled for the next day and to watch some movements in the roundhouse itself with the turntable in use to shift some diesels around. As you can see from one of the photo's they are dirty great things chucking clouds of horrible white deisel fumes into the air!! Bring back the smell of coal, oil and water anyday!!
Anyways enough of my prattling on, here are some of my photo's from the day. Please excuse the particularly rubbish photo's of me. The one photo i'm waiting for is one taken from the lineside whilst I was driving Tornado. If and when it arrives by e mail i will post it as well.
On with the photo's!!
Seems like u enjoyed your day...!What an awesome experience! Nice post 
I was up in Minehead yesterday and today for work, as I took the cab from Taunton to Minehead I saw some of the locos out on the West Somerset Railway, which reminded me that my last visit to Minehead was being pulled by the Evening Star. Can't beat steam!
I was up in Minehead yesterday and today for work, as I took the cab from Taunton to Minehead I saw some of the locos out on the West Somerset Railway, which reminded me that my last visit to Minehead was being pulled by the Evening Star. Can't beat steam!I think it's for plural royalty.
The Royal Highnesses.
ETA: Their Royal Highnesses:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HRH
The Royal Highnesses.
ETA: Their Royal Highnesses:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HRH
Edited by littleandy0410 on Wednesday 1st April 21:38
Lets just say it wasnt particularly cheap but for a once in a lifetime experience it was a small price to pay!
I saw it advertised as a driving experience day in Steam Railway magazine, I subscribe so get the mag a couple of days early. Even though i rang through straight away I was extremely lucky to get the last place available.
I saw it advertised as a driving experience day in Steam Railway magazine, I subscribe so get the mag a couple of days early. Even though i rang through straight away I was extremely lucky to get the last place available.
king lucky b
Is there somewhere online that you can get times for this and other steam locomotives that run on mainline railways? I occasionally hear them passing through Tamworth but am never in the right place at the right time to see them. It'd be interesting to see one from the fields in which we walk the dogs - right alongside the line for at least 1/4 mile.
I've spotted this thread floating about and only just got round to opening it - I'm glad I did Nice pics too and you have to take your hats off to all the guys and gals that keep all this stuff running.
However - is that loco new? Might be a daft question but I know next to nothing about this...
Nice pics too and you have to take your hats off to all the guys and gals that keep all this stuff running.However - is that loco new? Might be a daft question but I know next to nothing about this...
Orb the Impaler said:
I've spotted this thread floating about and only just got round to opening it - I'm glad I did Nice pics too and you have to take your hats off to all the guys and gals that keep all this stuff running.
However - is that loco new? Might be a daft question but I know next to nothing about this...
They built it in the last year or two Nice pics too and you have to take your hats off to all the guys and gals that keep all this stuff running.However - is that loco new? Might be a daft question but I know next to nothing about this...
ETA started in 1994, finnished last year.
Edited by pokethepope on Thursday 2nd April 00:17
Goochie said:
Is there somewhere online that you can get times for this and other steam locomotives that run on mainline railways? I occasionally hear them passing through Tamworth but am never in the right place at the right time to see them. It'd be interesting to see one from the fields in which we walk the dogs - right alongside the line for at least 1/4 mile.
www.uksteam.infoYou get the list of tours available, the operators, and light engine/trains movement times.
HTH
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