The Ebor Flyer and aftermath of Tornado's failure.

[Strat-tastic]

Here she is being dragged very gingerly through Offord Cluny. I estimate it was only going 20 mph.

 

[ainsworth74]

Was also thinking about the word first, so was proper testing, training, risk assessment done. So how they decided Tornado was upto 90mph with that stock.

It has of course already run at 100mph as part of the certification process to allow it to haul tours at 90mph. This was the first public run but it wasn't the first run ever.

 

[Andrewh32]

It has of course already run at 100mph as part of the certification process to allow it to haul tours at 90mph. This was the first public run but it wasn't the first run ever.

Absolutely but that is only one part of the process and this time it's different stock & it's got people on board. I'm not saying they have necessarily done anything wrong but I do think it is very fair & sensible to look into what happened.

 

[TBirdFrank]

I see that the A1 Trust have already contacted their clients about the incident with as much detail as they know, and made a generous offer of compensation, and hopefully another tour on the lines of the Ebor Flyer by way of compensation for this non fault spoilt day out.

Now isn't that what customer relations is all about!

All it needs now is for the train to be Mk stock so we can actually see and hear the loco.

 

[D1009]

This appears on the A1 Steam Trust website

www.a1steam.com/2018/04/14/the-ebor-flyer-update/

The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust is disappointed to announce that No. 60163 Tornado failed whilst hauling ‘The Ebor Flyer’ on Saturday 14thApril 2018 south of Peterborough. The failure was due to damaged inside motion. At this time the cause of the damage is not known but is not thought to be speed-related. Tornado was taken off the train at Peterborough and will be moved to the Nene Valley Railway for inspection and repairs. The Trust is conducting a thorough investigation. Further announcements will be made when the Trust has more information.

 

[ainsworth74]

This appears on the A1 Steam Trust website

I rather suspect this update is rather more useful

The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust would like to apologise for the disruption caused to passengers travelling on ‘The Ebor Flyer’ on Saturday 14th April 2018 and passengers on other trains impacted by No. 60163 Tornado’s breakdown. The locomotive came to a stop just south of Sandy with a broken combination lever. Investigations have so far revealed that this was due to the middle piston valve overheating and binding in the valve chest. The root cause is not yet fully clear, but it is likely that insufficient lubrication was an issue. Investigations continue to establish the cause of failure in the lubrication system and any contributing factors.

Tornado has run many miles since winter maintenance with no obvious issues in this area. Whilst we have been asked if the higher speed was a factor in the failure, at present we believe it not to be. It probably happened slightly earlier in the journey than if running at lower speed, but it most likely would still have happened.

Because we did not deliver the day out we hoped to for passengers travelling on ‘The Ebor Flyer’, we have given each passenger a voucher with discount off a future Tornado-hauled railtour. Furthermore, we are looking at the option of re-running the train in the future with a repaired Tornado and will ensure all passenger on ‘The Ebor Flyer’ get the first chance to book tickets.

Following on from this, we have postponed our visit to the Midland Railway Centre (Saturday 21st April 2018) and we have also postponed ‘The Ynys Môn Express’ which was due to run on Saturday 28th April 2018, a date is yet to be confirmed as to when this tour will be rescheduled. Additionally, we regret that we will be rearranging the Tornado Team day that was due to be at the Nene Valley Railway on Saturday 12th May 2018. – again a rescheduled date will be announced in due course.

We are now concentrating our efforts on continuing the investigation and undertaking the necessary repairs.

You can support the work of The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust by becoming one of our monthly Covenantors and donating from £10.00 per month towards No. 60163 Tornado. This is our core fundraising initiative and we have around 1,200 people who regularly donate towards the maintenance and upkeep of Tornado. For more information on how you can support the Trust in this way, or to make a one-off Donation, please click here, call 01325 460163 or email [email protected].

 

[156443]

https://www.railadvent.co.uk/2018/04/a-further-update-on-steam-locomotive-no-60163-tornado.html

A further update on steam locomotive No. 60163 ‘Tornado’

 

[Andrewh32]

To add to the updates posted above, the Tornado event over the Mayday bank holiday weekend on the Nene Valley Railway has been postponed. News posted on the NVR Facebook page.

 

[DarloRich]

There is some fantastic conspiracy wibble on this thread. I love it. I suspect a very small flaw in a small competent led to the issue. That or aliens/Mossad. Of bigger concern is the knock on damage to the rest of the locomotive and the time/cost to put that right.

 

[ainsworth74]

Of bigger concern is the knock on damage to the rest of the locomotive and the time/cost to put that right.

Yes and therefore how long it takes to get it back into revenue earning service!

 

[Warwick]

What do they mean by inside motion
As stated on they web site
Neil

The connecting rods,associated cranks and cylinder valve gear that are driving and are driven are referred to as "the motion". Tornado is a three cylinder machine with one set each side and another set hidden from view in the centre. The pistons on a steam locomotive act rather like the pistons in a two-stroke internal combustion engine in that each stroke (the movement of the piston from one end of the cylinder to the other) acts as both a power and an exhaust stroke. Expanding steam can only push, it can't pull. Someone will be along shortly to complicate things but for now that's all you need to know.

 

[156443]

https://www.railadvent.co.uk/2018/0...air-to-steam-locomotive-no-60163-tornado.html

Update on the motion repair to steam locomotive No. 60163 Tornado

 

[Flying Phil]

That is impressive to get those forgings done already. I do wonder if the work done to Tornado over the winter was a contributing factor ie were new valve rings fitted?

 

[Bessie]

Do you think the locomotive will be back in time for it’s visit to the Bluebell Railway at end of May?

 

[2HAP]

According to Steam Railway, hopefully back in service 19 May.

 

[Flying Phil]

Just to update this thread.......Tornado is back in action on Santa Specials on the NVR. There is a full report on the problems and repairs on the A1SLT website. Basically a combination of factors - new valve rings/sleeves, lubricator issues, oil thinning, all leading to middle valve seizing and motion rods bending/failing. I expect the middle cylinder runs hotter than the outer cylinders hence the failure there. The outer valves have also had their sleeves re-machined and all motion checked and a comprehensive motion re-build over the past few months.

 

[Cowley]

Just to update this thread.......Tornado is back in action on Santa Specials on the NVR. There is a full report on the problems and repairs on the A1SLT website. Basically a combination of factors - new valve rings/sleeves, lubricator issues, oil thinning, all leading to middle valve seizing and motion rods bending/failing. I expect the middle cylinder runs hotter than the outer cylinders hence the failure there. The outer valves have also had their sleeves re-machined and all motion checked and a comprehensive motion re-build over the past few months.

Thanks for that Phil.