WCR & A1SLT Fall out

[Obar123]

Seems like WCR have had a fall out with A1 Steam trust and will no longer be operating Tornado on the mainline.

The Communication Cord

The latest news from The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust.

mailchi.mp

Dear Supporter,

It has been a very busy time for the Trust of late with No. 60163 Tornado operating a busy schedule, activities in Darlington closing in on a complete and operational main line connection to our new works, and the tender wheels for the P2 off site being balanced. Whilst this is an exciting and positive time there has also been a development which will have an immediate impact on Tornado’s future main line programme.

Since our return to the main line in the Spring we have enjoyed operating a variety of tours, many helping to cover for the current shortage of available steam locomotives. Indeed, we have run an additional eight railtours, covering over 2,000 miles, to assist the Railway Touring Company (RTC) and West Coast Railways (WCR), in addition to already planned tours.

The A1SLT team have been content with the operating arrangements thus far, enjoying working with the WCR crews, and finding the agreement reached with RTC and WCR to be both fruitful and balanced. However, WCR management have subsequently advised that they are not content with the way the relationship has evolved and have now informed us that they do not wish the Trust to continue as an operating partner. Our well-established operating policies, procedures and governance, including our prioritisation of maintenance time and compliance with our maintenance regime, were recently at variance with the demands WCR placed on us.

To reiterate, we have found the arrangement until just recently to be balanced for all parties and we would be happy to continue working with WCR going forwards, should a compromise be reached. We are open to further discussions with WCR at any time, however, until the issue is resolved the locomotive will not be operating with them. This affects tours with RTC on 3rd, 16th and 31st August 2025. Naturally, we intend to develop alternative partnerships with other Train Operating Companies.

Tornado is scheduled to appear at The Greatest Gathering in Derby later this week, and our thanks go to the event organisers and DB Cargo for facilitating this movement. The locomotive will then be in and around Darlington for most of September and early October (including appearing at our annual Convention), before its visit to the Bluebell railway in mid-October.

An additional challenge to our main line operation has been damage to the support coach 21249, which suffered from a significant wheel flat when working in Scotland on 10th July. This was caused by an unsolicited brake application via the distributor on the coach. This application was initiated by vegetation encroachment on the lightly used Longannet freight route near Alloa, and necessitated 21249 being detached in the nearby loop at Alloa. With the support of our insurance company and the Scottish Railway Preservation Society (SRPS) the vehicle was moved to Bo'ness by Direct Rail Services on 22nd July, after a wheel skate had been fitted by Rail Support Services. The coach will now be repaired as swiftly as possible and returned to traffic with Tornado in the coming weeks. We thank all those who helped with the movement of 21249.

I look forward to providing further updates in the coming weeks as we head towards the bi-centenary celebrations for the Stockton and Darlington Railway, focussed on Darlington, and the moment that is very close to hand when No. 60163 Tornado and No. 2007 Prince of Wales will enjoy a main line connected home.

 

[fgwrich]

Seems like WCR have had a fall out with A1 Steam trust and will no longer be operating Tornado on the mainline.

The Communication Cord

The latest news from The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust.

mailchi.mp

That might in part explain why Direct Rail Services were chosen to remove the support coach from Alloa to Bo’ness last week. It would also explain why Tornado was swapped for one of Riley’s Black 5s (which subsequently failed at Plymouth after having issues at Weymouth last week) on Saturdays London to Par trip.

 

[james_the_xv]

Add it to the list of WCR shenanigans I guess

 

[43096]

Add it to the list of WCR shenanigans I guess

Indeed. Reading between the lines, the suggestion seems to be that WCRC was asking A1ST to operate the loco and skimp/skip maintenance that is in their maintenance regime. Presumably this is brought about by the lack of air brake kettles available to WCRC, which in turn is related to the lack of CDL on their vacuum braked stock.

 

[fgwrich]

Indeed. Reading between the lines, the suggestion seems to be that WCRC was asking A1ST to operate the loco and skimp/skip maintenance that is in their maintenance regime. Presumably this is brought about by the lack of air brake kettles available to WCRC, which in turn is related to the lack of CDL on their vacuum braked stock.

It really is becoming a crisis of their own making isn’t it. I wonder how the relationship with Riley could be going.

But hey look, we’ve bought a HST now…

 

[43096]

It really is becoming a crisis of their own making isn’t it.

It is. And you do wonder if that is what they are asking suppliers to do, what are they doing (or not doing) with their own stock?

But hey look, we’ve bought a HST now…

...and a knackered Mark 3 café coach that is the wrong gauge...

 

[martin butler]

It really is becoming a crisis of their own making isn’t it. I wonder how the relationship with Riley could be going.

But hey look, we’ve bought a HST now…

I think we will see the answer to that if Ian Riley was to say no, sorry , my engine's needs Maintenace, I'm betting there would be another batch of toys go flying, I get the impression someone in Carnforth don't like being told no, first it was the ORR, who had the power to say no, so they tried to take it to court, lost,

 

[DarloRich]

Indeed. Reading between the lines, the suggestion seems to be that WCRC was asking A1ST to operate the loco and skimp/skip maintenance that is in their maintenance regime. Presumably this is brought about by the lack of air brake kettles available to WCRC, which in turn is related to the lack of CDL on their vacuum braked stock.

Agreed - and there seems to be considerable regret on the part of A1ST that the relationship has broken down. WCRC must be feeling the pressure of trying to operate in an environment of thier own making.

 

[31160]

Off to Crewe would be fantastic but do they have enough work for it?

 

[DarloRich]

Off to Crewe would be fantastic but do they have enough work for it?

what does this mean?

 

[31160]

Of to join the LSL pool. Well they have a a very plentiful supply of big kettles atm so do they have enough work for another one

 

[DarloRich]

Of to join the LSL pool. Well they have a a very plentiful supply of big kettles atm so do they have enough work for another one

Why would A1ST hand over thier loco to LSL?

A1 have just invested a fortune in fitting out and connecting thier new operating base in Darlington to the national network

 

[31160]

Why would A1ST hand over thier loco to LSL?

A1 have just invested a fortune in fitting out and connecting thier new operating base in Darlington to the national network

Not give it, have them to operate it, with the cowboys out of the frame now and DB not interested in it, where does that leave them

 

[DarloRich]

Not give it, have them to operate it, with the cowboys out of the frame now and DB not interested in it, where does that leave them

got you!

Who is operating FS?

 

[31160]

It's just some northern lot who only do FS and nothing else AFAIK

 

[UP13]

Is it worth it if the A1ST set up their own TOC?

 

[Suraggu]

I wonder if Vintage Trains may be interested Tornado for their 2026 season? ‘Bahamas’ has been moved to and from its KWVR base to Tyseley numerous times this year to operate charters.

 

[james_the_xv]

Is it worth it if the A1ST set up their own TOC?

They'd need their own operating licence, which for one locomotive (even 2 in the future) likely wouldn't be a financially responsible decision.

 

[RGM654]

Of to join the LSL pool. Well they have a a very plentiful supply of big kettles atm so do they have enough work for another one

LSL really have barely enough work for their existing fleet (i.e. those belonging to their associated companies plus 60007 and 71000.

 

[dmkc]

Seems like WCR have had a fall out with A1 Steam trust and will no longer be operating Tornado on the mainline.

WCR: The Banter Years™

Fascinating to read the background behind the issue with Tornado's support coach - really interesting stuff.
Is the coach still at BKR for the repair process or was it trucked out at some point?

 

[HertiageFan]

Wcr and RTC seem to be struggling with 3 trips being diesel hauled and 2 trips being cancelled. Vintage trains would be a good idea (as mentioned on a previous post) because from December 7029 and 45596 will be out of traffic leaving 5043 to do all the work.

 

[Dave S 56F]

Wcr and RTC seem to be struggling with 3 trips being diesel hauled and 2 trips being cancelled. Vintage trains would be a good idea (as mentioned on a previous post) because from December 7029 and 45596 will be out of traffic leaving 5043 to do all the work.

Im wondering on here about the N15 king aurther loco 30777 sir Lamiel once thats boiler is been restored by the G.C.R. at Loughborough is supposed to be running again next year and is going to do mainline tours as well besides visiting heritage railways who would be the T.O.C. if it does do mainline tours though
as i think its only vac braked is Sir Lamiel.

 

[HertiageFan]

Im wondering on here about the N15 king aurther loco 30777 sir Lamiel once thats boiler is been restored by the G.C.R. at Loughborough is supposed to be running again next year and is going to do mainline tours as well besides visiting heritage railways who would be the T.O.C. if it does do mainline tours though
as i think its only vac braked is Sir Lamiel.

I heard another locomotive may be joining vintage trains, one of the locomotive trusts’ directors said that they would be with vintage trains as they don’t want to fit air brakes, 30777 is only vac braked