Tornado is today joining 'The Great Gathering' at the National Railway Museum, York, in celebration of the 75th anniversary of the world speed record for steam. On 3rd July 1938 Gresley class A4 pacific 4468 Mallard achieved 126mph descending Stoke Bank near Grantham. 'The Great Gathering' will see the surviving six out of 35 built Gresley class A4s brought together for the first time – 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley (named after the locomotive's designer), 60008 Dwight D Eisenhower (brought over from USA), 60009 Union of South Africa (the last steam locomotive to haul a service train from King's Cross in 1966), 4489 Dominion of Canada (brought over from Canada), 4464 Bittern (newly approved to run at 90mph on the main line) and of course 4468 Mallard.
Tornado is hauling 'The Cathedrals Express' excursion from London King's Cross to York and return on Wednesday 3rd July 2013, departing King's Cross at 06:40 and arriving in York station at 11:26. Tornado will then be serviced at the National Railway Museum before going on display in the museum car park from 14:30 until 16:45. The locomotive will then depart York at 17:32 with 'The Cathedrals Express', arriving at King's Cross at 23:03.
Mark Allatt, Chairman, The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust, commented: "We are delighted that Tornado is taking part in the celebration of Mallard's world speed record. As the newest LNER-designed express passenger locomotive, Tornado is a post-war development of the class A4s. Today is a celebration of the achievements of the LNER and will highlight the importance in keeping main line steam alive in Britain today."