Tornado will be travelling to Carlisle over the fearsome Shap Bank and taking in the fabulous scenery of the Cumbrian Fells and the Settle to Carlisle railway with ‘The Border Raider’ on Thursday 24th June 2010. The train has been postponed from Wednesday 21st April 2010 due to unforeseen operational issues and the resulting commercial considerations. However this change means that Tornado will now haul ‘The Border Raider’ back to Crewe rather than being detached at Hellifield as was originally planned.
In 2009 Tornado hauled three sell-out tours over the world famous Settle to Carlisle railway, and to satisfy demand, The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust is once again taking the locomotive over this route on Wednesday Thursday 24th June 2010. In addition the locomotive will also work for the first time from Crewe to Carlisle via the West Coast Main Line, having to compete with the long arduous climb over Shap Bank before descending down into the border city of Carlisle.
‘The Border Raider’ will depart behind a modern electric locomotive from London Euston and pick up passengers at Watford Junction, Milton Keynes and Tamworth to enable as many people as possible to join the tour. Tornado will take over 'The Border Raider' at Crewe and will haul the train along the West Coast Main Line direct to Carlisle. With around two and a half hours in Carlisle to visit the castle or museum, or just have a relaxing lunch in one of the local restaurants, the return tour will depart from Carlisle and head over the famous Settle and Carlisle railway with its many tunnels, lofty viaducts and magnificent views. On returning to Crewe Tornado will be detached for her next duty, whilst ‘The Border Raider’ returns to London via all outward stations behind a (less!) modern locomotive. The approximate timing for ‘The Border Raider’ on Thursday 24th June 2010 are:
London Euston: out 07:30hrs; back 22:30hrs
Watford Junction: out 07:50hrs; back 22:05hrs
Milton Keynes: out 08:15hrs; back 21:35hrs
Tamworth: out 09:05hrs; back 20:45hrs
Crewe: out 10:20hrs; back 19:00hrs
Carlisle: arrive 13:00hrs; depart 15:45hrs
Both of these routes were haunts of the A1 class in the 1950s when working to and from Scotland, so once again Tornado will be providing a spectacular day out and recreating history, all in the same day.
“Shap Bank is seen by many railway enthusiasts as one of the toughest challenges in the UK for a steam locomotive. The Trust is therefore delighted to be taking Tornado from Crewe to Carlisle for the first time with ‘The Border Raider’ and hope that as many people as possible will join us for this historic day – all profits going to keep Tornado on the main line.”