We are delighted to announce that Darlington Borough Council has officially named a road in Darlington ‘Tornado Way’. This naming ceremony puts
Tornado firmly on the Darlington map. The name of the road was chosen by public vote and The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust are honoured that Tornado Way is now the new name for a major commuter road. The Darlington Eastern Transport Corridor will now be known as Tornado Way after it scooped almost 50% of the votes in a social media poll. Tornado Way follows the track bed of the original Stockton and Darlington railway from 1825.
The new name was unveiled on Thursday 8th February by Paul Bruce and Graeme Bunker-James of The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust and Councillor Nick Wallis, Darlington Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Leisure and Local Environment. Tornado Way was first opened to motorists in 2007, linking the A66 with Darlington town centre and providing a reprieve for congested Haughton Road.
Councillor Nick Wallis commented, “Darlington is rightly proud to be the birthplace of Tornado, the first new main line steam locomotive to be built in the UK for over 50 years. We are delighted to name this road in its honour and excited about what the future may hold. Tornado Way has already unlocked a huge amount of positive development for the eastern side of Darlington, creating thousands of jobs and hundreds of new homes, and there is still more to come.”
Graeme Bunker-James, Operations Director, The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust, added, “This just shows how much the history of railway means to the people of Darlington. We’re delighted that No. 60163 Tornado has been invited to be as much a part of the town’s future as its past.”
Councillor Nick Wallis with Graeme Bunker-James and Paul Bruce and the new sign - Stuart Boulton