Tornado will be back on the Network Rail main line today (8
th June 2011) with a loaded test run from Tyne Yard to Crewe following her extended winter maintenance period at the National Railway Museum in York and running in on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway. The locomotive is now wearing BR Brunswick green, in place of her now familiar LNER apple green, which the original A1s carried for most of their lives up until the last one was scrapped in 1966. Over the duration of her first boiler certificate Tornado will carry all of the A1’s historic liveries of LNER apple green with ‘British Railways’ on the tender, BR blue and BR Brunswick green, with both crest and emblem.
The following timings are guidelines and may vary on the day:
Tyne Yard 1523hrs
Hexham 1621hrs
Carlisle London Road 1725-1808hrs
Penrith 1829hrs
Oxenholme 1905-1936hrs
Lancaster1856hrs
Preston 2017hrs
Crewe 2135hrs
Tornado will travel light engine tomorrow (9
th June) from Crewe (depart 1017hrs) to Didcot (arrive 1535hrs).
Following her loaded test run
Tornado will be visiting Didcot Railway Centre (
www.didcotrailwaycentre.org.uk), from 9
th – 17
th June 2011. The only date that this world famous locomotive will be in steam and working at the centre, is Saturday 11
th June 2011. On all the other days, the locomotive will be on static display at the centre. Also in steam on 11
th June will be newly completed steam railmotor No 93. It was officially launched on 28
th May 2011, following a 13 year restoration, involving a brand new vertical boiler and power bogie, and a substantial Heritage Lottery Fund grant. The steam railmotor is the forerunner of today’s multiple unit trains, being an example of the first generation of trains that were self-propelled, and could be driven from either end. Joining the party will be Fire Fly, Britain's other brand new locomotive.
Tornado will then be fully re-certified for main line service ready for her first her first main line train in her new Brunswick Green livery which will now be ‘The Canterbury Tornado’ on Saturday 18
th June from Poole (
Tornado from Willesden) to Canterbury and return promoted by Pathfinder, operated by DB Schenker. To book onto this train contact Pathfinder Tours (tel: 01453 835414; web:
www.pathfindertours.co.uk; email:
office@pathfinder.co.uk)
Mark Allatt, chairman, The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust, commented:
“It’s fantastic to have
Tornado back on the Network Rail main line where she belongs. The Trust would like to take this opportunity to thank Steve Davies and the team at the NRM for their kind hospitality during
Tornado’s extended winter maintenance period, our hard working volunteers and contractors for doing such a magnificent job and all of our friends and partners for their loyal support over the past few months.”
The Trust respectfully requests that anyone wanting to see Tornado follows the rules of the railway and only goes where permitted.