Tornado, the new £3m steam locomotive, will be back on Network Rail on Saturday 18
th June 2011 with her debut main line passenger train in her new Brunswick green livery following her extended winter maintenance period at the National Railway Museum in York. ‘The Canterbury Tornado’, promoted by Pathfinder Tours (
www.pathfindertours.co.uk), will run from Poole (
Tornado from/to Willesden) to Canterbury and return.
The locomotive is now wearing a different livery of 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 Canterbury Tornado’ will run diesel hauled from Poole and pick up points below through to the London area where
Tornado will take charge for the run to Canterbury. The train is expected to be routed over the traditional 'boat train' route via Bromley, Sevenoaks, Tonbridge and Ashford, before arriving at one of this country's most historic cities at around 12:45.
Departing around 15:55 the train resumes its journey through Kent, with a run along the Dover-Folkestone coastline to Ashford and then back to London over the North Downs, where wite will run into London Victoria station. Here there will be an opportunity to appreciate
Tornado, take a photograph or get up into the cab and meet the driver. Then, with a diesel in charge again, the train will reverse out of Victoria station back to the joining points to conclude what will be a memorable day.
There is also an optional afternoon visit to the East Kent Light Railway. Passengers will be taken by coach from Canterbury to Eythorne for a diesel-hauled ride on this remnant of the Colonel Stephen's empire, which lasted until 1987 to serve a coal colliery and is now restored for passenger use as far as Sheperdswell. Supplementary fare: Adult £14, Junior £10, including transfers and train ride.
Peter Watts, General Manager, Pathfinder Tours, said:
“We are delighted to be running the first tour with
Tornado in her new Brunswick green livery, a personal favourite of mine. ‘The Canterbury Tornado’ is a tour with something for everyone. As well as the unique opportunity to be on the first main line train hauled by a Brunswick green Peppercorn class A1 since 1966, there is the very special experience of dining in luxury on the train and the delights of Canterbury itself. During the expected three hour break passengers can visit the Cathedral, St Augustine's Abbey and St Martin's Church, the oldest parish church still in constant use. Perhaps step back into the Middle Ages at Canterbury Tales. Or just look around the city, admiring such delights as the riverfront weaver's cottages.”
Provisional Timings:
Depart: Poole 06:30; Branksome 06:40; Bournemouth 06:45; Christchurch 06:55; Brockenhurst 07:10; Southampton Central 07:35; Fareham 08:00; Cosham 08:15; Havant 08:25.
Return: Havant 22:00; Cosham 2210; Fareham 22:25; Southampton Central 22:50; Brockenhurst 23:15; Christchurch 23:30; Bournemouth 23:40; Branksome 23:45; Poole 23:55.
Fares (all joining points):
Standard Class: Adult £90.00, Junior £45.00; First Class Plus: Adult £135.00, Junior £115.00; Premier Dining: Adult £199.00, Junior £179.00. Private Table for Two seats in First Class Plus and Premier Dining are available at a supplement of £22 per person.
To book onto this train contact Pathfinder Tours (tel: 01453 835414; web:
www.pathfindertours.co.uk; email:
office@pathfinder.co.uk)
The Trust respectfully requests that anyone wanting to see Tornado follows the rules of the railway and only goes where permitted.
Tornado crosses the Ouse in York during her proving runs following winter maintenance - Alan Weaver