Following completion of a major £1m overhaul A1 class, No. 60163 Tornado will return to the national network this summer, with its first train in June 2024 from the East Midlands and Yorkshire to the iconic Settle and Carlisle railway.

Through 2022 and 2023, No. 60163 has been in the workshop receiving significant engineering maintenance, as well as the world first fitting of digital signalling equipment to a steam locomotive. Now, as the locomotive concludes that work and enters its proving period, 21^st Century Steam is pleased to announce Tornado’s first tour. Travelling from the city of Leicester, calling at East Midlands Parkway, Chesterfield, Doncaster and Leeds on Saturday 29^th June, passengers will be treated to a steam train excursion over the stunning Settle to Carlisle railway. Widely considered a wonder of the railway world, this route was first opened by the Midland Railway Company in 1876. The railway runs high along the Pennine Ridge, offering passengers amazing scenery across the Yorkshire Dales and Eden Valley. Crossing the spectacular Ribblehead Viaduct and diving deep through tunnels in the landscape, the combination of Tornado on the Settle to Carlisle route is hard to beat.

‘The Ribblehead Rambler’ will be operated by Vintage Trains, based at Tyseley Locomotive Works in Birmingham, and it will be the first train they have worked with Tornado.  The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust (parent of 21^st Century Steam), Vintage Trains and Tyseley Locomotive Works (TLW) have a long and enduring history: the frames of Tornado were assembled there in 1996, Vintage Trains supported the legendary fund-raising train ‘The Talisman’ in 2006 and many other collaborative endeavours since. This is an exciting time to bring the two teams together on the main line operating Tornado and hauling the Vintage Trains coaches.

Steve Davies, Chairman of 21^st Century Steam and The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust said “Tornado has been away from the main line for too long, and what better way to return to operations than with a trip over the Settle and Carlisle railway. An iconic locomotive on an iconic route; an unbeatable combination. We are also especially pleased to be working with Vintage Trains for the first time and look forward to fruitful partnership between the two organisations.”

Tornado will be active throughout the UK in 2024 and into 2025. The regular programme of ‘The Aberdonian’ tours in Scotland will run from July to September and there will be further tours announced across the country. It is planned for this programme of trains to enable passengers from the North East, South East and West Midlands to enjoy a steam hauled special train headed by Tornado.

More details about the train and booking information can be found at www.a1steam.com/ribbleheadrambler

Alternatively, the 21^st Century Steam Booking Office can be reached on 01325 488215 and is open Mon-Thurs 09:00-17:00 and Fridays 09:00-16:00.

Images: Jack Boskett/Mike Brown/A1SLT