Over the next two months, visitors to the National Railway Museum (NRM) will be able to get a close up view of Britain’s first locomotive to be built in 50 years.
Tornado, The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust’s brand new locomotive will be starring on the Museum’s turntable from Friday 20 – Sunday 22 February , rubbing shoulders with the other steam legends occupying the Museum’s Great Hall, such as the world-speed record breaking Mallard.
The gleaming apple green locomotive will be able to live up to the ‘twister’ nature of her name with fans being able to see her revolve twice each day during the popular turntable demonstration at the Museum.
Then from the 14 – 22 March Tornado will be on display on the floor of the Great Hall, where visitors will be able to get up close to the hard working machine, while she has a well deserved rest in between her schedule of main line engagements.
Director of the NRM, Andrew Scott said:
"We’re very excited to see Tornado return to the Great Hall – this great feat of British engineering has definitely claimed a place in the hearts of the nation, almost on a level with the world famous Flying Scotsman.”
Mark Allatt, chairman of The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust added:“We’re delighted to have
Tornado back on display in the National Railway Museum by popular demand and hope fans will make the trip to see it up close. It really brings it home that our 18-year project to build and operate a Peppercorn class A1 Pacific steam locomotive for main line and preserved railway use has earned a special place in railway history. “It will be the last chance to see
Tornado at the ‘home of the railway’ until the Autumn. After taking her place with the greats of rail history at the NRM, the locomotive steams south to take part in the Barrow Hill LNER Gala from 3-5 April and then pays a visit to the North Yorkshire Moors Railway from 1-9 May.
Tornado is also due to make an appearance at Locomotion in Shildon later in the year.
Tornado is on display in the NRM’s Great Hall from 20–22 February and from 14-22 March 2009.END
For more information please contact:Catherine Farrell, Senior Press Officer, National Railway Museum on 01904 686281/
catherine.farrell@nrm.org.ukMark Allatt chairman, The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust, on 07710 878979 or
mark.allatt@a1steam.comNotes to editors:Display dates are subject to change at short notice. Visitors are advised to check the NRM website
www.nrm.org.uk for the latest updates before making a special journey to see Tornado.
The next tour organised by The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust for
Tornado is Saturday 18th April 2009 -
The Yorkshire Pullman - Kings Cross to York and return by Tornado hauling the VSOE British Pullman train.Only Pullman class available at £449 per person. Booking agent for the above is Steam Dreams on 01483 209886.
Other operations confirmed for Tornado are:
Saturday 28th February – The Auld Reekie Express – York - Edinburgh – Past-Time Rail Ltd
Web: www.past-timerail.co.uk; Tel: 01543 411971
Saturday 7th March– The North Briton – Edinburgh - York – Past-Time Rail Ltd
Web: www.past-timerail.co.uk; Tel: 01543 411971
Thursday 12th March – The Tyne Tornado - York - Newcastle – Pathfinder
Web: www.pathfindertours.co.uk; Tel: 01453 835414/834477 Email: office@pathfindertours.co.uk
Weekend of 4th/4th April - Barrow Hill LNER Gala with Peppercorn class A2 60532 Blue Peter
Web: www.barrowhill.org; Tel: 01246 472450; Email: project_man@barrowhill.org.uk
Friday 1st to Sunday 10th May – North Yorkshire Moors Railway – Spring Steam Gala
Web: www.nymr.co.uk; Tel: 01751 472508
The Trust respectfully requests that anyone wanting to see Tornado's first main line passenger trains follows the rules of the railway and only goes where permitted
The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust, a registered charity, has built Peppercorn class A1 Pacific 60163 Tornado at its Darlington Locomotive Works. Fitted with additional water capacity and the latest railway safety electronics, Tornado is fully equipped for today’s main line railway. The class A1s were designed by Arthur H Peppercorn for the London & North Eastern Railway and 49 were built in 1948/49 by British Railways. However, following the dieselisation of the railways, all were scrapped by 1966. The project to build a new Peppercorn class A1 was launched in 1990 and after 18 years of planning, construction and fundraising the £3 million locomotive was completed in August 2008.
The National Railway Museum is the largest railway museum in the world. Its displays and collections are the most comprehensive and significant in their field, illustrating the history of British railways and railway engineering from the industrial revolution to the present day and beyond. Special exhibitions, hands-on interactive displays, live interpreters in the exhibition halls and drama programmes all help tell the incredible story of the train and its effects on society. Since it opened in 1975, the NRM’s unique blend of education and entertainment has thrilled over 20 million visitors, young and old. More than just a great attraction, it has always aimed to give school children and the wider public a broader understanding of Britain's industrial achievement.