TRH The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall will arrive at the world’s oldest surviving passenger railway station by Royal Train, pulled by Tornado – Britain’s newest steam locomotive.

The Prince of Wales will visit Manchester's Museum of Science & Industry (MOSI) as part of a series of engagements Their Royal Highnesses are undertaking in Greater Manchester on Thursday 4th February. HRH will tour the Museum’s Power Hall, which tells the story of energy production – from the water wheel through to the steam engine – and includes one of the largest collections of working steam engines in the world.  The Museum’s own replica Planet steam locomotive will be in steam for the occasion.

No. 60163 Tornado – a Peppercorn A1 Pacific steam engine, was completed just a year ago in Darlington by The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust. The last Peppercorn class A1 steam locomotive was scrapped in 1966, but Tornado is a brand new locomotive which will make a special trip to MOSI for the Royal visit.

MOSI Director Steve Davies said, “I’m delighted to welcome The Prince of Wales on behalf of the Museum.  It will be an historic moment when the Royal Train is pulled into the Museum by the spectacular new Tornado and Their Royal Highnesses disembark onto the world’s oldest surviving passenger railway platform. As well as walking through this historic site for railways, the Prince will also see some of the oldest forms of energy production – such as the water wheel and the horse gin, and the story of how that developed into the vast steam engines which powered Manchester’s textile mills. Energy production continues to be one of society’s biggest concerns, and an issue about which I know The Prince has a particular interest.”

Mark Allatt, chairman of The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust, added, “The Trust and all of its supporters are deeply honoured that Their Royal Highnesses The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall, who named Tornado last February, have chosen to travel on The Royal Train to the Museum hauled by Tornado. There couldn’t be a more appropriate occasion for this honour as The Prince visits the amazing collection assembled by MOSI. This honour is recognition of the shared vision and determination of all of those who worked so hard over 19 years to bring Tornado into being and are now doing the same to keep her operating on the main line.”