Next week, 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 back in the Museum’s Great Hall by popular demand between 14-15 March and 19-22 March inclusive, rubbing shoulders with the other steam legends occupying the Museum’s Great Hall, such as the world-speed record breaking Mallard.
In between mainline runs the locomotive has been stabled ‘behind the scenes’ in the Museum’s locomotive preparation area. Now the gleaming green machine has a longer rest between mainline engagements, visitors will have the opportunity to see the hard working locomotive at close quarters, in the Museum’s ‘triangle’.
Director of the NRM, Andrew Scott said:"This is the last chance to see
Tornado at the home of the railway before she embarks on a summer tour of the country so we hope fans will make the trip! As always we’re very excited to see
Tornado – this great feat of British engineering has definitely woken the general public up to the glory of steam.” 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. 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. “After taking her place with the greats of rail history at the NRM, the locomotive takes 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 between 14-15 March and 19-22 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.com Notes 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.
Operations confirmed for
Tornado are:
Saturday 18th April 2009 -
Yorkshire Pullman - Kings Cross to York and return by Tornado hauling the VSOE British Pullman train. – A1SLT organised tour. Booking agent Steam Dreams Web:
www.steamdreams.com; Tel: 01483 209888; Email:
info@steamdreams.co.uk Friday 1st to Sunday 10th May – North Yorkshire Moors Railway – Spring Steam Gala Web:
www.nymr.co.uk; Tel: 01751 472508
Saturday 23rd May – Kings Cross - York – 60163 (north) AND 60007 – Steam Dreams
Thursday 18th June - London to Wells and Minehead - The Cathedrals Express – 60163 on the return from Minehead to London. Outward by modern traction - Steam Dreams
Sunday 21st June – Father’s Day lunchtime and evening trains – Steam Dreams
Sunday 5th July –
Torbay Express – Bristol to Paignton and Kingswear (Paignton & Dartmouth Steam Railway) and return - Past-Time Rail Ltd Web:
www.past-timerail.co.uk; Tel: 01543 411971
Sunday 12th July – Torbay Express – Bristol to Paignton and Kingswear (Paignton & Dartmouth Steam Railway) and return - Past-Time Rail Ltd
Sunday 19th July – Torbay Express - Bristol to Paignton and Kingswear (Paignton & Dartmouth Steam Railway) and return – Past-Time Rail Ltd
Sunday 26th July – Torbay Express – Bristol to Paignton and Kingswear (Paignton & Dartmouth Steam Railway) and return - Past-Time Rail Ltd
Saturday 19th September – Kings Cross to York return – Steam Dreams
Saturday 3rd October 2009 - Tornado's first tour over the legendary Settle and Carlisle line – Steam Dreams
Thursday 26th November – Kings Cross to York and return - Steam Dreams
The Trust respectfully requests that anyone wanting to see Tornado's 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.