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All Aboard For Tornado's Debut
The first main line steam train to be built in Britain for almost 50 years sets out today on her maiden voyage from York to Newcastle.
All Aboard For Tornado's Debut
The Tornado is a new Peppercorn class A1 Pacific locomotive - a type scrapped in the 1960s when diesel trains were introduced.
It has been built by the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust in Darlington, which raised £3m.
Tornado made a successful test run on Wednesday and was given the go-ahead to haul a passenger train on the Network Rail main line.
The chairman of the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust, Mark Allatt, said the debut run was the end of a project that many said could never be completed.
"In 1990 a group was formed with a vision and the determination to make it succeed - to build and operate a Peppercorn class A1 Pacific steam locomotive for main line and preserved railway use," he said.
Mr Allatt said the project's success was thanks to sponsors and donors - of which there were more than 2,000 - along with the hard work of volunteers and contractors.
The engine will make return trips from York to Newcastle on the East Coast Main Line over the weekend for supporters.
Others will be able to buy tickets for Tornado's first trip to London's Kings Cross on the East Coast Main Line on February 7.
The class A1s were designed by Arthur H Peppercorn for the London and North Eastern Railway and 49 were built in 1948-49 by British Railways
My home town Darlington , where the railways were born , a great achievemnt ,,and its got the worlds poxiest rail museum , sad.
All Aboard For Tornado's Debut
The first main line steam train to be built in Britain for almost 50 years sets out today on her maiden voyage from York to Newcastle.
All Aboard For Tornado's Debut
The Tornado is a new Peppercorn class A1 Pacific locomotive - a type scrapped in the 1960s when diesel trains were introduced.
It has been built by the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust in Darlington, which raised £3m.
Tornado made a successful test run on Wednesday and was given the go-ahead to haul a passenger train on the Network Rail main line.
The chairman of the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust, Mark Allatt, said the debut run was the end of a project that many said could never be completed.
"In 1990 a group was formed with a vision and the determination to make it succeed - to build and operate a Peppercorn class A1 Pacific steam locomotive for main line and preserved railway use," he said.
Mr Allatt said the project's success was thanks to sponsors and donors - of which there were more than 2,000 - along with the hard work of volunteers and contractors.
The engine will make return trips from York to Newcastle on the East Coast Main Line over the weekend for supporters.
Others will be able to buy tickets for Tornado's first trip to London's Kings Cross on the East Coast Main Line on February 7.
The class A1s were designed by Arthur H Peppercorn for the London and North Eastern Railway and 49 were built in 1948-49 by British Railways
My home town Darlington , where the railways were born , a great achievemnt ,,and its got the worlds poxiest rail museum , sad.
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