❖ Aberdeen railtours for Tornado
Restored Ferryhill turntable enables Tornado to revive the ‘Aberdonian’ in 2019.
THE IDEA IS TO CREATE A REGULAR ITINERARY – NOT EVERY DAY, BUT REASONABLY REGULAR GRAEME BUNKER
The ‘Aberdonian’ is to return next year under plans by the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust. Tornado’s owner is reviving the famous name for repeat-itinerary trains hauled by its new-build ‘A1’ and – in time – under-construction ‘P2’ No. 2007 Prince of Wales.
Running around 131 miles each way between Edinburgh and Aberdeen, the new charters are to take advantage of the latter city’s Ferryhill turntable, which is itself subject to a revival. The debut trip is on March 14.
“We’ve been talking to the Ferryhill Railway Heritage Trust, and the Railway Heritage Trust, who have been very supportive with the turntable,” A1 Trust Operations Director Graeme Bunker told Steam Railway.
“The idea is to create a regular itinerary – not every day, but reasonably regular – between Edinburgh and Aberdeen.’’ ‘’We’re looking to run via the Forth Bridge because it’s a wonderful icon of the modern world, but we also want to run the route because of the magnificent coastline. Trains are expected to leave Edinburgh Waverley at around 9.30am with a pick-up at Haymarket and the chance for passengers to spend four hours in Aberdeen. Arrival back at Edinburgh is expected to be around 8.30pm. “Aberdeen is a burgeoning tourist place. A lot of effort is going into what it has to offer and marketing its appeal.” “The turntable should be complete by the end of the year. It’ll be great to see steam running in the configuration of ‘there and back’, rather than just one way or as part of a land cruise.’’
Mr Bunker said the trust had committed to five trains in 2019 “and we shall go from there.’’ “It’ll be some weekdays and some weekends to see how they go. This is not just going to be for a domestic audience.”
The ‘Aberdonian’ name dates from 1927 when it was applied to a train running from King’s Cross. Having been built specifically for the Edinburgh-Aberdeen route, Gresley’s ‘P2’ 2-8-2s were among the classes that hauled the service. The turntable at the former Ferryhill (61B) shed – which became famous as the last home of the Gresley ‘A4s’, including Union of South Africa, in 1966 – is currently being returned to use. Mr Bunker said the March 14 train with Tornado “is potentially the first that would use the turntable’’ after the latter’s restoration. Tickets for the ‘Aberdonian’ are to be sold through the trust’s booking agent UK Railtours and are expected to be available by the time this issue of Steam Railway goes on sale. The Adult Standard price is £99.
Trains are to run on March 14, August 1, 8, 31, and September 7. They are expected to use stock hired in from the Scottish Railway Preservation Society. Optional add-on trips are to be arranged for the layover in Aberdeen, including visits to a local castle and a distillery.