Tornado’s timeline

1990 The formal launch of the project to build a new Peppercorn ‘A1’ takes place on November 17 at York’s Railway Institute. The first of many roadshows is attended by over 80 people.

An initial formal meeting had taken place on March 24 – David Champion was there, as were Phil Champion, Stuart Palmer, Ian Storey and Mike Wilson.

1991-1993 David Elliott and the team working collating and scanning drawings at the National Railway Museum – in the end some 95% of the drawings needed are found. In the absence of a general arrangement drawing, the one for the ‘A2’ is used.

1994 Construction starts – and if an engine’s identity is taken from its frames, this is a key year. The frame plates are rolled by British Steel in Scunthorpe.

1995 Assembly in the early years takes place at Tyseley, where the frames are put together. However, the trust’s search for its own home is over – Darlington Borough Council offers the historic Stockton & Darlington Railway Hopetown Carriage Works, which date from 1853.

1996 The trust takes occupancy of Hopetown – the new ‘Darlington Locomotive Works’. The cylinders are unveiled.

1997 Tornado visits York for the first time! The frames are displayed at the National Railway Museum, before moving to Darlington.

2000 There’s a symbolic moment as the completed wheelsets are delivered and placed under the frames. Mark Allatt takes over from David Champion as chairman.

2001 A dispute over allegations of poor workmanship is resolved after the trust commissions an independent engineering survey. Chairman Mark Allatt estimates the delay caused by the arguments as being up to two years.

2003 Tornado will not be a 120mph ‘Super A1’ as suggested by ‘modern steam’ engineer Livio Dante Porta. Engineering director David Elliott explains in Steam Railway why the trust is going for a traditional design.

2004 In order to fund the forthcoming order of a boiler – the last really big remaining component – the trust launches a £½m bond issue.

2005 Germany’s Dampflokwerk Meiningen is chosen to build No. 60163’s new all-steel and welded ‘Diagram 118a’ boiler.

2006 The new engine has a ‘heart’ with the delivery to Darlington in July of Tornado’s boiler.

2007 A historic moment – the boiler is lowered into the frames and the ‘A1’ heads towards final completion.

2008 After 18 years… the first moves take place at Darlington! Running in follows at the Great Central, before main line trials in November.

To be continued…