Tornado’s speedy winter downtime in Wensleydale

PEPPERCORN A1 Pacific No. 60163 Tornado has spent the winter months off main line duties to allow maintenance to be carried out at the Wensleydale Railway’s Leeming Bar shed.

The aim is to minimise any potential interruptions to its service on the national network during the coming year.

The cab has been removed to facilitate several minor boiler repairs, including attending to several rigid boiler stays, the rectification of two leaking firebox stays and welding to the corners of the foundation ring corners.

Self-cleaning plates and screens in the smokebox have been repaired where needed, while the piston valves have been renewed following an inspection

An overhaul of the injectors and yearly recalibration of gauges has also been completed.

Following a scheduled series of public runs over the heritage line on March 5-7, Tornado was due back in Wensleydale service on March 13-15.

Public trains on Friday, March 13, are set to be followed the next day by‘whirlwind Express II,’A repeat of last year’s non-stop run from Northallerton West to Redmire, which is possibly the longest run on a heritage railway in the UK, or maybe even the world.

The day will begin with a regular return service from Leeming Bar to Redmire at noon. Departing Leeming Bar at 5pm, the‘whirlwind’will run to Northallerton West, where Tornado will run round before heading to Redmire non-stop. A further run round will take place at Redmire before the train returns to

Leeming Bar, where it is planned to arrive at approximately 8.30pm.

Sunday, March 15, has Tornado lined up for the Grand Vintage Dales Tour. Passengers can complete the missing link in the original trans-pennine route from the East Coast Main Line through Wensleydale to the Settle and Carlisle line with Tornado hauling a train from Leeming Bar to Leyburn, before taking a vintage bus from Leyburn to Hawes and Garsdale, with a picnic basket too.

➜ Further details are available at https://wensleydale-railway.co.uk