Tornado : waiting in the wings for 75mph return
Trust is confident that the ‘A1’s’ troubles are in the past as it celebrates anniversary.
WE FULLY EXPECT TO BE PICKING UP OUR 2019 MAIN LINE PROGRAMME ON MARCH 3 A1 STEAM LOCOMOTIVE TRUST
Adecade after it was officially named, Tornado finally had something to celebrate after what has been a tumultuous year.
During a working visit to the Wensleydale Railway, the new‑build Peppercorn ‘Pacific’ was honoured with a flypast by a trio of its namesake Tornado jets, during their nationwide farewell on February 19.
Nevertheless, No. 60163 has yet to successfully complete a main line test run, although the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust is confident that it will haul its Doncaster‑Edinburgh ‘Auld Reekie’ railtour on March 3.
The A1SLT said: “Tornado is now certified for a main line test run to ensure that all repairs carried out to the locomotive have been successfully completed – we are now awaiting confirmation from DB Cargo whether or not a further main line test run is necessary. We fully expect to be picking up our 2019 main line programme on March 3.”
The tour will mark the end of a challenging few months for the trust, as ongoing repairs to the engine’s motion have pushed back its main line return. The ‘A1’ failed during an overnight trial run between Doncaster and Northallerton on January 16, with damage to its left‑hand motion (see Down Main, SR489) – believed to have been caused during an alleged priming incident during its recent stay at the Nene Valley Railway. The trust said: “We think it was during that incident, based on other LNER locomotives such as Blue Peter having similar incidents, but we cannot be 100% sure.”
Prior to its move to Wensleydale, Tornado was laid up at Barrow Hill Roundhouse. Its usual main line operator, DB Cargo, was unable to facilitate its light engine move to the railway on February 13, so West Coast Railways stepped in, hauling No. 60163 using a Class 37. The A1SLT said: “We would like to thank WCRC for facilitating this move.”
Commenting on the ‘A1’s’ numerous ‘false dawns’, the trust said: “Hindsight is a wonderful thing. Of course, if we knew what we know now, we would have managed things differently.
“We have done everything we can to achieve deadlines, only to be thwarted at the last minute. It had been running for several months, and completed over 1,500 miles, so it was very disappointing for everyone involved not to make ‘The North Briton’ on February 9. The issues there were not all within the trust’s control and we have been on a learning curve in some areas.”