Tornado has been out running on the mainline for a decade, Covenantors are able to travel behind her from a number of main departure points in the UK to a choice of popular destinations, plus in addition to our rail tour operators, the Trust often arranges its own special excursions, including ‘The Devon Belle’, ‘The Border Raider’ and ‘The White Rose’. Previous A1SLT tours were ‘The Elizabethan’, ‘The Waverley’, ‘The Talisman’, ‘The Coronation’, ‘The Yorkshire Pullman’ and ‘The Peppercorn Pioneer’.
Watch out for our mainline tours news.
Presentations
Dates for our fascinating lectures on how we built and operate Tornado and now The Prince of Wales are posted on our Attending Presentations page.
Annual Convention 2018 (photos by Mandy Grant)
Annual Convention 2017 was once again held at the Mercure King’s Hotel in Darlington on 1st October and attended by over 250 Covenantors over 100 of whom stayed for the convention dinner that night.
Annual Convention 2016 was again held at the Mercure King’s Hotel in Darlington on 1st October and attended by over 240 Covenantors over 100 of whom stayed for the convention dinner that night.
Annual Convention 2015 was held on Saturday 3th October at the Mercure King’s Hotel Darlington and afterwards at Darlington Locomotive Works to view No. 2007 Prince of Wales under construction.
Covenantors and Founders with the P2 frames at Darlington – Mandy Grant
Annual Convention 2014 was held on 4th October at the Casa Hotel, Chesterfield, with Tornado again kindly hosted by the Barrow Hill Roundhouse
A group photo from the 2014 Convention at Barrow Hill – Rob Morland
Annual Convention 2013
This was held on September 21st at the Chesterfield Hotel and Tornado was kindly hosted by the Barrow Hill Roundhouse.
Covenantors gather with Tornado at Barrow Hill in 2013 – Lawrie Loveless
The Tornado Team Club event was held at Barrow Hill Roundhouse on Sunday 5th October 2014
This gathering of our younger supporters was last held at Barrow Hill on 22nd September 2013.
Tornado Team members wash the engine at Barrow Hill – Alexa Stott
The Elizabethan
The Trust again suceessfully ran it’s own railtour on Tuesday 11th June 2013 with No. 60163 Tornado and Deltic No. D9009 Alycidon, Tornado hauing the ‘down’ run this time from London Kings Cross to Edinburgh.
Annual Convention 2012
The 2012 annual Convention took place on the Nene Valley Railway, the Convention was held on the 15th of September with Tornado attending the Nene Valley Railway Gala on the 22nd and 23rd of that month.
Covenantors with their locomotive at Peterborough – Paul Davies
Annual Convention 2011
The Convention was again held at the Chesterfield Hotel on the 1st October and Barrow Hill kindly hosted our locomotive for the weekend.
In warm sunshine, Covenantors stand with their locomotive – Ken Horan
Annual Convention 2010
The 2010 Convention was held at the Chesterfield Hotel on 9th October and afterwards members of The Trust were able to spend some quality time with their loco at Barrow Hill Roundhouse. The opportunity was taken to officially launch Jonathan Glancey’s new book, “Tornado: Steam for the 21st Century”.
Some those who made it possible with their loco at the 2010 Convention – Ken Horan
The Border Raider
On the 24th of June The Trust ran a record-breaking trip over Shap to Carlisle and back via the Settle and Carlisle railway. The train was for Covenantors and their guests.
Tornado starts to climb at Greenholme – Alan Weaver
Annual Convention 2009
The 2009 Annual Convention took place at The Ringwood Hall Hotel near Chesterfield on the morning of Saturday 17th October. Covenantors and their guests then had exclusive use of Barrow Hill Roundhouse, with Tornado visiting, for the rest of the day.
Tornado on the turntable at Barrow Hill – Clive Hanley
In April Covenantors were invited to travel behind Tornado on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway during their Spring Gala. This was the first opportunity to see the new A1 hauling appropriate teak coaches and what a fine sight it made! Apart from working the exclusive Covenantors’ trains, No. 60163 also spent two weeks running service trains for the NYMR.
On the 18th February 2009, Tornado was officially christened by TRH The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall at York station. In front of the assembled media, invited guests and Covenantors, the Prince of Wales unveiled the nameplates in their final position on the smoke deflectors. Following a fly-past staged by the RAF, the Prince joined the footplate crew for the journey to Leeds and the royal train left to the strains of music played by the RAF band.
Tornado is named at York Station.
On the 2nd August 2008 Tornado was steamed for the first time for covenantors and supporters of the project, moving up and down a few hundred yards of track at Darlington Works.
Covenantors fill the now empty works – 2nd August, 2008
Tornado’s successful steam test on January 11th 2008
1999 Convention – smokebox and cab in place
1997 Convention – the frames at Darlington
1997 – Covenantors at the NRM with the frames
1996 Convention – with the cylinders at Tyseley
1995 Convention – Tyseley Works with the frames
1993 – an event at the Tanfield Railway
1992 – Covenantors at the G.C.R.