The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust, the registered charity that has built the first new main line steam locomotive in Britain for almost 50 years, today announced that 60163 Tornado will star in a 30 minute TV documentary about her construction to be shown on Christmas Eve. Absolutely Chuffed: The Men Who Built A Steam Engine, which was originally shown on the digital channel BBC4 and attracted one of the chanel's largest ever audiences, is being repeated on BBC2 at 11am on Wednesday 24th December 2008.
Tom Ingall, co-producer of the programme, commented:
“This has been a fascinating project. From the moment I first saw the A1 under construction it was clear there was a great deal of passion and pride involved - invested over so many years. The challenge would be finding a way to keep up with developments over such a long timescale. Along with my colleagues Marcel Guillou and Edward Young we resolved to do whatever we could to tell the story. I'm delighted with the end results which hopefully reflect some of the challenges and emotions the A1 trust faced along the way."
Mark Allatt, chairman of The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust added:
“Absolutely Chuffed: The Men Who Built A Steam Engine tells the story of a project that many said could never be completed. In 1990 a group was formed with a vision and the determination to make it succeed – to build and operate a Peppercorn class A1 Pacific steam locomotive for main line and preserved railway use. 18 years later, and thanks to that shared vision and determination, Tornado turned her wheels in anger for the first time on 1st August 2008 in front of the world’s press. Tom and his team have filmed the project’s every twist and turn over the past few years and their programme is a testament to the time and effort they have put in to telling our remarkable story.”
“Having successfully completed her main line test programme, Tornado is currently in the paintshop at the National Railway Museum. Tornado will be entering main line passenger service in the New Year. The Trust is now looking to the great British public to help us get Tornado into main line service by making a donation, sponsoring a component, taking part in our covenant scheme and/or our £500,000 bond issue. There are only eight weeks between now and Tornado's main line début.”
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Photographs of original A1s and Tornado are available on request.
Note to Editors
The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust has built Peppercorn class A1 Pacific 60163 Tornado at its Darlington Locomotive Works and when certified it will be used on charter trains operating on Network Rail. Fitted with additional water capacity and the latest railway safety electronics, Tornado is fully equipped for today’s main line railway. The class A1s were designed by Arthur H Peppercorn for the London & North Eastern Railway and 49 were built in 1948/49 by British Railways. However, following the dieselisation of the railways, all were scrapped by 1966. The A1 Trust has built a new class A1 at a total cost £3 million. Over £2.9m has been raised to-date through deeds of covenant, commercial sponsorship (principal sponsor William Cook Cast Products Limited) and through a bond issue.
For details of how to help telephone 01325 4 60163, visit www.a1steam.com or email enquiries@a1steam.com
For more information please contact:
Mark Allatt, chairman, The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust, on 07710 878979 or mark.allatt@a1steam.com
Tom Ingall, co-producer, BBC, on 07860 511098 or tom.ingall@bbc.co.uk
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Watch again at:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00dzz5y