Haynes officially launch the new Tornado Manual:
Tornado: The Story of a Steam Dream That Came True: In 1990 a group of people came together to share an extraordinary ambition - to construct a brand new £3m Peppercorn class A1 Pacific Tornado steam engine, one of the most iconic express locomotives of the steam age. This new Haynes Tornado Manual shows how they did it and how it is now bringing joy to thousands of passengers.
The A1s worked principally on the East Coast Main Line from 1948 until the end of steam but tragically all were scrapped and lost for ever by 1966. In August 2008 a brand new 'A1', No. 60163 Tornado, was brought to life in Darlington thanks to the amazing dedication, skill and determination of a team of enthusiasts, one of whom, Geoff Smith has written the Haynes Tornado Manual. Based on the LNER Peppercorn class A1 design of which 49 were originally built, Tornado is a magnificent and fully operational new locomotive that runs on main line track and is totally faithful to the original Peppercorn class A1s in all respects except for modernisation to suit today’s operational and safety requirements.
The Haynes Tornado Manual explains the construction, operation and maintenance of the new 60163 Tornado in typical Haynes style with full colour pictures and detailed annotated diagrams.
The Tornado Manual includes the history of the original locomotives, the story of how The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust was formed and details every aspect of the engine’s construction, including a fascinating insight into the manufacturing of the locomotive’s components and the build process. It also explains how it became certificated to run on the main line and gives a review of its first year of operation. The lavish book features a wonderful array of period images and is packed with original research, exhaustive analysis and detailed specifications, perfect for the steam enthusiast. The book carries an RRP of £19.99 and is available from our own webshop.
The A1 class was designed by Arthur H Peppercorn (29 January 1889 - 3 March 1951), the last Chief Mechanical Engineer of the London & North Eastern Railway (LNER). They were the last in a line of famous express passenger steam locomotives for the East Coast Main Line that included the Stirling Singles, the Ivatt Atlantics and the Gresley Pacifics. The original Peppercorns were a wonder to behold, they hauled trains of up to 600 tons at an average of 60mph; 100 mph was not unknown and on one occasion an A1 produced an estimated 2,400 drawbar horsepower.
Copies of the Haynes Manual can be purchased from the Trust's on-line store.
About the author:
Geoff Smith is a Chartered Engineer with a career history spanning over 40 years in energy and environmental management. He is a life-long steam locomotive enthusiast, having spent many of his formative years watching the original Peppercorn A1s at Doncaster. He is a long-time supporter of, and active contributor to, the Tornado project, and became a volunteer in 2008, following early retirement.
