NEW STEAM LOCOMOTIVE TORNADO NAMED BY THEIR ROYAL HIGHNESSES THE PRINCE OF WALES AND THE DUCHESS OF CORNWALL ON THURSDAY 19TH FEBRUARY 2009
THE PRINCE OF WALES AND THE DUCHESS OF CORNWALL UNDERTAKE A SERIES OF ENGAGEMENTS IN NORTH YORKSHIRE AND WEST YORKSHIRE
Their Royal Highnesses The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall officially named the new Peppercorn class A1 steam locomotive Tornado at York Railway Station. During the naming ceremony TRH met Mrs Dorothy Mather, the President of The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust (the organization behind the project) and widow of Arthur Peppercorn – the designer of the original A1 class steam engine. After the ceremony His Royal Highness boarded the footplate of the steam engine to meet the crew and ride on the locomotive. The new steam engine then pulled the Royal Train to Leeds Railway Station.
Speaking about Tornado’s naming by Their Royal Highnesses The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall, Mark Allatt, chairman of The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust said:
“The Trust and all of its supporters are deeply honoured that Their Royal Highnesses The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall will be naming Tornado at York Railway Station on Thursday 19th February 2009. This honour is the ultimate recognition of the shared vision and determination of all of those who worked so hard over 19 years to bring Tornado into being.”
The “A1” steam engines were designed by Arthur Peppercorn (born January 1889, died March 1951), the last Chief Mechanical Engineer of the London and North Eastern Railway (LNER). The A1s were the last in a line of express, passenger steam locomotives which operated on the East Coast Main Line. Famous examples include the Flying Scotsman and Mallard.The project to build and operate a new steam engine was launched in 1990 by the “The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust” – a registered charity – to fill the missing link in express passenger locomotives from London to the North of England and Scotland. The new engine will haul charter trains on Network Rail as well as historic preserved railways. Following this event, the engine’s first departure from London Kings Cross will take place on 18th April.
The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust built Peppercorn class A1 Pacific 60163 Tornado at its Darlington Locomotive Works. Fitted with additional water capacity and the latest railway safety electronics, Tornado is fully equipped for today’s main line railway. Funds to build Tornado have been raised through deeds of covenant, commercial sponsorship (principal sponsor William Cook Cast Products Limited), commercial loans and through a bond issue. The Trust is still seeking to raise funds to repay the £832,000 borrowed to complete her construction. For details of how to help or where to travel behind Tornado telephone 01325 4 60163, visit www.a1steam.com or email enquiries@a1steam.com.Saturday 18th April 2009 - The Yorkshire Pullman – King’s Cross to York and return by Tornado hauling the VSOE British Pullman train. Only Pullman class available at £449 per person. Booking agent is Steam Dreams on 01483 209886.Photographs of original A1s and Tornado are available on request from keith.drury@a1steam.com.
