Birmingham New Street Station once echoed the sounds of steam, but has not seen a steam train enter the station northbound through its famous tunnels for over 40 years.  The station, electrified in 1967 as part of the then British Railways modernisation programme, has been frequented by electric and diesel traction since.  But the once distant sounds of steam and whistle made a welcome return at the weekend – if only for a fleeting moment.

(A link to footage of the event can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzanQuF3L88) 

‘The Cathedrals Express’, hauled by Tornado, was travelling north between London Euston and Worcester Shrub Hill.  The train passed through Birmingham New Street on Saturday 14^th September at 11.25. The A1 class steam locomotives were not regular visitors to the West Coast Main Line at Birmingham during the days of steam, being a much more familiar sight north of Crewe or on their native East Coast Main Line.

2013 marks the fifth anniversary of Tornado’s historic first moves in front of the world’s press on 1^st August 2008.  The event, which was covered live on BBC News throughout the day, was covered as far away as Australia, Russia and Japan, and attended by Dorothy Mather, the widow of Arthur Peppercorn, the locomotive’s designer.

Since then Tornado has become one of the busiest steam locomotives on the Network Rail main line, having covered 70,000 miles since her completion at Darlington Locomotive Works. Her passing through Birmingham New Street Station joins one of the many highlights of the past five years.

Mark Allatt, Chairman, The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust, commented, “It’s hard to believe that it is already five years ago that Tornado first turned a wheel in anger. 70,000 miles and countless adventures later Tornado continues to do what she was built for – hauling express passenger trains on Network Rail at speed, thrilling and enthralling passengers and line-siders alike – and now at Birmingham New Street Station.  None of this would have been possible without the dedication, professionalism and generosity of our covenantors, volunteers, contractors and other supporters. As the plaques attached to Tornado state, ‘this locomotive was built and paid for by people who shared a vision and were determined to turn it into reality.’”