bunnahabhain
Established Member
- Joined
- 8 Jun 2005
- Messages
- 2,070
Tornado strikes at the Great Central Railway!
23rd August 2005
Britains first new mainline steam engine to be built in 50 years will have a mainline home right from the moment it turns its first wheel!
In a major announcement, the Loughborough based heritage line and The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust have joined forces for a deal which will see 60163, 'Tornado', heading to Loughborough for commissioning, high speed testing and passenger work.
'Were thrilled to bits,' said Tony Sparks, chairman of the GCR, 'Well be offering support to the A1 Trust who will be testing the engine on our double track at 60mph! The engine will stay with us for several months for trials and well be the first place you can sample the performance of this newly built engine. This Tornado is a storm every railway enthusiast is looking forward to!'
Tornado is now a little over two years from completion. The last important component, the boiler, is being built in Germany. News that the tender has found a sponsor makes a steaming date of November 2007 possible provided that an additional £370,000 can be raised in the meantime.
Chairman of The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust, Mark Allatt said, 'Right from Tornados first streaming shell be a mainline engine! Announcing this tie-up with the Great Central is very exciting for us and hopefully will inspire our supporters to help us finance the last push to complete the loco. The GCR is known as a centre of engineering excellence and will be able to give us all the right technical support we need through those first steamings and gives us a venue in the heart of the UK for 60163s first trains. Weve been able to work out a good deal which benefits the trust and the railway'
With Britannia Class engine, No 70013, Oliver Cromwell also scheduled for completion around the same time that 'Tornado' is first steamed, Christmas 2007 could be a very special time to be around the Great Central Railway. 'Were humbled that the Trust has chosen to work with us,' added Tony, 'Its more than a feather in our cap - its an investment of trust in the future of the railway.'
23rd August 2005
Britains first new mainline steam engine to be built in 50 years will have a mainline home right from the moment it turns its first wheel!
In a major announcement, the Loughborough based heritage line and The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust have joined forces for a deal which will see 60163, 'Tornado', heading to Loughborough for commissioning, high speed testing and passenger work.
'Were thrilled to bits,' said Tony Sparks, chairman of the GCR, 'Well be offering support to the A1 Trust who will be testing the engine on our double track at 60mph! The engine will stay with us for several months for trials and well be the first place you can sample the performance of this newly built engine. This Tornado is a storm every railway enthusiast is looking forward to!'
Tornado is now a little over two years from completion. The last important component, the boiler, is being built in Germany. News that the tender has found a sponsor makes a steaming date of November 2007 possible provided that an additional £370,000 can be raised in the meantime.
Chairman of The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust, Mark Allatt said, 'Right from Tornados first streaming shell be a mainline engine! Announcing this tie-up with the Great Central is very exciting for us and hopefully will inspire our supporters to help us finance the last push to complete the loco. The GCR is known as a centre of engineering excellence and will be able to give us all the right technical support we need through those first steamings and gives us a venue in the heart of the UK for 60163s first trains. Weve been able to work out a good deal which benefits the trust and the railway'
With Britannia Class engine, No 70013, Oliver Cromwell also scheduled for completion around the same time that 'Tornado' is first steamed, Christmas 2007 could be a very special time to be around the Great Central Railway. 'Were humbled that the Trust has chosen to work with us,' added Tony, 'Its more than a feather in our cap - its an investment of trust in the future of the railway.'
