LNER Class A1 60163 Tornado is a new build main line coal-fired steam locomotive built by the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust at the Darlington and Doncaster Works. Completed in 2008, Tornado was the first such locomotive built in the United Kingdom since BR Standard Class 9F 92220 Evening Star, the last steam locomotive built by British Railways in 1960. It is the only example of an LNER Peppercorn Class A1 locomotive in existence, the entirety of the original production batch having been scrapped without preservation. The locomotive's namesake is the Panavia Tornado, a combat aircraft flown by the Royal Air Force.
Construction of Tornado began in 1994 and was based at Darlington Works for most of the project, while numerous components such as the boiler were manufactured elsewhere. The project was financed through fundraising initiatives such as public donations and sponsorship deals; further funding came from hiring out Tornado itself for special rail services. Construction was completed in 2008 and full certification of the locomotive was achieved in January 2009. Having been designed with compliance to modern safety and certification standards, Tornado has been conducting passenger services on Network Rail and on mainline-connected heritage railways since 2008.
Upon completion in 2008, Tornado was painted in the BR Works Grey livery, but later repainted in the BR Apple Green livery in January 2009, following its full mainline certification. In May 2011, Tornado was repainted in the BR Brunswick Green livery. In November 2012, Tornado was repainted in the BR Express Passenger Blue livery, making it one of only four steam locomotives to operate in the BR Express Passenger Blue livery in the preservation era, the others being LNER A4 Class 4498 Sir Nigel Gresley, GWR King Class 6023 King Edward II, and LNER A2 Class 60532 Blue Peter. It was then removed from service in December 2014 for an overhaul, but later returned to service in July 2015 and repainted back in the BR Apple Green livery. In April 2017, Tornado became the first steam locomotive to officially reach 100 MPH in over 50 years on British tracks. Unfortunately, in April 2018, Tornado suffered a major breakdown while hauling an excursion and was removed from service for the remainder of the 2018 operating season for major repairs, eventually returning to service in January 2019. In September 2020, Tornado was repainted back in the BR Brunswick Green livery. In 2023, Tornado was removed from service to undergo another overhaul. As of late August 2024, the overhaul has been completed and Tornado returned to service repainted back in the BR Apple Green livery. However, Tornado was recently repainted back in the BR Brunswick Green livery in early March 2025.
Appearances in Media[]
- On April 25, 2009, Tornado hauled a 10-coach Cathedrals Express charter from London King's Cross to Edinburgh Waverley. This private train was filmed by the BBC for a Top Gear race, in which Jeremy Clarkson on the train raced James May in a Jaguar XJ120 and Richard Hammond on a Vincent Black Shadow motorbike. Tornado was booked to complete the 390.2-mile (628.0 km) journey in 8 hours 2 minutes, without any passenger stops at stations, but with four water stops on route at Grantham, York, Tyne Yard and Berwick-upon-Tweed, totaling 95 minutes booked stoppage time. May and Hammond were restricted to using A-roads. In a close finish, Tornado came second behind the Jaguar, with a difference of only about ten minutes between them. The train was formed from the maroon support coach and a uniform rake of nine Royal Scot blood and custard coaches. The race featured in the first episode of the show's thirteenth series, airing on June 21, 2009.
- Tornado, as well as LMS Hughes Crab No. 13065 appeared in the 2018 film, Paddington 2. In the film, No. 13065 was pulling a circus train that Paddington Bear climbed aboard at the GWR's terminus, Paddington. His family chased after him by climbing on board Tornado, who was due out with an express at the same time. A chase ensued between these two locomotives, with Tornado easily keeping up with No. 13065.
- The locomotive is in the game "TrainStation".
- This engine's whistle sound was recorded as a stock sound effect and has been used in media.
See also[]
- LMS-Patriot Project
- Pennsylvania Railroad 5550
- GWR 6800 Class 6880 Betton Grange
- Steam locomotives of the 21st century
Gallery[]
