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A1 60163 Tornado

After the second world war the railways of Britain were not only in a state of near dilapidation but were very short of experienced maintenance staff and footplate crews. There was a need for locomotives which would respond well to these conditions and also be capable of hauling much heavier trains than in the halcyon days prior to the war. The London and North Eastern Railway responded to this need by producing the A1 class locomotives which had the largest firebox of all the LNER pacifics at 50 square feet. The locomotives were designed by Arthur Peppercorn and quickly proved that they were capable of hauling anything hung on the draw hook, they steamed well and were much lighter on maintenance than their predecessors. Sadly in the rush to remove steam power all were cut up by 1966.

There the story would have ended had it not been for The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust which built another one completing the job in 2008, 60 years after the first of the class were built. Remarkably Arthur Peppercorn's widow, Dorothy, is president of the Trust. The construction was largely funded by many people contributing a small sum each month and the completed locomotive is a testimony to their vision. At a cost of £3 million this new locomotive is a wonderful addition to the Cathedrals Express and to main line steam in general.

60163 presently carries the livery which graced the first 30 of the original locomotives which is LNER apple green with black and white lining and "BRITISH RAILWAYS" written in full on the tender as in 1948 the newly formed organization had not adopted any emblem or crest for its locomotives. The whole of the locomotive and tender is hand painted.

For further details about Tornado log on to www.a1steam.com