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Crowd salutes rebirth of railway steam power
About 1,000 people have gathered in York to wave off the first new steam locomotive to be built in Britain for almost 50 years as it embarked on its maiden main line passenger journey.
The £3m Peppercorn class A1 60163 Tornado left the station shortly after its scheduled time of 12.07pm with 500 railway enthusiasts on board.
Seats on the journey were reserved for those who helped raise the millions of pounds needed to build the engine.
Huge crowds packed platforms nine and 10 of York railway station to watch the locomotive as it left with its first passenger train on its return journey to Newcastle.
Silence fell among the onlookers as the apple green engine blew huge plumes of thick, grey steam and sounded its whistle as it prepared to leave.
The engine is the result of an 18-year project to build the steam locomotive and return it to main line rail service.
The train - The Peppercorn Pioneer - is a repeat of the one pulled by the last passenger steam engine, 60145 Saint Mungo, on 31 December 1965, shortly before it was scrapped.
Tornado was built by the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust at its site in Darlington and was based on the original designs of Arthur Peppercorn, the last chief mechanical engineer of the London and North Eastern Railway.
It was unveiled by Mr Peppercorn`s widow, Dorothy Mather, at an official ceremony in Darlington in August last year.
The engine was later painted in the distinctive apple green colour worn by the first 30 Peppercorn class A1s to be built, before going on display at the National Railway Museum, in York.
About 1,000 people have gathered in York to wave off the first new steam locomotive to be built in Britain for almost 50 years as it embarked on its maiden main line passenger journey.
The £3m Peppercorn class A1 60163 Tornado left the station shortly after its scheduled time of 12.07pm with 500 railway enthusiasts on board.
Seats on the journey were reserved for those who helped raise the millions of pounds needed to build the engine.
Huge crowds packed platforms nine and 10 of York railway station to watch the locomotive as it left with its first passenger train on its return journey to Newcastle.
Silence fell among the onlookers as the apple green engine blew huge plumes of thick, grey steam and sounded its whistle as it prepared to leave.
The engine is the result of an 18-year project to build the steam locomotive and return it to main line rail service.
The train - The Peppercorn Pioneer - is a repeat of the one pulled by the last passenger steam engine, 60145 Saint Mungo, on 31 December 1965, shortly before it was scrapped.
Tornado was built by the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust at its site in Darlington and was based on the original designs of Arthur Peppercorn, the last chief mechanical engineer of the London and North Eastern Railway.
It was unveiled by Mr Peppercorn`s widow, Dorothy Mather, at an official ceremony in Darlington in August last year.
The engine was later painted in the distinctive apple green colour worn by the first 30 Peppercorn class A1s to be built, before going on display at the National Railway Museum, in York.
If only it wasn't true.A picture would be nice. Great to hear that, to be reminded where Britain founded its engineering expertise is excellent. The Government should be throwing money at this stuff, not plundering our future trying to fix financial has beens. Made in England should be priority once again.
Gordy's new motto "privatise the profit, socialise the loss" - Idiot.
Gordy's new motto "privatise the profit, socialise the loss" - Idiot.
Loads of videos on YouTube already.
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=QSWh1qlhhxs
If that doesn't get the hairs on the back of your neck standing up then get out!
On it's run to London, it will be pulling 13 carriages. That is a mere 500 tons!
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=QSWh1qlhhxs
If that doesn't get the hairs on the back of your neck standing up then get out!
On it's run to London, it will be pulling 13 carriages. That is a mere 500 tons!
Simpo Two said:
Not sure why they built a new one from scratch than restored an old one.
There are no surviving Peppercorn class. All 49 were scrapped. This is considered by the guys that built it, to be no. 50. Its an evoloution of the design, incorporating the expected modifcations and upgrades along with modern day safety requirements. Its a brand new Loco and its bloody awesome!Simpo Two said:
Not sure why they built a new one from scratch than restored an old one.
As for the energy source, if coal is cheaper than electricity, why not? Burning coal to produce electricity will only incur efficiency losses.
Apparently the old ones are restricted on where they can run.The Tornado has been designed to current specs & can run mixed in with modern traffic on electrified lines.As for the energy source, if coal is cheaper than electricity, why not? Burning coal to produce electricity will only incur efficiency losses.
Simpo Two said:
Not sure why they built a new one from scratch than restored an old one.
All cut up so nowt to restore. I saw the two documentaries on the rebuilding and admire their perseverance, but wish someone would come up with a radical project which moves steam power into the 21st century rather than looking back to the early/mid 20th.Perhaps with today's technology O.V Bulleid's ideas would have been more successful.
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