Rising Dawn

Tornado

Historic loco in action for first time From The Northern Echo
THE first new steam locomotive in Britain for almost half a century chugged into action this morning.

I remember this project being launched and thought it was a long shot to build a mainline steam loco from scratch. At that time they said it would cost £1million.

Today Tornado was unveiled to the press. So far it’s cost closer to £3million.

I heard about it today on Up All Night on 5Live when I couldn’t sleep at 4am! It has to be tested before it comes to York for painting in the LNER livery. Can’t wait to see it in action.

The steam era on British Rail officially ended almost forty years ago in August 1968 when a Britannia Class engine named “Oliver Cromwell” hauled a train from Liverpool Lime Street to Carlisle. The story is told here:

A new exhibition about the end of steam hauled trains opens at the National Railway Museum in York on May 24 called 1968 and all that.  It’s only there for the half term holiday until 1st June. Entrance to the museum if free but it’ll cost you £11 for the exhibition.