THE

TORNADO No. 53 July 2014 TELEGRAPH

Tornado once again took on Shap Bank during the running of ‘The Border Raider’ on 5th July. A superb performance saw the locomotive fl atten the Cumbrian Fells once more, running from Crewe to Carlisle and back. The full story will appear in the next edition of The Communication Cord. Jack Beeston Tornado and a complete rake of carmine & cream coaches pass Lambrigg.

Departure is from Exeter St. Davids NEWS BRIEFS (only) and if passengers chose to alight Welcome at Central the walk is downhill, or l ‘THE DEVON BELLE’ – On 25th ... to issue No. 53 there are frequent local trains for the August, Tornado’s destination is the proud of The Tornado two minute journey. The homeward West Country city of Exeter, a round trip Telegraph. No. run is over Whiteball summit, through 60163 has had a of over 350 miles with steam all the way! Taunton to Castle Cary where the busy July, starting This is a slightly circular tour of Wessex. train rejoins the outward route. The with an epic run Beginning with a journey down the winding head chef will have prepared a special over the West Great Western ‘Berks & Hants’ line as far as dinner featuring locally sourced Coast Main Line to Carlisle and Castle Cary, the train turns left on to the products from local Somerset and back, a visit to the seaside at single track branch to Yeovil Pen Mill before farms and suppliers to be and a movement to taking the little-used spur to Yeovil Junction enjoyed by those who have opted to the at the end and join the Southern Railway’s West of dine on board - enjoy! of the month. On 25th August Main Line. Entering Devon near Torwnado revisits the West Axminster there will then be the chance to Country with ‘The Devon Belle’ enjoy the sound of Tornado hard at work STATION DEPART ARRIVE from to Exeter – there on the ascent of Honiton Bank. On the London Paddington 07.50 21.55 are still seats available so book outward journey the train will stop briefl y here now! Slough (for M25) 08.15 21.20 at Exeter Central, close by the cathedral graham.langer@ a1steam.com and the excellent shopping centre, before Reading 08.50 20.45 Editor of The Tornado Telegraph arriving at Exeter St. Davids for a break of Newbury 09.20 20.15 around three hours. ➤ John Wilkinson l ‘THE BORDER RAIDER’ 5TH JULY – Tornado worked the train (which had started from Euston with electric traction) from Crewe to Carlisle and back, recording some superb sectional times on both legs of the tour. It was a very long day for the support crew and fundraising team, most of whom were up before dawn and got to bed long after the sun had set! l VISIT – Following her success in the north west, Tornado is seen working Tornado moved ‘down south’ to operate a driver experience trains on the Swanage Railway over the course at Swanage. weekend of 12th and 13th July, followed by a stint working driver experience namely L Hunt & Sons of Basingstoke. Tornado’s . Following the success courses on the line the week after. With a huge image of the P2 on the of our Regular and Dedicated Donation nearside and Tornado on the offside, schemes for the construction of Tornado, l TORNADO ON THE we are sure this eye-catching trailer the Trustees have on a similar method BLUEBELL AGAIN – Following last will be seen everywhere – keep an eye for the purchase of the tender. However, year’s tumultuous visit, becoming the out for it! instead of “an A1 for the price of a pint” first to work a main and “use your loaf”, we’ve decided to line railtour over the l GET (A TENDER) BEHIND raise the funds in a different way, “The extension, Tornado has retraced her TORNADO – Join ‘The 163 Pacifics 163 Pacifics Club”. AlthoughTornado steps to work service trains on the Club’ and make Tornado debt free. carries the number ‘60163’, her pre- Bluebell Railway over the last week of The first debts to be repaid by the nationalisation LNER number would July and the first week of August. Trust were the bridging and personal have been ‘163’. If 163 people were to loans that financed the final dash to donate £10pm over the eight years until l KEEP ON TRUCKIN’ - Key to completion. In July 2013 we were able we need to purchase the tender (or The Trust’s ongoing success is raising to announce the early repayment of the alternatively make a one-off donation awareness beyond the core railway £500,000 Bearer Bond at the end of the of £960) with the addition of Gift Aid enthusiast community, securing support 2013. The final step to makeTornado (£2.50pm or £240 one-off) this would and donations from the wider general debt-free is to purchase 60163’s tender, raise £195,600. public. In an ambitious move for a new which is currently on a 15 year lease As with the previous schemes, this build steam locomotive project, The from William Cook Cast Products Ltd. initiative comes with benefits for those Trust has secured the services of a 40ft ‘The 163 Pacifics Club’ is starting to who generously take part: mobile billboard to help not only spread gain traction with 22% of the £200,000 l A numbered certificate (1-163) the message and drive funding, but already donated or pledged – but there recording the details of the donation secure a mutually beneficial relationship is still a long way to go. and the number/name of your favourite with one of the countries longest How you can help: We need to pacific from the Gresley A3s/A4s, serving road hauliers as haulage partner, raise £200,000 by 2021 to purchase Thompson A1/1s and Peppercorn A1s. Tim Beere

➤ l Name inscribed on the official Roll Contact [email protected] for details No. 2007 Prince of Wales continues of Honour in Darlington Locomotive of smoke box number plates carried by to make rapid advances. Over 340 Works which will detail the pacific Tornado for £200 people have joined The Founders sponsored. Club and more than 500 have signed l Entry into a draw for a main line l PHOTOGRAPHIC up as Covenantors. The frames were footplate-ride on Tornado. COMPETITION – During 2014 machined at Boro’ Foundry and have It really is that simple! With your help we will be running a photographic now been erected at Darlington Tornado could be debt free with her competition. We will pick a winning Locomotive Works. They were officially paid-for tender behind by 2021. Please entry from images taken of Tornado dedicated by Darlington MP Jenny complete the donation form today. during the year with the lucky Chapman and Mayor Gerald Lee on Thank you. contestant landing a brace of premier Saturday 19th July. Over the weekend of dining tickets on one of our trains in 18th to 20th July hundreds of Founders, l ONLINE STORE NEWS - See 2015. Covenantors, other supporters and our online store for everything for members of the public were able to the Tornado enthusiast, from pens to l P2 PROGRESS – The project to view them at the works. You can see all models, children’s t shirts to adult fleece. build a new Gresley class P2 ‘Mikado’ the latest news on the P2 website

TOURS DIARY 2014

l 28th July to 3rd August– Bluebell Railway l 4th October– Annual Convention – Barrow Hill Roundhouse l 25th August – ‘The Devon Belle’ London to Exeter and return - Bookings through UK Railtours The Trust respectfully requests that anyone wanting to see Tornado follows the rules of the railway and only goes where permitted. l 13th and 14th September– Gala Please carefully check Tornado’s dates of operation and services on the any Heritage line visits using the relevant l 27th and 28th September – ‘Barrow Hill Live’ at website links below as actual dates/times of operation Barrow Hill Roundhouse may vary.

Preserved railways and tour companies with whom we are working in 2014:

The Bluebell Railway, tel: 01825 720800 web: www.bluebell-railway.co.uk The Nene Valley Railway, tel: 01780 784444 web: www.nvr.org.uk Barrow Hill Roundhouse, tel: 01246 472450 web: www.barrowhill.org UK Railtours, tel: 01438 715050 web: UK Railtours White Rose UK Railtours Border Raider

HELP THE TRUST Published by Your support as Covenantors, Donors and Volunteers remains vital. The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust Darlington Locomotive Works l DONATIONS – We continue to encourage donations of all shapes and Hopetown Lane sizes (every pound counts). DARLINGTON l COVENANTORS – We always welcome new Covenantors as we have DL3 6RQ overhauls and repairs to fund and still need to finance the balance of the support coach conversion – click here www.a1steam.com l VOLUNTEERS – Do you have skills that could help the Trust? We can always use extra pairs of hands. If you enjoy meeting people, please [email protected] consider joining our merchandising team at events and on tours. If your talents involve engineering, locomotive cleaning, or back office work, we can Edited by always find something for you to do. Contact [email protected] for [email protected] more details. l LEGACY PROGRAMME – We now have a Legacy Giving facility – click here Designed by Debbie Nolan for details. Picture Editor l 163 CLUB - join The 163 Pacifics Club to complete the financing of [email protected] Tornado. See the details here.