Railtours by Sophie Bunker-James TORNADO TOUR
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Anniversary Edition 30 th 60163 TORNADO 2007 PRINCE OF WALES 3403 ANON New Steam for the Main Line Building Britain’s Most Powerful Steam Locomotive Recreating Gresley’s last design THE COMMUNICATION CORD No. 59 Autumn 2020 Charlotte Graham Tornado straddles the original Stockton & Darlington Railway Skerne Bridge in Darlington, working a trip to launch the countdown to ‘SDR 200’ in 2025. COUNTDOWN TO ‘SDR 200’ by Graham Langer On 27th September, No. 60163 operated a newly renovated Skerne Bridge, close celebrations in five years’ time. The A1 private charter for members of Darlington to Tornado’s birthplace in Hopetown. Steam Locomotive Trust, Tornado, Prince of Borough Council along what is left of The trip marked the 195th Anniversary Wales and Darlington Locomotive Works the original Stockton & Darlington of the S&D and fired the starting gun 2 will all be at the centre of events in the route, pausing for a photoshoot on the for the countdown to the bi-centenary town. TCC 1 CONTENTS EDItorIAL by Graham Langer FROM THE CHAIR by Steve Davies PAGE 1 Countdown to ‘SDR 200’ As we continue to ride the Covid-19 roller-coaster it would f we thought distanced VIP party from Middlesbrough is firing on all cylinders (pun intended? PAGE 2 be very easy to become despondent at the effect it is having matters to Shildon, traversing as much as Ed.), and a major review of our on the country, the economy and, where we are concerned, relating to practical of the original route. The processes is paying dividends in terms Contents I Editorial the heritage railway industry. However, in the midst of all Covid-19 might highlight of the proceedings was a of the cohesion of what we are trying PAGE 3 this uncertainty there are a great many things to be thankful ease then I’m photo opportunity on the top of Skerne to plan and deliver. The pony truck for, particularly the help heritage railways have received from afraid we were Bridge (which subsequently made the really looks the part, and the machined From the Chair central government and the National Lottery as well as the in for a rude national press) which had been restored rods are now arriving at Darlington – PAGE 4 support local councils have provided. One thing the A1 awakening. The in advance to immaculate condition by we look forward to exciting you with 2020 Convention PAGE 6 Steam Locomotive Trust has never been short of is optimism! pandemic, and our friends at Network Rail. The next images of some of the rods fitted to Without this vital ingredient the project to build a new A1 would never have seen its associated stop was North Road station where key the driving wheels, before too long. 30 years on PAGE 10 the light of day, the team ignoring the nay-sayers who condemned the scheme at movement and socialising restrictions, officials from Darlington and Stockton The next major milestone is to finalise the outset, overcoming the phenomenal challenges (both engineering and financial) has driven a coach and horses through Borough Councils jointly marked the the design of the cylinders and to A1 Engineering report PAGE 12 and succeeding to become the first organisation to build a main line steam railway heritage operations, with the start of the five-year countdown to get the tendering process underway, locomotive in Britain since 1960. main line scene affected just as much as the Bicentenary celebrations. We as which we hope to kick-start before Tornado on tour - None of this would have been possible without the extraordinary people who the preservation world. We managed to a Trust are earmarked to play a major 'The Queen of Scots' Christmas. All this continues to require PAGE 14 put their faith in the Board and engineers at the Trust, the Covenantors. This squeeze in two really impressive main role in SDR 200 (current nomenclature a considerable flow of finance, and year we are celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the founding of this remarkable line runs with Tornado (‘The Queen of shorthand for the event), not least Tornado on tour - we are most grateful for the way our 'The Ticket to Ride' organisation and it was deeply disappointing that we were unable to meet as usual Scots’ and ‘The Ticket to Ride’) before as we will be occupying brand new contributors and supporters continue PAGE 17 for the annual Convention, losing that opportunity to catch up with old friends the Covid restrictions tightened, but premises courtesy of the overall to dig deep to get this amazing project Tornado on tour - and have a look round No. 2007 Prince of Wales, not to mention a jolly good dinner then were able pick up some work strategic plan for Darlington’s new completed - I can assure you all that Prelude to ‘SDR 200’, a private on the Saturday night! We hope as many of you as possible managed to catch the with our friends at the Railway Touring Railway Heritage Quarter. It is of your money is being spent wisely. In charter ‘virtual’ Convention presentations on YouTube, indeed we have had some plaudits Company. Unfortunately, their entire course our intention that both Tornado the last edition of TCC, we announced PAGE 18 for doing this from Covenantors who are usually unable to physically attend the November programme has been and Prince of Wales will feature in a that Richard Courteney-Harris had Railtours event. The Convention is still available to view on the A1 YouTube channel (use this put on hold and we now wait with ‘Darlington’s Own’ double act, a very become an adviser to the Board on Tornado Tour Diary 2020 link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=newhzKDflJU&t=178s), indeed, it has bated breath to see if we will be able exciting prospect I’m sure you the P2 project. Things move fast at PAGE 19 now had over 5,000 views! Thank you to all of you who donated your anticipated to return to operations this side of will agree. Darlington! I am delighted that Richard Volunteers attendance costs to the Trust afterwards. Christmas. I hope so, as we are keen Despite the current travel restrictions, has now accepted our invitation to Covenantors' Diary In this edition of The Communication Cord, David Champion takes a walk down to show off Tornado’s spectacular new a small group of us managed to visit become a Trustee. PAGE 20 memory lane, listing some of the highlights of the last 30 years – I have to confess, BR Green livery (courtesy of the great Meiningen to check on progress Finally, I would make the obvious The big picture reviewing some of these events reminded me of the unparalleled excitement many team at West Coast Railways) to an with the boilers. It will come as no point that in our 30th anniversary year it PAGE 22 of us felt at each milestone moment during the building and operation of Tornado. even wider audience than that we have surprise to you that Covid has had was hugely disappointing not to be able A1 profile - No. 60130 Kestrel For those who have joined the Trust since we completed our A1 it is hard to so far been able to reach. On that same an impact on the pace of work over to gather for our annual Convention. PAGE 24 convey the pleasure to be had from watching your locomotive take shape, grow subject, thank you to those supporters there, and that the first boiler will The ability to get together, the P2 engineering update in size and then move under its own power for the first time. This is not some who have written expressing their now be slightly delayed. However, a opportunity to hear first-hand about PAGE 30 vicarious thrill gained third hand, this is your moment and it only happens once delight that we have gone down this revised delivery date of early spring progress and to generally socialise in Ask David Elliott with each new locomotive. Help us to fulfil your dream by supporting our Birthday livery route. Many of you appear to be next year for the first boiler does convivial company is surely the glue PAGE 31 Appeals and breathing life into these superb locomotives. TCC very, very happy to see the engine as not impact on our programme, and that binds us all together. However, The P2 Support Coach Appeal you remember the class in the 1950s the second boiler remains on track the ‘virtual’ convention went far better P2 Roadshows and 1960s. I have replied personally for completion in December 2021. than I could have expected, and I hope PAGE 32 to all those who wrote as it is my firm Needless to say, Meiningen continues you all appreciate the time and effort The Boiler Club policy that if you take the trouble to to impress with the sheer scale and which went into making it happen. No PAGE 33 write personally then we should afford quality of its operation. For those doubt we will be using this medium The race is on to get up steam! you the courtesy of a personal reply. who have never been, I would regard a more often in future. In closing, could I Workshop notes Tornado is currently stabled at the NRM visit to Meiningen to be one of those therefore thank you all for continuing to PAGE 34 in York, and I would wish to place on bucket-list activities all railway heritage support the Trust, across a broad range We are half-way there! record my sincere gratitude for the way aficionados should try and accomplish of activity.