Peppercorn Pair
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The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust THE New Steam for the Main Line COMMUNICATION CORD No. 14 January 2009 Peppercorn pair On November 6 ‘A1’ No. 60163 Tornado was posed together with Peppercorn relation ‘A2’ No. 60532 Blue Peter at Barrow Hill. Nick Brodrick/ Steam Railway ➤ 1 Editorial FROM THE ChaIR Under the cover of darkness, the ‘A1’ is turned on By Mark Allatt Scarborough’s turntable mid-way through the first ithout doubt, 2008 York in December. It was main line test run in November 4. was the most the kind of event that shows I must admit that even I am running significant year our movement off at its very W out of superlatives! What a past few for the Trust. best, so there will, of course, months it has been. Elsewhere in this It seems almost unreal to be a great number of people edition of TCC Nick Brodrick talks think that so much happened eagerly awaiting Tornado’s about our move to the National in the space of just 12 months: naming ceremony early next Railway Museum in York, our its first steaming, first moves, running year. successful test runs and finally the in trials, main line testing and launch in This will be the last issue of TCC launch of Tornado in her first proper apple green. Not bad going for a brand that I will have the pleasure of editing. livery of apple green with ‘British new locomotive, eh? Regretfully, owing to circumstances Railways’ on the tender. Molyneux-BerryA1SLT Paul / The locomotive has achieved these beyond my control, it has become The people of the National Railway milestones with little fuss for such impossible for me to continue the Museum have gone out of their way to make Tornado most welcome an imposing locomotive; inspiration role – so my apologies that my spell at during her stay. Nothing has been too in itself for other new build project Editor has been quite so short lived. much trouble – thank you Andrew groups around the country. Thanks for your support over the Scott and your superb team. If it It was great to meet some of you past year. All the best for the future hadn’t been for the NRM having the at the launch of Tornado in green at – and take care. Nick Brodrick, Editor original drawings for the Peppercorn class ‘A1s’ our project would have been still-born. It has been such a MAIN LINE MAGIC Evening Star; the first built ‘Pacific’ since pleasure to bring an ‘A1’ back to York of the project compiled by our archivist No. 60163 rolls onto the ‘Britannia No. 70054 Dornoch Firth; and the 43 years after the last one - 60145 Keith Drury. I’d like to express my thanks national network in fine style first ‘A1’ in traffic since No. 60145 Saint Saint Mungo – left for the final time. to Alexa Stott and her team of helpers By Nick Brodrick Mungo, to name but a few! As you can read elsewhere for handling the day’s logistics and making Just two days later, on the evening of in TCC14 our locomotive’s the launch such an enjoyable experience. Tornado’s done it! Since the last issue of November 6, Tornado not only hauled her performance on the Network Rail It is thanks to your continued The Communication Cord was published, loaded 60mph trial train, but was also main line has been phenomenal. We generosity that we have come this far. No. 60163 Tornado has undertaken – and briefly united with smaller ‘sister’ ‘A2’ No. were witness to the extraordinary However, once Tornado enters service completed – three successful main line 60532 Blue Peter in a remarkable evening’s sight of hundreds, if not thousands, on Network Rail we will need to raise Drury/Keith A1SLT test runs. events at Barrow Hill Roundhouse. With of people turning out to see all three in excess of £800,000 to service the East coast seaside town Scarborough the requirement to service the ‘A1’ of our test runs. However it was the loans taken out and Bond issue taken was the first destination on November during her brief time at the preserved final run on November 18/19 that up to ensure the locomotive’s long term 4, originating from York, where the Midland Railway-built shed, the chance I found most moving; I’m not sure operations. Then there is the matter of locomotive is currently based at the was gratuitously taken to pose the when York, Thirsk, Northallerton, at least £50,000 needed to put our own National Railway Museum. With just the Peppercorn-pair together for a special Darlington, Durham, Chester-le- fully equipped and certified support Expectant trust supporters and the media await the unveiling of locomotive’s support coach in tow, the photo-call. Street and Newcastle stations hosted coach behind the locomotive. No. 60163 in her freshly applied British Railways apple green livery. ‘A1’ comfortably coped with her 50mph The monthly railway magazines have so many people! As November 19 We are therefore more keen than maximum speed timings. had a tough job knowing which angles to was my birthday, I can think of no ever to encourage as many supporters new website www.a1steam.com. traction) using the VSOE’s British Pullman Humble beginnings perhaps, but nothing cover! better way to have celebrated it! as possible to join us by either becoming Finally, our first trains on the Network train on Thursday February 26, so please takes away from the significance of the For many however, the big night was December 13 brought over 500 a Covenantor, making a donation, taking Rail main line will be from York to put these dates in your diary and help event which saw a myriad of milestones the 75mph loaded trial from York to covenantors and their guests in York out a dedicated donation to sponsor a Newcastle and return on Saturday us to fill these trains... with all profits to chalked off in a single evening: first new Newcastle... to attend our annual convention part of the locomotive (there are still January 31 and Sunday February 1 2009. the Trust. We will inform you of details main line passenger locomotive to run on Immediately prior to the trip, the and then descend on the National many components left to support even As usual this will be for Covenantors and of future events and milestones as the national network since ‘9F’ No. 92220 locomotive’s tender lost the A1 Trust Railway Museum for Tornado’s launch. though almost all of them are already on their guests only. This will be followed by soon as we can– please keep an eye on It was a real honour to be alongside the locomotive!) and/or subscribing to the ‘Talisman’, running from Darlington the events section of our website for The run that everyone was Arthur Peppercorn’s widow and our our Bond issue. If you know anyone who and York to London Kings Cross the latest information. I look forward waiting for… Tornado screams president, Dorothy Mather, as she led wants to become part of Tornado please (returning with modern traction), on to seeing you in York for yet another through Durham on November the unveiling of Tornado in the Great encourage them to come on-board. Saturday February 7 and the ‘Yorkshire momentous occasion. In the meantime I’d 18 with the 75mph loaded test Hall. The Trustees also presented Details on all of these can be found in Pullman’, running from London Kings like to take this opportunity to wish you run en route to Newcastle. Dorothy with a photographic record the ‘how you can help’ section of our Cross to York (returning with modern all a happy and prosperous New Year. TCC website transfers (www.a1steam. Top Link column in Steam Railway 357). applied by the father and son duo of Ian ‘A1’ class designer Arthur Peppercorn, com) to make way for the application The consensus of the run settled with and Dan Matthews of M Machine (who observing that “he would have been so of National Express’ corporate logo, in the conclusion that the high-speed effort had previously applied the grey livery at proud.” recognition of its sponsorship of the train. was nothing short of phenomenal. Darlington) with Tony Filby, the NRM’s Tornado was launched inside the Great Watched by huge crowds at stations Soon after it was a much more quiet painter, applying the lettering and Mike Hall on the same road as Mallard and the and various locations on the 76 ¼ mile existence for the ‘A1’ as it was taken into ‘Tomo’ Thompson the lining.On December dynamometer car. East Coast Main Line route, Tornado the NRM’s paintshop where she received 13, the locomotive was revealed to All is now set for her official naming covered the distance in a mere 81 minutes her apple green paint (supplied courtesy of Covenantors and the assembled media and much-anticipated covenantors’ trains Andy Graves/ A1SLT Andy Graves/ (information sourced from Mike Notley’s Craftmaster Paints) and varnish; superbly by president Dorothy Mather, widow of between York and Newcastle. We’ve ➤ 2 3 the life of Tornado. for the brake tests, however I did have ‘A1’ No. 60163 Tornado powers Some time around the beginning of 40 minutes to spare in the company of through Swinton with its November I mused to myself whether Paul Molyneux Berry, our VAB man from WHERE’S THE MONEY? By Barry Wilson 60mph loaded trial run 2008 could get any better? Lighting a Deltarail who had visited earlier in the day Well, now we are within a hair’s electrical cabling fitted, out of sight, to Barrow Hill on fire in Tornado’s firebox for the first time to carry out an in-steam inspection as part breadth of Tornado strutting her stuff on on the locomotive, the time and cost November 6.