Tornado Naming

From the York Press

Tornado steam locomotive naming ceremony to take place on February 19

By Press reporter »

THE Prince of Wales is to visit York next week for the naming ceremony of the new £3m steam locomotive, Tornado.

The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust has announced that Prince Charles, accompanied, by The Duchess of Cornwall, will perform the ceremony at York Station at 10am on Thursday, February 19.

A spokesman for the trust said: “We are deeply honoured that the naming will be conducted by Their Royal Highnesses, The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall.”

The famous apple-green engine, the first steam locomotive to built in Britain for nearly half a century, thundered into York station on Saturday carrying fare-paying passengers on their way from Darlington to Kings Cross.

The £3 million Peppercorn class A1 60163 Tornado left platform 11 shortly before 9am, making its debut in the capital some five hours later where it was greeted by cheering crowds.

 

tornado is now down south working some charter's out of london is there any info on when she's will be making her way back north for her naming is she working a charter or light engine

 

February 16 it's running light with support coach to York.

 

UK Steam Info has her working back engine plus coach on Monday 16 February, outline times are there also. Harold.

 

This press report has her taking the royal train to Leeds after the naming - also here on the trust's website.

Chris

 

Perhaps I'm being a "spoil sport" but I though all Royal Train workings were subject to considerable security provisions.

Regards, Neil

 

So did I...

 

Just because you don't see it ..... !

 

I was security checked because I sat next to the "Special Movements Assistant" in a Regional HQ office many years ago. With that and 20+ years in train planning I think I picked up some knowledge about "security movements".

Regards, Neil

 

Not 'all' royal train workings are kept secret, im pretty sure the other steam-hauled ones have all been publicised in advance - there wouldnt be much point in doing them otherwise. That said, i dont think they're meant to be publicised too far in advance, hence why the daily mail article revealing it last year had to be denied.

Chris

 

Does anyone know of any provisional timings yet for the trip to Leeds? Or what time the naming is to take place?

 

As usual, the best place for info is the A1 Trust's excellent web site.
Times and the route taken to Leeds may appear at some point but don't count on it.

 

if you read the first post "ceremony at York Station at 10am" so i'm guessing half hour - hour? or if that, I guess network rail doesnt want it in the way blocking normal services up and having to keep replatforming everything. Thats my theory anyway :-k .
But as its a royal train service I very much doubt the times will be made public for security reasons.

 

Yeah i didn't think they would be made public for the security reasons, just wondered if someone had stumbled across them. And true i would have thought about 10:30, well we'll go and see, were going to go to Colton Junction for it so if anyone wants a text dropping then just drop us a PM.

 

This is going to be 'The Royal Train' right? i.e. the actual rolling stock and not just a train with a Royal on it?

And if it is, no doubt one of the special diseasels will be on the back aswell?

 

Simon, it might go the scenic route, via Harrogate.

 

Would Tornado have been gauged for the Harrogate Line?

 

It will fit jsut like any other Gresley pacific.

 

Which way did she go on her test run to Leeds a couple of weeks ago? What were the timings? My guess is that the test and Thursday's royal train are not unconnected.

 

That wasn't via the Harrogate loop as steam railway printed. However bearing in mind test runs are not obligatory before a run takes place.