Tornado

On behalf of The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust can I just thank everyone for their most generous comments. We've had a really exciting week and are still busy hosting a weekend for many of our 2000 covenantors without whose determination Tornado would never have been completed.

Please go to http://www.a1steam.comto see the links to various newspapers, radio stations and TV programmes that have covered this story over the past few days.

Mark
Mark Allatt, chairman, The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust

 

I think everyone should say a big thank you to the Trust for attempting the impossible and then succeeding in making the beast move. An inspiration to all. Enjoy the moment.

 

I have found some photos on the web at http://blue-pullman.fotopic.net/c1554150.html

What a fantastic loco.

I have a feeling the A1 mob will be the only group to achieve this monumental task. Well done to them

 

Well they are the first to achieve a new build but I believe you also missed out the word not. Not all projects will succeed but a lot will including Beachey Head.

 

The grange is bound to as well with all the bits they have got.

 

The local BBC in Newcastle had this on there site.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7538348.stm

 

Yes, nice one. Straight from the "Eight Out Of 10 Cats" school of journalism. Whoever penned that must be unaware that Tornado would be hauling a train carrying more than 90 times as many passengers as a small car. Puts a rather different picture on it I think.

 

As far as that is concerned I come from the 'Sod the environmentalists' on this one, it is an outstanding achievement for the twenty first century and really marks a revival of skills that we are going to need in the future to keep running steam.
I always keep in mind the biggest problem for global warming isn't carbon its methane 200 times worse, the biggest producer of this gas are cows. Beef burgers all round.

Back on topic Congratulations to all concerned it was a pleasure to stand in the cab and see how good British craftsmen can be. I luck forawrd to a long a varied career and a good few shovels of coal when i get my chance.

Chris

 

i heard methane was 26 times worse, plus if you feed cows garlic it reduces methane emissions by 10-15%. lol another useless fact.

 

Well a variation on the theme but the principle is the same Methane is worse than Carbon dioxide, isn't garlic a natural laxative!!

 

Well done to all concerned.

Now let's re-open Woodhead and run an EM2 on it again - then I really would be impressed!!

Seriously though, brilliant achievement and setting a great benchmark.

 

It may be postulated that McDonalds and their ilk have a disproportionate contribution to global warming:

The cattle that are killed to produce their burgers (and the fat to fry the fries in the US) may well be raised in former rain forest.
Cows are not known for their lack of wind.
Lard Ar*** Americans drive their Ford F series pick up trucks to the drive in to purchase their "food"
After a few trips they need to buy a bigger vehicle.

The A1 can burn all the coal it wants. The team have deserved it!

 

Did it get them all right?

Can't believe someone has admitted to buying the Mail on Sunday or were you just browsing in the newsagents? ;-)

 

S

read it this morning while having breakfast in rainbow. they said it would run at 90mph, not for sure yet.

also they were moaning that rooney bought his brother a car and it was only a £12000 ford focus, im sure his brother is thrilled that he got a free car. shows there is little good news about.

 

Good to see we're not relying on racist stereotypes, then...

 

This may well have been discussed befre;if so apolpgies.#
Also I'm not trying to stir things, just interested in opinions.

Waht is strictly classed as a new build?
As far as I'm aware everything on Tornado was built 'from scratch'; I'm open to correction on this.
If as in the case of the Grange you're using parts from another loco, is this strictly a 'new'build?

Discuss!!!

 

Just a question - I noticed that in the Mail on Sunday yesterday that the Cylinder Cock valve is located on the Firemans side! Does anyone know why this is? Thanks in Advance!!

 

I think this was standard across the LNER (feel free to correct).

4771 was certainly positioned on the fireman's side and when I asked Ray Towell he told me to ask Sir Nigel Gresley!