Tornado returns to Nene Valley

New-build ‘A1’ No. 60163 Tornado will be helping the Nene Valley Railway celebrate its 40th anniversary in preservation this year, as it will be taking part in the line’s ‘Best of British’ event on April 22/23.


‘A1’ No. 60163 Tornado crosses the River Nene with a Peterborough-bound train on a previous visit to the Nene Valley Railway. A1SLT

It will be the first visit to a preserved railway this year for the Peppercorn ‘Pacific’, which has recently hauled the first timetabled main line steam services for nearly fifty years over the Settle & Carlisle route on February 14-16, hauling over 5,500 passengers.

Graeme Bunker, Operations Director, The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust, commented:

"We are delighted to once again be visiting our friends at the Nene Valley Railway. It provides a great opportunity to get up close to Tornado, and for those who wish to book a footplate experience course. What better way is there to celebrate St. George’s Day than travelling on a steam train, hauled by a Royal Train locomotive through beautiful countryside?

Tornado will also be hauling the NVR’s ‘Jolly Fisherman’ fish and chips dining train on Friday April 21, and No. 60163 will be available for driving courses on April 21-24.

The 4-6-2 isn’t the only main line locomotive taking part in the Nene Valley Railway’s 40th anniversary celebrations, as Stanier ‘7P’ No. 46100 Royal Scot will be visiting the Yarwell Junction-Peterborough line on June 2-4 – its first visit to the railway.

Running 40 years and a day the day since the line’s inaugural train on June 1 1977, Royal Scot will be running alongside ‘Deltic’ No. 55022 Royal Scots Grey (running as No. 55018 Ballymoss).

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