Tornado’s 10th anniversary schedule

2018 will be a busy year for new-build ‘A1’ No. 60163 Tornado, with visits to four preserved railways already lined up.


Returning to the Severn Valley Railway in March next year, ‘A1’ No. 60163 Tornado rests in the headshunt at Kidderminster on September 9 2016. THOMASBRIGHT/SR

The 50th Peppercorn ‘A1’, which will be celebrating its tenth anniversary next year, is due to visit the North Yorkshire Moors, Severn Valley, East Lancashire and Nene Valley Railways during the first half of 2018.

Tornado will be the headline act at the NYMR’s season-opening event on March 3-11 (excluding March 9), and follows in the footsteps of both Flying Scotsman and Royal Scot which have performed the same duty in recent years.

Tickets for Tornado’s visit to the NYMR are already available.

The ‘A1’ will then visit the Severn Valley Railway for the line’s ‘Spring Steam Gala’ on March 16-18, where it will line-up alongside visiting LNER ‘B12’ No. 8572 and unique Haydock Foundry 0-6-0WT Bellerophon. A fourth visiting locomotive is expected to be announced in the next few weeks.

No. 60163 then travels northwards to the East Lancashire Railway for a five-day visit on March 29-April 2. It will be the first time Tornado has visited the line since 2010.

The ‘Pacific’ will then take up residence at the Nene Valley Railway on May 3-7 where it is expected to haul the NVR’s ‘Jolly Fisherman’ fish and chip specials, as well as be available for driving and firing experiences.

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