FIRST NEW STEAM LOCOMOTIVE BUILT FOR ALMOST HALF A CENTURY TO HAUL SECOND TRAIN FROM LONDON TO SWANAGE - Wednesday 29 September 2010

News Item and Press Release from Andrew P.M. Wright - 25th September 2010
Official photographer & press officer, Swanage Railway.
Photographs are copyright Andrew P.M. Wright.
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London and North Eastern Railway (LNER) Peppercorn A1 class No. 60163 'Tornado' with the magnificent ruins of Corfe Castle on the Swanage Railway in June 2010. Photo Andrew P.M. Wright

The first new main line steam locomotive to be built in Britain for almost 50 years is to haul a second special excursion train from London down to Corfe Castle and Swanage - thanks to public demand.

The London and North Eastern Railway (LNER) Peppercorn A1 class No. 60163 'Tornado' is making its second whirlwind visit to the Dorset seaside resort on Wednesday 29 September 2010 after its first visit during June 2010.

Departing from London's Victoria station, the long 'Purbeck Tornado II' charter train organised by UK Railtours is due to arrive in Swanage at lunchtime and depart at teatime for its return trip to London Waterloo.

London and North Eastern Railway (LNER) Peppercorn A1 class No. 60163 'Tornado' is greeted by crowds at Swanage Railway in June 2010. Photo Andrew P.M. Wright

It cost £3 million to build the 'Tornado' which has attracted a storm of media publicity since it took to the rails in 2008 after 18 years of fund raising and building work by the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust, a registered charity.

Swanage Railway Company chairman Peter Sills said: "The story of 'Tornado's fund raising and construction has been one that has gone from dream to steam.

"We're very proud to be having the locomotive bringing a main line excursion train from London down to Swanage for the second time this year after its first historic run from the capital down to Swanage during June of this year.

London and North Eastern Railway (LNER) Peppercorn A1 class No. 60163 'Tornado' passes through Furzebrook as it arrives onto the Swanage Railway in June 2010. Photo Andrew P.M. Wright

"How 'Tornado' came to be built is an epic tale of how a conversation in a pub turned into a generation-long struggle to build a new steam locomotive from scratch - by asking members of the public to donate 'the price of a pint'," explained Mr Sills who lives in Wareham.

'Tornado' has starred in an episode of BBC Two's 'Top Gear' - first shown in 2009 and watched by over seven million people - when it raced a 1949 vintage Jaguar XK120 car and a Vincent Black Shadow motorcycle from London to Edinburgh, with presenter Jeremy Clarkson on the footplate of 'Tornado'.

London and North Eastern Railway (LNER) Peppercorn A1 class No. 60163 'Tornado' at Swanage in June 2010. Photo Andrew P.M. Wright

The new £3 million Peppercorn class A1 Pacific steam locomotive was built over 18 years by The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust, a registered charity, at its Darlington Locomotive Works.

Frequently headlined in the press, TV and radio, No. 60163 'Tornado' was the subject of a BBC documentary 'Absolutely Chuffed - The Men Who Built a Steam Engine' broadcast Christmas Eve 2008 on BBC Two and is now available on a DVD direct from the Swanage Railway Shop priced at only £14.95 here.

The locomotive was officially named 'Tornado' by Their Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall in February 2009 and since then 'Tornado' has entered service on the Network Rail main line.

Mr Sills explained: "'Tornado' has had a hectic first year of main line operations stretching right across the country and we are delighted to be welcoming her to the Swanage Railway for the second time this year when she brings some 500 people to Swanage.

The A1 class steam locomotives were designed by Arthur H. Peppercorn for the London & North Eastern Railway (LNER) and 49 were built during 1948 and 1949 by British Railways. But, following the dieselisation of the railways, they were all scrapped by 1966.

London and North Eastern Railway (LNER) Peppercorn A1 class No. 60163 'Tornado' at Swanage in June 2010. Photo Andrew P.M. Wright

The project to build a new Peppercorn class A1 steam locomotive was launched in 1990 and after 18 years of planning, construction and fundraising, the £3 million locomotive was completed in August 2008.

Based at Hither Green in London, further details about 'Tornado' can be obtained from the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust's website at 'www.a1steam.com'.