LNER Peppercorn Class A1 60163 Tornado

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LNER Peppercorn Class A1 60163 Tornado is a replica steam locomotive currently nearing completion.

Contents

[edit] Background

The LNER Peppercorn Class A1 based on the London and North Eastern Railway (LNER) design by Arthur Peppercorn. The original series was ordered by the LNER but the 49 locomotives were built at Doncaster and Darlington for British Railways (BR) in 1948/1949, after the nationalisation of the railways in the United Kingdom. Other famous East Coast Mainline steam locomotives have been preserved, for example several Gresley LNER Class A4 and one LNER Class A3 4472 Flying Scotsman but in the 1960s all 49 of the LNER Peppercorn Class A1 steam locomotives were scrapped. The last remaining was 60145 St Mungo, which survived until September 1966.

Because of this, railway enthusiasts founded in 1990 the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust. It therefore became known as 60163, following the BR numbering of the historic locomotives, and was given the name “Tornado”, from an association with the Royal Air Force, which operates Panavia Tornado aircraft. 60163 Tornado is being build on historical ground in Hopetown Carriage Works in Darlington; this building was the former carriage workshop for the Stockton and Darlington Railway and is located within a few hundred metres of the site of the former LNER railway workshops at Darlington.

Tornado with supporters of the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust gathered in Darlington for the 2004 Annual Convention
Tornado with supporters of the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust gathered in Darlington for the 2004 Annual Convention

[edit] Special technical features

The LNER Peppercorn Class A1 was designed to cope with the heaviest regular East Coast trains of the post-war period. These frequently loaded to 15 coaches or 550 tons. The locomotives were capable of maintaining 60-70 miles per hour (95-110 km/h) on level track with such trains. However, the asset of Tornado will be its ability to haul lighter (10-11 coach trains) at higher speeds to fit in with modern traffic patterns.

Tornado will be equipped with air brakes for the locomotive instead of steam brakes which were used for the historical A1’s for operating on modern mainlines, and will also be equipped with a vacuum ejector to operate with trains on heritage railways.

In addition to the Automatic Warning System (AWS), Tornado will be equipped with the new Train Protection & Warning System (TPWS). A data recorder and a radio will also be needed for running on Network Rail (the present UK track owner/operator). The locomotive’s electrical system will be uprated because of more electrical consumers.

Tornado’s tender will be redesigned internally to eliminate the water scoop and increase the water capacity to around 6,000 gallons (27 240 litres). The new design is fully welded. This tender is currently being constructed at Ian Howitt’s works at Crofton, Yorkshire and will be equipped there with spoked wheels like at least three historical A1s before.

The welded boiler was built in Germany by Dampflokwerk Meiningen (Steam Locomotive Works Meiningen) and was delivered to Darlington on July 16th 2006. The safety valves were tested on LNER Class A4 Union of South Africa at the Severn Valley Railway before their delivery to Meiningen for fitting to the boiler. Both air pumps for the brake system were also completed in Meiningen and were delivered to Darlington in July with the boiler.

Threequarter view from left front of Tornado under construction in Darlington Locomotive Works on the eve of the Trust's 2002 Annual Convention. Since that time, much of the external motion, under-boiler pipework and footplating has been completed. Fitting of the boiler is due in Spring 2007.
Threequarter view from left front of Tornado under construction in Darlington Locomotive Works on the eve of the Trust's 2002 Annual Convention. Since that time, much of the external motion, under-boiler pipework and footplating has been completed. Fitting of the boiler is due in Spring 2007.

Overall mechanical completion taking into account finished material available for assembly is 80% as at end October 2006.

[edit] Future

It is planned to complete 60163 Tornado in November 2007, though this depends somewhat on the financial situation. The locomotive will spend most of its operating time in mainline use on ‘steam specials’ for the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust, but initially will be heading to Loughborough for commissioning, high speed testing and passenger work, on the double track of the Great Central Steam Railway (GCSR).

[edit] A1 Steam Locomotive Trust

Covenantors (Trust supporters) viewing the loco at the 2004 Annual Convention [2004-00625]; Mark Allatt (Chairman) describing current work
Covenantors (Trust supporters) viewing the loco at the 2004 Annual Convention [2004-00625]; Mark Allatt (Chairman) describing current work
Most members of the present Council of the Trust by the newly-delivered boiler near the Darlington Locomotive Works in July 2006
Most members of the present Council of the Trust by the newly-delivered boiler near the Darlington Locomotive Works in July 2006

In 1990, a group of businessmen, who were also railway enthusiasts, met and decided to start a project to build a steam locomotive the 50th LNER Peppercorn Class A1 60163 Tornado from scratch. The public launch of the project took place in November 1990 to a packed meeting at The Railway Institute in York, followed by further presentations in London and Edinburgh.

Examples of most of Britain’s East Coast Mainline's famous Pacific locomotives have been saved, but all 49 historic engines of the famous and successful LNER Peppercorn Class A1 were scrapped in the 1960s. The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust was formed to provide this missing link by recreating an A1.

The Trust's mission statement is :
To build and operate a Peppercorn class A1 Pacific steam locomotive for mainline and preserved railway use.

The organisation of what was to become the largest single project in railway preservation in Britain today was based around four principles:

  1. It would have to be run using the best business practices by people experienced in the appropriate areas.
  2. The funding method would have to be simple, and capable of being understood and afforded by virtually anyone.
  3. Because of the enormity of the task, there would have to be a single aim to focus on, the Project's Mission Statement - as quoted above - against which all proposed actions would be judged.
  4. The rules of the organisation would prohibit cliques and any form of élitism. Everyone would achieve recognition based on effort rather than size of cheque book. This would enable all efforts to go into the building of the A1.

A nationwide management team was put together - engineers, accountants, solicitors, bankers, marketers and other appropriate professionals - who freely give considerable amounts of time and expertise. The Trust has secured a reputation for being a thoroughly professional organisation, supported by a wide range of specialists, experts and enthusiasts from all walks of life". It is supported by a 6-man Technical Advisory Panel of current and former railway professionals.

Honorary Officers if the Trust include its President, Mrs Dorothy Mather (widow of the designer of the A1s, Mr A. H. Peppercorn) and the Vice President, Mr Peter Townend, former Shed Master of the London Kings Cross Top Shed. His work there brought him into constant contact with A1s in their running days.

[edit] Literature

  • Peter Townend: East Coast Pacifics at Work, 1982, ISBN 0-7110-1170-2
  • O. S. Nock: British Locomotives of the 20th Century – Volume 2 1930 - 1960, 1984

[edit] External links

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