Tornado leaves York Station. I was with my son, Warwick, who uses a wheelchair so I only had time to snatch a few hand held shots over the heads of the crowd. But it has atmosphere and captures the excitement of seeing this loco under steam and hauling at train.
Many thanks to the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust for making this day possible. If it makes money and pays off it’s debts it’ll be a miracle – but the joy of this first trip will be remembered fondly by many. We Brits are still able to match the engineering skills of a generation or two ago.
The chimney belching smoke and steam also reminded me that the golden age of steam never existed. It was without a doubt a coal black age.
Category Archives: travel
Tornado to hit East Coast Mainline
BBC NEWS | England | First passenger trip for new loco
Tornado – A1 Steam Loco
January 31st is the day that passengers will be hauled by the brand new steam loco, Tornado. Built at a cost of £3m it will take members of the society that backed the project between York and Newcastle. I’ll watch it leave York but sadly I won’t be on board – not being a member.
Good luck to her and all who are hauled by her.
Cycling on The Stray – your support needed
A campaign from the Cycling Tourist Club
Harrogate is the birthplace of CTC and members in the area would like you to support their campaign to get rid of an ancient bye-law banning cycling anywhere on the Stray, the 200 acres of green space in the heart of the town. The Council is holding a public consultation on proposals to permit cycling on a few key paths which are essential to complete the local cycle network, but opposition to any change on the Stray is strong.
Online responses to the consultation are urgently needed from cyclists who have a connection to Harrogate to support the Council’s proposals. The deadline is 15th December. For more details visit www.wheel-easy.org.uk
Historic loco in action for first time
Historic loco in action for first time From The Northern Echo
THE first new steam locomotive in Britain for almost half a century chugged into action this morning.
I remember this project being launched and thought it was a long shot to build a mainline steam loco from scratch. At that time they said it would cost £1million.
Today Tornado was unveiled to the press. So far it’s cost closer to £3million.
I heard about it today on Up All Night on 5Live when I couldn’t sleep at 4am! It has to be tested before it comes to York for painting in the LNER livery. Can’t wait to see it in action.
Brimham Rocks
I’ve been coming here for years. These rocks carved put of the daleside by wind and ice are twisted into a moonscape that’s both fun and stunning.
They sell ice cream here too – so we watch the view licking our vanilla cornets and remind ourselves of visits made with our children over the years. “Do you remember being stung in your mouth?” I did and always will. The little National Trust shop wouldn’t let me have anti histamine cream from their first aid kit because it was only for external use only. I said I’d risk it and the sting in my mouth seemed to be dealt with by a generous layer of cream on my gum. Or perhaps it was the beer I’d just comsumed at the same Fell Beck pub we’d visited today that eased the pain. Who knows.