A1 Trust confirms 2012 preserved visits for "Tornado"

60163 rolls into Meadsted and Four Marks during the Mid Hants Autumn Steam Spectacular



60163 makes a spirited start from Ropley



This side-on photograph shows "Tornado" stretching her legs on the climb of Meadsted Bank



All of this is a long way from the grey primer carried back in 2008 

The A1 steam locomotive Trust has confirmed the first 3 preserved railway visits for 2012. "Tornado" still has more mainline work to do before her year is over. in 2012, the lco will be very busy from word go. Mainline runs have already been confirmed and 3 preserved railway visits have been planned.

First, The locomotive is to visit the Nene Valley Railway near Peterbourugh in Camebridgeshire for its Spring Steam Gala over the weekend of the 6th/9th April 2012. The loco is due to arrive under its own power, only the second time in a row that this has happened for the NVR.

The second visit is to the Llangollen Railway in North Wales for the Steel Steam and Stars 3 event. The loco will be operating alongside other guests such as No.70000 "Britannia", N2 No.1744 and LNWR Super D No.49395. This is sure to be a contender for "Gala of the Year 2012".

The last visit will be to Barrow Hill Roundhouse, where it will be starring in the newly arranged A1, A2, A3 A4 line-up, which was postponed earlier this year due to the unavailability of No.4472 "Flying Scotsman". There is also speculation that she will make a visit to the Ribble Steam Railway in Lancashire. However, this has to be confirmed.

Regards,
Chris Nelson,
UK Steam Correspondent,
NRP