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


60007 will not steam again until 2012, the NYMR has confirmed

A4 No.60007 "Sir Nigel Gresley standing outside Grosmont shed

The North Yorkshire Moors Railway has confirmed that due to various mechanical problems, the resident A4 Pacific No.60007 "Sir Nigel Gresley" is not likley to return to steam again until the Spring of 2012. The locomotive was rostered to make an apperance at the Mid Hants Autumn Steam Gala this weekend, however that is no longer possible. A4 No. 4492 "Dominion of New Zealand" AKA 60019 "Bittern" is billed to take the place of "Gresley".

The A4 was also scheduled to take part in a run to celebrate the Silver Jubilee of the A4's being constructed. However, Marcus Robertson has put this on hold, with a view to making it a run to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of HM Queen Elizabeth II next year. All of its Christmas mainline runs have been cancelled as a result of these problems. They are now rostered for other locos, 60019 being the new loco. 

We are in contact with the NYMR and hope to see "Sir Nigel" back on the rails in 2012.

Good Luck and Haste ye back!

Regards,

Chris Nelson,

Mainline correspondent 

NRP Review 2011 update



SE&CR Double Headers are common on the Bluebell. Here, "P" class locos No's 178 & 323 "Bluebell" make an attractive sight teamed with Southern green coaches



SE&CR "P" Class No.323 "Bluebell" looking stunning in her her new blue livery, seen here during the Bluebell's "Branchline Gala", held over the weekend of the 12th/13th March 2011

2011 has been a busy year of filming for the NRP crew. The new "NRP Review 2011" DVD is nearly complete, with a few more months worth of filming to go. The Bluebell Railway will be holding their Vintage Trains Gala during the weekend of 4th/6th November. The new RH&DR DVD is also nearing completion. However, you will be able to view extracts of the footage in the Review DVD. In December, we will be venturing out onto Kent's mainline network filming various runs with Bullied No.34067 "Tangmere" and A1 No.60163 "Tornado", now in her fabulous new Brunswick Green livery. The full NRP Review will feature:

New year services on the Bluebell Railway

Extracts from the February services on the RH&DR

The West Somerset Railway 35th Anniversary Steam Gala

6023 "King Edward II" on her return to steam at Didcot Railway Centre

2 King class loco's together for the first time in 49 years

Extracts from a wonderful year at the RH&DR

The Superpower Weekend at the wonderful Welsh Highland railway

Vintage steam delights on the Bluebell Railway

Plus 34067 & 60163 in Kent

The programme wil also feature promo's for the 2012 programmes, full details of next year's itinirary will be published later.

Regards,

Chris Nelson,

2nd Cameraman

NRP to present RH&DR in a new light

0-4-0- Tender engine "St Egwin" is paired with another 0-4-0- No.4 "The Bug" during the 2006 "Double Header Day"

We are very pleased to announce the edition of a new video magazine to our NRP Video Magazine series. "Romney Rail", the chosen name for the magazine, will be produced twice monthly. Each issue of the magazine will highlight some of the most important stories and events throughout each month. "Romney Rail Issue 1" will be available in December. n this Issue:

RH&DR May services

The RH&DR May Wartime weekend, with "Black Prince" and others

The 80th Birthday of No.10 "Doctor Syn" with 6 locos in steam

The lead up to the end of the running season

A major feature filmed during the 2011 Steam & Deisel Gala, includes 2 0-4-0 tender loco's

We hope you will enjoy our first issue.

Regards,

Chris Nelson,

2nd Cameraman



Removal of No.4492 "Dominion of New Zealand" from NYMR stuns Rail Enthusiasts

A4 No.4492 "Dominion of New Zealand" powers up hill through Helpston on the outskirts of Peterbourugh


The performance gets even more volcanic in this classic A4 territory


Breasting the summit, "Dominion" approaches Peterbourugh

Unfortunately, New Romney Productions has learned that No.4492 "Dominion of New Zealand" never made it to the NYMR on Thursday due to a mechanical problem. The NYMR is very sorry for the dissapointment this may cause, as we ourselves were looking forward to the sight of a blue streamlined A4 on a set of Teak coaches. However, it is due to make its scheduled appearance at the Mid Hants Railway alongside "Tornado" and "Britannia" next weekend.

Watch this space for more information.

Regards,

Chris Nelson,

2nd Cameraman