Richprins wrote:Is that a woman with a baby in a pram on the sea wall?
How old is that train again, stf?
I think your pics are very good! Do you also use the "anti-shaking hands" function?
It is indeed a lady with a baby - nuts.
Not very old R.P. - Here is the story.
In 1990 a group of people came together to share an extraordinary ambition - to construct a brand new Peppercorn A1 Pacific. They formed The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust and after nineteen years of incredible effort that locomotive, No. 60163 Tornado, moved under its own power for the first time in 2008.
This website tells the story of Tornado's construction, an amazing tale of cooperation, skill and sheer hard graft which defied the critics who said it could never be done. The A1 Trust has over 2500 regular supporters (covenantors) who have all played some part, small or large, in guaranteeing that we have steam on the main line in the 21st Century.
Tornado is now fulfilling the dream, hauling specials on the mainline and giving joy to thousands of passengers and linesiders who want to witness the legend in action. You can be part of this by travelling with us or by becoming a covenantor, helping us to raise the £500,000 that still needs to be found to keep the dream alive.
The last of the renowned Peppercorn class 'A1' steam locomotives was scrapped in 1966, but, as you can read on this website, a brand new 'A1', No. 60163 Tornado, has been brought to life in Darlington.
Fitted with additional water capacity and the latest railway safety electronics, Tornado is fully equipped for today’s main line railway. However, for her to continue main line passenger service we need your help – and you can still come on board for the price of a pint! This website tells the story of the building of the locomotive and our plans for the future. We hope you’re able to join us on this exciting journey.
The A1s were designed by Arthur H Peppercorn (29 January 1889 - 3 March 1951), the last Chief Mechanical Engineer of the London & North Eastern Railway (LNER). They were the last in a line of famous express passenger steam locomotives for the East Coast Main Line that included the Stirling Singles, the Ivatt Atlantics and the Gresley Pacifics.
The original 49 Peppercorn Class A1s were ordered by the LNER and built at Doncaster and Darlington for British Railways (BR) in 1948/9, after the nationalisation of the railways. As designed they were ideally suited for the post-war world of poor maintenance and heavy trains, with their 50sq ft grate allowing them to use lower grade coal than their predecessors. The final five were even equipped with roller bearings enabling them to go for an average of 118,000 miles between heavy repairs, making the A1s the cheapest to run of all British steam locomotives in the same category. They were also the most reliable of all of the express passenger steam locomotives owned by British Railways.
Unfortunately, the rapid onset of dieselisation in the 1960s meant that all 49 were scrapped, after an average life of only 15 years. There was an attempt to save the last, 60145 Saint Mungo, but this unfortunately failed and it too was withdrawn in June 1966 and scrapped in September of the same year. As there was no Barry Scrapyard for ex-LNER locomotives, here the story has until now ended.
Thanks so much for your compliment - on this lens 18 - 150 this function is not offered.
