Steaming

I heard that Tornado was steaming from Preston to Carlisle today and that it would be passing near work at lunchtime.

I am not a trainspotter but I do like steam and some years ago I spent quite a lot of time driving Showman's traction engines as a hobby. If you have got time to have a look at a few more (Bad) pictures of the engine have a look here.

Tornado is interesting as it was only completed in 2008, I have copied a bit of it's story below but if you want to read a bit more have a look here.

"60163 Tornado is the newest steam engine on the national network.
First steamed in 2008, after a 19 year project to fund and build the locomotive, Tornado was built to be not a replica, but the 50th A1. The original 49 A1s were built for the London & North Eastern Railway (LNER) between 1948 and 1949. Sadly after the withdrawal of steam in 1968 none of the LNER A1 class engines were saved from the scrapper's torch. In 1990 a group of enthusiasts founded a trust (A1 Steam Locomotive Trust) to return this missing link.

The locomotive is currently painted in Brunswick Green, a livery which was carried by the A1s during the 1950s. Tornado has 3 cylinders, 6 driving wheels and a firebox of 50sq.ft. Tornado is a regular locomotive for Steam Dreams, often seen on trips along the East Coast Mainline to York. Whilst limited to 75 mph today, A1s are capable of achieving speeds in excess of 100mph."