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A1 Tornado - the modern Peppercorn steam engine

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The Al Steam Tornado

The Tornado is unique as both the last engine of the Peppercorn class, and also the last steam engine to be built for mainline purposes in Europe in the twenty-first century.

While the designers at A1 steam could have built a replica of an earlier engine, they instead decided to build an entirely new one. With the next number up in the series, it is officially the fiftieth member of the Peppercorn class, and a welcome sight on mainline British railways.

The Peppercorn Steam engines

The last British mainline steam engines

London and North Eastern Railway Pacific Class
Loco No 525 a H Peppercorn
Buy at AllPosters.com

Designed by Arthur H. Peppercorn, the Peppercorn class of steam engines were the last designed for mainline British rail use. Forty-nine were built, and could be said to be the pinnacle of steam engineering.

When the switch to diesel came, they were rapidly abandoned, only fifteen years after they began their working life. Given the speed of the transition, none were saved from the scrapyard, and by 1966 the Peppercorn had vanished into history.

Despite its short service, the Peppercorn had left many fond memories. In 1990, the A1 Steam Trust was set up to build and run a Peppercorn class engine. The Trust President is the widow of Arthur H. Peppercorn, the engines' designer. Launched with the campaign to "Build an engine for the price of a pint of beer", it began to gain backers.

The Tornado - the fiftieth Peppercorn

A steam engine for the modern age

Steam Locomotive 60163 Tornado by DawlishBlue
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Rather than build a replica of one of the previous Peppercorns the decision was taken, and permission received, to build an entirely new member of the class. So it was that the fiftieth Peppercorn engine, 60163 began life.

She took shape in Darlington, one of the homes of the original engines. Christened Tornado after the RAF's panavia jet, in honour of the RAF pilots in the Gulf War, she would not be officially named until the build was complete. With backers including Rolls-Royce, Corus and BAE Systems, the application of modern technology to the steam engine design was underway.

Although the engineers followed the design of the Peppercorn engines faithfully in many respects, a few alterations were made. Components were precision manufactured and changes such as a steel all-welded boiler were made which should increase her capabilities. The latest rail electronics were added to allow her to meet Health and Safety requirements to run on main line railway. She was also fitted with additional water supplies to extend her range.

In August 2008, the first Steam engine built for forty years took to the rails.

Tornado departs Barrowhill station V1.2! by Elsie esq.

1306 "Mayflower" at Barrowhill station by Elsie esq.

Riddles Class A1 4-6-2 "Tornado" at Barrowhill by Elsie esq.

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On the tracks...

Running on mainline British Rail

In September 2008 she pulled her first passenger train on mainline rail. Now she is on the mainline, it is not anticipated that she will leave the main rail network until her ten year boiler recertification.

The costs of production were nearly £3M, and of this the Tornado still owes about £800,000. To make this shortfall up she relies on the profits of tours, operations and lessons given to drivers.

Tickets on the Tornado's journeys are now available through Cathedrals Express, and with a range of nearly 100 miles between water stops and a top speed of ninety miles an hour pulling nine coachs, she has already attracted interest.

In this video Kris Sanganui talks to Rob Morland, chief engineer of the A1 Trust about what it takes to make a steam engine run on modern railways.

..and in Top Gear

The Tornado on the BBC's top motorsports show

Getting news of a new steam engine led to a surprise request that the Tornado appear on Top Gear, a British motorshow famous for some odd races. After Harrier jet against Sports Car, and Apache helicopter against Lotus, what could be more logical than Steam Engine against sports car and motorbike?

Jeremy Clarkson was apparently persuaded to abandon the road for rail, while James May drove a Jaguar and Richard Hammond took a motorbike. With the road-bound presenters limited to A roads, and so (allegedly) the speed limit, could the newest steam engine outpace the motors?

Unfortunately we don't know, as the series hasn't aired yet and the people involved are all being very tightlipped about the outcome.

**Its just aired**

Highlight for spoilers:

She came second, with a very knackered and coal-covered Jeremy Clarkson quite upset to lose...

The race is sometimes made available through BBC iPlayer.

Top Gear on BBC IPlayer

Best Bits the Races ("Top Gear")

Amazon Price: $61.72 (as of 05/27/2012)
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The best of the Top Gear races

Touring Schedule

2010: A1 Tornado

Not a slow engine

The Tornado at speed

When she was built, proposals were made to update her design. These changes would have taken advantage of modern technology to improve her speed and efficiency still further. After all, as a new engine of the class, and not a replica, historical accuracy was not a concern.

Although the changes may have improved performance, they would also have taken additional time and money to test. Given the project's limited budget, it was decided to go ahead with the original design, which proved quite fast enough. She has been legally limited to 90mph on mainline rail, making her the fastest steam engine in mainline service. The original Peppercorn engines could reach over 100 mph, and with her improvements it is entirely possible she could move faster.

As you can see, she moves at quite a clip. (At 4:14 a traction engine, sadly unseen, exchanges whistles as she passes through Plining station.)

60163 'Tornado' Severn Cost Express: by g4vvz | video info

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Important!

Practical as well as Beautiful

"If any of the train operators want to modernise their services by using steam trains, I would be happy to give them a quote." Mark Allat, Chairman of The A1 Steam Locomotive

During the severe snows of 2010, the Tornado continued running unhindered, including rescuing stranded passengers from Victoria Station.
The Tornado's Moment of Glory

The A1 Tornado Simulator

Driving the Tornado

Unless you are one of the lucky crew members, this is as close as you are going to get to driving the Tornado (even Jeremy Clarkson had to go as a stoker). It's also one of the only times you can see a version of the A1 Tornado in Colorado, as well as travelling real world British routes.

Railworks - Tornado Edition (PC DVD): Amazon.co.uk: PC & Video Games: Railworks - Tornado Edition (PC DVD): Amazon.co.uk: PC & Video Games

The Tornado's technology

Steam Technology and Proposed Upgrades

A stunning mix of traditional design and modern precision engineering, the Tornado is a unique steam engine. The only steam engine to boast laser cut components and modern injection moulding, she is still in every way that matters a traditional first-generation steam engine.

Proposals were made by a steam engineer that would have turned her into a second generation engine, and the first of her type. Unfortunately due to cost and time constraints, and the Trust's remit to "build and operate a Peppercorn engine", these were not taken up.

The proposed changes

Even as she is, she is still an incredible engineering achievement, given how much information and how many skills had been lost and had to be recreated from scratch.

Tornado Class A1: New Peppercorn Class A1, 2008 Onwards (Owners' Workshop Manual)

by: Geoff Smith

Amazon Price: $18.76 (as of 05/27/2012)
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Release Date: 12/31/1969

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Important!

Cathedrals Express

Cathedrals Express is a group of steam engine owners who run regular trips across Britain. Their service now includes runs pulled by the Tornado. For a list of all their engines (and details of when they run tours) see their website:

http://www.steamdreams.com

And making headlines world wide

A1 Pacific Steam Locomotive Tornado 9Y487D-84
by TraffordPhotos
Browse Peppercorn a1 Postage

As well as turning heads, Europe's newest steam engine is already making the news.

The progress of the A1 Tornado is being followed by Steam Locomotive enthusiasts from around the world. Here is an aggregate feed of headlines:

Tornado steams in: 60163, an A1 Pacific steam locomotive which moved under its own power for the first time in 2008, stopped at Leuchars Station on Tuesday evening on route from Inverness to Edinburgh hauling the 'Cathedral Explorers' tour .
Tornado blows into Leuchars Station: 60163, an A1 Pacific steam locomotive which moved under its own power for the first time in 2008, is due to stop at Leuchars Station around 7.55pm on route from Inverness to Edinburgh. The impressive locomotive will cross the Tay Railway Bridge and ...

The official site

http://www.a1steam.com

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Other famous engines

The Flying Scotsman and the Mallard

The Flying Scotsman was one of the most iconic steam trains ever. Undergoing restoration, the Scotsman is due back on the tracks in 2010. The Mallard, a pacific engine from the same school of design that produced the Tornado, is the fastest engine it the world and carefully preserved at York rail Museum.

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