And Now Tornado Too

Perhaps the second most in-demand and famous locomotive in the UK after Flying Scotsman is Tornado.   In a double-whammy for the soon-to-re-open S&C news was broken this week that Tornado would haul twelve scheduled Northern passenger services over the roof of England on Valentine's Day and the two following days February 14, 15 and 16.

These are the timings

This will be the first time in fifty years that this has happened in the UK.

It is being done as a thank-you to the S&C's passengers whose line has been closed to through traffic for well over a year because of the Eden Brows landslip.

A huge attraction wherever it runs on the main lines, the chance to ride behind Tornado will be at normal day to day fares.  They go on sale next week and booked seats are reservable at any UK station or online on Northern's website.

As with Flying Scotsman (see a couple of posts ago) the planning has been done in secret.   For some months I was one of just three people who knew about it, which was quite a burden.   A leak could have scuppered the whole thing.

Now it is very much in the public domain and the clamour for tickets is already unprecedented.   Book early to avoid disappointment!

click to enlarge

Tornado in the National Railway Museum in York

and on a previous outing on the Settle-Carlisle line