The Triumph Of Tornado

摘要

On April 4,1964, nearly a year after steam had been officially banned from King's Cross, Pacific No. 60114 WP. Alien took over the '"Yorkshire Pullman' from an ailing diesel at Doncaster and ran the 156 miles to King's Cross in 150 minutes. Afterwards, with a plaintive whistle, the Al disappeared 'light engine' into Gasworks tunnel and I wondered if I would ever again see a steam-worked regular-service train at 'The Cross'.rnIt was not to be; and, in June 1966, the last surviving Al, No. 60145 Saint Mungo, was withdrawn. While no fewer than seven Gresley Pacifies were preserved, none of the Thompson variants and only one 'Peppercorn' - the A2 Blue Peter-were saved from scrap.rnIt was to make good this deficiency that the Al Steam Locomotive Trust was formed in 1990 to build and operate a Peppercorn Al. Thanks to the determination of men like David Champion, David Elliott, Mike Wilson and current chairman Mark Allan, the hard work of the Trust's supporters and the generosity of its covenanters, that aim was realised and Britain's first new steam express passenger loco for more than 50 years is now showing its paces on the main line.