The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust has announced it has bought Peppercorn A1 Pacific No. 60163 Tornado’s tender from principal sponsor William Cook Cast Products Ltd.
The news came on August 4, the day marking the 50th anniversary of the end of scheduled BR main line steam-hauled services.
The trust’s dedicated fundraising body The 163 Pacifics Club was formed five years ago, and raised more than £200,000 towards the purchase of the tender, which was leased to the trust under a 15-year loan agreement, due to come to an end in 2021.
Enjoy more Heritage Railway Magazine reading every month.
Click here to subscribe & save.
William Cook Cast Products Ltd’s chairman Sir Andrew Cook CBE had offered to fund the construction of the tender in 2006, allowing funds being raised to be freed up for construction of the engine.
Tornado’s tender is a development of those built for the original Peppercorn A1s, mainly because of the different operating environment on the modern network.
Read more in Issue 245 of HR – on sale now!
