The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust has renamed Tornado Railtours, the rail tours part of its business, as “21st Century Steam Ltd”.
Since 2006, the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust has successfully run its own rail tours with No. 60163 Tornado. That locomotive is famed as the first main line steam locomotive to be built in the UK in over 50 years. Booking for these rail tours was taken in-house in 2019, and the trust has now launched a new booking website at www.21stcenturysteam.co.uk. The telephone booking number remains unchanged.
As construction of the next new build locomotive, LNER P2 Class 2-8-2 No. 2007 Prince of Wales is nearing completion, the new brand represents the tours run by the Trust. With Prince of Wales due to join the fleet in the near future, all tours run by the trust will be hauled by locomotives.
Not only does the name reflect the Trust's modern steam engines, it evokes the nostalgia of the 20th Century Limited, which was a streamlined train that ran between New York and Chicago. That had a spectacularly understated style, which epitomised the notion that the journey was as important as the destination.
To coincide with the rebranding, the Trust is moving to develop the on board experience from Tourist Class to Premier Dining, bringing the golden age of steam to each of our memorable journeys.
The first tours under the new brand name off 21st Century Steam Ltd will be ‘The Aberdonian' series of trains in Scotland this summer, which will be hauled by Tornado fresh from overhaul. These will run between Edinburgh and Aberdeen via the Forth Bridge on Thursdays 21st and 28th July, and 1st and 8th September, and Saturdays 30th July, 20th August, and 17th September.
Bookings can be made online via this www.21stcenturysteam.co.uk Telephone bookings and inquiries can be made by calling 01325 488215, or by email at enquiries@21stcenturysteam.co.uk.
Good graphics, good name.