In one of its first appearances following a two-year overhaul, celebrity steam locomotive LNER A1 Class Pacific No 60163 will be visiting the North Norfolk Railway during the late-May Bank Holiday.
From Saturday, 27th May to Sunday, 4th June, Tornado, which is the first main line steam locomotive built in the UK since 1960, will haul special trains from Sheringham to Holt and return.
In 2008, Tornado made headlines when it steamed for the first time, and since then, it has hauled Royal Trains, appeared in Paddington 2 on the big screen, and featured in numerous television programmes including BBC Top Gear's famous “Race to The North”.
Tornado is also the fastest steam engine to run since the 1960s. In 2017 it achieved 100mph on a test train but while on the North Norfolk Railway, it will be running at a more sedate 25mph through the beautiful North Norfolk countryside. As Tornado normally hauls premier excursions on the mainline, this will be a rare chance to ride behind one of Britain's most famous locomotives.
Each day, special trains hauled by Tornado will depart from Sheringham Station at 10.00, 11.40, 13.20, 15.00, and 16.40. Advance booking is essential, and tickets will include a reserved seat for a trip from Sheringham to Holt and return, and there will be time at Holt station to take photographs of Tornado.
Fares for advance bookings vary from £19 to £21 for adults, £13.00 and £14.50 for children, while children under three may travel free of charge providing they do not occupy a seat and are accompanied by an adult paying full fare.
On Saturday, 3rd June, Tornado will haul “The North Norfolkman” luxury dining train, where guests will enjoy a pre-dinner drink and relax in the comfort of a dining carriage built for British Railways in the 1950s or '60s and with a restored interior of varnished wood and a distinctive upholstery moquette that was characteristic of the period. Again, advance booking is essential and further details can be obtained here.
Is Tornado steaming up to Sherringham via Norwich please