For the first time in half a century, a steam train has hit 100mph on one of Britain’s main rail lines.
That’s pretty cool.
During testing last night, Tornado, Britain’s newest steam train, reached the speed on the East Coast Main Line (ECML), which runs between London and Edinburgh, the BBC reported.
More info here.
Perhaps the most interesting thing is from this website:
In
1990 a group of people came together to share an extraordinary ambition
– to construct a brand new Peppercorn A1 Pacific. They formed The A1
Steam Locomotive Trust and after nineteen years of incredible effort
that locomotive, No. 60163 Tornado, moved under its own power for the first time in 2008.
This website tells the story of Tornado’s construction,
an amazing tale of cooperation, skill and sheer hard graft which defied
the critics who said it could never be done. The A1 Trust has over
2500 regular supporters (covenantors) who have all played some part,
small or large, in guaranteeing that we have steam on the main line in
the 21st Century.
