Hima-Sella has got on board an exciting project, the brand new Tornado steam locomotive being launched in Loughborough, by donating a GSM-R cab radio system from its German product partner Funkwerk Kölleda.

A brand new Peppercorn class A1, No 60163 Tornado steam locomotive will haul passenger trains on the Great Central Railway (GCR) in Loughborough, Leicestershire from 22nd September. Once trials are complete, Tornado is set to enter main line service.

The A1s were last in a line of famous express passenger steam locomotives for the East Coast Main Line that included Stirling Singles, the Ivatt Atlantics and Gresley Pacifics. The original 49 Peppercorn Class A1s were built at Doncaster and Darlington for British Railways (BR) in 1948/9, after the nationalisation of the railways. The last A1, 60145 Saint Mungo, was withdrawn and scrapped in 1966 but none were preserved.

40 years on The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust, a registered charity, has built a completely new A1 to the original design, with the help of the latest technology. Fitted with additional water capacity and the latest railway safety electronics, Tornado is fully equipped for today’s main line railway.

Hima-Sella’s managing director Ian Wright is a keen steam enthusiast. Following a visit to GCR to see Tornado, he commented, “I am hugely impressed by this project, not only by the quality of the finished article, but also by the sheer tenacity and organisational efforts of the team to conceive and build such an undertaking. I am delighted that Hima-Sella is making a contribution to the success of this exciting venture.”

Mark Allatt, chairman of The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust, commented, ‘“We are delighted to be working closely with Hima-Sella as Tornado’s latest sponsor-partner. The generous donation of a GSM-R cab radio system from Funkwerk Kölleda, the world’s leading supplier of GSM-R radio technology, means that our funds can be used to help to pay off the Trust’s £800,000 of debt and secure Tornado’s future on the main line. We look forward to a fruitful partnership with Hima-Sella over the coming years.”

About The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust
The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust has built Peppercorn class A1 Pacific 60163 Tornado at its Darlington Locomotive Works and when certified it will be used on charter trains operating on Network Rail. Fitted with additional water capacity and the latest railway safety electronics, Tornado is fully equipped for today’s main line railway. The class A1s were designed by Arthur H Peppercorn for the London & North Eastern Railway and 49 were built in 1948/49 by British Railways. However, following the dieselisation of the railways all were scrapped by 1966. The A1 Trust has built a new class A1 at a total cost £3 million. Over £2.9m has been raised to-date through deeds of covenant, commercial sponsorship (principal sponsor William Cook Cast Products Limited) and through a bond issue. For details of how to help Tornado telephone 01325 4 60163, visit www.a1steam.com or email enquiries@a1steam.com.  For more information, please contact Mark Allatt, chairman, The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust on 07710 878979 (M) or email him at mark.allatt@a1steam.com. Opportunities to travel behind Tornado on the Great Central Railway can be found at www.gcrailway.co.uk. Additional information can also be obtained from the Booking Office, Loughborough Central Station, (Daily 9.00 - 5.30) on 01509 230726.