A STEAM locomotive which was the first to be built in the country for 50 years has made a breathtaking journey across an iconic viaduct.

Rail enthusiasts braved appalling weather conditions to see Tornado, the first Peppercorn A1 Pacific built in five decades, cross the Ribblehead Viaduct on Saturday.


Watch footage of the crossing

Tornado, which was built at a cost of £3m during a 19-year labour of love, returned to the Settle to Carlisle line yesterday in more favourable weather.

Onlookers gathered along the 73-mile line through the Yorkshire Dales and North Pennines.

Many watched as Tornado steamed across the longest and most famous of the viaducts on the line.

Members of the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust, who built Tornado in Darlington, were among the passengers.

Trust chairman Mark Allatt said: “We have had two absolutely packed trains and two fantastic days. On Sunday the weather was lovely and, although the weather was absolutely horrendous the day before, and the wind was so heavy that lines and trees were down on the line, so we arrived late, there were still dozens of cars lining the route.”

Also among those on the train was Gordon Haley, who received the tickets as a gift from his son for his 70th birthday.

He said: “It’s great that they’ve built it. Even if it did take £3m, it’s a bit of nostalgia.”

Adrian Wood, from Darlington, was taking his second trip on board the locomotive.

He said: “There’s more and more things like this happening, and I think it’s really good. It’s a really different experience.”

Tornado will be back at its home in York before returning to the Settle to Carlisle line at the weekend.

However, it starts its trip in Worcester, to where it will return, via the West Coast Main Line and the summit over Shap.

Mr Allatt added: “That’s going to be another big day for us. We keep adding these notches to our belt.”

Tornado was completed earlier this year. It made its maiden main line passenger journey from Darlington to King’s Cross, London, in February.

Since then, it has captured the imagination of the public, made headlines around the world and completed more than 10,000 miles.

It also featured on TV’s Top Gear for a race replicating a bygone era from London to Edinburgh.