As a welcome change from all the gloom and navel-gazing that occurs on this blog, here's a happy post.

Astute readers may already know about the A1 Peppercorn Class 60163 "Tornado", the first main line steam locomotive built in this country since 1960 - not a preserved original (no examples of the A1 Peppercorn class exist, all having been scrapped in the late 60s) but a brand-new locomotive, built from scratch, from the original drawings, but to the standards required by a modern railway.

Today was her first trip to London, pulling the A1 Trust's "Talisman" rail tour train into Kings Cross, and, thanks to a reminder from a friend, I was there.  I'm not, by nature, much of a trainspotter, but I do have a very soft spot for steam locos, and the Tornado is such a remarkable achievement, that I found myself quite moved by the huge crowds that had turned out to greet her.




More photos on Ian's page here.