The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust has released an update on the test run that was completed by steam locomotive 60163 Tornado.

On 15th January 2019, 60163 Tornado completed its first main line test run following its major repairs after failing on ‘The Ebor Flyer’ last year.

The engine and support coach run from the Nene Valley Railway, in Wansford, to Doncaster was successful. A brief check was made at Grantham and a more detailed inspection at Roberts Road in Doncaster.

From Doncaster, 60163 ran to Northallerton with a train of 400 tonnes.

All appeared to go as originally planned, with Tornado running well. However, the team found that the exhaust timing was slightly off beat throughout the run. On arrival at Northallerton, an inspection revealed that a motion pin on the left-hand combination lever had run warm and a further inspection found some minor distortion.

This would have accounted for the valve timing being slightly out and sufficient friction to generate the heat was identified.

The A1SLT are investigation the cause of the distortion but are confident that is unrelated to the failure on ‘The Ebor Flyer’.

Repairs are being made now at Barrow Hill as well as the annual re-certification process. The trust are anticipating a further test run before ‘The North Briton’ on 9th February running from Leicester to Carlisle.

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