Last weekend, LNER A1 No. 60163 Tornado had to sit in for LMS Princess No. 6201 Princess Elizabeth, who was due to haul The Northern Belle over the Settle to Carlisle line.

However, a spokesperson for The Northern Belle has told RailAdvent that “a crack was found on her boiler throat plate”.

David Pitts, Northern Belle owner, was then faced with a decision as to whether or not to cancel the champagne trip from Telford, Shrewsbury, Chester and Wrexham.

However, at the last minute, it was organised that 60163 Tornado would travel down overnight from Scotland.

Tornado was attached to The Northern Belle at Carnforth, with the train having been hauled from Telford by a diesel locomotive.

David Pitts said in a statement: “Never in my life have I been so glad to see a Tornado. I was really chuffed to get it as a replacement.”

“We offered passengers the option of changing their booking if they were disappointed that Lizzie wasn’t running. But nobody did, and my staff say the trip ran like clockwork.”

Tornado is also replacing Princess Elizabeth on Friday’s Northern Belle trip from Birmingham, but Mr Pitts said he hoped Princess Elizabeth would “be back in action soon.”

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