Atomic Systems

Tornado’ brings whirlwind ticket
sales for SVR half-term trains

‘TORNADO’ - Britain’s first main line steam locomotive to be built in nearly 50 years - arrives at the Severn Valley Railway on Friday - and advance ticket sales for the nine consecutive days of half-term steam trains which start on Saturday have gone absolutely bananas!

The Kidderminster - Bridgnorth steam heritage line had set aside 150 seats - roughly a third of the train’s seating capacity - for each of ‘Tornado’s’ 36 half-term trains - but almost all of them have been sold. Not only that, but special ‘footplate passes’ for the engine which the SVR was selling for £250 each, have all been eagerly gobbled up too.

The Railway is now looking at adding extra coaches to the ‘Tornado’ trains, increasing the load from seven carriages to nine, to meet demand.

Famously featured on BBC television’s ‘Top Gear’ programme earlier this year when presenter Jeremy Clarkson rode the footplate in a race to Edinburgh with co-presenters James May (1949 Jaguar sports car) and Richard Hammond (Vincent Black Shadow motor cycle), ‘Tornado’ has suddenly became a household name, even overshadowing ‘Thomas the Tank Engine’.

Far from being a storybook engine with a cheeky face, ‘Tornado’ is a serious 100mph-plus main line flyer - an advanced version of the London & North Eastern Railway’s A1 Class ‘Pacifics’, the last of which were scrapped by British Rail back in the 1960s.

Since its first special charter workings on Network Rail main lines last year, the locomotive has been selling train tickets like wildlfire, and turning heads everywhere.

On Saturday it is the Severn Valley Railway’s turn to let ‘Tornado’ loose on its 16-mile line, with the engine running two full round trips of the railway each day from
Saturday (October 24) to Sunday (November 1st).

‘Tornado’ will set out each day from Kidderminster station at 11am and 3.00pm, returning from Bridgnorth at 1.30pm and 5.30pm. Initially it will face north (towards
Bridgnorth), but on Wednesday (October 28th) the railway will use its turntable at Kidderminster to turn the engine to face the other way, to create some variety for photographers and train passengers.

The headline-making A1 Class ‘Pacific’, built in Darlington over a 14-year period at a cost of more than £3 million and making its debut on the Severn Valley line, has really caught the public’s imagination, says SVR General Manager Nick Ralls.

“We knew that getting ‘Tornado’ on the Severn Valley line would set a few hearts pumping, but we never expected it to be quite this popular” he said. “This is a big, spectacular locomotive that can really talk. I don’t think the kids will be able to go back to school and say that their half-term holidays were boring!”

Non-reserved seating for the ‘Tornado’ trains will go on sale as normal at ticket offices at the SVR’s six main stations (Kidderminster, Bewdley, Arley, Highley, Hampton Loade and Bridgnorth). A full-line round-trip ticket costing £14 adults, £12 senior citizens or £37 for a family ticket, will be necessary to ride with ‘Tornado’.

A total of eight trains run in each direction on the SVR line on each of the nine days of half-term, starting from Bridgnorth at 10.20, and from Kidderminster at 10.30. Some trains will be hauled by another, more sedate visitor to the Severn Valley line - the Great Northern Railway N2 Class tank engine, No.1744, which is on loan from the Great Central Railway at Loughborough, Leicestershire.
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Lad491 wrote:How boring for a loco that is cleared for 100 mph running having to do 10 - 25 mph on a preserved line. I wouldnt be wasting my money on a ticket. I'd rather be behind it on a mainline tour.

Lad491 wrote:How boring for a loco that is cleared for 100 mph running having to do 10 - 25 mph on a preserved line. I wouldnt be wasting my money on a ticket. I'd rather be behind it on a mainline tour.

TheAmateurBasher wrote:I might pop down there at some point in the week for a ride. Would be great to go behind Tornado.

45002 wrote:I hope you enjoy your trip to SVR

MARTIN

Lad491 wrote:How boring for a loco that is cleared for 100 mph running having to do 10 - 25 mph on a preserved line. I wouldnt be wasting my money on a ticket. I'd rather be behind it on a mainline tour.

spartacus wrote:

Lad491 wrote:How boring for a loco that is cleared for 100 mph running having to do 10 - 25 mph on a preserved line. I wouldnt be wasting my money on a ticket. I'd rather be behind it on a mainline tour.

Could swear it was 75......................... Besides, as has been previously said, many people don't have the money for a charter.

TheAmateurBasher wrote:Completed a round trip behind the magnificent machine yesterday (Thursday 29th October 2009), and she certainly did not dissapoint!

Thanks must go to all at the Severn Valley, and the A1 Trust for a fantastic day out.

45002 wrote:

TheAmateurBasher wrote:Completed a round trip behind the magnificent machine yesterday (Thursday 29th October 2009), and she certainly did not dissapoint!

Thanks must go to all at the Severn Valley, and the A1 Trust for a fantastic day out.

I'm glad you had a good day out,just think i could have sold you your ticket yesterday at Kidder BO unless you booked in advance

MARTIN