‘TORNADO’ LNER Live Steam 4-6-2

This model is now discontinued.

The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust, a registered charity, built Peppercorn class A1 Pacific No. 60163 Tornado, named after the RAF aircraft, at its Darlington Locomotive Works. Fitted with additional water capacity and the latest railway safety electronics, Tornado is fully equipped for today’s main line railway. The class A1s were designed by Arthur H Peppercorn for the London & North Eastern Railway and 49 were built in 1948/49 by British Railways. However, all were scrapped following the dieselisation of the railways. After 18 years of planning, construction and fundraising the £3 million locomotive was completed in 2008. Tornado was named by TRH The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall at York station in 2009 and is frequently in the press and on TV and radio. Funds to build Tornado were raised through deeds of covenant, sponsorship (principal sponsor William Cook Cast Products Limited), loans and a bond issue. The Trust is raising funds to keep Tornado operating on Britain’s main line and heritage railways. For details of how to help or where to travel behind Tornado visit the Trust website.

Accucraft’s model faithfully captures the elegance and power of the Peppercorn class A1 design and features all the unique details carried by Tornado.   The model is gas-fired with slide valves and has all the features the Gauge 1 fraternity have come to expect from an Accucraft locomotive.  The cylinders are fitted with drain cocks. The fully sprung chassis is constructed from stainless steel. The boiler is copper, the cab (with sliding cab windows) and tender are constructed from etched brass.  The UK RRP is £3650.00 and the model is available in apple green, blue and BR green.  The model is only available from Accucraft UK.  The retail profit from sales of this superb model will go to The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust to complete the financing of Tornado herself.

Mike Darby of Chuffed 2 Bits is developing working LED headlamps suitable for this model (the marker lights are bolted on to the front buffer beam to facilitate this).  You can download the instructions for Tornado here.

Specification:

• Scale: 1:32
• Gauge: 45mm
• Length over buffers: 690mm (29½ inches)
• Width: 90mm (3½ inches)
• Height: 130mm (5¼ inches)
• Min Radius: 2.5m (8′)
• Boiler: Centre Flue
• Working Pressure: 60psi
• Reversing Gear: Walschaerts, two slide valve cylinders
• Fuel: Butane Gas
• Boiler Fittings: Safety valve, pressure gauge, water gauge.
• Cab Controls: Steam regulator, gas regulator, reverse lever, lubricator
• Gas tank: In tender (water bath), axle pump with bypass valve, water hand pump with check valve
• Construction:  Copper boiler, brass boiler jacket, brass cab, brass tender, un-insulated steel drivers