Keyring Tornado Steam Locomotive

Keyring Tornado Steam Locomotive. Plastic keyring with a photograph of the new ‘Tornado‘ steam locomotive. This steam locomotive built at Darlington, in 2008 was the first locomotive built in the UK since the 1960’s. This photograph shows Tornado departing Newcastle Central Station with a charter service heading to Edinburgh.

Back in 1990 a group of people came together to share an extraordinary ambition – to construct a brand new Peppercorn A1 Pacific. They formed The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust and after nineteen years of incredible effort that locomotive, No. 60163 Tornado, moved under its own power for the first time in 2008. The A1 Class, like a number of other LNER locomotive designs were never managed to be preserved so the only option has been to reconstruct them using original designs combined with modern safety features.

In 2017, Tornado, under cover of darkness on the East Coast Mainline, was the first steam locomotive to travel at 100mph since the 1960’s when steam locomotives were replaced with diesel engines.

The Trust is now well on the way to completing it’s 2nd steam locomotive the Sir Nigel Gresley designed ‘P2’ Class, called ‘Prince of Wales‘ The locomotive is due to be completed in 2022/23.

The trust’s next project is to build another extinct Gresley design the LNER V4. Work has already started with scanning of the original designs.

Keyring size is 40mm x 95mm including the ring. Picture size is 35 x 50mm. Text on the keyring reads ‘Tornado’  This photograph is also available on a fridge magnet and greeting card.