© Don Marshall 2011

ELEGANT STEAM

British Railways 1948 - 1965

BR Class A1 No 60156 Great Central.  Designed by A H Peppercorn this class of 49 express locomotives were first introduced in 1948. These locomotives were pure British Railways but their LNER heritage is obvious.  They were generally well liked by the enginemen as a welcome change to the Brittania class. Like all of new BR steam locomotives they were quickly scrapped in the ridiculous race to adopt diesels. None were preserved until the A1 Trust decided to build a 50th member of the Class. Named "Tornado" by the Prince of Wales it is now performing well on the main lines pulling in crowds wherever it goes.