The Tornado steam train today visited Preston and Bamber Bridge Railway Stations to the delight of residents.
The LNER Peppercorn Class A1 60163 Tornado is a steam locomotive completed in 2002 by a team of volunteers, with a top speed of 100mph, the first to reach such speeds since the 1960s.
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Built in Darlington Locomotive Works by the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust, the train appeared in the film Paddington 2 and Top Gear’s Race to the North and was named by HRH The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall at York station on 19 February 2009.
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Preston and Bamber Bridge residents took to Twitter to share their excitement at having seen the train, as well as some photos showing the locomotive in action.
Colin Ward said: “Went to see this beauty this morning at Preston Railway Station.”
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Pixelshedtweets said: “Saw the 60163 Tornado today at Bamber Bridge railway station! Absolutely amazing.”
Nina Lockwood said: “We have a very special visitor at Preston station this morning. 60163 Tornado looking all shiny and gorgeous.”
The Tornado is also featured in the BBC documentaries, Absolutely Chuffed – the Men Who Built a Steam Engine and Tornado the 100mph Steam Engine.
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Named in honour of the crews who flew RAF Tornado Jets in the 1990/91 Gulf War, the Tornado originally bore Tri-National Tornado Training Establishment and RAF Cottesmore crests but now carries crests bearing RAF Leeming and RAF Marham.
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Did you see the Tornado? Let us know in the comments below