Tornado

Today was the first day of 3 when the Settle to Carlisle railway  has the usual timetabled trains pulled by the steam loco Tornado.  A newly built 2008 Peppercorn class A1 Pacific steam loco.

Sop we decided to have a recce (I am told a recce requires an enemy)  scouting mission in the hope of getting better shots in the future.  We ended up at the Ribblehead Viaduct,an impressive structure in its own right.

Unfortunately at the time we were there the light was fading and they (being unable to turn round at Appleby) were running it (should that be her?) backwards.  To spoil the effect they had put that ruddy great diesel unit behind the loco rather than at the back.   I have never understood why they feel it necessary to bung a diesel in there,steam locos hauled large enough trains and reached speeds barely matched today, in  their heyday.