Good evening,
Tomorrow 60163 Tornado will be charging down the Great Western Mainline hauling the Devon Belle. What makes this trip special is that it will be the last time she will haul mainline passenger trains whilst wearing the British Railway’s Express Blue livery, at least for the foreseeable future . Both myself and Dave have seen the A1 pacific beast in the blue livery and are big fans and we aren’t the only ones, at the start of last year LocoYard ran a poll asking “What is your favourite colour that 60163 Tornado has been painted in?” with BR Express Blue coming second to LNER Apple Green. So today as a tribute I have posted some of our favorite photos of her wearing this livery before she returns to the BR Apple green.
Tornado at Salisbury in May 2013.
Tornado at Winchester hauling a Cathedrals Express in December 2012. I’m actually in the photo … 10 points will be awarded to Gryffindor if some correctly IDs me.
Tornado at Ropley, just before the Autumn Steam in 2013.
Two mainline stars together at Ropley during the rain soaked 2013 Autumn Gala
Tornado at the Mid Hants in her Apple Green livery she will soon appear in.
Thanks for reading
Loco Yard 
Isn’t she something?
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She is that, can you imagine what Prince of Wales will be like when she is completed!
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Fingers crossed that comes to Swanage as well. And hopefully I’ll be there at the same time!
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With Swanages mainline connection I would be surprised if she didnt visit at some point…. they just got to build the thing first. 😉
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Ah details. 🙂 I have my spot for photos ready to go!
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HaHa I can’t talk I have been planning when I would be able to take my unborn son (only a month to go) on the unrestored train I am working on.
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That’s brilliant!
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I’m kinda disappointed she never came to Carlisle in blue. I would have loved to have seen her personally in this livery. Still, she wore the light green well when she came here in 2009.
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We were lucky that her second run in the blue was to Winchester so we were able to see her, plus a MHR gala appearance meant for some good close up shots. I got to admit the Apple Green livery is my favourite one for Tornado.
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