Home»All my photos»2010 Railway Photographs»Tornado on the Royal Borderer 22 October 2010

Tornado headed a Pathfinder Doncaster – Edinburgh tour, timed to co-ordinate with the illumination of the Royal Border Bridge at Berwick upon Tweed, to celebrate its the 160th anniversary. Tornado set off briskly from York and after reaching 74 mph at Alne, stayed at or above that speed right through Thirsk and Northallerton to the outskirts of Darlington, where we were due to stop. Further stops at Durham, Tyne Yard (for water) and Newcastle meant only
occasional flashes of high speed, but after the pathing stop at Alnmouth we flew along the beautiful Northumberland coastline at well over 70 until slowing for Tweedmouth and Berwick. After watering, Tornado climbed into the Scottish hills then rattled down Cockburnspath bank and along the Firth of Forth in the seventies until the edge of the Edinburgh conurbation.

After a three hour break in Edinburgh, we were off back to Berwick at breakneck speed. 63 by Craigentinny, 71 by Monktonhall and onwards and upwards until we had to climb Cockburnspath bank, dropping only to 52 and swiftly onwards to Berwick. This leg was done in better than even time, and we were told that it was a new record for steam.

At Berwick, something completely different had been laid on for us by Berwick History Society. The inauguration of the illuminations under the Royal Border Bridge had been deferred for a month, but we had had a special viewing laid on for us. Eight buses, including two London Routemasters, had been laid on to take us to the banks of the Tweed to view the illuminations at dusk. The multi-coloured, computerised LED displays were very impressive even at twilight and as we left Berwick in the dark behind Tornado, the view back to the bridge from Tweedmouth was absolutely stunning.

There was more good running through Northumberland, but Tornado was more restrained for the rest of the journey home, despite an absence of conflicting traffic. But it had been a great day out, with some memorable turns of speed
and a fascinating two hour visit to Berwick.