Information on Loughborough

Tornado Strikes Loughborough Soon

Posted on 16/02/2010
newsdesk

Great Central Railway adds more chances to drive and dine with world famous locomotive due to high demand.

The Great Central Railway will welcome back world famous, newly built steam locomotive ‘Tornado’ in just four weeks time. The engine will arrive in Leicestershire in mid March for a three week stay.

Already footplate passes to ride on the engine have sold out and bookings are brisk for an exclusive first class dining train. Tornado will work passenger trains on the 20th and 21st March, 26th, 27th and 28th March and 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th April.

The GCR is now adding extra opportunities to actually drive Tornado during its three week visit. Would be drivers who want to track themselves into the Tornado story can choose from two packages.

BRONZE: Drive Tornado light engine for a single eight mile trip along the line. Ride on the footplate in the other direction with another driver. Slots for the bronze experience are available on Friday 2nd April only. £450 per person.

SILVER: Drive Tornado for a full line return (16 miles) with carriages. Then ride another return trip on the footplate (32 miles in total). £750 per person. To book a drive a locomotive trip, contact Steven Saunders in the booking office on 01509 230726 or Steven Chapple, GCR events co-ordinator 07515 598328.

Meanwhile, an extra dining train hauled by Tornado has been added to the visit schedule. This special Sunday evening train will depart at 7.30pm from

Loughborough Central station on 21st of March. Join us for a three course meal (and coffee) served in our first class dining train during a leisurely sixteen mile round trip, with the celebrity locomotive at the head of the train. Return time is shortly after 10pm. Tickets cost £47 per person. To book this dining train call the office on 01509 230726 and press 0 to speak to a booking clerk.

Kate Tilley from the Great Central Railway said, “We’re getting very excited about Tornado’s imminent return to the railway and judging by the amount of enquiries we are getting so are visitors. The engine will only be with us a short while so we urge people not to miss out.”