Telegrammed by Eboracum (50A)
The sharp eyed cranks amongst you will have noticed that all the recent test runs of new ‘Uber Kettle’ Tornado have been crewed by EWS rather than the expected operator West Coast Railways.
How can this be?
Alas, it would appear that the A1 Trust declined to paint the loco in BR Brunswick Green.
So the loco, in battleship grey, is now running on an EWS ticket.
Surprisingly the choice of photographic grey has proved surprisingly beneficial to the A1 trust.
Not least because it helped show off the logo of test run sponsor National Express to great effect.
Indeed so great was the horde of spectators lining the route of the first test run that Railway Eye understand a sponsor for the second mainline test has already been signed up...
UPDATE: A reader writes:
"It appears there is an inaccuracy with your latest post about Tornado - a sponsor for the 'second mainline test' is unlikely to have been found, because all 3 tests (light engine, 60mph and 75mph) have all been completed successfully.
Indeed, her next appearance in a few weeks time will be in apple green with British Railways on the tender."
Railway Eye stands corrected!
