Railway Herald
LNER Peppercorn designed Class A1 Pacific Pacific No. 60163 'Tornado', displaying 'I love S&C headboard' and hauling 8 Riviera blue and grey Mk 2 coaches with central door lockings, crosses Ais Gill Viaduct and powers up the 1 in 330 gradient towards the 1,169 ft. (356 m) Ais Gill Summit, heading the 11:50 Skipton to Appleby Northern Rail service on the dull and misty morning of February 14th 2017.
This was the first of 6 runs on 3 consecutive days and was England's first timetabled ordinary main line passenger steam train for nearly 50 years, replacing DMUs on timetabled trains over the Settle-Carlisle Railway from Skipton as far as Appleby, as a prelude to the full route re-opening on 31st March 2017 (celebrated by Class A3 No. 60103 'Flying Scotsman' hauling an Oxenhope to Carlisle Charter).
DB Cargo Class 67 No. 67029 'Royal Diamond' worked the rear of the train, providing electricity."
Mike Brook
