Dudswell and Tornado

7th February 2009

A morning at Dudswell in the snow was followed by the eagerly awaited appearance of Tornado on her first visit to London. Welwyn North station was stuffed with enthusiasts and those who had been alerted by local news and had come out of curiosity.

The First Capital Connect booking office clerk was a bit non-plussed by all the people but she did enter into the spirit of things when she announced that Tornado had just passed Huntingdon.

The late running 4O09 from Daventry to Dollands Moor (and onward to Novara) behind 66194 3408x2333 20090207_01.jpg	A pair of Voyagers stir up the snow en-route to Euston. 3672x2476 20090207_02.jpg	According to the locomotive lists on the Freighmaster Interactive forum 66539 was allocated to the 4L90, Lawley Street to Felixstowe. Due through Watford Junction at 11:35 it passed Dudswell at 10:34, at least 45 minutes early. 3888x2488 20090207_03.jpg	Todays 4M05 was a very impressive train. 92017 hauling another dead 92 and dead 90 plus 34 flats. Running late, it passed Dudswell at 10:40 3852x2644 20090207_04.jpg
Taken 30 minutes before Tornado's scheduled appearance (and about an hour before she actually appeared), the platforms at Welwyn North are already crowded as the fans (and others) gather 3976x2668 20090207_05.jpg	I guess the 222s will shortly be a memory in Hull Trains service. The 10:06 from Hull approaching Welwyn North some 40 minutes late. 3960x2612 20090207_06.jpg	And now the star attraction. 60163 bursts out of Welwyn Number 2 Tunnel into a brief patch of sunshine... 2921x2276 20090207_07.jpg	...and here emerges from Welwyn Number One in great style. 4004x2644 20090207_08.jpg