The steam locomotive Tornado, which featured in the popular family film Paddington 2, is to star in the Swanage Railway’s autumn steam gala in Dorset.
The annual event takes place from Friday 11th to Sunday 13th September 2026 with five steam locos in action including Tornado, dating from 1893 to 2008.
Tornado on a previous visit to Swanage Railway
Film and television fame
While it looks like it’s from the 1940s, the loco Tornado was actually completed in 2008 having been built from scratch by a group of rail enthusiasts, who wanted to recreate the A1 class locos designed by Arthur H Peppercorn.
Originally there were 49 A1 locos built in 1948 and 1949 by British Railways, but following modernisation, all were scrapped by 1966. So this is the only chance to see an A1 loco in action.
As the first main line steam loco to be built for the UK since 1961, Tornado found fame in the cinema and on television – appearing in the 2017 Paddington 2 film, and in a BBC Top Gear episode in 2009, racing against a Jaguar XK 120 sports car and a Vincent Black Shadow motorcycle.
The autumn steam gala will also see the Swanage Railway’s steam locomotives running along the entire nine miles of the heritage line – from Swanage to Corfe Castle and four miles beyond Norden to the River Frome within sight of Wareham.
An amazing scene from the film Paddington 2 featuring the Tornodo loco
Visitor
- A1 Pacific loco 60163 Tornado
Home fleet
- T3 No. 563 (1893) – a unique Victorian locomotive
- U class No. 31806 (late 1920s)
- Battle of Britain class Pacifics: No. 34070 Manston and No. 34072 257 Squadron (both 1940s)
While the Tornado is the youngest, the Victorian T3 loco will be the oldest in action during the steam gala
Christopher Awdry (right) visiting Swanage Railway in April 2026
Railway book signing
Also coming along to the autumn steam gala will be children’s railway author Christopher Awdry, the son of Reverend W Awdry of Thomas the Tank fame.
Christopher will be signing copies of his new book The Canadian Wonderland Tour 1980, which is the diary of Wilbert Awdry and his brother George’s rail journey across Canada in 1980.
The book signing will be at Harman’s Cross station on Saturday 12th August 2026 between 10.30 am and 2.30 pm, two days before the book’s general release by publishers Full-Steam-Ahead.
Volunteer steam locomotive driver and gala organiser Alexander Atkins
“Wonderful and evocative taste of yesteryear”
Autumn steam gala organising committee chair Alexander Atkins said:
“Tornado is a marvellous machine and there is much expectation ahead of its visit.
“We’re delighted to be able to offer enthusiasts and the public, such a wide variety of steam locomotives at work through the beautiful Isle of Purbeck countryside and past the dramatic ruins of Corfe Castle.
“I would like to say a big thank you to all the dedicated volunteers who have worked so hard to plan and stage such a complicated event, as our five steam locomotive autumn steam gala promises to be a wonderful and evocative taste of yesteryear.”
Food and drink will be available across the Swanage Railway during the autumn steam gala, including hot drinks and snacks from the Brake Train on-train buffet, as well as a range of takeaway favourites available from Swanage, Corfe Castle and Norden stations.
The shop will also be open at Swanage station where there will be railway trade stands on the platform.
Further information
- Book tickets for the Swanage Railway Autumn Steam Gala
- More about A1 Pacific loco 60163 Tornado
