I have just watched the first episode of the new series of Top Gear.
In it they have a race between an old bike, old car and that newly built steam loco.
From London to Edinburgh using only the A1, James May experiences the on / off dual carriageway north of Berwick, and upon finding 2 HGV’s side by side, refers to the overtaker as a “Selfish turd” 
Have a look on the iPlayer at 59 minutes.
Stuff what James May says…
That Loco is bloody awesome, what a feat of modern enginering, and spinning up at 70, my kind of toy!!! 
That Loco is bloody awesome, what a feat of modern enginering,
Yes but no but yes. 
Absolutely fantastic, car lover I may be the locomotive was the hands down winner. All credit to the team who financed and built it. (there was a BBC doc. about it recently, good stuff)
I so wanted TORNADO to win that race I know Top Gear is supposed to be about the cars but the engine definately stole the show , even public transport hater Clarkson loved it!!!
Actually guys…
You want a little secret let out… TORNADO did win 
Not by much, but the word from folk on the trip, that due to filming etc, the times being worked the Loco was the winner, but it was TOP GEAR… This is big news on the Heritage railway scene.
I do have a passion for these locos, having been on the footplate on classics like Royal Scot, Mayflower, Morayshire, Dukedog, plus various other preservation locos, inc Thomas the Tank engine 
They breathe life, you cant help but love the sound and smell of them…
Know where Clarkson was coming from when they were in the tunnel though, Berwyn tunnel taken at half chat is bad enough (Heritage railways are only supposed to be 25mph, pushing 30 )
Strictly speaking, they got it wrong!!
If they were to travel that route in whatever year they supposed it was, 1949 I think, they would have had to travel through most of the places along the route.
There are certainly alot of sections of the A1 that just didn’t exist in 1949, and a fair few that did but don’t anymore. I know I’m just being ■■■■ and a total ■■■■ about it, but hey, if a jobs worth doing…
I watched this, I was shocked to see Hammond riding up the A1 in rain and heavy spray on the old Vincent with no bloody lights on 
With his past history I’d have thought that he would take extra precautions. 
shortfatbaldbloke:
I watched this, I was shocked to see Hammond riding up the A1 in rain and heavy spray on the old Vincent with no bloody lights onWith his past history I’d have thought that he would take extra precautions.
I think the bloody great vehicle with cameras and lights on it driving along in front of him would have been as effective as having the lights switched on on the bike to be honest. Probably more so. 
Coddy:
Stuff what James May says…That Loco is bloody awesome, what a feat of modern enginering, and spinning up at 70, my kind of toy!!!
pity no one from network rail watched it,i do believe the train ran early,as for the race the train was always the winner,the old jag was ok in 1949,me i prefer the more upto date ones.
Darby Flyer you are spot on. Hamster and The Captain should have gone through (In my area) Grantham, Newark, Retford and Doncaster and all the towns bypassed since 1949. I cant get over Hamster trying to kick over the Vinnie.
Also the most pleasing… Seeing Jezza working
Ah but they’d gone through all the towns and villages then they’d have to contend with tons of traffic that wasn’t there in 1949 plus traffic calming, traffic lights etc.