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 |  | | Detail of Tornado | | |  | | | Detail of Tornado | | |  | | | The 141 R | | |  | | | The 141 R | | |
photograph by Geoff Griffiths
photograph by Neil Whitaker
photograph by Daniel Wipf
photograph by Olivier Bachmann
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Steam Power from William Cook
A specialist niche of William Cook Rail is the manufacture of steel castings for steam locomotives. Driving wheels, horn blocks, frame stays, cylinders, blast pipes and superheater headers are just a few of the castings required by a steam locomotive. Using modern pattern making techniques, William Cook’s unequalled manufacturing facilities can produce these as single items without difficulty or extreme cost.
William Cook’s involvement in the world of steam goes far beyond merely manufacturing cast parts for steam locomotives. William Cook has played a major part in a variety of projects, including the re-engineering of the Paddle Steamer “Montreux” operating on Lake Geneva, Switzerland, the A1 Pacific new build project and, most recently, the Swiss Classic Train.
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The A1 Pacific
William Cook is the largest corporate sponsor of The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust, builders of the LNER A1 Pacific Tornado, the first new main line steam locomotive in Britain for 50 years. William Cook made all the cast steel parts, including the massive driving wheels, and financed the tender and much of the boiler.
Following a launch at the National Railway Museum in York in December 2008 in her stunning LNER Apple Green livery Tornado made her debut on the East Coast main line during the weekend of 31st January and 1st February 2009 when many William Cook employees were able to see the locomotive in action for the first time.
On 19th February 2009 Tornado was named by Their Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall at York Station, following which she was given the rare honour of hauling the Royal Train, only the second time ever that a “heritage” steam locomotive has hauled the Royal Train on the main line.
On 21st June 2009 Tornado starred in a special Top Gear programme in which she raced from London to Edinburgh against a vintage motor bike and Jaguar sports car.
Wherever she goes, this unique locomotive attracts large crowds and national and international press coverage. William Cook Cast Products is proud to be so closely associated with Tornado.
>> View the A1 Locomotive Trust website
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The Swiss Classic Train
Launched in Switzerland in June 2009, this 10-car train of Swiss classic carriages is owned by William Cook and is available for charter for corporate events and tourist excursions in Switzerland and beyond. All carriages are specially equipped for year-round operation with a particular emphasis on high-quality catering and passenger comfort. The train features a Pullman car, first and second class carriages, dining car, bar car and even a picnic carriage! The Pullman car is equipped to take wheelchair passengers.
>> View the Swiss Classic Train Website
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The 141 R
William Cook is the owner of the French steam locomotive 141 R 568, which was built in 1945 by the famed Baldwin locomotive works in the United States and sent to Europe as part of the Marshall Aid plan for the reconstruction of France.
The classic 2-8-2 “Mikado” locomotive was one of a series of 1,340 engines, of which only six survive in working order today – four in France and two in Switzerland. The William Cook locomotive is unique, in that it is the only coal-fired 141 R still in operation and carrying the traditional black and red livery. The locomotive was purchased in France in 2005 and brought to Switzerland in 2006. It is based in Schaffhausen, north-west Switzerland where it has recently undergone a comprehensive overhaul. 141 R 568 is available for hire both with the Swiss Classic Train and by itself.
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