'Nobody has done this before': Britain's beloved steam trains trial technology

About 500 steam trains run across the UK each year, from Penzance in the south to Inverness in the north, ­transporting tens of thousands of passengers to a bygone age, ­bringing joy to the faces of enthusiasts and bemusing commuters. But the future of main line steam operations could be under threat unless the traditional fire-breathing machines can be fitted with pioneering modern technology. The UK’s railways are undergoing a major change to their signalling ­systems in the coming years. Network Rail is planning to remove traditional lineside colour light signals in favour of in-cab signalling systems along key routes. No steam locomotive in the world had ever been run with in-cab digital signalling – until now. On a Monday night earlier this month, the new technology was ­trialled for the first time as part of a “pathfinder” project aimed at ­securing the future of steam locomotives in the UK. The “A1” No.60163 Tornado – Britain’s first steam locomotive to be built in 50 years ... Read full article.