The locomotive, Peppercorn Class A1 60163 Tornado, has been retrofitted with Hitachi Rail’s onboard ETCS equipment as part of Network Rail’s East Coast Digital Programme (ECDP).
This retrofit represents the first time that a steam locomotive has operated with the ETCS digital signalling system. The objective was to examine how the system performs in non-standard and complex operational environments, offering data on technical compatibility and potential applicability beyond conventional use cases.
The Cambrian line served as the testing ground for this integration. Hitachi Rail adapted its onboard ETCS solution to the unique operational and physical characteristics of the steam locomotive cab. The system transmits movement authorities and speed information directly to the driver's cab, which eliminates the reliance on traditional trackside signals. The solution is intended to enable real-time communication between trains and infrastructure.
The initiative forms part of a broader effort by Network Rail to apply ETCS across the East Coast route. This includes various categories of rolling stock, and the Tornado was selected as a test vehicle to determine how digital signalling technology might be incorporated into heritage operations.
The integration process involved multiple stages of dynamic testing. The objective was not to alter the core mechanical operation of the locomotive, but to assess how the digital overlay system would function under operational pressures associated with historical steam equipment.
The project also involved individuals from apprenticeship level to senior engineering roles, one of whom, Tom Goulding, contributed to both the Tornado and Class 43 ETCS retrofit programmes. Goulding is currently employed as a Senior Systems Engineer at Hitachi Rail.
The East Coast Digital Programme is currently progressing with further ETCS rollouts, targeting passenger and freight fleets operating on digitally signalled sections of the UK railway network. The use of a steam locomotive in the test campaign is intended to inform approaches for interoperability between heritage and modern signalling frameworks.
Based on available information, no commercial passenger services have yet been operated under ETCS by the Tornado, and the tests were performed under controlled conditions specific to the Cambrian line. No details regarding further deployment or commercial use of steam locomotives with ETCS were disclosed.
The ETCS project with Tornado is part of a wider UK industry programme linked to the Railway200 commemorations, which reflect on two centuries of railway operation in Britain. The testing activity also provided a platform for engineering teams to explore system adaptability in a non-standard rolling stock category.
