On 17/05/2011 17:32, Chris.B wrote:
On May 17, 5:30 pm, completely outmatched, Andrex gummed his keyboard
nervously:

it is interesting that the photography uploaded
to Google Earth contains such rare mobile objects as the Tornado
and one has to wonder if it was serendipitous or deliberate.

The Tornado? What on earth?

Rebuild from scratch modern steam train Peppercorn class A1 Pacific with
a 4-6-2 wheel configuration. A live steam enthusiasts dream!

http://www.a1steam.com/

It is rare in the sense that there is one of it. But if you take enough
satellite photographs it could easily appear on more than one of them.

He is being deliberately obscure to score points. The link to
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&q=51%C2%B043'44.95%22N%20%7C%201%C2%B04 3'46.72%22W&biw=1916&bih=995&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=il

should make it clear that it is a steam locomotive under way but with
only one carriage so not a scheduled service. I expect it spent a fair
amount of time pottering about on the sidings at Swindon. It would be
much more interesting if they caught it on the East coast main line.

As for it being rare I have been on a train passed by it on the main
line once - did wonder at the time why everyone was hanging around on
bridges and platforms. They have to be careful about routes and timings
as very few stations can feed and water a steam train these days.

Google prefers the coordinates as : 51 34 44.95N 1 43 46.72W
Then you have to zoom in a lot.

Regards,
Martin Brown