Work continues at DB Meiningen on repairs to Tornado's firebox. All replacement stays are in place with over half of the final welding required now completed. The replacement firebox side platework has been drilled and fitted, with the vast majority of welding completed in this area. Focus has now turned to the four foundation ring corners, where full replacements are being made in order to finish the repairs ahead of the hydraulic test which will be needed once all of the work has been completed.

At the National Railway Museum in York work on planned winter maintenance is on schedule with reassembly works now commencing and due to be completed by the end of March in time for the boiler's return. To this end, it is essential that the frame, wheels, cylinders, motion and all the numerous parts of the platework that have been removed are cleaned and ready for refitting.

The repaint of Tornado into BR Brunswick Green livery continues with the exterior of the tender complete and focus now on the locomotive’s wheels, frames, cab and boiler cladding. Much of this work can be done by relatively unskilled volunteers and so the Trust is appealing for those who can help to contact chris.walker@a1steam.com. Anybody with experience of painting on metal would be particularly useful.

Meanwhile work continues at Darlington Locomotive works on Tornado’s new support coach, although with the locomotive at York taking precedence, progress has been somewhat limited. In recent days volunteers and contractors have completed the under seat heaters and installed them along with thin galvanised steel liners to the under seat spaces which are required to meet fire resistance regulations. This was originally achieved by asbestos which had to be removed at considerable expense early in the project. The fan assisted heaters for the kitchen, guards compartment and workshop have been acquired and will be piped in shortly and the components to form the air ducting for the cooling radiator of the Fischer Panda generator have been manufactured.

Once Tornado’s boiler has been reunited with its frames it will be quickly followed by an in-the-frames steam test and the rapid re-assembly of the locomotive. Tornado will then conduct both light engine and loaded test runs in early May before being made available for traffic. It is now planned that Tornado’s return to service, and first main line passenger train in her new Brunswick Green livery will be on Thursday 26^th May with ‘The Cathedrals Express’ for Steam Dreams from London to Bath & Bristol. Tornado will then take up a comprehensive programme of tours and heritage line visits in diverse locations from Edinburgh to Plymouth and Carlisle to Canterbury. The Trust has apologised to its customers over Tornado’s lack of availability before this date and is sorry to have disappointed so many of Tornado’s passengers.

The Trust would like to take this opportunity to thanks the National Railway Museum for making their facilities available, DB Meiningen for its rapid response to the firebox issues and all of Tornado’s supporters for their patience, generosity and understanding.

Some the team working hard to ensure 60163 steams again soon - A1SLT