As planned, Tornado is spending January and February at Darlington for winter maintenance and annual recertification. 

The work started with a boiler washout and examination, with the safety valves removed for examination and maintenance. The team have also removed and checked the turbo gens, and made some adjustments to the pipework and valves. These are now fitted back on the locomotive ready for operations. 

All the gauges have been away for calibration and are reattached, as is a new smokebox door seal. All the manifold valves have been removed, refurbished and refitted. Similar work has been completed on the clack boxes and steam valves for the injectors. 

A variety of other jobs are being completed such as checking water gauge calibration and returning the locomotive horn guides to oil lubrication. The modification to grease has not made a material improvement so the original design is being reinstated. All the necessary components were in our stores so an easy retrofit. 

The team are on with fitting a connection to the tender so the locomotive can work with the Vintage Trains water carrier.

The engineering staff and volunteer team have also been busy cleaning the A1 inside and out. As the pictures show, it is now looking as good as ever and ready for the 2026 season.