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IN VIDEO and PICTURES: Fans rally to see £3m train steam into Severn Valley Railway

Trainspotters and steam enthusiasts flocked to the Severn Valley Railway to see the return of the first locomotive to be built in England for more than 50 years.

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The £3 million Tornado returned to the 16-mile heritage line for the first time in four years.

The No 60163 was the first new main-line steam locomotive to be built in Britain since 1960 and remains the first to be paid for by public subscription.

The Tornado on the Severn Valley Railway in Bridgnorth
The crew on board

Construction on the locomotive, owned by the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust, took 18 years and was finished in 2008.

Tornado went on to carry out 80,000 miles of service before being given another £400,000 overhaul last summer.

Steam enthusiasts turned out in force to see The Tornado on the Severn Valley Railway in Bridgnorth
Steam enthusiasts turned out in force to see The Tornado on the Severn Valley Railway in Bridgnorth

The Ex LNER A1 class was running on the Bridgnorth to Kidderminster line over the weekend and will be operational on selected dates up until October 25 as part of the railway's golden jubilee celebrations.

Nick Ralls, general manager at the Severn Valley Railway, said: "We are delighted the Tornado has returned to the railway because of its popularity and iconic status.

"It looks perfect hauling our LNER teak set of carriages through beautiful countryside."

The Tornado on the Severn Valley Railway in Bridgnorth
Steam enthusiasts turned out in force to see The Tornado on the Severn Valley Railway in Bridgnorth

The last of the original Peppercorn A1 steam locomotives were scrapped in 1966 when diesel engines were added to the UK's main line.

The trust rebuilt the engine to the original A1 design but also equipped it with the technology needed for travel on a modern main line.

Mark Allatt, chairman of the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust, said the group was delighted to be returning to the SVR.

"It's amazing to think that in the very year the Severn Valley Railway was formed the last Peppercorn class A1s were heading for the scrapyard," he said.

For further information about Tornado's return and all of the SVR's events, visit www.svr.co.uk or call (01562) 757900.

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