Work continues to return Tornado to operation following the unfortunate incident on ‘The Ebor Flyer’ on 14^th April. Our focus is on repairs to the engine’s valve bores, including the fitment of new valve liners to the middle valve, and on machining other components such as the new crosshead, union link and combination lever. In due course it will move on to the new valve heads.that are required and smaller components like fitted bolts and so forth as we reinstate the locomotive to operations.

The investigation progresses, and whilst it continues, the focus is on an alignment issue on the middle valve, analysis of the clearances in the valve rings and a concern over contamination or degradation in the lubrication used. We will continue to work through these issues to ensure robust conclusions are reached and agree suitable actions with our industry partners to avoid a re-occurrence.

It is still our intention that the locomotive will return to traffic, picking up its programme of trains from the 10^th  July.

All photos by Robert Stephenson Co. Ltd.

The newly machined union link.

The combination lever being machined.

A closer image of the combination lever.