Mark Allatt, chairman of The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust commented: “We are now clearly on the final stretch of the project to build Tornado, with just a few weeks until she moves under her own steam for the first time and departs Darlington for the Great Central Railway. All – but there is an awful lot of it - there is left to do is a large amount of detailed pipe work, painting and final assembly. All of this progress has, however, come at a cost. The Trust continues to spend in the order of £60,000 every month on construction. It is thanks to our supporters’ continued generosity that our income continues to hold up and maintain its record breaking levels achieved since late last year. However, now is not the time to be complacent. In order to put Tornado on the main line the Trust still needs to raise a further £66,000 to pay for main line trials and once Tornado is on Network Rail we will need to raise in excess of £800,000 to service the loans taken out and Bond issue taken up to ensure the locomotive’s long term operations.” Mark Allatt continued, “One of the key ways in which the Trust has raised funds for the locomotive is by supporters sponsoring particular components either on their own behalf or as a gift for others. The lucky recipient of this gift will receive a drawing of the component sponsored and certificate recognising the sponsorship with the dedication worded however the giver wishes. The recipient will have the satisfaction of pointing to the part of the locomotive they sponsored when the locomotive enters service on Britain’s main line railway. We have many parts on offer, which have in the past ranged from individual nuts and bolts to the wheels and chimney, ranging in price from £25 to £25,000." Mark Allatt added, “For the next few weeks only we are also offering a unique opportunity to sponsor the first turn of Tornado’s wheels. Be part of this defining moment in the history of this project. With a donation of £25 you can have your name or that of someone you nominate on a certificate which will record the moment when Tornado first moved under her own power. The sponsorship is available for each set of wheels on the locomotive and tender. As part of the celebration of the first movement of Tornado under her own steam, the Trust will present to one of the sponsors of the first turn of the wheel an unrepeatable memento of the occasion.” All of these dedicated donations and the first turn of the wheels sponsorship are available by emailing enquiries@a1steam.com, calling 01325 4 60163 or visiting www.a1steam.com.