Following her successful initial trial runs at Darlington Locomotive Works No. 60163 Tornado is now heading to the Great Central Railway in Leicestershire for running in. "This is a terrific honour for the GCR," said railway president Bill Ford. "Tornado has been the talk of the enthusiast community for years, but now it's finally ready to run, the whole world is taking notice. After testing it will pull its first trains right here in Leicestershire. We're expecting to be very busy indeed!" [caption id="attachment_1813" align="alignright" width="300"] Tornado moving back towards Darlington Locomotive Works during the 'First Moves' weekend, Aug 2008[/caption] The new locomotive is expected to arrive on the GCR in mid August and spend two months based there. The first month will be taken up with testing. The locomotive will run by herself and then with test trains of empty carriages. On 21st September Tornado will pull her first passenger trains, initially for the thousands of covenantors who have helped to finance her construction. Thereafter trains will be open for everyone, for three weekends until the middle of October.Mark Allatt, chairman of the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust said “The GCR offers us all the right facilities for testing our new locomotive. Naturally, being in the middle of the country we hope as many people as possible will share in the chance to see and travel behind Britain’s first brand new main line steam locomotive since 1960. After our stay at the GCR we’re heading off for service on the national network, though we still need to raise £66,000 pay for main line tests and trials.” "This really is a genuine first” concluded Bill, "and people who visit the Great Central Railway will enjoy being part of railway history.”