Test run for £3m steam locomotive

The loco made its first self-powered journey in Darlington

Europe's newest steam engine is due to travel through the North East and arrive at Newcastle Central Station.

The £3m Tornado, built by the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust in Darlington, County Durham, will be tested on the East Coast Mainline on Tuesday night.

It has taken 18 years to build the 170-tonne locomotive.

The Peppercorn class A1 steam locomotive has been in York undergoing trials and is designed to haul special charter trains.

Mark Allat, from the A1 steam locomotive trust, a registered charity, said: "This is the type of locomotive from the post war period and sadly not one was preserved, all 49 were scrapped by 1966.

"Luckily the drawings were kept in York Railway Museum and 18 years later we have this magnificent beast almost ready to pull passengers on the mainline."

If the trials prove successful the locomotive will begin tours in 2009.