PLANS for A1 No. 60163 Tornado to return to the main line this summer have suffered another setback.
The latest obstacle the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust (A1SLT) has to overcome is the unavailability of a coded welder.
On reassembly of the boiler and its fittings, there was a need to undertake some work to the gauge frame pads. However, due to the level of welding and supporting paperwork required, the trust found its regular welder was not available – a problem which affects many heritage railways. A search for a suitably qualified welder with availability led to the enforced delay, although other work has gone ahead unimpeded.
With the boiler back in the frames, the trust undertook another hydraulic test on May 1, and although passing the test,
