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On 31 January 2009, people will board carriages attached to Tornado as she hauls her first passenger train on the Network Rail main line.

Tornado is the first new main line steam locomotive to be built in Britain for almost 50 years

The run will be from York passing through a number of stations including Durham before arriving in Newcastle and then returning.

Tornado travelled up to 75mph

The train is for supporters of The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust who raised funds to build Tornado and is the first of a series of passenger services.

The project to build Tornado has attracted a huge swell of interest and it meant hundreds of people went to Newcastle Central Station in November 2008 to watch her during a test run.

Passionate about steam

There was a buzz of anticipation at Newcastle Central Station as hundreds of people waited for the arrival of Tornado.

She hauled her final test train from York to Newcastle on Tuesday 18 November 2008.

Shortly after 8.40pm her arrival was marked with a blast on her whistle as she pulled into platform three.

Many people went to see Tornado

The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust built Peppercorn class A1 Pacific 60163 Tornado at its Darlington Locomotive Works.

The project was started in 1990 and, following 18 years of planning, construction and fundraising, the 拢3m locomotive was finished in August 2008.

A1 Steam Locomotive Trust chairman Mark Allatt said it was a great feeling to arrive in Newcastle and every station on the way up from York had been packed.

He said: "The project was started in the North East and I think you can see from the crowds that have come out tonight how passionate people feel about their steam here and especially this engine which lots of people here helped to pay for to build."

He said "there was more than one tear in the eye" when the train came into Newcastle over the bridge.

Look at some photos of Tornado in Newcastle: