THE world’s newest locomotive steamed through Swindon as it made tracks to Wales for St David’s Day.

The Tornado, named last year by the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall, was on tour with The Cathedrals Express, travelling from London Victoria to Cardiff and Wales, stopping at 20 stations along the way.

The £3 million train was built over 19 years by charity The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust, at its Darlington Locomotive Works.

It chugged through Swindon at 11.23am and 8.34pm and Wootton Bassett at 11.30am and 8.16pm.

Marcus Robertson, chairman of Steam Dreams, which runs The Cathedrals Express, said the fledgling locomotive was a sight to behold.

“There were loads of people at Swindon station waiting to see her when she came in,” he said.

“And the line-side between Swindon and Dicot Parkway was packed. Tornado is really a very important locomotive because she is built to historical plans but with modern technology. And while today’s trains are run at the touch of a button, Tornado requires real manpower, real human effort to get going.”

The new Peppercorn class A1 pacific steam locomotive was built over almost 20 years by The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust, a registered charity, at its Darlington Locomotive Works.

Tornado starred on TV’s Top Gear motoring show, first shown in 2009 and watched by more than seven million people, racing a Jaguar XK120 car and Vincent Black Shadow motorcycle from London to Edinburgh, with presenter Jeremy Clarkson on board.

The locomotive is now in active service on excursion trains on the Network Rail main line and on April 21 will be travelling to Carlisle over the Shap Bank and taking in the scenery of the Cumbrian Fells and the Settle to Carlisle railway with The Border Raider.