TRAIN buffs who turned out in their hundreds to watch the modern day reconstruction of an LNER locomotive steam majestically along Brunel’s GWR Forest line were left somewhat in the dark.

The Tornado 60163, built in 2008, was an hour late on its scheduled St David’s Day excursion from Cardiff to Paddington.

So, when it finally swept through Lydney just after 6pm, the daylight was fading fast and when it finally huffed and puffed into Gloucester it was all but lost in the encroaching gloom.

However, that did not deter hundreds of spectators from gathering at prime viewing points along the Severnside line including level crossings at Awre, Northwood Green and the Leys, and overhead road bridges at Grange Court, Oakle Street and Highnam.

One steam buff enthused: “If anything it looked even more dramatic as it sped out of the shadows into the station lights at Lydney. A fantastic experience.”

The 60163 Tornado, built in 2008, is a is the only example of an LNER Peppercorn Class A1 locomotive in existence as all the originals, built between 1948 and 1960 were scrapped.

The project was financed through public donations and sponsorship deals and the loco takes its name from the Panavia Tornado fighter plane.