THE charity behind a North East-built steam locomotive has revealed a brand new livery for their iconic machine.

Tornado, the first mainline steam locomotive built in Britain for nearly 50 years, has been painted an eye-catching blue and was unveiled by members of the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust in front of supporters at the Didcot Railway Centre.

The locomotive was previously painted in Brunswick Green, but its new livery is Express Passenger Blue. The repaint marks one of several that will be carried out in the coming years, to maintain the tradition begun by the original trains of having four different liveries during their time in service.

Mark Allatt, chairman of the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust, said: “We are delighted to be unveiling Tornado in her new, striking blue livery. We have long promised that Tornado will carry all four historic liveries during her first period of operation.”

The repaint was carried out at Southall depot by Ian and Dan Matthews, who applied the previous liveries. The new colours will remain in place for 2013 and 2014, before reverting to the usual livery of Apple Green.

In its short time in service, the train has had a colourful life in more ways than one. In 2009 Tornado was the subject of a BBC documentary and also starred in BBC Top Gear’s Race to the North with Jeremy Clarkson on-board.